Argyll Hawke’s Bay – The First 100 Years 1905-2005

Argyll
Hawke’s Bay

The first 100 years

1903 Land
1905 School

1905 – 2005

CONTENTS

1   HISTORY   3
Argyll Settlement
Original Stations
Land Owners
A brief history of Argyll

2   EDUCATION   25
School
Playcentre
Students achievements
Excerpts from a Bus Driver

3   THE ORIGINAL/EARLY FAMILIES   43

4   SOCIAL LIFE   49
Anecdotes
Recollections

5   DISTRICT UTILITIES   68

6   A COLLECTIVE MEMORY   72
People’s Achievements
Service to the Community

7   SCHOOL ROLL   77

8   BIBLIOGRAPHY   83

Argyll East School 1905

Page 2

FOREWORD

As Chairman of the Centenary Committee it gives me great pleasure to write this foreword, a renew of the past 100 years of the Argyll District. The Book Committee has spent many hours researching and compiling as complete a history of Argyll as possible. I would like to thank them for their dedication.

I am sure this publication will make for fascinating reading, especially those who have been part of the school and district. In addition, I am sure anyone who has an interest in the life and times of a small farming community will enjoy this book too.

Rhys Tidswell, Centenary Chairman

CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

Back Row (left to right): Stephen Johnson (Principal), Hamish Carlson, Margaretha Butler, Hugh McDonald, Peter Gray, Alasdair Macmillan

Front Row (left to right): Brenda Addis, Rhys Tidswell (Chairman), Colleen Parker (secretary), Judi Cameron (Treasurer), Wendy Twist.

Page 3

HISTORY

THE ARGYLL SETTLEMENT

INTRODUCTION

The Minister of Lands and Agriculture in the Sneddon Government, was John McKenzie and he fought long and hard to implement a policy of land reform. This was to break up the large estates and absentee landowners’ farms to create farms for families. The farms created were to be balloted for settlers to lease in perpetuity under “The Land Act 1892” and “The Land Settlement Act 1894”.

A large number of farms in the South Island and far fewer in the North Island were purchased by the Government and leased between 1893 and 1911. The first of these was Elsthorpe in 1896. The Milbourne block which later became Argyll, followed in 1903. A later government, the Reform Government of William Massey changed the tenure and lease were to be freehold.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Particulars and conditions of sale as quoted from the Government gazette

“The Argyll Settlement is situated in Waipawa County, Hawke’s Bay Land District and was formerly known as portions of the Milbourne and Te Reinga Estates respectively, which have recently been acquired by the Government under the Land for Settlements Act. It is six miles from the town of Waipawa by good road, the town of Waipawa being forty miles from Napier by rail; or it may be reached by rail from Napier to Kaikora, (Otane) thirty-six miles, and thence from Kaikora by a metalled road three miles; or, again, by rail from Napier to Pukehou, thirty-one miles, and thence from Pukehou nine miles and a half by a formed road. The western portion of the settlement adjoins the Hampden (Tikokino) Township. A creamery is to be erected on the settlement, and a dairy factory is in operation at Ongaonga, about four miles from the settlement.

The area now offered for disposal is 33,604 acres, subdivided into thirty-three dairy farms, twenty-four farms of mixed agricultural and pastoral land and four small grazing-runs. The dairy farms vary in area from 86½ acres to 661 acres, the farms of mixed agricultural and pastoral land vary in area from 525 acres to 996 acres, and the small grazing-runs vary in area from 1,009 acres to 1,886 acres.

The plain lying between Manga-o-nuku and Waipawa Rivers is all agricultural land on shingle bottom and varies from shingly to excellent alluvial land. The plain as a whole may be described as light-cropping land. The portion of the settlement lying east of the Manga-o-nuku river consists of rolling downs, nearly all ploughable, about one-half on ‘papa’ the remainder first-class limestone country. The elevation of the farms varies from 700feet to 800feet above sea-level; the elevation of the small grazing-rungs from 800ft to 1,200ft.

A considerable amount of ploughing and cropping has been done by the former owners of the property. The pasture generally is fair and a large portion of the settlement is ploughable. A great improvement may be, however, effected in the stock-carrying capabilities of the land by a small judicious expenditure.

Thirty-eight of the farms, containing about 14,000 acres and situated on the plains, are served by district roads, most of which are metalled. The roads giving access to the hill sections have yet to be constructed, but arrangements have been made for their construction.

Timber for building purposes and ample supplies of fencing material and firewood may be obtained from sawmills in the neighbourhood of the settlement.

On the homestead section (section 6, block VI, Waipukurau Survey District) there is a well-built house of fourteen rooms, with offices and outbuildings, the water-supply being obtained by a hydraulic ram and tanks. There are also sheds, stables, yard and a nice garden and orchard.

Page 4

On section 4, block VI Waipukurau Survey District, there is a large woolshed, also other buildings. There are a number of other buildings on the settlement, particulars of which are given in detailed description of sections. All buildings on the sections will become the property of the tenant by payment of the half-yearly instalments set out in the schedule on pages 14 and 15 of this pamphlet for twenty-one years; or, should he prefer to do so, he may, with the consent of the Minister of Lands and Land Board, at any time, but not less than seven years, pay the whole or any less number of then future instalments under a duly proportionate rebate of interest. The right is, however, reserved by the Land Board to exclude from leases of section 4 block VI, Waipukurau Survey District, and 3, block XV, Maraekakaho Survey District, any of the buildings standing on these sections and to dispose of the same and to reduce the rentals of the proportionately. All improvements other than buildings are valued with and included in the prices of the sections.

Caretakers will be resident at the homesteads at the ‘Brow’ and ‘Te Reinga’ to show intending selectors over the land, and point out the boundaries, of the sections.

Possession of the farms and runs will be given on the 26th June, 1903.”

There were 38 conditions of sale; here are a few of interest:

“ * The farms for lease are for 999 years. The small grazing-runs are for lease for twenty-one years, with the right of renewal at a yearly rental equal to 5% on the unimproved value for a further twenty-one years.

*  No person shall be allowed to acquire or hold more than one allotment.

*  The maximum area, which a married woman shall be capable of applying for or holding, shall not exceed 320 acres of first-class land or 1,000 acres of second-class land. Irrespective, however, of any land that her husband may be entitled to acquire or may hold: Provided that this special limitation shall not apply in the case of a married woman who is separated from her husband under decree of judicial separation, or is the holder of a protection order, nor shall it operate to prevent a married woman from becoming a lessee under a will or by virtue of an intestacy.

*   Married woman who forward their application through the post are requested to give the full name and address of their husbands opposite the word “Occupation” on the application form.

