LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1932, Page 10

LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS

WHAKAMARA SCHOOL JUBILEE FUNCTION OUTSTANDING SUCCESS PRESENCE OF THE FIRST TEACHER. 3 Memories of 50 years ago and more were revived at the Whakamara School jubilee on Saturday, when past and present pupils, teachers and settlers gathered at the school. Prominent in an assemblage that contained many • well known survivors of the pioneering period was Mrs. J. Bremer, New Plymouth, the first teacher, who opened the school in her own home.

There was, of. course, a programme, but to old schoolmates the outstanding part of the day was just to meet old friends and talk over school days again. Friendship surviving generations were renewed at one of the happiest functions that could be imagined for such an occasion. Visitors came from long distances and found their return to Whakamara often after the lapse of many years well worth while. In the playground two big lorries were backed together for a stage for speeches and concert items. A lavish tea was served in the schoolroom, and the fun was later continued in the sportsground. A brief word of welcome was extended to all by Mr. J. Dobson, chairman of the school committee, with whom on the platform were associated members of the jubilee committee. On 1 behalf of present pupils Mavis' Scott welcomed former teachers and pupils. Their presence showed that they loved and honoured their old school, and in this they set a good example of loyalty which she hoped the children would remember in years to come, she said. ’ '

Mr. C. J. Williams read messages of goodwill and apologies from Mr. and Mrs. I. V. Buchanan, Mr. and Mrs. M. Scott, Miss E. Wills and Mrs. Walters. Mfs. Walters ’ added a message of hope. They should not think too much of the depression but should get sunshine into their hearts, she said.

TREMENDOUS CHANGES. Mr. *E. A. Walters, a teacher some i years ago, said the years had brought | tremendous changes—changes probably i for the better. When he first came there was no schoolhouse, no hall, no factory, no telephones, but plenty of muddy roads. He congratulated pupils and teachers of recent years on the excellent work they had done. He could remember some' amusing stories of his teaching, at Whakamara. On one occasion he was .telling the children that it was difficult to judge the constitution of ah apimal by the outside appearance, and cited the example of himself and a friend. The friend was a big man and an athlete' and alongside him Mr. Walters .was “a weed.” The friend was dead while Mr. Walters was still very much alive. He heard one of the boys whisper and inquired what the remark was: “Oh, ; I just said ‘you can’t kill weeds,’” was the reply. Looking back over the years that had passed he had tried to recall the lives of pupils, who had passed through the school,, said Mr. T. J. Allen, one of the first pupils of the school. A number of the girls had entered the teaching profession and. had played an important part in furthering the education of other small New Zealanders. Other girls whom he could remember had gone in for nursing, but the great majority had been content to make good wives and mothers. Of the boys, Mr. G. W. Gane attained prominence as the inventor of the famous Gane milking machine, and others now occupied important positions in the business and producing world. SevI eral had taken their place as directors i of dairy companies, and some as chairi men. All these thoughts served to re- ■ mind old pupils of the debt they owed I to their teachers, and all should be proud i to think that their teaching had been I pf such a high standard. ! FIRST TEACHER’S MEMORIES. “My mother and I were the first women teachers in Wellington under the newly-formed New Zealand Education Act,” said Mrs. Brfemer. “When this Act became operative the smaller private schools suffered such a setback that they could no longer carry on. My mother interviewed the board with the result . that it agreed to grant her a license to' teach under this Act, and I was ejected a probationary pupil teacher. We agreed to go forward for the board’s inspection as soon as it had finalised the appointment of examiners, dates, etc. My mother eventually was mistress of the Tory Street Kindergarten School and died while in charge. “I was placed, under Miss Tarn, of the Buckle Street Girls’ School, Wellington, as a pupil teacher, and later I was appointed to the sole charge of a school at Kohi, Wairoa, now called Waverley. ’ After some years at this school I resigned my position and married. “The Kohi school celebrated its jubilee in 1930, and was held in an up-to-date building of several rooms, with several teachers on the staff—proving what an energetic community can accomplish. In the year 1881 we made our second move to Whakamara, the first one being to Whenuakura, Patea. 1 “We had scarcely settled at Whakamara when the Gane brothers asked me to open a school, as once it could be proved to the powers that were that ■ the number of children warranted the 1 building of a school the settlers would soon have ope." Although at great personal inconvenience, I consented to conduct the school until they could replace me. We had a large room in our house > that I; used as a schoolroom, the neces- ■ sary apparatus being sent from the ; neighbouring schools and Wellington. ■ Our district was separated from the Wellington district and incorporated in ■ Wanganui with headquarters at that town whilst I was in charge, so I can 1 claim to having served under both the Wellington and Wanganui boards, “It was not until later when Mr, William Duirs’ family arrived in Whaka- ■ mara from Scotland that anyone was ■ found to take over the school. Two years after I had been in charge Miss ' Mary Duirs, sister of Mr. William Duirs, ■ took the school over to their hou?e. I i do not know how long Miss Duir held ' office. . Later she was'carried to the late 1 Captain McNab and is now living in ' retirement at St. John’s, Wanganui. I 1 am pleased indeed that Mrs. McNab has been able to be with us at the jubilee celebrations to-day. f “1 liked my years spent in Whaka- I mara. There was virgin bush all around ! us. The' portions cleared were so rich, i

