COMING-OF-AGE PARTY

Chronicle (Levin), 7 June 1946, Page 3

COMING-OF-AGE PARTY

...To mar-k the ocqa^ion of the com-ing-of-age of the oldest of their family of four, Mr. and Mrs. F. Peach, Ballance Street, invited relatives, business associates and friends of their family, to a party on Saturday evening last, in Laur/ig's Hall, made cheery for the occasion by a biazing fire. With Mr. Cundy as M.C. over 70 folk from Wellington, Johnsonville, Taumarunui, Palmerston North, Shannon ind suiTounding district spent the ime in dancing to music played by an orehestra, interspersed with a competition won by Mrs. B. Harris and Mr. Roy Anderson, and a novelty waltz, the prizes for which went to Miss Paula Small and her partner, Mr. R. Coneybeer, of Palmerston North. Mrs. J. Allerby and Mr. Roy Anderson delighted wira vocal numbers and the Misses Ngaire and liBilly" Peach combined in an Irish jig.

To Mr. M. Bason, of Mangaore, was entrusted the honour of t»roposing the toast and wishing "lnany happy returns" to the guest of the Bvening, Mr. Morris Peach, who has completed his apprenticeship and is a member of the P.W.D. electrical staff at Wairc*. In doing so, Mr. Bason remarked that he had beon associated with ."Mick" for some

years, starting from the time ne began his career at Mangaore, and had found him steadfast and reliable. It was due to these characteristics that he had received promobion, and it was probable that he would go far- in his calling. In his reply Mick thanked Mr. Bason for his kind remarks, his oarents for giving him the party, Mrs. Allerby for her capable assistance with the supper arrangements, his -friends for attending and for the many presents he had received. Mr. B. Hateley, of Mangaore, in proposing the toa'st to the parents, stated that he and Mr. Peach had come from the same £dace in England, namely Walsall, and both had attended Palfrey School. He recalled amusing incidents in their lives, much to the enjoyment of the Listeners, and related how after 30 years, through Mick being at Mangaore, where he himself was employed, he came in touch with Mr. Peach again. . Mrs. Peach he had met since coming to New Zealand, and she was the same gracious lady now as when he first met her. No higher tribute could be paid to them than to point to •the family they had reared. Prior to : cutting the birthday cakis Mrs. Peach removed from it a gold key. tie-pin and pinned it on her son's coat lapel. While a large gilt=key was being autographed by all, community singing was entered into and a parcel game was the means by which Morris received the key as a memento of his 21st birthday. . At 12 o'clock, tlie party over, at home the house 'guests assisted in unwrapping the . parcels, which besides cheques, comprised a fine writing compendium, gold cuif - \inks, tie pins, wallets, an ever-

sharp pencil, fountain pen, watch. and other valuable gifts. Visitors from afar wiere- Mrs.. Blandford (grandmother)y- Mr. WBlandford (uncle) and Mrs. Blandford, Miss R. Sands, Mr. « pobinfellows, all of Wellington; Mr. and Mrs. C., Miller (aunt) , and Mr, a,nd Mrs, Bryant (cousin) Johnsonville; Mrs. Costello (aunt) ; Taumarunui; and Mr. R. Coneybeer, .of Palmerston North. ~