*   Applicants who are landless shall have preference over those who are not; and the decision of the land board as to who of the applicants are landless and who are not shall be final and conclusive.”

Here are the descriptions of two farms as in the 1903 Sale Document

Hugh McDonalds Farm
Description and Rent

“Section 4, Block XV., Maraekakaho Survey District; 609 acres

Agricultural and pastoral; altitude varies from 700ft to 1300ft. The formation is limestone, and a large portion of the section is ploughable. Part of the section has been ploughed and sown in English grass. The improvements, which are included in the price of the section, are: half value of 193 chains of boundary fencing, £44-17s, and 32 chains of sub divisional fencing, valued at £9; total value £53-17s. Distance from Pukehou railway station seven miles and a half, five miles and a quarter of which are metalled, the remainder unformed.

Rent per acre per annum 6s-53/4d. Half years rent £98-15s-5d”

Peter Grays Farm
Description and Rent

“Section 1, Block XIV., Maraekakaho Survey District; 845 acres.

This section is known as “Upper Flagstaff Paddock”. It is grazing land, varying in altitude from 700ft to 1200ft above sea level; broken and ridgy; not well watered in dry seasons, but water could be conserved. The land is fairly well grassed with native and English grasses. Part has been ploughed and sown in English grass. Broken papa, shale and gravel formation. The improvements, which are included in the price of the section, are; half value of 306 chain boundary fence £76-10s; and 119 chains of sub divisional fencing, £59-10s. Total value £136. Distance by road to Pukehou railway station, seven miles, of which five miles are metalled and the remainder unformed.

Rent per acre per annum 4s 1d. half yearly rent £86-1s-8d”

Page 5

ORIGINAL STATIONS & LAND OWNERS

MILBOURNE

Milbourne was a freehold property of 29,333 acres/11,733 hectares and owned by Robert and John Milbourne Stokes.

[An Obituary Notice, Waipawa Mail March 17th 1880].

“Robert Stokes career (extending over 49 years) as one of the earliest pioneers of New Zealand, is so well known to our readers that a very brief notice will suffice.

He came to the New Zealand Colony in 1841 as surveyor to the New Zealand Company. Shortly after his arrival he resigned his appointment and settled in Wellington where he became editor of a paper called ‘The Spectator’. During his journal career he took an active part in Provincial politics. Some years ago, in conjunction with a brother, Doctor Stokes, he purchased The Milbourne Estate, Ruataniwha and so permanently settled in Hawke’s Bay. He was subsequently called to the Legislative Council, where for several years took an active part in politics. He visited his native land about two years ago, where he got married shortly after his arrival. He died in London in January last, at the mature age of 70 years.”

Robert Stokes was a trustee on the Te Aute Educational Trust from 1862 to 1875.

Dr John Milbourne Stokes was a ship’s surgeon on board the Aurora arriving in New Zealand in 1840. He died in London on the 18th September 1880 aged 67. He left a bequest to the Napier hospital and it was used in 1881 for extensions to the hospital.

For many years a large London Hospital received the income from their Milbourne Estate.

Milbourne Station was made up of a combination of various parcels of land. Stokes acquired Robert Pharazyn’s 4,800 areas/1,920 hectares lying west of Te Aute College in 1858. Also in 1858 Stokes purchased 3,920 acres from Thomas Tanner in an area now known as Argyll West.

A map dated 1861 shows Milbourne’s total contents as 17,879 acres with Tanner at the Brow and Mason of Te Reinga, as boundary neighbours.

An 1870 map ‘Plan of Hampden Station’. ‘The Property of J.M. & R. Stokes’ shows total content as 7,328 acres. Eventually Stokes purchased more land from the local Maori and the remainder of Tanner’s land, ‘The Brow’. Tanner had become involved in business deals in the Heretaunga area (Hastings).

In 1903 under the ‘Land for Settlement Act’, the Government bought Milbourne paying £4-18-0 plus cost per acre for the 299,333-acre block.

At the time of sale, Milbourne Estate was producing a nett income of £8,814 per annum, running 40,000 sheep, mainly crossbred Lincoln, and 1,000 cattle. With some 128 miles/216 kilometres of fencing the estate was sub-divided into 55 paddocks some as large as 1,000 acres/404 hectares.

When the estate was acquired by the Government for closer settlement in 1903, William Hastie, who had managed the property since 1876, and was living at The Brow, secured the original homestead block of 600acres/242 hectares near Otane and retained the name ‘Milbourne’. Hastie died in 1909 and was survived by his wife Mary, (their only child, Elizabeth, dying at Sydney at the age of one). Hastie had been a member of the Waipawa County Council, Chairman of the Ruataniwha Road Board, member of the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society, the Farmers Union, the Hunt Club, the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, the Hawke’s Bay Kennel Club and the Hastings Club. He was also a noted judge of merino sheep and acted as such at various New Zealand agricultural shows.

The farm was then leased to the Robottoms for seven years, when Arthur Robottom bought Milbourne from Mrs May Hastie. The Robottoms farmed the property until 1970 when it was sold to Tom Hobson (436 acres/76 hectares) and Paul Clark (244 acres/99 hectares).

Tom and Jenny Hobson built a new house in 1978. The original house dated 1920 was demolished in November 2005. In January 2002 the Hobsons moved to the Waikato placing a manager on the property.

Paul Clark’s 244 acre block was sold on to Peter Harker in 1981, Peter Outram in 1986, then Nick and Lois (nee Hobson) Riddell in 1989. In 1992 the Riddells placed 4 ½ hectares of busy into the Queen Elizabeth 2nd Trust.

PLAN
OF
MILBOURNE

THE PROPERTY OF
John Milbourne Stokes AND Robert Stokes Esquires

HAWKE’S BAY
NEW ZEALAND

Milbourne 1861 (W Robottom)
(NB The Mangatahi Stream vertically bisects the map)

Page 8

THE BROW

In 1853 Thomas Tanner applied for 3,500 acres/1,400 hectares of leasehold land, about eleven kilometres west of Waipawa. This property was bound by the Manga-o-nuku and Waipawa Rivers and along the line of the Waipukurau purchase block, now referred to as Argyll West. He also purchased from Abbotsford a hilly portion of land, 1,145 acres/480 hectares on the east side of the Manga-o-nuku River and extended down as far as today’s Argyll Road taking in W. Butler’s property and part of G. Sherratt’s. Here he built a homestead, on a rise over the Manga-o-nuku River, naming it ‘The Brow’.

Thomas Tanner was described in the 1856 Wellington Province Electoral Role as a run-holder, as he held a grazing license for part of the Ruataniwha Plains.

In April 1858 Tanner sold 3,920 acres/1,568 hectares to John Milbourne Stokes in that Argyll West area.