that everything grew in profusion. If one threw pumpkin or any other kind of seed down, a very heavy crop, without care or attention of any kind, would result. Our one-time neighbour, Mr. Weymiss Scott, was noted as a successful gardener and I believe his pumpkins, and indeed all his vegetables, were marvellous for their size. Strawberries grew in profusion and we had a wonderful patch of this succulent berry. I usually found time to stem the berries and would send down a huge milkpan full for the men shearers’ afternoon tea. One day I sent the berries down unstemmed but the men would not bother with them and the berries remained uneaten. In those days we boarded the sharears and had the same white men each year. FERTILITY OF THE SOIL. “I would like to make reference again to the growing capacity of the Whakamara soil, There were lovely peach groves in the old-time Maori garden clearings throughout the bush. Row upon row of peach trees had been planted by the Maori women at the edge of their kumara and potato gardens in the days when the land was solely occupied by the natives. They were delicious peaches, but we often became tired of them before the season was over. I used to split and stone very large numbers of these beautiful peaches and thread them on knitting cotton. These I hung out in the sun where they dried and were beautifully preserved for winter use.

“During the early years of our occupation at Whakamara there were several Maori scares. Te Whiti, the Parihaka ■prophet, with other Maori leaders, were creating disturbances and ploughing the land of the settlers in various parts of the province, The settlers in Whakamara all kept loaded rifles in their homes, and on several occasions the women and children were ordered to Patea or Wanganui for sanctuary. However, I stayed on at my own home, although on' several occasions prowling natives gave me a scare.

“On one occasion a tattooed old Maori chief came to our house armed with a tomahawk.. He wanted to know where my husband was. My husband and Mr. Duirs- were some distance from the house engaged in farming pursuits and I told the old native where they were. He tried to enter the house, but I had been warned to keep all th- natives out a? we did not want them t<? take the rifles,’which were kept loaded inside. Eventually the old Maori commanded me to lead him to where my husband and Mr. Duirs were at work. After all the old fellow was really friendly disposed towards us and proved a friend rather than an enemy, warning us to keep as close to the house, as possible as the Maoris were on the war trail.

j “Many a sleepless night we passed, and the menfolk all had to go out to the Manutahi blockhouse for drill. After the arrest of Te Whiti and Tohu at Parihaka the Maoris settled down peacefully and we had ‘no further trouble on that score.” 5 . Later Mrs. Bremer made a brief speech in the grounds, recalling events of the past, BOARD’S CONGRATULATIONS. Dr. W. M. Thomson presented the congratulations of the Taranaki Education Board. There were still household schools in the bush country and in some parts schools were still held in public halls, he said. If it had not .been for the depression he thought they would have had a new school at Whakamara, which was urgently needed. The district was fortunate in having a good hardworking committee. He congratulated Mr. Dobson on his record as. chairman of and member of the committee for a number of years. ■ At afternoon tea the giant birthday cake was cut by Mrs. Bremer and she received a flag off the top.

