Ōhaupō School’s 70th Jubilee
Meghan Hawkes reports on a jubilee in Ohaupo, a closure in Paterangi – and a canny constable.
Ōhaupō School’s 70th Jubilee
The Ōhaupō School 70th jubilee committee had their expectations more than realised when the largest crowd ever seen in the Ōhaupō district assembled to revisit the scenes of their schooldays.
More than 1200 men, women and children were congregated round the school buildings. Thanks to the efficient efforts of the committee and a band of voluntary helpers, the proceedings ran without a hitch. Tables were laid in the two biggest school rooms and decorated with flowers and the school colours, black, royal blue and silver. Continuous supplies of tea and light refreshments were available and the improvised buffet was kept busy until the late afternoon. There was a picnic and sports gathering for the children, exhibitions of trick cycling on the school tennis courts, and the Te Awamutu Band were in attendance.
A display of old photographs provided almost a continuous pictorial record of pupils from the earliest times. The remark, “Do you remember?” was frequently overheard. The more formal part of the day began with the ringing of the school bell by the school’s first pupil, Mr Andrew Karl, who carried his 78 years very well. The roll call of ex-pupils was a procedure which took several minutes, well known local characters being loudly applauded. The birthday cake, two-tiered and two feet in diameter, was then produced and Annie O’Connor (nee Empen), who had attended the school in its second year, lit the 70 candles. The celebrations continued in the evening at a dance held in the Ōhaupō Hall, which was so crowded that no more than half the floor space was available for the dancers. Altogether Ōhaupō School Jubilee was an outstanding success.
A decision to close the Paterangi Casein Factory for a year was reached with regret at a meeting of suppliers. Owing to the Sino-Japanese war and the closing of the main market for casein, the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company decided to cease operations in its casein departments until the market for the product recovered. The company had a casein factory at Frankton and a number of casein precipitating stations throughout the district. Most of the stations would be converted into cheese factories, while the Paterangi station would be shut down.
A man was apprehended at Pirongia following a smart arrest by Sergeant Clist, of Te Awamutu. The sergeant had noticed that the butcher’s shop at Pirongia had been burgled, interrogated the man and placed him in the cells, from which he promptly escaped. Four months later the man was arrested in Whangarei and returned to the district. At court he was charged with stealing £29 from the butcher’s shop and escaping from custody. It was disclosed in court that Constable Clist’s clue was a button found in the butcher’s shop which matched one missing from the accused’s overcoat.