In 1860 Tanner bought 5,560 acres/2,224 hectares of the ‘Tikokino Block’ plus 130 acres at 10/- an acre. This became incorporated into the Brow Estate. He eventually sold The Brow to the Stokes brothers (sometime in the late 1860s) and the land became incorporated into the Milbourne Estate.

In 1864 Tanner leased the Heretaunga block, which is now part of Hastings, from the Maori and later he became known as one of ‘the twelve apostles’ in the history of Hastings. His property in Hastings was known as ‘Riverslea’. Tanner also appears prominently in Waipawa history and in 1888 he was president of ‘The Great Exhibition’ of Waipawa.

William Hastie was appointed manager of Milbourne in 1876 and lived in The Brow Homestead. After the homestead burnt down, Hastie built a new house of fourteen rooms with offices and outbuildings. Sheds, stables and yards were built too; all from Matai and Totara milled from bush on the property. In 1966 this grand homestead also burnt down. Gardens and orchards were established and a hydraulic ram and tanks obtained the water supply. Hastie was a keen horseman as a member of the Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club and hosting ‘The Brow Hunt’. He also exhibited specimens of wool at the Paris Exposition, and in the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition in Dunedin.

After the Government bought the land The Brow was sold as a 996 acre/398 hectare property on ballot to A.W.L. Kidd and later that year it was relinquished to Harry Beyers. Beyers farmed up to 5,000 Romney sheep, 150 shorthorn cattle and an extensive poultry farm.

The farm was sold in 1908 to Leslie Monckton then in 1916 to Charles Pattison. The Pattison family farmed The Brow for 72 years with John taking over from his father in 1949. In 1988 The Brow was sold to David and Elizabeth Wilson and now is farmed in partnership with Jerry and Diana (Wilson) Greer and their children, Charlotte, James, Angus and Annabel.

Original Brow Woolshed, presently owned by Chris Bray and Jude Laurenson

Page 9

THE BROW HOMESTEAD

When fire destroyed the home of John and Pauline Pattison they commissioned architect John Scott to create an appropriate replacement.

The house he designed is now considered one of John Scott’s finest. Its distinct profile comes from both the landscape – the concept of a hillside fractured by earthquake – and from a blend of Maori whare and Pakeha woolshed. A particularly New Zealand design and a uniquely Hawke’s Bay farmhouse. In 1999, the New Zealand Institute of Architects made a special award for enduring architecture, saying of The Brow, “strong-boned, attuned to its environment, this is masterful design, with at least as much to say to us now as when it was built”.

Completed in 1968 it was home to the Pattisons and their four children for twenty years until the farm was sold to David and Elizabeth Wilson.

The Wilson’s separated the homestead and a small parcel of land from the Brow Farm and in the years since there has been a number of owners.

In 2002, Ken and Sally Eade – after living there since 1995 – sold The Brow to Jude Laurenson and Chris Bray. Jude and Chris have worked with architect Steve McGavock and landscape architect Alan Titchener to make The Brow new again after 40 years of inevitable wear and tear.

(Chris Bray)

Hampden Station 1870 (W Robottom)

PLAN OF THE
HAMPDEN STATION.

PROVINCE OF HAWKE’S BAY

THE PROPERTY OF
MESSRS J.M. AND R. STOKES.

Milbourne 1854

Block 6
Section 1   913 acres
1903   P Wright
1906   A Groome
1918   P Gillies
1919   B Gower
1925   F Fulton
1935 S Alhusen [Allhusen]
1986   2001 R Shorten

Block 6
Section 2   838 acres
1903   G Robertson
1910   E Groome
1957   T White & J Armstrong
1967   Tuhana Trust
1995   R Stein

Block 6
Section   3 661 acres
1903   J Magill
1910   R McDonald
1958   TE McDonald
1981   TE McDonald & Sons

Block 6
Section 4   609 acres
1903   Mitchell
1916   C Haines
1919   K Kinder
1924   Lewis
1970   TE McDonald
1981   TE McDonald & Sons

Block 3
Section 7   738 acres
1903   M Antis
1912   M O’Connor
1916   C Annette
1922   L Harker
1928   TCSK Gilbertson
Gilbertson Trust
1989   P Olsen

Block 3
Section 6   710 acres
1903   Hudson
1946   T Willan
1966  R Franklin
1992   H Franklin

Stokes Bros
Section 4   1009 acres
1903   F Biel
1916   S Oliver
1923   J Blundell
H Blundell
1966   T Twist
1977   N Twist

Block 2
Section 9   792 acres
1903   W Little
1934   A Auld
1969   T Twist
1977   N Twist

Milbourne 1854

Block 14
Section 1   845 acres
1903   P Magill
1911   M Smith
1921   J Rutherford
1923   A Humes
1928   T Watson
1957   T Watson & C Watson
1965   J & P Gray
1985   P Gray
1995   P Gray

Block 14
Section 2   904 acres
1903   E Nelson
1907   T Reade
1910   E Jehyll
1911   A Coster
1913   S Hunter
1915   A Benton
1924   J Nitschke
1951 (537 ac)   G Tidswell
1978   R Tidswell
1995   J Gray

Stokes Bros
Section 3   1140 acres
1903   S Ebbett
1909   A Wilkie
1916   Manson
1927   RE MacMillan
1951   RE MacMillan Estate
1991   A MacMillan
1951 (363 ac)   GB Gray
1978   J Gray

Block 3
Section 5   754 acres
1903   Merritt Bros
1970   R Bramwell
1974   A Scotland
1981   M Groome
1984   K Hanson [Hansen]
1993   P Williams
2002   T Williams
2004   N Twist

Block 2
Section 8   762 acres
1903   E Manning
1903   J Little
1949   M Cameron
1975   I Cameron

Block 3
Section 4   850 acres
1903   C Clarke
1950   G Clarke
1974   P Clarke
1981   N Twist

Block 2
Section 7   390 acres
1903   J Oliver
1922   J Hamilton
1963   G Hamilton
1974  P Clark
1981   D Butler & Sons

Milbourne 1854

Block 2
Section 5   473 acres
1903   Hewitt
1909   W Muir
1932   Theobald
1935   Couper
1958   M Sunderland
1979   R Sunderland
1981   D St John
1993   G Sherratt

Block 3
Section 8   994 acres
1903   G Wilson
1916   Nilsson
1922   J MacCartin
1961   P MacCartin
1974   J Harker
1987   N Harker

Block 7
Section 1   834 acres
1903   J Barker
1922   F Smith
1946   C Carlyon
Hansen
1992   P Berry
1996   M McKelvie
P Kent