There was plenty of entertainment, including songs by the school children and by Grace Allen, national items by Pipers G. Reid and I. Campbell, Miss D. Nairn and Master Stewart Nairn, hakas and pois by teams of Patea Maoris and burlesque items by Messrs H. le Fleming, L. Greenbanks, A. Harvey and A. Herbert. There were sports events and scrambles for the children, and all the youngsters had an enjoyable day. The school was specially decorated for the occasion. On the walls were samples of the pupils’ work and photographs of early Whakamara and its residents. Among the hundreds who were present were;—

Old teachers: Mrs. Bremer, Mrs. M. E. Judd (nee Rodgers), Mr. H. S. Kibblewhite, Mrs. A. M. Kerrisk (nee Anthony), Mrs. A. Anthony, Mrs. M. I. Hislop (nee Morecraft), Mr. M. Goldsbury, Miss 'M. J. McNab and Mr. E. H. Walters. Old committeemen: Messrs F. S. Anthony, D. Kerrisk, O. Crawford, J. Kerrisk, J. R. Murch, A, ’J.’ Davies and Ivo Honeyfield. Old pupils: Mr. G.’ W; Gane, Mrs. P. Stretton (nee Edwards), Mrs. C. M. Hill (nee Bremer), Mrs. 0. M. McDonald (nee Williams), Mrs. R. E. Bamford (nee Williams), Miss Harrington, Miss N. Harrington, Mrs. W. Ewing, (nee Anthony), Mrs. I. C. Lander (nee Williams), Mrs. J. Kerrisk (nee Anthony), Mr. D. Crawford, Miss I. M. Anthony, Mr. T. J. Allan, Mrs. Jerry Kerrisk (nee Small), Mrs. T. Hogan (nee Small), Mrs. A. Maule (nee Milham), Mr. G. W. Williams, Mr. Allan Robertson, Mr. T. Tewaka, H. R. Scott, Waroa, M. M. Scott, P. E. Buckrell, Mrs. T. C. List (nee Bremer), Mrs. T. A. Kerrisk (nee Edwards), Miss M. W. Mac Nab, Mr. A. W. Herbert, Mr. W. J. Marsh, Mr. W. H. Illston.

Ribbons signifying the decade during which they attended were worn by old pupils. A pleasing little ceremony was Mrs. Bremer pinning ribbons on three of her old pupils—Mrs. Stratton and Messrs Walter Adwards and G. W. Gane. In the evening a dance was held in the Whakamara Hall, and again there was a big attendance. Mr. Ray Wilis, Mokoja, played the music and Mr. O. Crawford was master of ceremonies. Mr. Crawford mentioned that Mr. Wills’ father had played the music for Whakamara dances years ago. He referred to his own connection with the school as a member of the committee and urged on all parents the duty of taking an interest in the school. Mr. S. Buckrell, chairman of the jubilee committee, offered thanks to all who had assisted with the celebrations, making particular reference to Mrs. H. Scott and Messrs J. Gulliver and C. J. Williams.

Miss Ella Rodgers, New Plymouth, Sang and Mr. J. Christie recited. The celebrations concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

The chairman of the jubilee committee was Mr. S. Buckrell and Mr. C. J. Williams was secretary. Messrs H. Scott, A. Langley, J. Potter, J. Dobson and -A. Wrigley and Mrs. Scott also acted. .The ladies who assisted with. the tea were Mesdames S. Buckrell, H. Scott, J. Dobson, A. Wrigley, H. le Fleming, C. J. Williams, J. Potter, J. Gulliver, A. Harvey, J. Barkla, Arbon, A. Meuli, E. A. Christie, E. Buckrell, Herbert, Shrimpton, Greenbanks, Skevington, Davies, Rothery and Caldwell.

The Whakamara School came under the jurisdiction of the Taranaki Education Board in 1916. Prior to that it had been, controlled by the Wanganui Education Board.

