Kaiti School Jubilee

In the heat of a real Gisborne summer, upwards of 600 expupils of the Kaiti School assembled in the grounds January 26 to celebrate the golden jubilee of their school. They listened to formal speeches proclaiming the occasion, enjoyed the moving experience of meeting old school mates after long intervals, and lined up for decade photographs. That evening there was a big banquet in the Army Hall. Next day a church service was held at the school, and the celebrations concluded on the Monday night with a ball.

Of the 120 pupils who enrolled on the day the school was opened in 1907, 46 were present at the re-union. The only first-day teacher present vas Miss D. Fyson (Mrs Cassin). In the picture below of first-day pupils, she is seen in the centre of the front row holding the decade shield. Names of ladies seated in front row, left to right: Frances Cleary (Mrs Gardiner), Ruth Fyson (Mrs Woodrow), Margaret From (Mrs Haywood), Christina Baty, May Fairlie (Mrs Bell), Florence Williamson (Mrs Jones), Miss Fyson (Mrs Cassin), Mabel Baty (Mrs McGregor), Emm Bell (Mrs Gray), Ruby Baty (Mrs Hillyard), Effie Sparrov (Mrs Fraser), Violet Vincent (Mrs Cains)? Dorothy Downey (Mrs Munroe), and Gwen Downey (Mrs Lewis).

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Ex-pupils listen attentively to opening addresses

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Some of the first-day pupils caught by the camera

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The chairman of the celebrations committee, Mr Chrisp, speaking at the opening ceremony. He was followed by the Mayor, Mr Barker, and the chairman of the Hawkes Bay Education Board, Mr T. B. McDonald. Then the roll was called, and after that (above) came the pleasure of renewing contacts more informally.

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M. Maude, A. F. Harvey, J. G. Nolan, Hati Rangiuia

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Dick, Rua, and Howard

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Dave and John English

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Pat Colbert Henry Williamson

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Ernest Hansen, Frank Henshaw, Len Grey and Harry Fairlie

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Dick Herivel, Wilfred Jackson, Ted Bradford

It was a rare sight in the Army Hall on the Saturday evening, when Kaiti School's big family of ex-pupils—nearly 600 strong—sat down to dinner. The evening was hot, and for some it grew a little thirsty, but it was a notable occasion, and a triumph of organisation for those responsible.

The following were seated at the head tablet

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Mrs J. E. Walsh, secretary; Mr J. T. Hill (Education Board), Mrs Hill; Mr L. T. Burnard and Mrs Burnard; Mr A. H. W. Thompson, headmaster, and Mrs Thompson; the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs H. H. Barker; Mr D. E. Chrisp, chairman, Jubilee Committee, and Mrs Chrisp.

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Mr T. B. McDonald, chairman, H.B. Education Board, and Mrs McDonald; Mr C. W. Taylor, treasurer, and Mrs Taylor; Mr R. A. Keeling, M.P., and Mrs Keeling; and Mr J. G. Nolan and Mrs Nolan.

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A general view of the banquet assembly