WAIKINO OLD BOYS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4959, 7 April 1926, Page 1

WAIKINO OLD BOYS.

ANNUAL BEUMON.

There, must be something about mining and its allied industries, that induces in its: followers that spirit of camaraderie that is not found among ' ■ the followers of other vocations. Perhaps it was that spirit of optimism in all' seekers of ’preciousr metals, the danger and hardships, the comparative isolation, and the necessity df concerted action to provide mutual amusement, which brought the. early pioneers together, promoting a fraternal and community , spirit that still and will endure. Thus, it is -that most mining.. towns.-hold frequent reunions, when the. early residents who have moved on to other parts return to renew associations with; those who have stuck in the old place and with those - who, .like themselves, have returned on a brief visit, knowing full well that their-.old associates would aliSo.be present if possible.-, - An old identity returning to Waikino bn Wednesday last would, during the- day, have felt as a stranger in a familiar land. The- roar of the stampens and the smell of the slimes; were still’ the same, and-some of the old landmarks were still there, tnbugh many were gone and their places, taken by. the ever-spreading . blackberry. ■ In .the evening, however, he. would not have'felt so much a stranger had he been at the old Victoria Hall,, for there the Old Boys’ Association wa.s holding its,, annual reunion, and over 40 men who had been in the district more than ten years ago were present. Many of them were the- original . settlers, but a greater proportion were the sons of the old originals, Every year the number of foundation members of the association—those who had been in Waikino before 190'0—becomes less, but each- yeair numbers of the younger generation qualify for membership. In addition, the; association now admits) to its functions men who k,are not members, .and thus the- proceedings have lost something of theii charm.. The spirit of the old pioneers is obscured, the tales and reminiscences are few, and the function is more in the nature of a well conductj ed smoke concert. Mr R. Shaw, president of the association, was in .the chatri .and he did his utmost to promote- sociability and harmony. He welcomed all .the old members, and also the guests; and touchingly referred to the- departure of two of the earliest arrivals in the district, Messrs W. Frearson and W. Smith, who had passed away during the year. He read , letters of apology, for unavoidable absence from Messrs W. Maiden, Dunedin ; F. C. Bunyard, Rotorua; G. Catrilil, R. Aldred, Edendale; W. Bain, Paeroa; J. G. Redpath, Waiomio ; D. McPherson, Waihi; J. Tracy Knight, Thames; H. J. Thompson, Swanson; R.- Stevenson, Ellerslie ; and H. Poland, J. Banks, E. Johnson, and J. Jones, Waikino. “The Old Boys’ Association” was Ijffche subject of a toast entrusted to Mr I?,’. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, who said that Waikino was spoken df

throughout the district for the tine community life that exisjted. , In the history of the life of Waikino it would be found that the Old Boys’ Association had played an. important part in making the life of the people moye joyful and more happy. He wished it a long life, and hoped it-would prosper and increase. , " ;

, The vice-president of tfi| association", Mr H. Murray, responded, and said that its object was to bring the alder settlers, together annually and to promote good fellowship. Mr H. M. Corbett,. when responding to a toast to the early pioneerty said that he was a won oi one of the original settlers, and had a- good rer collection of what the first settlers had gone through from the time they first sighted the Ka-rangahake Gorge over 50 years ago.- They must have had /a great heart and plenty of grit and determination. The opening df the district as a goldfield had been due. to. the grit and courage of the pionpers, ’and if a revival of the mining industry could only bring out the isa-nie type of people a revival would be assured.

Mr W. C. Kennedy, a descendant of a settler who .arrived in 1870, mentioned that pigeons and wild pigiS formed the staple food of the pioneers. He did not know’ of one person-living to-day who was on the goldfield when he arrived, with the exception of Mrs Gordon, Waitiekauri; W. Nicol, Glen Massey; C. Franklin, Remuera; R. Reid Hamilton; and R. Pennell, Waihi.

.The toast of “The Mining Industry” was proposed by Mr E. Edwards, who touched on the early history of the. district a,nd the efforts! of the pioneers who had first-to get the district opened to prospectors. Mr James Mackay, the first mining warden, had been a-fe-sponsible for getting the Natives to agree to prospecting, and then such men as the Sheehan brother,?, Mr JMcCombie, Mr Mace, Mr Sheen, “Pick-handle Dan,” and others whose names- -were bywords, had found the gold and opened thq fields. Even today there were such men. “Joe” Bramble was, prospecting way back beyond Waitekauri. The piohedrs opened up the goldfield, and they were- followed by the engineers and capitalists. Each group was necessary for full development of the industry, but the greatest tribute was due to the pioneers, prospectors, and workers who 1 went down the mines, inhaled the dust in the crushing plants, and handled the cyapide in the treating plantsi

Responding to “Local Bodies” Mr W. M. Wallnutt, Mayor of Waihi, mentioned the ups and downs of the mining borough, which was formed in 1902, when the gold revenue .amounted to about £25,000 a year. To-day the Borough Council only received about . £6OOO a year in gold duty, but despite .this the town was, not going ba.ck. The. reason wa?( the transition from, mining to farming and the very rapid developments that were taking p.ace in the surrounding districts. Mr W. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, expressed his pleasure at being piesent at the function, which was his first in Waikino, It was true that

there vyere more kicks (thhji half-pence for members of local bodies,' and there was a great deal of work, but there .were compensations. The work permitted councillors to acquire' a great knowledge of their fellowmen, to broaden, their minds and vision, and give them a wealth of experience..Mr' Marshall explained the; steps that were being taken in Paeroa to deal with the ever-increa£|ing business of the. Hauraki Plains, and expressed the hope that there would be a revival in the mining industry. ,

/Mr W. F. Johnstone chairman of the. Ohinemuri County Council, also responded.

“The Farming Community” Was proposed by Mr F. E. Fldtt, and in resporise one of the oldest identities of the district, Mr T. P. Vuglair, gave some- early history.

Another old identity, Mr G. Kinsella, also responded, fie referred to the days, when it wais: a subject of comment that the number of creajn 'cans at the railway station had .increased from two to three, or three to four. At the present time- tilie cream cartage contractor carted 60>,(n)0.ib ,of butter-fat from Waitekauri in a year, in addition Jo the amount taken by the farmers themselves. Over 15.0,0001 b of butter-fat had been taken from Waikino last ''year, and the quantity was increasing by leaps.- and bounds. Most of the battpry workers were also small farmers, and it was surprising how many of them were taking to the land altogether, despite the blackberries. The of this weed wias hardly realised. From now on till August- many farmers would be soiely engaged in clearing blackberries, In spite of this(, he contended, the farmers 1 of the district were doing better than those of most other districts. > Comparing the price paid for land, they were doing much better than most farmers. He was sure the people of other districts did not realise the value of the land around Waikino. Officers, of the Agricultural Department and the Dairy Company were amazed at the results achieved. One farm of 100 acres within a mile of the township was, carrying 55 to 60 cows all the year, and these were all producing over 2001 b of butter-fat. ■ Two cwt- of manure was used annually. The toasts were liberally interspersed with vocal items of high merit. Songs were contributed by Messrs C. Andrews, Wadsworth, E. C. Wyke, E. Morgan, W. Woods, A. H. Caudwell; recitations by Mr L. Fee, and violin selectio-ns by. Mr L. Flatt.