Puha School Jubilee

A particularly happy and interesting school jubilee celebration held this month was that of the Puha School, The programme included, as well as the usual features, a novel football match between Maori and Pakeha teams, a burlesque basketball match, and a parade of transport over the years.

Mr James McGregor, a first-day pupil, and chairman of the jubilee committee, extending a welcome at the opening ceremony. With him on the platform were Mr R. A. Keeling, M.P., and Mrs Keeling; Mr F. I. Faram, district representative on the Education Board, and Mrs Faram; Mr R. G. Lockhart, a senior inspector of schools, who was guest speaker; Mr J. T. Hill, Education Board, and Mrs Hill; Mr F. Fitzgerald, chairman Waikohu County Council, and Mrs Fitzgerald; Mrs McGregor; Mr Pitau Brown, chairman of the school committee. Obscured are Mr Geo. Brown, Mr J. L. Candy, headmaster, and Mrs Candy.

The first-day pupils. In front, Jane Brown (Mrs Pera), Ka Brown (Mrs Titus), Dossie Brown (Mrs Barr), Tilly Porter, Violet Drummond (Mrs Kennedy), Maggie Graham (Mrs Watton), Iris Spence (Mrs Con), Alice Brown (Mrs Graham), Sadie Porter (Mrs Herkt). At rear, Dave Watene, Bill Porter, Hiki Rutene, Goldsmith, Ashburton Graham, Jim Bryant, Stanley Bryant, Jim McGregor.
Pictures By Kandid Kamera Kraft

When the school was opened in 1909, it consisted of one room only, with a sole teacher, Miss L. Morgan, whose task it was to teach all grades. Approximately 960 pupils have passed through the school since it was opened.

The jubilee dinner was a feature of the celebrations. Picture shows part of the assembly.
Pictures By Kandid Kamera Kraft

Jubilee cake was cut by first-day female pupils, Mesdames Pera, Titus, Barr, Kennedy. Watton, Con Graham, Herkt, and Miss Porter.

Johnny McIntyre, Arnold Brown and Cecil Brown arrived in a buggy. Ray Atkins looks fetching riding side-saddle.

Hugh Robertson drove first-day pupils and committee members in the wagon.

The Rugby match, Pakeha v Maori, was a hilarious affair. One of the incidents is illustrated below. Archie Bayley was playing a classy game until he collided violently with a woman spectator who must have thought he was going Too well. Archie, bandaged in you-know-what, was stretchered off the field in a wheelbarrow by Frank Alley. Looking on with marked lack of sympathy are Gordon Church, Jackie August and Redvers Richmond.

Redvers Richmond scores a try as he is tackled by Tiny Brown, At left, Ian Johnson, former headmaster. At right, in sack suit, Jim Robertson.

Bob Coates, up the pole, helps his team in the basketball match.

The football teams, with referee Mollie Rogers.

Referee was carried on to I field on a stretcher
Pictures By Kandid Kamera Kraft

Mrs Jack Newman attempts to foil Archie Bayley's basketball tactics

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 59 : May 28, 1959

Puha School Jubilee