Homestead
Block   680 acres
1903   W Hastie
1917   A Robottom
1941   T Robottom
1970   T Hobson 436 ac
1970   P Clark 244 ac
1981   P Harker
1986   P Outram
1989   N Riddell

Block 6
Section 6   996 acres
1903   AW Kidd
1907   H Beyers
1912   L Monkton
1916   C Pattison
1950   JP Pattison
1986   WD Wilson & GL Greer

Block 6
Section 3   571 acres
1903   D McLeod
G McLeod
1953   B Willis
1961   D McCoskey
1982   240 ac   J Rossiter
1990   J Rossiter   30 ac
1990   D Reynolds   210 ac
1999   N Riddell
Now under 7 titles

Milbourne 1854

Block ?
Section 4   525 acres
1903   E Nelson
1914   J Hamilton
1916   H Spring
1919   B Law
1936   P Plummer
1965   T Plummer
1989   1300 acres   Rural Property Trust

Block 6
Section 5   552 acres
1903   W Whyte
1921   Pohio
1924   T Frith
1936   A Kirk
1946   A Boden
1965   T Plummer

Block 6
Section 7   222 acres
1903   R Parker
1916   Piper & Marshall
1924   Larsen
1945   C Jowsey
1955   B Cullinane
1981   T Plummer

Block 6
Section 2   278 acres
1903   N Nilsson
1908   W Whyte
M Whyte
1925   W Addis
1961   K Addis
M Addis
2000   WD Wilson & J Greer

Block 6
Section 1   624 acres
1903   R Spring
1919   F Addis
1949   Addis Bros
1950   T Addis
1950   FW Addis
1993   Premiere Texels
2001   FW & D Addis & R Forsyth

Block 5
Section 2   701 acres
1903   R Mitchel [Mitchell]
1928   A Paterson
F Addis
D Addis & R Forsyth

Block 5
Section 1   760 acres
1903   G Petrowski
1912   Dorreen
1917   Adrian Bros
1929   H Guilhouley
1949   S Bridge
J Bridge
1990   Eastern Equities
2001   H Williams
2001   Mr Apple

Block 1
Section 25   838 acres
1903   L McKay
1936   T May
1952   J May
1973   P King

Block 2
Section 4   627 acres
1903   T Howell
1908   WC Parker
1919   J Stephenson
1944   FC & HV Addis
1955   F Addis 313 ac
1955   HV Addis 314 ac
1999   J Gardner

Page 16

TAHEKE/TE REINGA

Taheke was a 10,000-acres/4550 hectares, area in the Maraekakaho Block applied for by Thomas Mason in 1857. Maraekakaho, Gwavas, Raukawa and Milbourne Stations bordered this limestone-based farm.

Two thousand sheep were farmed in 1861, when the Maori Chief, Te Hapuku, who lived at the Te Hauke Pa, drove them off the property. He claimed ownership of part of the land and took the stock in lieu of rent. But Mason had already paid another Chief, Karaitiana rent so refused to pay twice. Many disputes occurred over the actual boundaries with the local Maoris, particularly Te Hapuku.

A manager ran Taheke as Mason lived in Wellington involved in Parliamentary and other public affairs.

In 1876 Taheke was divided amongst Thomas Mason’s three sons, George took the Wharetoka block, Henry took Te Reinga, and Maurice retained the Taheke block.

Wharetoka today is 12acres/936 hectares and is farmed by Roger and Gaynor Jull, with their children, Richard and Sarah. Roger’s father, Albert Jull, purchased the property from the Marshall family in 1938.

Henry Mason was a Founder and the first Master of the Hawkes Bay Hunt Club (1889-1896), establishing the first Hunt Club Kennels at Te Reinga in 1892. He sold his property, Te Reinga, to his brother, Maurice. Henry left for Britain in 1896 giving his hounds to the Hawkes Bay Hunt Club.

Maurice Mason farmed these two properties of Te Reinga and Taheke, until 1903 when the Government bought Te Reinga, (4,862 acres/1,944 hectares) under the ‘Land for Settlement Act’, paying £3-5-0 per acre. This became part of the new Argyll Settlement.

In 1907 Maurice Mason sold Taheke of 4,000 acres/1800 hectares to Thomas Nestor. In 1929, Molly Nestor took over the management of the farm on her father’s death. Molly married Charles Gordon Bayliss, and the property was then run under the name Nestor-Bayliss. In 1937 Nestor-Bayliss purchased a block of 312 acres/126 hectares on Drumpeel Road, (Otane) selling it in 1956.

In 1945, Taheke was purchased by the Government and divided up into several smaller farms for returned servicemen.

ANAROA

Originally, Maori inhabited the land, living on a small pa in thick native bush. Henry Carlson bought Anaroa, a 2,200-acre/890 hectares block from Maori owners in early 1900. Anaroa (long cave) is a name that would not have been given without good reason. Although this is limestone country with small caves, this particular one remains a mystery even today.

The timber mill was established in 1903 and employed 33 men. Living quarters, a post office and a small school was built. As the timber was milled the land was sown into pasture, after eight years most of the bush had disappeared.

In 1910 Olaf Carlson, son of Henry managed the developing farm. Henry died in 1912, the land was subdivided between Olaf – the Anaroa block of 850 acres/344 hectares and Hilda, Henry’s widow and stepmother to Olaf – the block known as Otuarumia of 1,300 acres/526 hectares.

Olaf died in 1939, and Anaroa became en estate until 1945 when it was subdivided between his two sons, H.G. Carlson Tirohia and 0.13. Carlson Anaroa, with 440 acres/178 hectares each. In the 1950s, the sons of each brother Bernie to Alan and Henry to Geoff continued farming. In 1989 Geoff’s son Hamish took over Tirohia while Alan’s block has been sold outside the family.