f' TAIPOROHENUI PA HALL 1 _ i OPENING CEREMONY CONCLUDES. ‘ ATTENDANCE OF 1600 AT SOCIAL. 3 The ceremonies in connection with the ■ opening of the new dining hall, Kautu I Ki Ti Rangi, at the Taiporohenui Pa were 3 brought to a close on Friday night, when 1 1600 people were present to listen to an • open air concept and to dance m the ' newly opened hall. f The evening proceedings opened with a ' church service, attended by the older 5 generation of Maorist At 8 p.m. the Ha--1 wera Municipal Band arrived and was met at the gate of the pa by Mr. Scotty Panenui and conducted to the large stage which had been erected in the open air between the new ball and the meeting 1 house. While the band played its open- ' ing number on the stage Mis. Rangi ’ Maranui (Matapu) danced a hula. Be'r fore the band played its next number, a waltz, Mr. Panenui asked the pakehas . present to enter the hall and dance the ' first dance in the new building. The Pipe band next marched in. ( Other items on the concert programme were: Sketches by Mr. J. Dredge and party; ancient poi dances by the Pareroa Pa poi team led by Miss B. Tupito; medley of tunes and a waltz, Hawera Savage Club Orchestra, conducted by Mr. F. Ollerenshaw; poi dances, Ohangal pakeha poi team consisting of Misses Hamilton (2), Wallace, Trilford and Pafchell; Highland fling, Miss Doreen Nairns; Irish jig, Master Stewart Naims; pipe band selections; modem poi dances, Taiporohenui poi team with orchestral accompaniment played by Messrs. J. Phillips, J. Bishaw, B. Pokere anjl A. Pokau. The poi team was Misses J. Whakarua, Ivy Poiki, Winnie Panenui, Edna Epia, Moki and Norma Govenor, Lena Ngeru and Koru. The jubilee songs, “E Pari Ra” and “Now ’Tis the Hour,” were sung by the Taiporohenui girls, as were the dance and song “Somebody Loves You.” Little Pat Korau gave an exhibition of the hula dance. Speeches were made by Mr. J. B. Laurenson (on behalf of pipe band), Mr. J. E. Campbell (jubilee committee), Mr. Fox (Hawera Municipal Band) and Mr. Spragg (Hawera Savage Club), thanking the Taiporohenui Maoris for the hopour they had done them.- Mr. Panenui replied in Maori, interpreted by Sfr. Whakarua. • Dance music was played by Mr. Dredge’s orchestra until after the concert. After that the Taiporohenui Syncopaters provided the music. The master of ceremonies was Mr. G. Broughton. THE MAORI SITUATION FEARS OF EARLY SETTLERS. ‘ HORSES KEPT READY SADDLED. / Relations with the Maoris were still strained when the first settlers went to WhAkarnara, and this is strikingly brought out by the reminiscences of Mr. W. Edwards, whose family arrived - in 1878. Mr. Edwards well remembers that his mother was afraid to light fires for fear of attracting the attention of the natives. The people living where Mr. E. A. Langley does now kept their horses saddled ready for a quick escape. An experience befell Mr. Edwards when he visited the Mokoia Pa with his father. The women and children spat at them as they went past. On one occasion the Maori tension became more acute, and the settlers sought refuge in Hawera and Manutahi for six weeks. Mr. Edwards can remember the arrest of the Maoris concerned in the ploughing incident at Hawera. He has a dim memory of them handcuffed in couples. ! His father brought his stock overland from Wellington, the trip taking, three weeks. The land 1 he bought was originally a soldiers’ grant. The house was built of timber off the property and pitsawn on the river-flat. The pit can still be seen. v

The first track was through the Travis property, and later there was another one from Manutahi through the farm of a Mr. Taylor. His mother was seven years in Whakamara without leaving it. Communications were poor, and often a man would walk back from Manutahi with a' bag of flour on his back. Fifty-one years ago wool was 6d a lb and butter 4d. Very little money changed hands, most of the trading being done by barter. His father exchanged a watch for a gun. Settlers grew their own wheat, some of which was ground at the old Tawhiti mill and some by travelling mills.

The Alans and Williams were early settlers at Meremere, whence the store cart used to come to Whakamara through the Pokomoko. His father carted the timber for the first Pokomoko bridge from Nornjanby, the trip each way taking a whole day. His father also carted the timber for the Jubilee Hall. The Edwards family was in the district two years before the school was opened. Mr. Edwards can remember the Hawera school, which then consisted .of two rooms surrounded by fem. He can also remember his mother, coming to Hawera by train from New Plymouth and walking home. He rode in to Hawera, sometimes in an hour. Horses had more stamina then, and he once rode to Stratford and back in a day: Alec Duirs used to ride into school at Hawera every day.

