GISBORNE HIGH SCHOOL REUNION by D. SWANN During the weekend of 6, 7, 8th March, 1959, Jubilee Celebrations will be held at the Gisborne Boys' High School to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the school's foundation. The main feature of the many functions to be held, will be the opening of the War Memorial Pavilion on the Rectory grounds. Prior to 1909, secondary education in Gisborne was carried out under the old District High School system. Any old students may be assured of a special welcome even though the official beginning as a High School dates from 1909. It may be interesting to learn that three of the original foundation pupils of 1888 are still living in Gisborne—Mrs A. Thompson, Mrs J. Hughes and Mrs J. Graham. Fifty years have brought many changes–more pupils, larger playing areas, development of an industrial course, additional buildings, fire, earthquake, defeat and victory. They have also left behind many memories: the morning assemblies with the hymns, the class jokes, the playing field, the hard grind for some of us, for examinations. The record of our Maori people in the fine history of Gisborne High School is one of which the Maori Race may well feel proud. The photographs of the sports teams show success of our pupils in this part of school life. The honours boards show how well those Maori pupils who carried on their schooling to the highest forms can do. Their efforts must stand as an example to the many, for alas, only too few are willing to make the effort to attain academic success in a world where academic success is so necessary if the Maori race is to keep its proud place. Today in the Boys' High School—for in 1936 a separate girls school was established—there are over 100 Maori pupils out of a total of 670. There are four Maori boys in 6A and four among the prefects including the deputy Head Boy. Maori boys figure prominently in all the sports teams, and a Maori boy represented the school in the Overseas League Oratory Contest at Hamilton last year. March 1959 will provide an opportunity for Gisborne's old boys to walk the same corridors, to sit in the same rooms (the old desks are gone, but yours may be one of the few used in the film room), to sing the old songs and to join with our former class mates.

MEMORIES OF MY VALLEY (continued from page 35) they must have their wool ready for the New Zealand or overseas sales, and the men attend the sheep and stock sales either to sell or to buy; and this means travelling away from home. The men attend to the farm needs, while the women attend to the family and household needs, and for the women, stocktaking is an important task. Isolation has its restrictions, and thus flour and sugar are bought by the bag, and also other cooking ingredients for home baking are procured at the same time. Travelling in Winter is difficult and sometimes dangerous, and one must have enough supplies for the family to last the whole of winter. For these purposes, the women travel to Kawhia, Otorohanga, Te Awamutu or Te Kuiti. Most families attend the annual Coronation Celebrations of the Maori King at Turangawaewae Pa in October, and on these occasions, they learn of new policies of the New Zealand Government affecting the Maori people; they renew old acquaintances, and take part in the activities of old Maori institutions concerning their culture, their arts and crafts, at which the Maori King is the figurehead. The families also attend the Maori Land Court sittings in Kawhia; especially when there are applications of interest to them such as that of application for a Prospecting Licence over their ancestral lands—the sand dunes. There are no problem families in Taharoa and seldom any problems that cannot be generally discussed and solved by the people themselves. Time for them is regulated by the seasons of the year, by the phases of the moon and by the sun and the stars. They are the descendants of ancestors who have lived in the environment of economic resourcefulness. Their circumstances have favoured them, as is evident from the obvious contentment of the families, in their free relationships, and in their high standard of living.

MAORI GOLF The winner of the men's title at the 20th annual Maori national golf championships in Rotorua was J. Chapman (Titirangi). The women's title went to Mrs R. L. Sage (Hamilton). Semi final and finals resulted as follows: Men's Championship, Semi finals—J. Chapman (Titirangi) beat D. Morison (Springfield, titleholder). 1 up; J. Doherty (Springfield) beat E. Gray (Otaki) 2 and 1. Final—Chapman beat Doherty, 1 up. Women's Championship, Semi final—Mrs R. I., Sage (Hamilton) beat Mrs P. August (Napier) 2 and 1: Mrs D. Wilkie (Wanganui) beat Mrs T. Lawrence (Springfield) 4 and 2. Final—Mrs Sage beat Mrs Wilkie, 2 and 1.