Roxburgh

New Zealand Tablet, 25 October 1906, Page 15

Roxburgh

(From an occasional correspondent.)

-Xv' r . . " October 20. Mary's Church, Roxburgh, has lately suffered" a -severe loss iii the removal to Dunedin of one of ~its oldest and most active members,' Mrs. Pitchers, ~ who, with her family,, left " here on Saturday last. For the past twenty-six years Mrs. Pitchers has associated her- - self very closely with Church affairs. Her family, too, have assisted, the Misses Pitchers being members of the choir and teachers in the Sunday school, and Master Pitchers has for the past few years been one of the altar boys. As a mark_ of their appreciation of Uieir 1 many services and of " the' esteem in which they were held, the- members of the congregation tendered them afarewell social and presentation of a purse of sovereigns " in the "library of the hall on the evening of the TBth7 •Mr. J. H. Waiglh occupied the chair, arid- was supported by Rev. Father Lynch. An- apology was read from Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary, of Lawrence, for his absence. Father Lynch made the presentation, and in doing so referred -to Mrs. Pitchers' long connection- with the church, and the innumerable services she .had rendered to I it. On behalf of the congregation he expressed the regret they all felt at her departure, and wished herself and family every success and prosperity. " ; Messrs. Waigth and Hart ' also spoke, endorsing „ Father Lynch's remarks. Mr. J. H. Waiglh, jun., replied on , behalf of- Mrs. Pitchers and family. In thanking the congregation for' the presentation they had made them, he said he was painfully conscious of his inability to do so in a manner expressive of. the feelings of Mrs. Pitchers and family. He thanked them for their kindness to Mrs. Pitchers and family, not only on that evening, but on past occasions. He "thanked Father Lynch and the speakers of the Congregation for their kind references, and assured all present that Roxburgh, but above all its " church and congregation of St. Mary's, would always have, a . warm corner in the hearts of Mrs. Pitohers and heir family. ' .

During the evening .refreshments were handed -round, " and songs were contributed by Misses Clements and Pitchers and Messrs. Laloli, Chancy, and Waigth (3), and recitations by Messrs. F. and L. Laloli, and the singing of ' Auld Lang Syne' brought a very pleasant- evening to a close.