FIFTY YEARS' SERVICE

Chronicle (Levin), 1 November 1946, Page 4

FIFTY YEARS' SERVICE

Te Horo School's Jubilee PLEASANT CELEBRATIONS Fifty years of excellept service to a country community is the milestone of achievement passed this year by the Te Horo School. Fitting celebration of this golden jubilee was made last, weekend, when- large numbers of past and present teachers and pupils, many of whom had come from distant places where they now reside, and residents of Te Horo gathered in a series of functions which were ex> ceedingly happyv and enjoyable. Many school day friendships which had lapsed in the passage of time and throngh departures from the district were renewed, and the meetings throughout the weekend were rich in reminiscences. Visitors Welcomed The celebrations opened'on Saturday afternoon in the school grounds and although a shower of rain caused a brief 'delay in the commencement, the - weather was overcast bur hne. Among those present were tlie following wno were pupils at the school on its opening day: Mrs. Maqdonald (nee Florence Mickell), of Matieri, .Mrs. C D Sutton (nee Jane Mickell), Qi fe Horo; Mrs. R. h Hagan (pee "Dolly" Taylor) , of Levin; and Mr. t h Tavlor. of Palmerston North.

The chairman of the jubilee committee, Mr. V. J. Cottle, expressed the pleasure it gave the orgamsers of the celebrations to see so manv ex-pupils present, coming as they had" don'e from many places as far as Whangarei in the- north to Temuka in the south. He warmly welcomed all. Mr. Cottle said it was his hope that everyone would enjoy che functions ahead and flnd pleasure in meeiing old friends. The teacher who opened the school in 1893, Mr. R. C. Drummond, now retired from the profession and residing at Masterton, held the interest of his hearers. He recounted incidents in the school's earliest days when it started with 28 pupils, In those days, he said, the pupils eame to school along bush tracks, where wild pigeons and wood hens abounded. • . Mr. A. Robinson, a member for the district on the Wellington Education Board, also spoke. He referred to the school's hunible beginning and the growth it hacl made in the past half century, and said he hoped that in the next 50 years it would double its present size. After the ceremony the proceedings were given over to present pupils at the school. Iee creams and soft drinks were distributed to them, while conjuring items by Mr. Edlin, of Otaki, provided them with plenty of amusement. The interest of adults^' centred* •m^the^ vexy . hne display of ' school and district photos, while in a large marquee chey were able to engage in a •friendlv cha-t over a cup of tea.

Reunion Dinner On Saturday nigiit a convivial reunion dinner was held in the settlers' hall, the interior of which had been beautifully decorated by the Te Horp Younger Set, headed by Misses B. Catley and J. Walker, its members on the jubilee committee. An excellent repast was provided and it was followed by ihe honouring of a toast-list. 1 The chairman was Mr. Cottle, who proposed the loyal toast, which was honoured in the customary manner. The other toasts were: — "The School," proposed by Mr. W. W. Westaway, of Wanganui, a past chairman of the school committee, and replied to by Mr. J. A. Duncan, the present headmaster; "The Old Settlers," Mr. R. W. Jenkins — Mr. H. Best; "The Ex-Pupils," Mr. K. Spiers— Mr. Clem Johnson, of Silverstream,- .a first pupil; "Tho 'Teachers/' Mr. A. Robinson— Mr. H. White, Scotfc, of Paraparaumu,* a former headmaster; "The School Committeemen," Mr. H. Lumsden — Mr. A. S. Blackburn, a past chairman; "Absent Friends," the chairman; "The Jubilee Committee," Mr. Marco Macdonald, an old pupil — the chairman (for the men members) and Mr. L. C. Faith (for the lady members ) . A handsome cake was cut by Mesdames Macdonald and Sutton. The function concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem. Church Parade On Sunday a churcn parade and service was held in the hall, the assembly of old pupils and residents being a large one. The music for the hymns was played by Miss I. Kirker, an ex-pupil. A splendid sermon was preached by the Rev. Paora Temuera, who, in an appropriate message, directed attention to the part which a school played in .the well-being of a community. • He concluded with the following quotation : Let the cairn be widespread, The sea like a greenstone pavements, And the shimmering warmth of the noon-day sun, Dance across thy pathway. . Old Pupils' Day * Monday afternoons actlvities were essentially for the pleasure of ex-pupiis and teachers. They were marshalled' in five decades as follows, the name of the teacher calling the roll in each case also being given: 1893-1902, Mr. R: C. Drummond, of Masterton; 19Q3-1912, Mrs. Smith (nee Miss Elsie Buchanan), Of Ohingaiti; 1913-22, Mrs. C. Thomson (nee Miss A. Hagan) , of Palmerston North, and Mrs. H. Lumsden (nee Miss May Muir ) , of Te Horo; 1923-32, Mr. H. White Scott, of Paraparaumu; 1933-42, Mrs. N. Patchett (nee Mrs. Savage) , of Tawa Flat. This was followed by group photographs taken in decades. Colonel C. G. ■ Powles read the

school's roll of honour for the two world wars, mentioning its fine record in having 66 ex-pupils who had xserved. He also feelmgly referred to those who had paid the supreme sacrifice. • Afternoon tea was dispensed and many photographs taken. A ball in the evening was one of the highlights .of the celebrations. The hall had been tastefully decorated by the Te Horo Youhger Set, while the floor was in excellent order as a result of the work of Mr. W. Eagle. Mr. Ben Rolfe was a capable master of ceremonies and kept proceedings moving a.t a merry "cempo. The organisation of the various functions and catering for such a large gathering was no small task, and the efficient way in which all arrangements were made . reflects high credit. on the jubilee committee, which consisted of Mr, V. JCottle (chairman) , Mesdames C. D. Sutton, C. Cobb and L. C. Faith; Misses B. Catley, P. A. Cottle (secretary) and J. Walker; and Messrs. E. Baines, V. E. Morgan, A. Faith, H. J. Windley, A. L. Macdonald and J. A. Dunearn Special mention must be made of the wgrk of Miss Cottle, who discharged- the m^ny operoiis secretarial duties in a manner which gave general satisfaction.