LINTON SCHOOL CELEBRATES JUBILEE

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 112, 15 May 1939, Page 9

LINTON SCHOOL CELEBRATES JUBILEE

Roll Call and Luncheon

Old pupils from far and near assembled at Linton over the week-end for the purpose of attending the jubilee celebrations of the school. Proceedings were marked by that enthusiasm which always attends such gatherings and it was a happy returning for the many who were fortunate enough to be a,ble to participate. Proceedings on Saturday opened with the ringing of the “bell by Mr. W. Jackson (Opilci), one of the first pupils. A welcome to the visitors was extended by Mr. T. D. Lynch, chairman of the jubilee committee and also of the school committee, who hoped they would spend one of the happiest days of their lives. He returned thanks to all who had helped to make the function a success with donations. These had been received from over a wide area. The occasion was also a tribute to the memory of those pioneers who had first come to Linton and made the district, by their toil, the prosperous locality it now was. Ho asked for a moment’s silence as a mark of respect to those who had served and passed on. Mr. Lynch regretted that the old school had been destroyed by fire and along with it, the old records. Mr. Dougal Matheson, the first teacher at the school, had been unable to attend but he had sent a message of goodwill. Mr. James Murdoch (Levin), one of tho first teachers, called the roll of old boys and girls. That finished, he expressed his pleasure at seeing that Linton had not been consolidated. The school had shown grit, go and gumption, and said it did not follow that tho individuality of the child was going to be better for consolidation.

Hon. J. G. Cobbo expressed his pleasure at being invited to the gathering. Just a glance around the district revealed what had been accomplished by the early pioneers and those who were growing up to-day had every reason to bo proud of their heritage. He hoped the present generation, would be as successful as their grandparents. Colonel J. H. Whyte returned thanks for the invitation that had been extended to the members of the Wanganui Education Board to be present—himself, Messrs I. W. Mudford, W. H. Brown and J.-Batchelar. Colonel Whyte conveyed a message of thanks to the parents for all they had done to improve the school environs. Miss Casper Lars«m (Palmerston North), one of the original pupils, had the honour of cutting the jubilee cake, which had been made by Mesdames A. and D. Currin and T. D. Lynch. The icing and decorating was the work of Mrs. A. Moyes, the colour scheme being gold. For the jubilee luncheon there was an exceedingly large assemblage and the repast had to be served in two relays. For the first sitting Mr. T. D. Lynch presided and for the second Mr. J. L. Nash. “The King” was proposed by Hon. J. G„ Cobbe at tho first sitting. Mr. Jos*. Batchelar sponsored the toast to the pioneers and spoke of the debt of gratitude the present generation owed to the early settlers. It was very hard to visualise the conditions under which the pioneers had to live—solid bush or swamp. He recalled the stamina of the men and women of the early days and mentioned that one family had walked from Dannevirke through to Tiakitahuna and then taken boat across the river to set to work to carve out their home. Mr. A. Currin responded and said it was pleasing to see that so many had responded to the invitation to come back and renew old friendships. Mr. M. A. Moody, whom the chairman said used to show the boys and girls in the early days how to jump ponies over logs, proposed the toast to the expupils. He said he knew all the children who attended at the opening of tho school and was pleased to see that they had all followed nobly in the footsteps of their fathers and mothers. In those days there was no “touching the button” for light. It was taking a candle and lamp and the mosquitoes were often so bad that they put the lamps out by mass of numbers. Mr. Moody spoke of the independence of the pupils of those days and said he was pleased to see so many of them back to live over again the days of their youth and maidenhood. Mr. O. Larsen replied to the toast and recalled, amidst laughter, that he had been led to school by his mother by the hand only to get back home again as quickly as he could. However, he had found that he did not suffer as much at school as he had done on that first day when he got back home (laughter). “The Teachers of the School” was proposed by Mr. Jack Batchelar (Waituna West), a member of the Wanganui Education Board. He congratulated the school committee on the wonderful nature of the gathering. The district

lust be very proud of the achieve lents of the past 50 years. Wonderfu fork had been accomplished by tin

3aehers down the ages. Replying to the toast, Mr. K. White, recent headmaster, said the school mst have had a very live spirit to have ailed so many together again. He paid ribute to the work of the school comlittees.

Mr. J. A. Nash spoke of the early days of the district and recalled how difficult it had been for them to get into Palmerston North for shopping. For many it had been a case of walking. The pioneers had done wonderful work in their day and those living to-day could never realise tho magnitude of the task which confronted tho early settlers. There were still some alive who had seen the vast changes. Mr. Nash expressed, on behalf of tho visitors, thanks to the people of Linton for the arrangements made for the jubilee. In particular ho mentioned tho womenfolk who had prepared and organised tho luncheon which had been carried through in professional style. Everything had gone like clockwork, even to the parking of tho cars. He moved a vote of thanks to the jubilee committee for the excellence of the arrangements (applause). Mr. Lynch returned thanks on behalf of the committee. Photographs were then taken . of the old pupils, the groups being in decades. JUBILEE BALL Linton was tho scene of gay festivities on Friday when the jubilee opened with a grand ball. The hall was very gay with festoon lighting and blue and gold decorations the work of Messrs. J. Hillas, F. Batchelar, O. Batchelar, R. Batchelar, D. Lynch, J. Gilliland, J. Hight and Misses L. Rix, M. Crowe, J. Hallman, N. and M. Lynch. The largo crowd which had travelled from far and wide had barely room to dance and it is many years since the hall’s capacity has been so heavily taxed. Music was provided by a professional orchestra, i Messrs. O, Batchelar and J. Hight were

