WAITAHUNA GULLY SCHOOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19991, 7 January 1927, Page 12

WAITAHUNA GULLY SCHOOL.

JUBILEE PICNIC CELEBRATIONS.

During the past 50 years the Waitahuna Gully School Committee has held its annual picnic on December 31 of each year, and this popular event has always been looked forward to by pupils, residents, and visitors. Although the school was closed by the Education Board early in the past year owing to lack of pupils, the committee (which still functions) decided to go on with the fixture, it being the jubilee of the picnic. The day was beautifully line, anti a large number of visitors, expupils, and friends gathered to renew old friendships and talk over the happenings of their youthful days. Reminiscences of schooldays, schoolmates, notable characters of the merry fraternity were recalled and a chance remark here and there brought to mind some old resident almost forgotten oy the. intervening years. It was altogether a happy and memorable day for many, and in all probability the same company of the ‘ old brigade" will not again meet at the school of their childhood days. In addressing the gathering in the afternoon, Mr Jonn Edio (Lawrence) congratulated those who were instrumental in arranging the jubilee. It was fitting, he said, that such an event should take place, and ’ho felt gratified that so many of the early scholars were spared to be present that day. It gave him great pleasure to bo there to meet with so many of his old schoolmates, and he was sure they would all long remember the jubilee of 1926 of the old school. Dr L. A Line (Wellington) also expressed his pleasure at being present on such n notable occasion. He regretted the decay of mining operations in the Gully and the loss of so many happy associations. Alter the excitement and glamour of the rush in the early ’sixties had died down, many who lad followed mining pursuits, took up land in the district, and perhaps their efforts in that direction were more successful than gold mining. The spirit of the pioneet was still existant in the Gully, and, looking at the large assemblage present that day, there was abundant evidence that that spirit still existed. A number of group photographs were taken by friends during the afternoon. Notable amongst the visitors, ■ who constituted the scholars of ’76 and earlier, were; •Mrs J. H. Kerr (nee Edie), Oamaru; Mrs 11 Clements (nee Fennell), Kaitangata; Mrs Jas. Roger (nee Pennell), Dunedin; Mrs Keates (nee Miller), Dunedin; Mrs Clarke (nee Norden), Dunedin; Mrs Ed. Shepherd (nee Sutherland). Tapanui; Miss Jenet Duff, Tapanui; Miss Rose M’Corkindale, Waitahuna; Mr John Edie, Lawrence; Mr S. A. Dumbleton, Tapanui; Mr W. Pennell, Kaitangata; Dr L.. A. Line, Wellington; Mr F. Ellis, Mr Jas. Falconer, Mr Jas. Kirby, Mrs F. Pennell (nee Miller). Those of a decade later were: Mrs Drummond (nee Duff), Romahapa; Mr Ed. Duff, Kelso; Mr Geo. Duff, Highcliff; Mr Martin Kofoed, Dunedin; Mr Ed. Pearson, Beaumont; Mr Albert Kofoed. Wellington ; Mrs Jas. Bathgate (nee Kofoed), Mrs Elliott (nee Bobsein), Dunedin; Mrs Oswald (nee Kirby), Port Chalmers. Local scholars of 40 and 50 years ago were present in force and renewed many old acquaintances. Apart from ex-scholars, three old pioneer residents of the ’6l and '62 period were present —Mr John Pearson, of Beaumont; Mr H. B. Flett, Circle Hill; and Mr Harry Hagen, Waitahuna Gully. A dance was held in the Athenffium Hall in the evening, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne on the stroke of midnight brought an enjoyable and memorable gathering to a close.