TAHEKE – 3430 acres
Nester-Bayliss

Taheke Station was sold for settlement farms by the Government in 1945

340 ac
1945   J McLellan
1980   D Goodwin
1991   H Goodwin

490 ac
1945   Burt
1949   Wilson Bros
1956   MacMillan Trust
1991   S MacMillan
2003   M Chambers 386 ac
2003   S Macmillan 94 ac

397 ac
1945   R Bardell
1972   Intercomminex
1975   Intercomminex
2002   J & M Walker

375 ac
1945   Puttalo
1961   R Fraser
1996   P Johanson
2002   A Munn

380 ac
1945   E Isaacson
1980   D Bell

320 ac
1945   J Gair
1978   B Gair

340 ac
1945   S Davis
1979   C Fraser
Intercomminex
1999   D Bell

420 ac
1945   I Oliver
1984   Bruce Bros
1991   W Mowatt R Belgrave
1995   B Carswell
1998   B Ironside

380 ac
1945   A Hay
1979   B Johnson

ANAROA – 2200 acres

1900   H Carlson
1912   O Carlson 890 acres
1946   450 acres   OB Carlson
1951   A Carlson
1975   E & D Davies
1990   J Bridge

1946   440 acres   HG Carlson
1951   G Carlson
1989   H Carslon [Carlson]
1912   Hilda Carlson 1300 acres
1942   M Fredsberg 400 ac
1986   P Verry
1988   Rotoma 900 ac
1210 ac   Rotoma   G Wedd

1953   A Dunford   350 ac
1970   J Robertshawe
1986   P Verry
40 ac   M & C Moore
G & GL Mills
M & C Poulton

TE REINGA – 4862 acres   H Mason

Block 10
Section 1   782 acres
1903   A Monk
1919   Cruikshank [Cruickshank] & Chambers
1929   WV Chambers
1952   WM Chambers

Block 10
Section 2   1800 acres
1903   Knight
1914   W Craig
1946   H Ryder 710 acres
1967   G Ryder
1993   D Bell
1947   C Bruce 1090 ac
1971   Bruce Bros
1991   J Riddell

Block 11
Section 1   640 acres
1903   E Hawthorne
H Hollis
1957   J Robertshawe
B Carswell
1998   M McCormick
2002   D Hunt

Block 11
Section 2   640 acres
1903   E Lane
1942 [1912?]   Herbert
1923   A MacMillan
1943   G MacMillan
1966   MacMillan Estate
1991   G MacMillan
2001   S MacMillan

Block 11
Section 3   590 acres
1928   A Monk
1945   H Monk
1988   M Chambers
1988   D Jude   80 ac
2002   I Parker

Page 19

TE ONEPU

This property was one of the last original blocks to be developed. It was still owned by Maori until 1880 when Murray Robert and Company (a Stock Firm) purchased it. In 1884 Michael Edward Groome and David Ballantyne purchased Te Onepu from Murray Robert and Company.

Te Onepu consisted of 1,030 acres/416.8 hectares freehold and 300 acres/121.4 hectares of Maori lease. It was mostly covered with heavy bush with patches of scrub and fern. Ballantyne sold his share of the partnership to W.H. Bolton but in 1903 M. E. Groome then purchased his share. By 1906 most of Te Onepu was sown in English Pasture and over 3,000 English Leicester ewes were grazed. Original access was from Maraekakaho with later access to the railway at Opapa or Pukehou by going down the Te Onepu hill. The original homestead was demolished in 1910 and a replacement was erected on the same site.

When M.E. Groome died in 1920, the station was taken over by his son Ernest. In 1949 Ernest’s son Michael took over the management. Michael’s son also Michael, took over in 1982 and continued farming the property until it was sub-divided between neighbours and others in 2003-2004.

Te Onepu 1330 acres

1880   Murray Roberts & Co
1884   ME Groome & D Ballantyne
1895   ME Groome & WD Bolton
1903   ME Groome
1920   E Groome
1949   ME Groome
1983   ME Groome Jnr
1998   ME Groome Jnr   741 acres
1998   R Shorten, 600 acres
2003   P & C Bailey, 640 acres (part of M.E. Groome’s property)
2004   H. Carlson, 26 acres (as above)
2004   J & S Bunworth, 39 acres (as above)
2004   P Gray, 36 acres (as above)

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ABBOTSFORD

This property was a leasehold block of 9,600 acres/3,840 hectares applied for by F.S. Abbot in March 1851. His boundaries ran north to the Kaikora Creek, and the bush edging the swamp. The Manga-o-nuku and Mangatahi Rivers formed the western boundary and the Waipawa River the southern boundary, Abbot’s block was to become the base for the future town of Waipawa (in 1860, Abbot offered sections for sake by auction).

In 1855 John Knight of Kaikora (Otane) bought 1,000 acres/400 hectares of Abbot’s land.

In 1865 the land surrounding the new town was sold to Cartwright Brown, but he was compelled to file for bankruptcy in 1868. This land was mortgaged to both Abbot and the Bank of New Zealand therefore the bank took the majority and Abbot received a share. The 7,000 acre2,833 hectares freehold property was advertised for sae at £6000. Edward Collins purchased it, farming it until 1878 when it was sold to William Rathbone.

By early 1900, Abbotsford was 7,300 acres/2,920 hectares running approximately 13,000 sheep and about 300 head of cattle. A map, dated 1906 shows the Argyll Settlement as it’s northern neighbour and the township of Waipawa to the south.

William died in 1904 and his second son, William, took over management until 1907 when it was divided between himself and his brother, Herbert. Abbotsford Homestead was separated from the farm in 1912 and still stands on the hill, in Waipawa above the town clock.

Herbert was mayor of Waipawa from 1921 to 1928, but died in a road accident. His son Harry then took over farming Abbotsford. It was during this time that he also was Mayor of Waipawa. In the early 1950s, three blocks were sub-divided off Abbotsford. This included the western side of ‘The Alps’ and the lower country to Range Road. George McLeod and Selwyn Watson each bought a block, and Harry Rathbone’s brother Cyril, and two sisters Melva Woods and Jessie Rathbone, farmed the third block ‘Ranui’ in partnership, employing a manager.

George McLeod sold his block to Alan Carlson, who later sold it to Margaret and Derek McCoskery.

Upon Selwyn Watson’s untimely death, his property was sold to Peter Mills, who later also sold to Margaret and Derek McCoskery. The McCoskerys sold both properties in 1992 to Peter and Warwick Butler.

After Harry’s retirement in 1964, his only son, Peyer, took over the farm of 1,500 acres/607 hectares. During his time he acquired the return of ‘Ranui’. Eventually Peter’s only son William, the fifth generation, took over farming Abbotsford. In 1999 William sold ‘Ranui’ to Peter and Warwick Butler. To enable him to pursue other business interests William sold the remainder of Abbotsford to Guy Bell in 2004.

William II farmed his half of Abbotsford from 1907 until his son Arthur took over. Arthur sold his share of ‘The Alps’ to Clive Hobson in 1961. Clive’s eldest son Tom and his wife Jenny, lived in the homestead that William II built on the Argyll Road and farmed ‘The Alps’. Tom sold the eastern side of ‘The Alps’ to Wayne Smith and purchased in 1970, the homestead block of Milbourne. Wayne Smith later sold ‘The Alps’ to Johnn Ritchie who set up a group of investors, and the land was planted in pine trees in 1994.

