Coronation medallion, 1937
Meghan Hawkes looks back on Waipā news from 1937.
At Kihikihi a ‘children’s day’ was held to mark the special occasion of presenting school pupils with medallions commemorating the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
At the event, held in the town hall, Mr Broadfoot, MP, and his wife handed medallions to the children as they filed past, giving each child a word or two of encouragement. Mr Broadfoot was equipped with about a thousand feet of motion picture film depicting the Coronation celebrations. He gave a running commentary on the procession, street scenes, portraits, the Review of the Fleet at Spithead, the Hendon Air Pageant, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, and the Trooping of the Colours. The last film was a coloured one, prompting many remarks of appreciation. Mr Broadfoot proved himself a very fine raconteur, despite his apology that he was rather inexperienced in that sort of thing.
A spectacular blaze on the eastern slopes of Pirongia Mountain caused speculation as to whether a homestead was involved. The fire was striking, and those in town could see fences and lines of trees in flames. The fire, on a hill slope on Messrs Grace Bros property, raged over an area of 100 acres, devouring light timber, fern and scrub. For a while the Grace’s home was in danger, and also that of a neighbour, but a slight breeze shifted direction, and no buildings were damaged. Several chains of fencing were destroyed or damaged before the force of the fire abated.
When Mangapiko School consolidated with Te Awamutu District High, 21 children attended the primary department, three the secondary department, and nine the Convent School. Hodgson’s Motors bussed the children to Te Awamutu each morning and afternoon. The normal school roll at Mangapiko had been between 35 and 40, so with about 33 now going to Te Awamutu daily there were insufficient to continue the Mangapiko School. This move represented the first practical result of negotiations for consolidating several country schools in the Te Awamutu district.
Late one night a Te Awamutu farmer answered a telephone call, and heard a strange voice inquiring if his farm was near a certain road corner. On being told that it was the voice continued: “Well, I was passing your place a couple of hours ago, hurrying to keep an important appointment here, and when my car broke down, I cut a couple of lengths of wire from your front fence. Sorry to have had to do it, but please look on top of one of the posts for half-a-crown in payment. I don’t want any of your stock to get out. Thanks. Goodnight.” On making inquiries the farmer found that the call was from Hamilton, and early the next morning he found the half-crown on a post. He wondered if any other farmer had been treated as decently in similar circumstances. The piece of wire taken was worth about sixpence.
