COMING OF AGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 48, 1 March 1946, Page 4

COMING OF AGE

COMPLIMENTARY PARTY AT RUATOKI *

MISS WINNI MILROY

Approximately a hundred guests gathered at Ruatoki last Saturday to do honour to Miss Winnipere Milroy, daughter of Mr and Mrs Milroy, on the occasion of her coming of age. On tables in front of the meetinghouse a sumptuous repast was spread and two beautifully decorated birthday cakes took pride of place at one end where the main guests were seated.

In extending a welcome to the assembled guests, Mr Milroy said that it gave both he and his wife the utmost pleasure to see so many present to do their daughter honour. They were proud of her progress and attainments and looked forward to her leading a good and useful life. Chief Takarua Tamerau, grandfather of the guest of honour, also spoke in welcome, stressing the great need for secondary education among the Maori people in order that they might be better equipped to follow the lives the Pakehas expected them. He mentioned the case of Miss Milroy who had gone on to fill important positions after winning her first scholarship, and added that it was his intention to approach the Minister of Education for the establishment of a Secondary School at Ruatoki for the use of the more advanced Maori scholars.

Extending further Pakeha goodwill both to the guest of honour and to the Maori hosts, Messrs. R. Fowell and C. Kingsley-Smith thanked all present for their hospitality and expressed the hope that the young Maoris would emulate the example of Miss Milroy and take full advantage of the educational avenues which were open to them. The cutting of the cake and the presentation of the proverbial ‘twenty-first birthday keys’ was carried out to the applause of the guests and much gratuitious advice. Miss Milroy then responded and in a very neat speech thanked all for their good wishes and the collection of gifts which she had received. She thanked particularly her parents for their part in the arrangements. The evening concluded in a general dance in the meetinghouse, which broke up with the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ in the early hours.