WAIPIRO BAY NEWSLETTER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23244, 4 May 1950, Page 6

WAIPIRO BAY NEWSLETTER

(Herald Correspondent.l

Personals Mrs. M. McKay, Wellington, and Mrs. C. Tietjen, Bushmere, Gisborne, recently spent 10 days’ holiday at Tawhiti Hotel, and accompanied Mr. C. Tietjen to Gisborne last week. —Mr. E. L. Walton, S.M., was a guest at the Tawhiti Hotel prior to the sitting of the Magistrate's Court at Ruatoria last week.— Mrs. W. S. Thompson has returned to her home after visiting her daughter in Auckland—Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Holder Orewa. have been staying with friends in Waipiro Bay, and are now visiting relatives in Toiaga Bay.

Constable and Mrs. D. Harvey, and four small daughters, left this week for a holiday in Auckland. Constable Hira, Ruatoria, is relieving at the Waipiro Bay police station. —Mr. and Mrs. T. Conole, Tokomaru Bay. and Mr. and Mrs. K. R. Reedy. Ruatoria. were recent visitors to Tawhiti Hotel for a holiday.—Mr. J. F. Williamson has been to Hawke’s Bay for a few days to visit his mother.—Mrs. E. Allan, who has held the position of postmistress at the Waipiro Bay Post Office for the past two years, lias tendered her resignation to the department.

Other recent guests at the Tawhiti Hotel include Mr. and Mrs. A. Mclnnes. Mr. F. Spraggon, Auckland; Mr. and Mrs. T. Stewart. Messrs J A. Towsey, F. Parkes. J. Goddard. Tauranga* Mrs. 1... Rose, Mr. Webber. Wairoa: Mrs. J. Armour and small daughter Messrs. J. Saunders. A. D Todd. .1. Mac Lean, S. Shotter. E. Parker. Gisborne; Mr. S. H. Rurdett, Ruatoria; Miss G. Shaw, Messrs R. McNeil. lan Shaw. G. F. Hurrey Toiaga Bav Messrs. R. Dayman. DrufTenach, Wellington: Mr. and Mrs. R Mackey. Thames; Mr. and Mrs. R. Moss and two children Rnnsiwnhia: Messrs. Bingley, B. Brown, Gisborne; Mr. S. Morrow, Auckland.

R.S.A. Annual Meeting

The first annual meeting of the newlyformed Waipiro Bay sub-association of the R.S.A. was held it ‘-he Iritekura meeting house. Most members were present, and an enthusiastic discussion took place. Mr. W. Teneti. D.C.M., was elected chairman, and Mr. J. F. Williamson secretary.

Sports Ground Improvement

This week will see the completion of the work on the Waipiro Bay sports ground, which during the recent heavy rain stood up to the strain placed on the protective works. A field day was held after Easter, and thanks to the cooperation of the Waiapu County Council who provided a truck, an access road to the sports ground was formed and metalled by volunteer workers.

Work at Marae The whole area in front of the Iritekura meeting-house has been levelled and terraced, and another access road provided. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. A. B. Williams, a flagpole in use for many years as the main signal when Waipiro Bay depended on coastal shipping for its communications, has been dismantled from its former site, and reerected beside the meeting house for ceremonial occasions. Unveiling of Memorial Tablet The first Anzac Day parade and service in Waipiro Bay for many years was held in the afternoon, when there were 32 ex-servicemen on parade, which formed at the Waipiro Bay Trading Company's buildings and marched to the church followed by school children. There, a flagpole had been erected, owing to the fact that the recent levelling work on the marae had made a parade there, impracticable. Following “Reveille,” the next-of-kin and Ist N.Z.E.F. members were escorted to their seats in the church and some of the general public occupied the remaining pews. Those outside comprised 2nd N.Z.E.F. members, school-children and more than 150 of the public, who heard the service over the loud-speaker system. The service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Pohatu and the Rev. W. Bird, in both the Maori and English languages. Mr. M. R. Maude spoke on behalf of the Gisborne R.S.A., and called for a-universal working towards peace.

The memorial tablet, erected in the church in honour of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the Second World War, was unveiled by Mr. A. B. Williams, and dedicated by the officiating minister. 2/N.Z.E.F. members then filed through the church to pay silent homage, and the ceremony ended with the sounding of the "Last Post.”

The memorial tablet bears the following inscriptions: “To the Glory of God, and in sacred memory of Heathcote H. Beale, D.F.C. and Bar, Harry G. Boyce. "William Fox. Miki Kaenga, Kenneth F. Henld. Moana-nui Ngarimu, V.C.. H. Papatene, Te Wera, P. Parata. Tau Rewhare, Penc M. Tawiri, Onslow- W. Thomason. D.F.M.. Forrest H. Thompson. D.F.M.. Peehi Ward. Arnold K. B. Williams, who died gloriously in World War 1939-1945. that we may

live in peace and with God.” The next-of-kin of these fallen heroes, who had places of honour at the ceremony are:—Mr. A. B. Williams, Puketiti, Tokomaru Bay; Mrs. J. Boyce, Takamore, Ruatoria: Mrs. Keita Pepere, Wai-o-matatini: Mr. H. T. Fox. Ruatoria: Mrs. Te Rina Haenga. Reporua: Mr. H. Heald. Hastings: Mr. Hamuera Ngarimu, Ruatoria: Mr. Karcti Papatene. Tokomaru Bay; Misses Thapa and R. Matehe, Ruatoria; Mrs. Hcremoana Christie, Mrs. Wera Pokai. Mr. W. S. Thompson, Mrs. M. Joyce. Waipiro Bay. Luncheon and Rc-union

A sumptuous late luncheon was served at Iritekura meeting-house on Anzac Day to over 400 guests, and was attended, as was the parade and service, by visitors from as far afield as Gisborne and Te Araroa. and all the next-of-kin of those whose names appear on the tablet.

In the evening a reunion was held for all those w-ho served overseas and their friends, making a gathering of 150 people. The opportunity 'was taken to make this occasion the first birthday of the V.’aipiro R.S.A. Sub-association. The only speech of the evening was made by Mr. E. L. Walton. S.M.. who wished the new sub-association of 31 financial members, much success. Mr. K. R. Reedy followed Mr. Walton with a translation into Maori. The evening was interspersed with much appreciated items. Thanks were due to the organising capabilities of Air. Pine Tampa.. to the ladies’ committees of both Iritekura and Kiekie, to those who sc generously provided donations of foodstuffs, cash and labour, and also to Radio Centre, Limited. Gisborne.