EARLY DAYS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6142, 28 September 1945, Page 4

EARLY DAYS

KING TA WHIG MAKES PINCERS THE TARAWERA ERUPTION In a letter apologising for his inability to attend the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Kihikihi Presbyterian Church, Mr Heywood Armstrong, of Aotea R.D., Te Mata, said: You know, we who spent our young days there, always think of Kihikihi with the same feeling that an Old Country person out here dees of England, and Kihikihi brings back many pleasant recollections of bygone days, i have only been through Kihikihi three or four times since the last war, and never forget to mention when passing the school that “there is the place where I received my college education.” Tokanui Hospital and Waikeria in those days were our happy hunting grounds in running down wild Maori ponies. At that time I worked in Mr Jas. Clark’s wheelwright shop, just in front of the Presbyterian Church, and on one rabbit skin day the Maori King, Tawhio, came into the shop with a piece of hoop-iron, borrowed a file and a hammer, sat down at the block and (college education will tell) made a pair of pincers for pulling out his whiskers. I remember Tarawera. I have heard some bombardments in France during the last war, but nothing compared to the night of the eruption. Perhaps it is only a case of distance lends enchantment to the scene, so it will be with a big regret that I shall not be able to attend as I do not suppose I shall be able to attend the next jubilee.