Arthur farmed with the aid of a manager, the remainder of his share of Abbotsford named R7 after the wool brand. His only son, William, was killed on a bicycle at Nelson College. After Arthur’s death in 1964 R7 was sold at auction to D. Butler & Sons.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ARGYLL

The Seddon Government bought the land for the Argyll Settlement as part of its “Lands for Closer Settlement Act” of 1896. Argyll was bought in 1903. This land was formerly Milbourne and Te Reinga Estates. The Government put up 33,602 acres or 13,441 hectares for ballot. The Government had paid £3-5-0 plus costs per acres for 4,662 acres of Te Reinga and £4-8-0 per acre for 29,333 acres of Milbourne.

The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Richard Seddon, was visiting his home in England. The Duke of Argyll, Scotland complimented Seddon his land policies and requested if a settlement could be named Argyll. This is our connection with Argyllshire in Scotland.

The 33,602 acres put up for ballot consisted of 33 dairy farms of 86 to 661 acres, 24 mixed agricultural and pastoral blocks of 525 to 996 Acres and four small grazing blocks ranging in size from 1,009 to 1,886 acres. Applications for leases were received up until the 23rd June, 1903. A ballot was held in the Oddfellows Hall in Waipawa, most of the land was balloted. The actual occupation did not take place until mid-1904. This was because no road had been formed to give access to some of the properties. The Nelson Brothers, Tomoana, leased many of these newly allotted properties and in payment provided posts, battens and wire for the surveyed boundary fences. Te Reinga was not settled until 1907.

Three roads had been surveyed through the Argyll; one along the main range from the Argyll/Otane Road to the top of the Te Onepu hill. Another followed the Mangatahi Stream along its eastern side from the school up to Anaroa. The third which is the present road followed the ploughman’s track north. This road cuts Argyll in half geologically, the limestone country on the eastern side and red metal on the west. It was also believed to be the edge of the heavy bush with the tussock and bracken fern of the red metal country. This road was constructed late 1903 and early 1904. Other roads were being formed in the Te Onepu area. One from the Te Onepu homestead to the main Napier/Waipawa highway (today State Highway 2) came out very near the Te Aute hotel and was only a dirt track. In later years it was moved closer to Pukehou probably because it provided a more direct route to the railway siding. Henry Carlson (Anaroa) built this siding known as “Carlson’s siding”. Knight’s Road is now Monks Road and was surveyed right through to Highway 50 coming out just north of Gwavas Station. This route was used by early drovers for taking stock from the Tikokino area to the Pukehou siding then onto Tomoana Freezing Works. Others used this road frequently like Mr D. Butler, a contractor in the Tikokino area, he charged £5 a bullock wagon load of posts and battens from Gwavas to Te Onepu. Access to Maraekakaho went past the Te Onepu, Te Reinga and Taheke homesteads then northwards to Maraekakaho homestead.

Original buildings on the Argyll Settlement included a homestead and several outbuildings on the “Brow” block. They also had a hydraulic ram which pumped to several tanks. On “Tahuna” across the Manga-o-nuku River there was a very large woolshed with 24 blade shearing stands. Also a small cottage and several other smaller storage sheds. Further up the road (at today’s McDonalds), there was a small house, store sheds and a buggy shed. On the next door farm “Tahuna” was a set of sheep yards and a reasonably large man made dam. Elsewhere there were numerous small single roomed ploughmen’s huts to be found.

With 33 of the farms balloted to be dairy units the Argyll Settlement plan included a creamery corner at the Tikokino Road junction with Argyll East Road. This was to be the collection point for the transfer of the cream cans to a central factory at Ongaonga. However, as dairying was never entirely successful the factory was not built. Land was also set aside for a school and horse paddock of seven acres. In addition a cemetery was surveyed on a hill about one kilometre north of the school but it was never used. Part of Little’s house, (now Cameron’s) was built as a Post

Page 22

Office for Argyll. James McIntyre, a baker and confectioner from Waipawa also ran the mail service to Tikokino delivering the Argyll mail to the Tikokino corner. It was sorted at the Post Office closed on 12th July 1927 when a rural delivery service was started from Otane. To this day Argyll’s mail is still on a RD1 Otane run.

A small timber mill was built in the gully below the site of the old house on “Mount View” now part of Warwick Butler’s farm on the Argyll Road. It was called “Burgess Mill” and provided timber for building and fencing materials. A similar but larger mill at Anaroa would have serviced the northern end of Argyll. Another small venture was a flax mill near the Manga-o-nuku Bridge on the Waipawa/Tikokino Road, Owned by Mr M. O’Connor of Shannon it began work at Argyll in July 1903 clearing several swampy sections. By 1904, the flax mill had closed.

The Argyll Settler’s hall was built in 1913 at a cost of £150. It was unlined, tin shed with a tongue and groove wooden floor. Further improvements came in later years with the lining of the walls and a ceiling. In years gone by the hall was regularly used for dances and other district functions and is still a social centre for the district but used less frequently.

The first Brow Bridge was built in the 1890’s and gave reliable access to the plains, Waipawa and beyond, especially when the river was in full flow. This bridge was made of native timbers that were milled locally. Bridge number two was built in the 1920’s just a little way down stream. It was a very narrow one-way concrete structure, which lasted until June 1974 when a flood washed away the southern approaches weakening it. A new bridge was built back on the original site in 1981. It was higher and wider than its predecessor, although still one-way.

The Argyll Bridge between the school and hall has also had a chequered history, in July 1953 it collapsed into the Mangatahi stream soon after a truck had driven over it. Again, in 1956, it was closed for four days so urgent repairs could be made. In the 1974 flood when the creek rose to within one metre of the hall, the bridge was weakened. A major diversion was cut ad a Bailey bridge constructed just south of the hall, with an access road just below the school swimming baths until the new bridge was finished in 1976.

The 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake at 7.8 on the Richter Scale, caused considerable damage around the district. A very large slip and massive cracks in the ground, closed Te Onepu road. Most of the houses lost their chimneys and had water tanks damaged. The school was also damaged and closed for 2 weeks while repairs were made.