the M.C’s. Dancing continued until a < late hour. Novelty dances were won by Miss E. Mcßrearty and Mr. I. Proctor (lucky spot), Miss Wilton and Mr. Tregill (Monte Carlo). Amongst those pre- ' sent were Mrs. J. Robertson, pink satin; : Miss Marjory Rix, mauve georgette; Mrs. T. Lynch, fuchsia satin; Miss E. Gretton, blue georgette; Mrs O. Terry, , black satin silver lame; Miss D. Currin, i blue satin; Miss M. Carr, floral ange*skin satin; Mrs. J. Tucker, green floral ! marocain; Miss M. Lynch, white georgette; Miss Tottman, black velvet floral ’ tunic; Miss R. Tucker, flame satin; Mrs. Waterson, mulberry satin; Miss London, ' black floral taffeta; Miss Monica Lynch, green floral taffeta; Mrs. K. Snelling, 5 blue taffeta; Mrs. W. Brown, red net; ] Mrs. E. Hanan, cyclamen taffeta; Miss ‘ O’Downel, black velvet; Mrs. R. Beck- . ett, green taffeta; Mrs. M. Rix, bluo satin; Mrs. A. E. McLeod, black taf- ! feta; Mrs. C. Jeffs, black georgette and lace; Miss I. Jeffs, pink lace; Miss M. ‘ Jeffs, blue net; Miss 1.. Rix, blue georg- ' ette; Miss E. Digby (Apiti), green : georgette; Mrs. F. Moody, green floral * georgette; Miss R. Davies, bronze taf- ; feta; Miss P. Terry, clover taffeta; Mrs. : L. MeNabb, blue and cyclamen em- ! bossed satin; Mrs. C. Tucker, cyclamen ' satin; Mrs. E. H. Bowler, gold satin; ’ Mrs. J. Humphrey, biue floral taffeta, J Mrs. Mcßay (Taihape), black lace; ; Miss M. Gretton, nil green georgette; ' Mrs. O. Larsen (Shannon), navy satin; 1 Mrs. J. Peterana (Dannevirke), black; ' Mrs. Poanauga, geranium georgette; Miss I. Poananga, white georgette; MiBS B. Churchcr, red crepe; Mrs. H. Samep, fuschia satin beaute; Mrs. T. Dunshea, petunia metal cloth; Miss Doris McMurtrie, shell pink slipper satin; Miss N. Churcher, pink crepe; Miss M. Crowe, floral taffeta; Miss J. Young, gold satin; Mrs. K. Moody, vfolet and silver taffeta; Mrs. G. Tucker, j petunia satin; Miss Bird, rose pink crepe; Mrs. W. Smith, black taffeta, pink rose-buds; Mrs. Merriman, black : satin, pink tunic; Miss Blak<», black '

crepe and red; Mrs. McMurray, petunia jeloque; Mrs. Roberts (Christchurch), black floral; Mrs. G. Wildbore, green voile; Mrs. D. Currin, bottle green velvet; Miss Z. Terry, mauve georgette; Miss B. Hampson, blue taffeta; Miss N. Lynch, blue taffeta and diamante; Mrs. R. Craw, navy taffeta; Miss N. Terry, black georgette, green girdle; Miss S. Young, petunia georgette; Miss D. Buglas, sea green crepe; Miss A. Anderson, violet georgette; Mrs. B. Moody, brown floral satin; Mrs. E. Wischnowsk}*, black; Miss N. Russell, black velvet; Miss A. Wilde, floral voile; Miss A. Russell, black velvet and lace; Mrs. K. Russell, blue lace; Mrs. Moyes, wine satin; Mrs. Knox (Kimbolton), floral ninon; Miss Young, black mouseline; Mrs. S. Rix, black floral georgette; Mrs. Lash, black and white silk; Mrs. E. Ward, blue elephant crepe; Mrs. B. Currie, floral georgette; Miss Beckett, black taffeta; Mrs. W. Gooch, navy crepe de chine; Mrs. Gilliland, green crepe and silver; Mrs. G. Bacon, pink satin; Miss J. Hallman, apple green georgette; Mrs. W. Pinfold, black taffeta; Mrs. C. H. Craw, floral organdie; Miss Seigel (Hastings), floral silk; Miss Margaret Lynch, blue satin; Miss Mary Lynch, pink taffeta; Miss Free, green taffeta; Mrs. J. Lynch, gold moire satin and clover; Mrs. D. Ward, wine taffeta; Miss Judd, rainbow georgette; Mrs. J. Peterana, blue lace; Miss M. Peterana, black net; Miss B. Algie, green georgette; Mrs. Algie, floral ninon; Mrs. Schwabe, Marina moire taffeta.