TE AUTE GARDEN PARTY

Te Ao Hou, June 1966, Page 26

Daily Telegraph photo Hoani Karaka gives the challenge TE AUTE GARDEN PARTY As a way of thanking many friends who have supported Te Aute College over the years and to welcome the new principal, Mr N. O. Vickridge and his wife, a garden party was held at the college on Saturday 2 April. Amongst the principal guests invited were the members of the Te Aute Trust Board and their wives, Bishop E. T. Hill, of Melanesia, Sir Turi Carroll, Mr E. G. Loten, ex-headmaster, and his wife, and members of the Hastings chapter of Jaycees. Also invited were the principals of associated secondary schools and the mayors of the chief towns in the area. Over 200 guests assembled on the lawn behind the flagpole on Saturday. Hoani Karaka, of Te Araroa, gave the challenge to the guest of honour, Mr E. G. Loten. The college haka party gave a vigorous welcome and the official party and other guests moved into the assembly hall. Archbishop N. Lesser, chairman of the Te Aute Trust Board, explained the reason for the gathering. He spoke of the founder of Te Aute College, Archdeacon Samuel Williams, and of the great help given by the Williams family over the years. He mentioned other headmasters, especially Mr Loten, during whose years of service the college had passed through so many vicissitudes—fire, earthquake and war—and Mr R. G. Webb, whose untimely death occurred at the end of last year. Finally he welcomed Mr and Mrs Vickridge and wished them many years of happy and fruitful service to the college. In thanking all present for their attendance he spoke of the needs of the college and in particular of the need for a swimming pool. It is planned to make an appeal and build a pool in the near future. Other speakers included Sir Turi Carroll, Mr N. O. Vickridge, the new principal, who greeted those present in Maori, Robin Kora, head prefect, who spoke for the school, Mr J. Broughton, of Hastings Jaycees, and finally Canon J. Tamahori, who lectured briefly on the significance of the carvings in the college hall. Sir Turi Carroll spoke of his years at the college and of the long struggle to succeed. He urged the boys to uphold the traditions of the past and follow the example of such distinguished old boys as Sir Apirana Ngata, Sir Maui Pomare and Sir Peter Buck. He said there were modern examples. He mentioned particularly Mason Durie, an old boy senior to Sir Turi himself, whose grandson Mason had recently completed his medical degree. In honour of the occasion and to commemorate Mr Loten's years at the college, Neuton Lambert, Vernon Kape and Bruce Stone assisted Mr Loten to plant a giant tulip tree on the slope leading up to the chapel.

Mr E. H. Waitai (centre) opens the hangi at the garden party Daily Telegraph photo Daily Telegraph Photo First assistant Mr E. Dwyer (left) with ex-headmaster Mr E. G. Loten