Memorable Half Century of Progress

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 136, 21 May 1936, Page 5

Memorable Half Century of Progress

i , CARDIFF'S GOLDEN JUBILEE SPLENDID SUCCESS OF' CELEBRATIONS. - i jurn 'if/! vtf lialjrro:*" '.'■■i'l/ -. ', iOs! ■« '- ; .A Kit/; fjfii; I'M btiu illtSCATTERED PIONEER FAMILIES GATHER TOGETHER. OVER TWO HUNDRED AT FEND RE-UNION DINNER. Strong feelings of friendship for their fellows and attachment ito the districts in which they lived and worked arc generally regarded as characteristic of those pioneers who, with indomitable courage and fortitude, faced the rigorous life . of, farming in the backblocks of New Zealand in the early days.. A striking demonstration of the depth and far-reach-ing effect of this tradition was provided at the opening of the Cardiff Jubilee yesterday. Over two hundred and fifty people assembled at the Cardiff school at half-past ten in the rrorning. Old Cardiff residents came from all over New Zealand to join with their friends and relations in celebrating the Gol.len jubilee of the district. Among those who assembled were many members of the original pioneer families, including eight of the children of Mr. and Mis. Johnson, who provid -d the room for the first scoool at Cardiff. The Belcher, March Ralfe, Corley and Gilshnan families were also represented. At half-past ten the assembly, headed by the older identities, marched in order from the school to the War Memmorial. Here'they stood with bowed heads while Messrs. G. A. Marchant and J. T. Belcher placed a wreath on the steps of the memorial; ' The sounding of the Last Post by Mr. H. Voght cofnpleted this ceremony.

Although the accommodation of the Cardiff Hall was somewhat overtaxed, the re-union dinner held after the service was a highly; successful function and many fond memories of life in Cardiff in the early days were renewed when men and of whom had not seen one another since they went to school together, faced one another across the tables. The early settlers who spoke in reply to the toast told many amusing anecdotes of their youthful days.

In talking of the hardships they had endured in those days, they all seemed to be of opinion that they had not minded the work which they had done, because they had an ambition to fiulfland a faith in the value of their task. Several of them mentioned the courage of the women who had worked with them, and expressed the opinion that they were even more to be praised than the men.

MEMORABLE DOCUMENT.

; Stratford; Dorothy Gable, Cardiff: 'John W. Kenyon, Riyerlea; Mrs. A. I Stott (Annie Greemvell), New Ply- | mouth; Harold Horn, Stratford; Alma jh. Osborn; Mrs.. E, h Olsson (Emma

JUBILEE REGISTER. Names Of Pioneers, Ex-Pupils And Teachers. NOT YET COMPLETE. A document which will be a most cherished posseseion of the Cardiff people will be the register which was signed by the pioneers of the district and the ex-pupils and teachers of the school at the reunion dinner in the hall. The register is not yet complete, as a number of those present omitted to sign their names; but it is hoped to get all tha names before the conclusion of to-day's celebrations. Among those cu the list are: Pioneers. 0. L. Frank, New Plymouth; Henw Jchnson, Stratford; Harriet Johnson, Stratford; Mrs. Keppel, Manaia; Maurice Keppel, Manaia; H. M. Osborn,

Lacey), WooOville; .Mrs. M. Wright (Moira Ralfe), Raglan; Mrs. Joe Smith (Myrtle Petersen), Pungarehu; Annie Petersen, Taruturangi; Eldred Petersen, Stratford; Mrs. A. Lob'b (Emma Richards), Stratford; Peggy B. Gall, Cardiff; Coral Rayner, Cardiff; Blanche Mander, Cardiff; Mavis Ray ner, Cardiff; Margaret Brunton, Cardiff; Joan Rayner, Cardiff; Edith Mander, Cardiff; Norman W. Porter, Poriaka; Betty Brunton, Cardiff; Rose Blair, Cardiff: Mrs. H. Gadsby, Eileen Gable, Cardiff; J. J. P. Whyts, Stratford; Mrs. G. Smith (Myrna Loproth), Toko; Mrs. Lehmann (Molly Richardson), Stratford; Herbert Edward Johnson, Hawera; Mrs. H. C. Duckett (Lily Richardson), Awatuna; Mrs. R. 11. Hammond (Agnes Blair), Ohakune; Charles Corley, Cardiff; Mrs. 0. Me Fagden, Tauranga; Reg. J. Smith, Cardiff; Mrs. MeFagden (Stella Atkinson), Dunedin; Mrs. S. A.