One of the first duties of the early settlers was to form the Argyll Rabbit Board. Very little is known about the early years, Mr George Wylie was a well-known rabbiter prior to the World War II. He controlled an area from the Waipawa River north to Te Onepu. The Hawke’s Bay Pest Destruction Board provided a house and a few acres for horses and dogs. This place is still affectionately known as “The Rabbiter’s Corner” located at the Tikokino Road/Argyll East Road corner. George Wylie gained a reputation as a crack shot but during the war he retired and the rabbit numbers multiplied rapidly. After the war, Jack Franklin another very well known rabbiter worked the Argyll with his horse and team of dogs. Jack lived in an old horse drawn caravan on George Tidswell’s farm. During one winter in the later 1940’s he sold 22,000 skins shot solely on “Craig’s”, the farm at the end of Monks Road. Between 16,000 and 18,000 rabbits were shot or trapped on “Te Heka”, the property of A. MacMillan. Rabbits were such a problem that many people ca remember the Argyll Hall being packed with local farmers at special meetings to find ways to control this pest. When Jack Frankin retired

Photo captions –

Crushing scrub – M Chambers

Originally the Rabbit Board House, now D & C Quinlivan

Page 23

his duties were taken over by his son Owen who had a large team of whippets and terriers. Owen is believed to be the last rabbiter to use the gun and dog method in Hawke’s Bay, in conjunction with some poisoning of live warrens. As soil fertility rose this seemed to cause a decline to the rabbit plague, and control methods changed to night shooting using motorbikes. At the same time pest control was started to be coordinated from a central depot. The two rabbiters’ houses were sold when the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council took over in 1989 and block rabbiting ceased altogether. Trevor Thomas was the last rabbiter to live in the district and he left in 1982. Today rabbits are very much under control but the opossum has become the number one animal pest as it is a vector in spreading Tuberculosis (TB).

You only have to take a glance at the 75th Jubilee book to see how much farming has changed in the last 25 years. The 1980’s Government policy changes, such as the abolishing of subsidies to farming, the floating of the currency, the soaring dollar and very high interest rates in excess of 20%, forced enormous change onto farmers. Farming as a lifestyle had gone.

Farmers used to have a house cow for unlimited milk, even though you could buy a pint for only four cents. Also gone are the huge vegetable gardens, which could feed half the district. Wives spent the summer doing preserves, especially fruit like golden queen peaches, pears and apricots also many types of jams and chutneys. Today the supermarkets supply everything for today’s busy housewife, with some open 24 hours and seven days. Women spent hours on the sewing machine making everything from pyjamas to school clothes to that dress for a very special occasion. With very cheap imports from China and other Asian countries the sewing machine is almost obsolete. Now it often costs more to buy the material than the already finished garment. With the downturn in farming through the 1980’s there was a need to find off-farm income. This meant that country women travelled to towns and cities for employment to supplement incomes. Even today when farming is buoyant many women still choose to work off the farm.

The pace of farming has increased markedly, with jobs having to be done to a deadline. The shepherds hack or horse is almost gone and replaced by motorbikes, First, it was low powered two-wheeled bikes 100cc to 185cc, then the balloon tyred three wheelers and now today there are 4 x 4 quads with up to 700cc engine power. The dogs soon learnt to catch a ride to save their legs. Tractors have also changed, going from small light two-wheel drive 20 to 40 horsepower to four-wheel drive and 80 to 90 hp with an air-conditioned cab and stereo. Most farms now have a four-wheel drive ‘ute’ to get around in on the farm or going to town to pick up farming equipment like posts and wire.

Back in the 1980’s stocking rates were higher and animal performance lower. Some farmers struggled to get 100% lambing whereas today with much heavier ewes many achieve 150 plus percentages. Lambs in the 1980’s were much lighter when killed, a twelve kilogram lamb on the hook is what the market required. Today with breeding ewe numbers and stocking rates lower, lambs are much heavier with a dressing out weight of sixteen to eighteen kilograms. Some farmers aim for much heavier weights of twenty kilograms plus. The United Kingdom and Europe have always taken the bulk of the lamb trade but because of over supply, lamb has been sold into many lower value markets such as the Middle East. In the mid 1980’s the New Zealand sheep population was 65 million and now in 2005 it is just 39 million. The two big freezing works in Hawke’s Bay, Whakatu and Tomoana, both had the ability to kill 20,000 sheep a day. Both have closed and several smaller processing plants have taken their place. There were many reasons which led to their demise age, constantly changing health requirements, industrial relations and dropping stock numbers.

Shearer – Duncan Gray, Rousie – Janice Gray (Peter Butler)

Page 24

The colour of cattle has changed in the last twenty years. Back in the 1970s-80s most farms had a cowherd of Angus or Hereford, carrying the steers on to slaughter at two and a half years. Today these herds have gone and 60% of beef cattle are dairy beef bulls farmed for the hamburger market in the USA. Farmers and other rearers take on four-day-old calves from dairy farmers to fatten up for this market.

Many farmers have diversified into other ways of increasing farm income instead of relying just on sheep meat, beef or wool. Therefore, in recent years we have seen many changes in the type of livestock farmed and they have all been expensive operations to set up. First, it was the deer, enclosed behind high fences with the building of special handling facilities. Murray and Ian Cameron were the first to farm deer. Angora and cashmere goats came and went. Being goats, they ate anything. Therefore a very good fence to keep them farmed safely. Other new enterprises include ostriches, asparagus, kiwifruit, pip fruit, vineyards and organic farming.

The on farm use of computers is increasing every year. Computer technology has not only proved its worth with better financial record keeping but also out in the field. Cattle and sheep are weighed quickly and accurately with the results downloaded on to the office computer. Application rates for fertilizer or the spraying of crops or weeds are all computer controlled simply by pressing a few buttons in the truck, tractor or helicopter. Some farmers have even gone as far as using GPS (global positioning systems) to map their farms to pin point accuracy.

After decades of confusion especially from the residents as to where Te Onepu Road started and finished, a petition was presented to the Central Hawke’s Bay Council for road name changes. Argyll Road, which already went from State Highway Two at Otane to the Argyll Hall, was to be extended up to the tee junction at Te Onepu. The four-kilometre stretch from Tikokino Road to the Argyll Hall was to be renamed Argyll East Road. Council approved these changes and the new road names came into place in 1995.

Giant discing Daniel Butler – (Warwick Butler)

Page 25

EDUCATION

ARGYLL EAST SCHOOL

“Opened school here on Monday, (when) 17th July 1905, when 19 scholars were present.

In the afternoon tea & cakes were provided by the parents, & a large number of friends met together to celebrate the opening.”

Signed CA Kempsley
Relieving Teacher.

Extract from the school log.

Miss C.A. Kemsley was the first teacher, leaving in early 1906. The next relieving teacher, Mr Gordon Norman, spent time after school hours ploughing plots for the garden and cricket pitch. Several more relieving teachers took charge of the school until Miss A. Morrison was appointed permanent teacher in October 1907.

The pupils came from the new Argyll settlement on the east side of the Manga-o-nuku Stream. The children on the west side attended the Tikokino School.

