WAIKOUAITI'S CENTENARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 12

WAIKOUAITI'S CENTENARY

CELEBRATIONS COMMENCED SUCCESSFUL FUNCTIONS HELD The Waikouaiti centennial celebrations were commenced on Saturday, when a large gathering of the descendants of the pioneers who arrived by the Magnet on the Waikouaiti Beach in 1840, as well as ex-pupils of the Waikouaiti School, was held in the ,school grounds. The Mayor (Mr Andrew Fell) welcomed the visitors, some of whom had come from as far as the North Island, and hoped their stay in Waikouaiti would be a pleasant one. The afternoon was spent in the visitors renewing old acquaintances, and races were put on for the children. Refreshments were dispensed during the afternoon, and the gathering was a marked success. The oldest visitors present were Mrs William Hallum and Messrs W. L. Tennet and Peter White. The following were also present:—Mrs Fyfe (nee Miss Barton), first lady teacher; Miss Kirby, infant teacher, 1887-1919; Mrs Moncrief, Misses J. and L. Christie, Messrs William and Andrew Christie, James and Henry Valentine, Alex Aitcheson, James Flannery, Neil Stewart, Charles Duncan, Patrick Byrne, James Smith, Harold Smith, and Dr W. W. Moore and Dr Trotter. A social was held in the evening, the hall being filled. The Mayor opened the social welcoming those present, and the evening was spent in speeches by the sons of old pioneers, songs, an Empire tableau and a mannequin parade of old-time dresses. Mrs Symonds acted as Britannia, Mrs Holland Scotland, Mrs G. Ward Wales, Mrs J. O’Connell Ireland, Mrs A. Leckie Canada, Mrs T. Read Africa, Mrs D. Park Australia, Mrs J. V. McFie New Zealand, and Mrs Gilchrist India. The first speech was by Dr N. G. Trotter, Mayor of Riverton for the past 25 years, and a son of William Trotter, one of the passengers of the Magnet. Mr J. A. Valentine (New Plymouth), Dr W. W. Moore (Hastings), Mr A. Christie (Ashburton), Mr William Lee (chairman of the Waikouaiti Council) also spoke. Songs were contributed by Mr E. Russell, and Miss Warren, the pianists being Misses Park, Diack and Sandford. The birthday cake of 100 candles was brought in by Mrs J. A. Townsend, and cut by Mr B. Irwin, who celebrated his ninetieth birthday in February. “Auld Lang Syne” brought to a conclusion a very successful function. The celebrations continued with a thanksgiving service on Sunday in the public hall at 2.30 p.m., and will conclude to-day with a procession to the beach, the unveiling of a cairn to the early settlers, and a nubile social and dance in the evening.