Covell (Sylvia A. McFagden), Tau ranga Gate Pa; Mrs. A. Mander (Mm nie Belcher), Cardiff; Ethel Belcher, Cardiff; Mrs R. G. Ward (Mary Ena Henderson), Fernside, Rangiora; Mrs

Stratford; H. Brown, Stratford; Alf. David, Stratford; Howard David, Stratford; Albert Slieard, Urenui; J. B. Clombw, Stratford; Mrs. Porter, Pera kin; Ruth Smith, Cardiff; L. Crottley Kapuni; T. W. Walters, Otorohanga; J. T. BelcheV; Cardiff; Mrs. Belcher, Cardiff; M. J. Dale, Te'Aroha; Frank Baker, New Plymouth; Edward John Baker, New Plymouth; Ida I. Sattler, Stratford; Mrs. W. A. Burrell, Stratford; G. A. Marchant, Cardiff. Early Teachers. Ruby Were, Toko; Annie Dromgcol, Strathmore; Ethel Belcher, Cardiff; Mrs. Phillips, Stratford; T. W. John son, Cambridge. Ex-Pupils of the School. Wallace Belcher, Christchurch; Mrs H. Croasdale (Meta Belcher), Otorohanga; A. Townsend, Hawera; 11. Townsend, Cardiff; Mrs H. H. Rogers (Edith Whyte), Stratford; H. H. Gilsh nan, Opunake; Mrs Croot (Fanny Col lingwood), Stratford; Mrs Lummas (Beatrice Belcher), Wanganui; Mrs Z. L. West (Maud Belcher), Taupiri; Mrs. Stanley George (Jessie Husband), Auckland; Bettsie Husband; Charles i'Marchant, Cardiff; 'Mrs. A. Loonay (Clara Belcher), Mere Mere; Mrs. E. Brinkworth (Ella Belcher), Matangi; Mrs. E. E. Murray (Emily Gilshnan). Te Kuiti; Mrs. O. T. Parry (Ethel Mildred Kenyon), Menaia; Mrs. 0. Parkinson (Janie Kenyon), Otorohanga; Mrs W. Frank (Freda Greenwell), Stratford; Mrs Walsh (Mary Ann Savage), Stratford; Mrs. W. A. Curtis (Minnie Savage), Hamilton East; A. W. Ben nett, Ohaupo; D. W. Brunton, Cardiff. M. A. Belcher, Stratford; A. D. John son, Lowgarth; Mrs. R. Webby (Elsie Richardson), Cardiff; Ray L. Shannon (Cardiff); W. F. Archer, Stratford; D. C. Gable> Cardiff; L. Dempsey, Stratford; P. Lee, Stratford; M. Whyte,

F. J. Robertson (Borleand May Henderson), Fernside, Rangiora; Mrs. F. J. Robertson (Barbara May Henderson), Christchurch; Mrs. D. 0. Sullivan (Gladys Johnson), Inglewood; Arthur M. O'Sullivan, Cardiff; Mrs Ellen Cameron, Cardiff; Harold Marchant, Cardiff; Percy F. Marchant, Cardiff; Lytton David, Stratford; Albert E. E. Belcher, Cardiff; Edythe M. Washer (Tiny Barleyman), Hawera; Keith Porter, Wellington; May Jones (May Porter), Taumarunui; Olive West (Olive Dixon), Morrinsville; Mr. A.

Watkin, Urenui-; Mrs A. E. Sheard (C. E. Watkin), Urenui; Lorna Coble, Cardiff; Z. Z." Ralfe, Bulls; L. H. Richards, Cardiff; Mary Marchant, Cardiff; R. Richardson, Cardiff; Arthur A. Osborne, Te Awamutu; Mrs. J. M.' Wisnewski, Stratford; Mrs L. Baker, Stratford; Mrs S. B. Siflcet (Lucy Dixon), Waikato; W. H. Richardson, Lowgarth; W. Richards, Auckland.

CHILDREN'S FUNCTION.

©ERVHGI2 IN'SCHOOLROOM, While the re-union dinner was fn progress at Cardiff, a separate .function was held in tho schoolroom for the children, where a short service was conducted by the Rev. C. O. Hailwood. The arrangements for the special dinner for , the children were in the hands of Mrs. R. Perry and Mrs. P. R. Smilh. v , ; . ~,