The dinner was held at mid-day on 29 May 1936 as part of Apiti’s Golden Jubilee. The Manawatu Times of 30 May 1936 reported that over 200 people attended. It was followed by a jubilee procession and a grand jubilee ball. Apiti was founded as part of the Feilding Small Farm Association, part of a scheme largely associated with John Balance for opening up land to settlers, who entered a ballot for sections in the district.
Maud Belk was the daughter of Charles Miller, one of four brothers who were among the original settlers to arrive in Apiti, and she was one of the first to attend school the township. Maud is the woman in hat in the middle of the left side of the left hand table, looking directly at the camera.
This image was donated to Manawatū Heritage in 2021.
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