Featherston

New Zealand Tablet, 14 October 1909, Page 1617

Featherston

Dr. and Mrs. Deamer, prior to' their departure from Featherston for Australia, were the .recipients of tokens of regard from the residents. . .The -friends of Dr. Deamer gathered in the commercial rb'om.of. the Royal Hotel on the evening of October 7 to bid him good-bye. ■ - Speeches eulogistic of Dr.- Deamer were delivered by Messrs';' Barton, J. W. Card, and" others. He was' the recipient of a silver mounted walking' stick -and a purse of sovereigns. Earlier in the same evening, members', of the Catholic congregation gathered" in the « church to bid farewell to Mrs. Deamer. Rev. Father "B.pw'e, who r presided, said they were gathered together to', express -their regret at the departure of Mrs. Deamer, "and to. express their ' appreciation of her work in the "church and the esteem that she was held in by the congregation. They had a- little present to give Mrs. Deamer. The congregation Avas small and the present was not half as much as she really deserved, but as every single one had contributed towards it willingly, she nrnst take the will for the" deed and understand the spirit in which it was given. It was with mixed feelings that he was there that evening. It pleased him to be able to be present at a function that was to express appreciation for the work Mrs. Deamer had done, but it made him feel very sorry to think that they were losing' such a good woman and such a conscientioxis worker. Mrs: Deamer and the Doctor were personal friends of/his, and prominent parishioners, and he was very sorry infleed.to lose them. He called on Mrs. Miller to read an illuminated address from the ladies of the congregation. The prettily executed address was .an expression * of the esteem in which the ladies and the congregation held Mrs. Deamer, and sorrow at her departure and good wishes for her future. The address was signed by Mrs. J. Card, sen., and Mrs. Miller. Mr. J. W. Card said that before Mrs. Deamer replied he would like to hand her, on. behalf of the congregation, a small purse of sovereigns. - They were all aware of Mrs. Deamer's work in the church, and he thought she displayed true religion by. helping any who- wem in distress, whether they were Catholics, or not. .She had been-. one of, the chief workers "in the church, and had done all that lay in her power to further its aims. He had much pleasure m presenting Mrs. Deamer with a purse of sovereigns from the whole of the members of the church in Featherston. Mrs. Deamer said that she had always tried to .do her best, and had really taken a great interest in the church. What she was sorry about was that she had not been able to do more, and that her efforts had necessarily been small. " She did not think that she was worth half the bother, and thanked everyone from the~ bottom of her heart. . She would- always remember the. -E'eatherston people,- and would always live in the hope, of back- and seeing- them all again. Dr ' Deamer also thanked thorn all for, their thoughtfulness, and said that he and his wife* would neyer forget the friends they were leaving behind in Featherston. Mr. Card said. that before they parted lie' believed the children had a small presentation to make.. » Miss Williams had been teaching them now for some time, and they wero all very fond of her. As she was leaving for Sydney with the doctor and his wife, they had made up their minds to give her something to remember them by. Two tiny girls, Kitty Stewart and Aileen Ruane, then presented Miss Williams, with a writing- case.