VALEDICTORY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 478, 30 May 1919, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

A .very pleas-ant evening waa held at Mrs Hawke's residence, Manukau road, Pukekohe, on Thursday, the occasion being a farewell to Miss Phyllis Cave—an especial friend of the family—and also as a " room warming,'' extensions having recently been made to the residence, for the use of Misses Nelsie and Isla Hawke. Miss Cave, with her parents, leaves for Oisborne on Tuesday. The rooms were all very tastefully decorated, and the guests made quite "at home," there being dancing for the lovers of that graceful pastime, and cards for those who preferred to " take a hand.'*

Music and song, very acceptably tendered, appealed to one and all, the former being supplied by the Pukekohe orchestra. Extras were played by Mrs Brown, Misses Cave and Bailley (Patumahoe), and Mr <3ecil Cave (Te Kauwhata), brother of the guest of the evening. Songs were rendered as follows, and BiQch appreciated : -Mrs Boyd, " Come, sing to me "; Mrs Hawke, " When you come home "; Miss Isla Hawke, "My pal" (comic); Mr G. Torker, "Until"; Mr T. Walker, " Go to Sea," and anencore.

PRESENTATION

After a very appetising supper had been Berved, a pleasing little ceremony took place in the drawing room, when, on behalf of The Puke kohe Returned Soldiers' Dance Com mittee, Mr T. E. McMillan presented Miss Cave with a lady's leather handbag. In making the presentation, Mr McMillan said that though not associated with the Committee it gave him particular pleasure, as a returned soldier, to have the honour *>? speaking for the Committee on this occasion. Miss Cave had rendered signal service to the Committee for a very considerable period, ever since that body was formed, and in this connexion he was asked to couple the name of Mrs Cave, whose kindly and helpful efforts were also fully appreciated. Though it was but a local committee whose feelings of gratitude he was requested to voice, the speaker said the matter went much further and deeper than that. On the fields of strife and turmoil, the soldiers received a thousand practical remindeis of what the women in New Zealand were doing for them. They knew full well that the few persons whose names were blazoned in the great daily newspapers were not. by a long chalk, the only ones who were working for them. In every town and village in the Dominion good women, loyal and true, were striving, sacrificing themselves in many ways, in order to give aid and encouragement to the men in the war zones, and this line work was being continued still. The guest of the evening Jjfaa one of the women, whom -the -soldiers would always think of with hearts filled with gratitude From both the local and the wider aspects, it gave him very keen pleasure, therefore, to ask Miss Cave kindly to accept a slight token of the Commitcee's appreciation of her sympathetic, sustained, and valuable assistance, rendered ever since its formation.

Musical honours followed, after which Mr P. Boyd, on behalf of the recipient, in a neat and graceful speech, made suitable acknowledgements.

Th? evening, which was greatly enjoyed by all present, concluded with the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."