AFTER 50 YEARS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1927, Page 4

AFTER 50 YEARS

A hearty celebration The Anglician community assisted by many friends of other denominations celebrated the anniversary of the golden wedding of Canon and Mrs Hamilton of Canterbury at the Soldiers Hall yesterday. Canon Hamilton is here at present acting as locum for Hev. ,!. Perkins. Vicar of All Saints parish, who is away on sick leave and the congregation learning of the happy anniversary which fell due this month took steps to celebrate in orthodox manner. The hall was tastefully prepared for the occasion with (lowers and draperies, it work at which the Indies excel. A large golden wedding cake had been made generously by one of the parishioners, while another made a large wedding hell which was suspended above the two-decker cake resplendent in its icing and adorned as it was with good luck horse-shoes. The Hon 11. L. Michel. MAX'..

Bishop’s Churchwarden, presided m happy manner. The guests were on the right and among others present were Revd. .1. \V. Hayward. Presbyterian Church; Revd. C. Knowles Smith. Methodist Church: Captain and Mrs llnnkin. Salvation Army. Apologies wor received for the unavoidable absence of Father Fitinerlv. Homan Catholic Church and Air A. Keller, People’s Warden. Preliminary to the congratulatory speeches there wcie several vocal items, also several following the afternoon tea, ot w hirh the ladies of All Saints' Church provided a generous quantity. I'hc vocalists were Misses Morgan, Sherrill, Stapleton; Mesdames Ward and Patterson; Messrs Ward and Bennett. Miss Wells played a pianoforte solo,

and Miss Cieso played the accompaniments for the vocalists, all of v horn were well received. The Hon Michel congratulated Caniii Thomas Hamilton and his good lady on the happy event being celebrated. Fifty years of married life was not given to every one, and it was pleasant to look hack over that period and enjoy l lie memories ot the past. 1 hat day they had with them also Mr and Mis W. A. Thompson, who had been here since the earliest days and same time ago had celebrated their diamond wedding. ll,* trusted their guests that afternoon would likewise in due course also celebrate their diamond jubilee. The Chairman recalled the good work done at Ross hv Mr Hamilton when Vicar there over forty years ago. The memory of the sojourn of Air and Mrs Hamilton at Ross was held in kindly recollection. Some of the ladies and gentlemen present had been parishioners at Ross when Mr Hamilton was stationed there, and it was pleasing to know held the ex-A iear h

most kindly remembrance. The Chairman was glad to welcome the pastors from the sister denominations present. H made the gathering the more notable for its unity and true and

kindly spirit. Before concluding. Mi Michel presented Canon Hamilton with an oil painting of the Divide on the summit of Arthur’s Pass, and extended heartiest congratulations and good wishes for continued good health and happiness in the future. Mr .Michel made reference also to the enforced absence of Air and Airs Perkins, and ,

trusted tin' Vicar’s health would soon improve when they would he delighted to welcome him hack. Mr W. D. Alackay, as a former parishioner at lioss joined in the congratulations extended, and recalled

incidents of their co-partnership at Hess in the stirring days of old. Those were the happy days of youth. Canon Hamilton had a fine record coming of an old family, and had spent a considerable time in the British Navy, and finally had been most tortunate of all in wedding Airs Hamilton. the event of fiftv years ag) they now celebrated. Revd. -T. AV. Hayward greatly appreciated the opportunity of saying a few words. It was very fitting such a function should bio arranged for sueli on occasi in. Tie was pleased to

see the (anon so vigorous and so vonthful, and able to carry on the good work in the Ministry. Their feelings wore in syniualliy with their guests who had lived a useful life and had passed thr.ugh the cares and re sponsihlities and were now enjoying the joys of life. They could look hack with pleasure to a happy married life He hoped the future would lie filled with pleasure and happiness, and win pleased to do honor to them and wish them the best in life. Revd. 0. Knowles Smith esteemed

it a great honor to bo present as part of the family for he claimed to he one of the family, Methodism having been an offshoot from the Anglican Church It was pleasing to know that though the years had gone by, the (Aiuon still bad friends remaining in tile district. everything was not forgotten. and it was a pleasure to see their guest so bright and cheery. Probably thill was due to the kindly oversight of his wife. The wives of the clergy bad much to do. and Airs Hamilton had done her work well. Captain Rankin said if Air Knowles Smith could claim to he a daughter o| the Anglican Church, he could claim to he a grand-daughter, for the Salvation Army was decoded from the .Methodist Church. The words expressed that afternoon had been very appropriate to the occasion and he joined in endorsing them. He extended good wishes which he hoped would hear rich fruit in the future.

Mr NY. A. Thompson was "lad to join in the celebrations. Fifty years were a Ionj; time to look back over, yet there was no reason why their guests should not reach their diamond jubilee - they both looked so fit and well. It is always a pleasure to look hack over the old days and think of the old times—but the old comrades were a diminishing; band. He had boon a resident here for G 1 years, and he recalled the first Anglican clergyman—Archbishop Harper—who was a man of the people. The second generation were now practically the people of to-day. Perhaps their ideas did not conform with those of the pioneers who had to overcome difficult times, hut all tried to do their host. He wished their guests many years of renewed happiness. {'anon Hamilton, when rising to reply. was received with musical honours. He said he knew Westland was a place for generosity and kindness, and he was receiving a full measure that. day. Hokitika thought a lot about its sunshine, but there was more sunshine in the hearts of the people. He found himself among brothers and friends. Once on. the Coast one appeared never to lie forgotten. ITe felt greatly honored and thoroughly appreciated the feelings which had prompted their kindness. Along with two brothers, the three of them had served the Church on the Coast, and he hoped they had left an impression. Ho referred to experiences at Ross i in company with ATr Mackay. He thanked them heartily for the picture. It gave him great pleasure, for it recalled the old coaching days when they passed through the beautiful scenery of the Otira Gorge. Here they had the grandeur of the mountains—nothing was more magnificent to be seen in | the world. New Zealand, as the late . Mr Seddon had said, was God’s Owe Country. Personally he never wanted to leave New Zealand. He had met

his fate in this country and had made friends working for the glory of God. He thanked the visiting pastors for their presence. As the days go on the Churches mast draw closer together. Common humanity prompted closer cooperation and joining together to promote the real brotherhood of man. From tin? bottom of his heart he had nothing hut thanks lor the kindly thoughts which prompted the celebration. Their marriage had been a happy one They had twelve children and some thirteen grandchildren'. His twelve years ill the Navy had made him ready for service whenever called mi. Life had been happy and lie thanked God for all the blessings they had received. In their married lil they had halved their troubles am doubled their joys. He thanked them one and all.

The singing of Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem, with clfcors for the guests closed the proceedings.