THAMES OLD GIRLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1930, Page 19

THAMES OLD GIRLS.

YESTERDAY'S HAPPY REUNION. GOLDFIELD PIONEEES. A spirit of happy pride was manifested at the annual reunion of Thames Old Girls, who, with relatives and friends, assembled at the Pitt Street Methodist Church yesterday tp recall the heyday of Auckland's famous goldfield. It was one of many gathering? of fine women, now in the autumn of their lives, who, with hardy menfolk, helped to make pioneer history in the province. Quite a number were- over eighty years of age, and they were accompanied by daughters, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren.

-The oldest woman present was Mrs. Dewar, 95 years of age. With her husband, who was manager of the- Tuki mine, they arrived at Thames in 1870 from Australia. He was well known as an engineer, and erected machinery for several mines on the field Subsequently he- was manager of the Mount Morgan mine in Queensland. He died at the age of 83, seventeen years ago.

Others who received a hearty welcome were Captain Newby (97) and Mrs. Ne.wby (87), Mrs. Smith (89), Mrs. Blomfield (89), Mrs. Farquhar, and Mrs. Towers (87). School Teacher's Recollections. One of the oldest school teachers of Thames, Mr. Wynne Gray, expressed much delight at renewing acquaintances. " It was a splendid district in those dear old days," he said, "and they were a fine hearted lot of people. They are still the same." He was born in Parnell in 1850, and was sent at four years of age to England, receiving his education at Aruridel House, Sussex. He went to Thames in 1878, and took charge of the Waiotahi Creek school, being later transferred to Tararu school,' which at that period had a roll of about 700 pupils. "I called at this old school the other day," he added regretfully, " and there is only one classroom there now. I taught there until 1882. I can recall my old staff —Messrs. Hcrne, . Chilcott, and Compton, and Misses Lamb, Steadman, Wolff, and Gott. I went a trip to England, and on my return, in 1883, was appointed to the .angiaohia school, now called Hairini school, near Te Awamutu. I retired in 1886. There were some fine teachers in the Thames, such as Messrs. Horatio and Newell Phillips, Mab'erley, and Colquhoun, and others, but I am one of the oldest living now."

Still hale and hearty is Mr. A. Newdick, one of the first men on the Thames goldfiekl, "I pegged the Long Drive, one of the richest claims, out of which thousands of pounds' worth of gold were obtained," said the veteran, who also mentioned that he pegged out All Nations with Mr. Harry Halston.

And ?o on, many memories and reminiscences of other days were topics of a successful reunion, in which descendants and friends take a dutiful interest. Thus British tradition is perpetuated.