OKAIAWA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 October 1928, Page 5

OKAIAWA.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) A FINAL FAREWELL. The pupils and teachers of the Okaiawa School bade a final farewell to their 'beloved head at the iball on Friday afternoon. A brave attempt at gaiety was made, but beneath the surface there Was a feeling of sadness and this was reflected at times in the faces of many of those present. The children, under the supervision of the lady teacher's, submitted an excellent programme of musical and elocutionary items, and folk dancing, at the conclusion of which" further presentations from the pupils and staff were made to Mr and iMrs Innes. Alice Butler, dux of the school, handed to Mr Innes a beautiful Tcad'ing lamp and in a few appropriate remarks expressed the ] hope that its light would shine on him for many years. Olive Good, the ■youngest girl .in Mr Innes’s classes, then presented Mrs Innes with an oak dinner waggon. Little Belle Innes was not forgotten, and on behalf of heT class mates she was .presented by Mercy Gifford with an autograph album already autographed by the members of her class. Mr Innes feelingly thanked the, children and teachers for the handsome presents and kindly expressions of goodwill. They had heard on the previous evening eulogistic references to the recorl put up by the school, but he would remind them that these were not wholly due to the teachers. 'These records could not ‘have been accomplished without tKe co-operation of the pupils and he trusted that this spirit of co-operation would continue under his sucessor, A bountiful afternoon tea was provided by the ladies and the little function came to an end with the ’singing of “Able! Lang iSyne” and the National Anthem.

A little early history of the school may be of 'interest to local readers.. The writer was a -pupil in 1884, which was not long after . the se'hool -Was built. It was 'then a building of one room, and was controlled by one teacher, and when the writer entered the fourth standard was 'the highest hc-ing taught at the time. The teacher was a “.good old sort,” but his qualifications as a teacher would not he of mueh value at the present day. A brother of the writer had passed the sixth standard in the 'South Island, and being desirous of 'further education the Okaiawa teacher was interviewed. OXf the boy ha s passed the VI Std.,” lie sa'id, “if is no- use -sending him to me -—he knows as much as I do,” “The boy, 'however, was not to be outdone, and sooner than miss his extra education did 'the journey to -Manaia, Where trere was a teacher with a university education, a distance of .five and . a half miles from Okaiawa', and generally on “Stumps’s pony.” A POINT FOR FARMERS.

The coming haymaking' season is looming up on the horizon, and it will be no 'time, before it is upon us. Every season there 'aTe a number of breakages in 'the implements used, and -in connection with this matter the head of la well-known implement firm, in conversation with the writer, said that if farmers, when sending for spare parts, would give the number of those parts it would save both time and trouble. The farmer generally sends for a certain part of a certain machine, but this is not always a sufficient guide as implement makers frequently make .alterations to some parts •of their implements. PERSONAL. ] The young m'aii Trye, who was seriously injured through a collision with a dog a week ago, is still lying in the Hawera Hospital. For some days the doctors thought he had no hope of re- 1 eovery, but during the -past day or two there has been a slight improvement in his condition, -and Dr. Uairney now thinks ho has 'a fighting chance of pulling through. ANCIENT HISTORY. Mr W. T. Wells, of M'anaia, when in a reminiscent mood at the annual meeting of the Kaupokonui ‘Dairy Company, in referring to the Waiokura factory, now a branch of the Haupokonui company, said h'e believed he was the only one of the original suppliers to that factory now left dri the district, if. not. the only one living. There happen to be two others still living in South Taranaki, Mr F. Old, now living retired in Hawera, and Mt H. Betts, of Okaiawa. Mr Old was a member of the original board of directors of the factory in question, which was the first co-operative dairy factory -to start in the district. ;