There was a railway camp in the Manawapou Valley when the big viaduct was built, between 200 and 300 men being in camp. There were two blacksmith shops, two boarding-houses and a bakehouse.

When Mr.. Edwards was 19 he felled bush on Mr. G. Buckrell’s farm at £1 per acre. An acre took him a week, but exeprienced bushmen could do three acres a week.

Among the early settlers were Messrs. J. Scott, G. Buckrell, Milham, W. Wallace, J. Gane, Bremer, Thomas, Williams and Duirs.

WHAKAMARA SCHOOL SUCCESS. BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUB TROPHIES. The remarkable success of pupils, of the Whakamara school in Boys' and Girls’ Club events was evidenced whep Mr. J. R. Corrigan presented trophies at the jubilee celebrations on Saturday. Mr. Corrigan said that during an eventful period of 50 years in a new country, many experiences were made and many changes came about. It was from the knowledge of those experiences that he asked his hearers to remember to-day that the sun had not gone out of business, that it would shine again on .prosperity and that there would soon come better times. When the Whakamara school started, there were no such amenities as calf rearing tuition or crop growing instruction, but as time went on, parents, school committees and others began to realise that efforts should be made to give their children something more than they themselves had received. Thus the very valuable scheme known . as the Boys’ and Girls’ Agriculture Clubs came into existence, and children were given facilities to study the correct methods of growing roots, judging stock, looking after animals and fitting themselves to become successful producersAs an old settler of Taranaki, Mr. Cor-.

rigan said it was almost impossible for the younger generation to appreciate fully the difficulties that faced the pioneers who came into the district over the gullies and gorges that surrounded it. The boys and girls of to-day would be the men and women of to-morrow whose job it would be to produce the goods that kept New Zealand going. Theirs was a great heritage, but, with the education young people were receiving today, they should succeed and succeed nobly. Mr. Corrigan proceeded to distribute prizes won by pupils of the school under the club competitions but before doing so, he paid a tribute to the splendid results achieved by the school. The awards were: Calf-rearing, dairy condition, JerseyAyrshire class: M. Langley, first in group (badge) and second champion (Corrigan Challenge Cup). Cow-judging competitions: John Gulliver, second in group. Carrots: Doug. Gulliver, championship (Corrigan Cup) and first in group (badge); Jack Gulliver, second champion (Corrigan Cup) and second in group (badge;. Mangolds: Len Gulliver, championship (Webb Cup) and first in group (badge). Mrs. Bremer, the first teacher, congratulated the children on their success. The competitions were well worthy of encouragement. general' items. The 110th anniversary of New Zealand Methodist Missions was cejebgted at the Hawera Methodist Church yesterday. Special services wepe held, addresses to large congregations being given by the Rev. A. J. Seamer (general superintendent) in the morning and the Rev. R. T. Haddop (Maori superintendent) in the evening. The services were choral in character, members of the Maori mission party participating. Thirty-eight registered unemployed families at Hawera last week received 41b butter, 191 b tea, 2381 b flour, 1681 b sugar, 56 bread coupons, 921 b rice and 4561 b potatoes. The Auroa junior Red Cross circle has been busy filling a large box with toy animals of all kinds, made out of school hours. The toys, are so well made and are such a varied assortment that they will be on view at the next W.DJF.U. meeting before being sent away by Sister Small to the needy. The animals include toddy bears, made with fur dyed with Copdy’s crystals, squirrels, bunptos, gollywogs, elephants, and cats made from scraps and stuffed with wool and waste material. The patterns were given by the nresident of the A.uroa branch of the W.D.F.U., Mrs. C. Benton, To assist the Tokaora school picnic fund a social and dance will be held in the Tokaora hall to-morrow night. Particulars are advertised. Joel a Stotefl boy reaidtes

wjth his parents in Manawaiou Road, Hawera, was admitted to the Hawera Hospital yesterday suffering from chest injuries. His condition to satisfactory. It is understood the accident occurred while his father was manoeuvring .his car. rain tepninated p]sy on the Patea croquet lawns on Saturday when

a Yankee tournament was in progress. Tfie Rev. A. G. Irvine, Ashburton, conducted the services at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Hawera, yesterday.