Moutoa Residents Honoured

Chronicle (Levin), 29 July 1949, Page 3

Moutoa Residents Honoured

Two very popular and e.steqpae.d res'idents of Moutoa; Mr. an'd-iMrs1; T. J. Newth, cefebrated their. si vet wedding anniversary- ,'On Saturday and during. the eVehing relatiyes and friends, some from as far away ' as Napier* and Wellington; met ih the. Moutoa -HML Jo. extehd' /fctongratu'iati'oijs and 1 gopd- wishes • l to t th'ehi; " : ' ' r • ; :v' f " A very happy' social 'tirne was spent, the hah being artistically decorated for the occasion with streamers and greenery. A huge .og fire gave the hall a very homely appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Newth received the guests at the door and festivifies were soon under way. Dancing was enjoyed, with much appreciated speciahy items by Jan and Robyn Rollet and Yvonne Watkins. Mr. Roy Hook, M.C. for the wedding dance of 25 years a,go, was in a similar role and music for dancing was provided by a profes- , sional orchestra. The supper arrangements were on the usual lavish Moutoa scale, ' -,v /.*•/•.,• '« - f At a suitqble juncture oppqrtadr ity. was taken to'e^tend congratulations and best . wishes- -; to the happy couple who, with their bridesmaid^ (Mrs. K. Ro let) aild best man (Mr. K. .RoIletO , - were called on to occupy-'a ceritral position on -'the stage, which was adorhed by a handsome weddiiig cake. Mr. Hook • Oxtended nis own personal felicitatiohs and calied ;on , Mr. W. H. Smith to pro.pose the health of the "bride and bridegroom."

In doing so, Mr. Smith said that , it was a great privilege to him to be entrusted with the task but-- * be . undertook it with a feeiing of inabi ity to do justice to the guests" of t'he evening. He had .known them all their lives, their parents before them and aiso the grahdfather of Mrs: Newth, the la;„e Mr. Charies Spring, who had died in Foxton at the great age of 94 years. They -came of true pioneering stock and were worthy representatives o'f esteemed and honoured settler^.. • The .speaker .said that' he '•could; claim •cloger reiatronship '*with' Mr.: and Mrs. 'Newth tban'most p'eqple| Hfe was a neighbour, probertyl on'both sidbs of them, and he'/cqii?c| 'tesLify to their neighbourliness and? good citizenship.''- Many-a niglit,'Mr| Newth had left a warm bed t(o assist .neighbouring far,mers. "iri'.-times; of trouble. As individuals Mr. anq Mrs, Newth had "c'arried their weight in' all things- and he could* honesdy say that he had never had a cross word with them nor reason. for. such, ' but lookingi back .on the years he had a great fe.eling off gra,titude for having had such.steriing neighbours; Mr.; Newth/ was. a! man who would aiways mee.t any-y one half way.- It w,as a true sdying Lnat a friend was one- wbo knew ■ all about^you ,and lov.ed you jus| • the same; "I ea nsay with all .-sin-f cerity that the people of Moutoa know all about Mr. and Mrs. 'Jack Newth and love them ^ust the same." (Applause.) Mr. Smith then wished the happy couple health and happiness for the future, a toast in whic'h all joined rnost he'artily. Mr. Newth, in reply, acknowledged* Mr. Smith's remarks and the good wishes and congratulations extended by all. He said that both he and his wife looked back \Vith great pleasure on the " years they had spent at Moutoa. There had been hard times and good times; but he was convinced that the hard times were sent as trials and one managed to scrape through them ' somehow.- Both he and his wife were yery pleased to entertainfriends and re'atives on the o.ccasion of their celebration and they were deeply gratef ul" for the good wishes extended to them. ; •

In conciusion, Mr; Newth paid tribute to the 'happy, helpful andaffectionate companionship of his . wife throughout the years,. and said', they were both as happy today as they were on the day they were married. (Applause.) Mr. S. W. Barber then proposed the health of the "bridesmaid and best man," but before doing so added his personal tribute to Mr. and Mrs. Newth. He said he. too, had known them all his life and had lived in Moutoa with them' ever since they were married. Whathad impressed him most of all about them was their community spirit. There had not been a function during the past 25 years that they had not taken part in and the Newth family was an asset to any coihmunity. Mr. Rollet fe"sponded to 't'he toast. ' Mr. T. Fuller then called JMr. aird Mrs. Newth1 to accept a handsome;. silver tea set from the' ifao'ut'oa residents as a token of esteem and affection, the gift earrying with; it' an autogra'ph, book containing the signatures of all present at t'he functioh. Mi\ Newth found 1 it difficult to find words to acknoWledge t'he preSent'ation. , ..t • The haippy ceremony of .cutting ' the cake.was .then carried out to Ihe flash of the photographer's lightff and after a distribution of the cake dancing was resumed. A' delightful evening was finally brought, to a close with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."