NEWSTEAD REUNION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 4

NEWSTEAD REUNION

i JUBILEE OF SCHOOL | FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS OLD PUPILS ASSEMBLE Memories of pioneering schooldays in the Waikato were revived on Saturday when nearly 500 people from various parts of the district gathered at Newstead to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school’s establishment. Favoured by ideal holiday weather the school ground with its many shady trees, planted for the most part by early settlers, and green lawns was a charming venue for the day's festivities. During the morning ex-teachers and pupils, past and present, fraternised, renewing friendships that had been broken by the passing of the years and exchanging reminiscences, many were the stories told of early schooldays when Newstead or Poverty Flat, as it was then called, was nothing but a swampy waste covered with scraggy manukas. In those far-off days the land along what was then known as the Piako Road was divided into small holdings for soldier settlements and the pioneers’ children used to make the long journey to the Hamilton East School on foot. Thanks to the guidance of Captain James Runciman and voluntary aid given by the settlers themselves the Marshmeadows (Newstead) School, consisting of one room and a porch, was opened on October 6, 1890. Official Welcome In welcoming the visitors, Mr W. H. Baker, chairman of the Jubilee Committee, and a son of Mr William Baker, senn., the sole surviving member of the original committee, briefly outlined the progress of the school down the years and paid tribute to its many teachers. As district representative of the Auckland Education Board, Mr A. N. Macky congratulated the Newstead School Committee on the success of the function and referred to the foresight the pioneers and Captain Runciman, in particular, had shown in planting the grounds with trees. These trees, continued Mr Macky, were a monument to all those who had helped in the founding of the school. Another figure in the history of Newstead School was Miss M. J. Allely, now of Tauranga, who, during the 15 years she was headmistress, won the respect and affection of parents and pupils alike. Mr C. A. Barrell. M.P. for Hamilton, conveyed greetings from the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, who regretted his inability to be present at the function. Mi Barrell characterised teaching as one of the most difficult of professions and said that the utmost credit was due to the different teachers who had done such praiseworthy work among the children of the district. The nation’s duty to youth and children was stressed by Mr H. D. Caro, Mayor of Hamilton, who said that one of the strong bulwarks of dSEsocracy was that it produced better schools and teachers than the totalitarian states. Jubilee Roll Call Following the official speeches came the most interesting part of the celebrations, the calling of the Jubilee Roll. Of the 33 pupils who assembled at the new school in 1890, 13 were present on Saturday. Other age-groups were also well represented and it was noticeable that there were considerably more of the older ex-pupils than those who had passed through the school in recent years. Displays of folk-dancing .were given by present pupils and the school bell was rung by the oldest ex-teacher present, Miss K. J. Scott (now Mrs C. S. Macky). Mr William Baker, senr., the sole surviving member of the first Newstead School Committee, who is now 94 years old, planted a tree in the school grounds. The Jubilee cake was cut by Mrs T. Manktelow, mother of four of the school’s foundation pupils. In the evening a reunion dance was held in the Newstead Hall and the celebrations were concluded by a united Thanksgiving Church Service on Sunday, conducted by the Rev. W. Gatman.