FAREWELL PARTY.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19364, 18 September 1934, Page 3

FAREWELL PARTY.

AT RUKUHIA. The many friends of Mr and Mrs J. J. Raynes and family assembled in the Rukuhia Hall on Friday evening to bid them farewell on the eve of their departure from the district. The hall was decorated for the occasion, and an enjoyable evening was spent in dancing. Mr G. Boyd acted as M.C. and Mrs Flvger contributed the music. During the evening, as Mr and Mrs and Miss Nancy Raynes took their seats on the platform, little Ray Provis presented a beautiful bouquet to Mrs Raynes, and a posy to Miss Nancy Raynes. Mr J. A. Steele, of Rukuhia, then referred to a little of the history of Mr and Mrs Raynes and the early days of their parents. He stated that Mr J. J. Raynes was the first white child to be born in the Rukuhia district, and his parents were one of the three original pioneer settlers who remained upon their blocks of fern, ti-tree and water-covered lands. In those early days their roads were only tracks and their bridges were bundles of ti-tree thrown across the creeks and swamps. As Mr Raynes grew up with his brother and sister there was the question of school, but there was not one nearer than Hamilton, and when the Tamahere school was built and the bridge put across the river at the Narrows, Mr Raynes commenced his schooling. After leaving school he joined the Volunteers, then the Hamilton Light Infantry under Captain (now Major) Reid. Later on that company disbanded and the Waikato Mounted Rifles formed, and Mr Raynes was connected with the Mounted Rifles until the end of the Great War. At the outbreak of the Boer War in South Africa he was among the first to volunteer for active service and he sailed from New Zealand with the first contingent of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles for South Africa. At the outbreak of the Great War he again offered his services and sailed for the front with the Main Body of New Zealanders. On his return he settled down to farm life, and successfully carried on farming operations in the district. He went in for Hie breeding of draught horses and Shorthorn cattle, and also did a considerable amount of cropping in the early days.' He. was a strong supporter of the Rukuhia Tennis Club, the courts being on his property and under his personal supervision. Mj. Steele then referred to Mrs Ravnes'as the daughter of another old pioneer family, her father being the first timber and hardware merchant in Hamilton East. On behalf of the Rukuhia residents and old friends from the Tamahere and Hamilton districts, Mr and Mrs Raynes were asked to accept a silver teaset as a remembrance of the many happy days spent in the Rukuhia district. Mr Raynes suitably replied and thanked them all for the honour bestowed and good wishes towards Mrs Raynes and himself. After singing “For they are jolly good fellows,’’ dancing was resumed, and later all enjoyed supper, which was provided by the ladies of the district. Among those present were:—Mesdames J. J. Raynes, Asplin, J. H. Steele, Moss, J. Boyd, Dunmer, Provis, Dixon (Hamilton), J. Perrow, J. Penniket, Ryman, Joe Raynes, C. V. Carryer, McAuliffe, 11. C. Wallace (Tamahere), W. Newell (Tamahere), Powell (Tamahere), A. Boyd, J. Jess, Hepburn, P. Bremner, Misses I. Raynes, N. Raynes, L. Boyd, T. 81/3inner, Peggy Steele, G. Steele, K. McAuliffe, V. McAuliffe, M. Wallace (Tamahere), Z. Selby (Tamahere), N. Asplin, M. Carryer, J. Keenan (Hamilton), N. Hepburn, E. Dixon, S. Mutuschka, M. Johnson, Turnbull (Tamahere).