The school roll fluctuated daily in the earlier years with very seldom 100% attendance. Often as few as two or even no pupils attended. Illness such as influenza, measles, polio or chicken pox not only kept the patient away but also their siblings due to the illness being contagious, or the younger child was not allowed to ride to school on their own. In February 1908 the school closed due to scarlet fever and remained closed for eight weeks. In February 1937 the then teacher, Mr Burke was informed by wireless and authorised by the Department that the school holidays were to be prolonged until March 1st due to an Infantile Paralysis epidemic. Wet weather made roads impassable as the children either rode their horse to school or walked. District weddings, dances and trips to town were another reason for lack of attendance. School was closed for reasons such as the Settlers’ Picnic, County Elections, Harbour Board Elections, General Elections and illness of the teacher.

School log May 7th 1906: ‘School closed annual election of N. Ruataniwha Rd Bd, held in school.’

The Householders bi-annually elected School Committee oversaw the school. The Chairman is mentioned often in the log but not by name, although a member of the School Committee, William Clark, visited on July 26th 1906. Mr H Beyers was chairman in 1908. This is the first recording of the result of an election found in the school log, dated April 16th 1919.

‘The following Committee has been elected.
Mr W Nation   Chairman & Secretary
Mr A.S. Benton, Mr J Little, Mr F.J. Addis, Mr W.J. Aitken.’

The Committee procured for the teacher such things as brooms, disinfectant, red ink powder and boxes of nibs. They were in charge of improvements to the school grounds. 1924 log ‘the parade ground, main path to the outhouse is neatly gravelled. Young macrocarpa seedlings have been planted in front of the school to form a hedge.’ (1924)

1925 school log: ‘a fine area has been laid down in asphalt – provision has been made for basketball’.

The school closed for the day on Nov 8th 1918 to mark the end of WWI. On July 21st 1919 the school closed for Peace Celebrations (Children’s Day) in Waipawa. On May 3rd 1945 the school closed early to celebrate the Allied Victory in Italy.

School log August 15th 1945: ‘11 am School listened in to broadcast by Mr Atlee, PM of England, of surrender of Japan and declaration of the end of hostilities of the Second World War. Children were given a holiday for the rest of the day and tomorrow’.

Ever since 1928 the school has been plagued with swarms of bees establishing hives in the apex and ceilings. After fumigating, 10lb of bees had been swept off the floor of the classroom. There were reports of honey dripping down the windows, dead bees contaminating the water tanks and

Page 26

children constantly being stung. Today the problem is not entirely over.

In 1933, the teacher Miss A.D. Wilson began collecting the children in her car, ‘A Baby Austin’. Seven children were picked up each morning from as far as Mr Bernie Carlson’s property (eight miles or twelve and a half kilometres away) on the Te Onepu Road and taken to school. Other pupils still rode horses or walked to school. The horses were left during school times in the ‘big paddock’ (horse paddock), this was between the tennis court and the schoolhouse. Mr Burke the next teacher continued with the bus run by operating his Vauxhall car. Local residents also took turns at transporting the children in their own cars. Mr Burke later bought a Hudson car that was converted into nine seats. This vehicle was known as the ‘Red Terror’. The school day commenced depending on what time the bus arrived as various problems such as failing oil pressure, over heating and numerous punctures delayed the bus. On August 9 1938, the black Cadillac caught fire at McDonald’s gateway. Mr T.C.S. Gilbertson happened to be driving the bus when a canvas covering the motor ignited. The children were allowed to return home for the day. In 1939, the bus run was taken over by Mr Stephenson who also did the Tikokino run. He had a Ford V8, the first proper bus to be used in Argyll, driven by Jessie Lee (nee Stephenson) an ex-pupil. Later her brother George became the driver. In July 1947 the bus run was extended to the Taheke Soldiers’ Settlement, its new terminus being Mr Bardell’s property on Taheke Road. Although there was now a bus service in operation, many children were still riding their horses to school.

On April 10th 1919 the school was closed as it was used as a Polling Booth for the Licensing Poll and again as a Polling Booth for the General Elections on December 17th 1919 and continues as such to this present day.

School Inspectors regularly visited and gave reports on the progress of the teacher and pupils.

Inspectors Report June 1915: ‘This slowly diminishing school shows signs of improvement in the class work and the general intelligence of the pupils. The 10 pupils should be strong if care is taken as to the syllabus. The roadway to the closets should be cleared and tidied.’

Again in September 1915: ‘Drill and singing are both capably taught. Boys and girls alike presented needlework of a very useful character.’

Mr E Hurdsfield, the agricultural supervisor, who helped with the garden plots, gave lessons on such topics as germinating and planting. Reports of the garden were kept detailing even the number of slugs killed each month.

School log October 1928: ‘271 slugs killed’.

November 1928: ‘963 slugs killed – Annual total 1295’.

February 3rd 1931 10.45 am, a severe earthquake shook the school and surrounding district. The children were playing outside when it struck. The teacher gathered them onto the tennis court, which was lurching madly and the concrete kept breaking under their feet. The school was a mess inside as the chimney had crashed through the roof falling onto the teacher’s table and the desks. The water tank was also dismantled. The school was closed until the 16th to enable repairs to be carried out. There were only seven pupils at school, the smallest that the school role has ever been.

On October 16th 1945 it was reported that heavy falls of volcanic dust from Mt. Ruapehu had been falling for several days. Again on October 17th 1995 volcanic ash fell and the tank water was disconnected so that the roof could be washed down.

March 4th 1946: ‘From 26th Feb to 28th Feb Messrs Ashby Bros. installed a well and electric pump at the residence on the site where the teacher found water. On the 1st Mar. the last day of this greatest drought in memory, water was 6ft from the surface and flowing at approx. 300gals. per

Photo caption – Fancy Dress 1961 – Tidswell bros. Lance, Rhys and Cyrus (Rhys Tidswell)

Page 27

hour. A good supply is thus assured’. It was noted earlier that the tanks were empty. Electricity had arrived in 1938. On 17th October 1938 schoolwork was interrupted and the lessons were held outside while the electric light was installed.

All swimming lessons were taken in the Manga-o-nuku stream behind the school farm. Annual sports were held and certificates awarded to those who completed set distances.

The school baths (learner’s pool as it was referred to) was constructed during 1951 and officially opened by Mr T.C.S.K. Gilbertson on December 3 1951. Article in the Waipawa Mail newspaper ‘Records were established at Argyll East School’s first annual swimming sports held under ideal conditions. Forty competitors took part, a notable feature being that all had learnt to swim this season bar two seniors.’ (Held on 10th March 1952).

The school committee constructed surrounding concrete and changing sheds in March 1953. The baths were extended in 1962 and a filtration plant was installed. The filter has since been replaced and the footbath removed (1990). In 1965 Mr G Hamilton donated a cup for Argyll School Champion Boy Swimmer and Mr M Cameron for the Champion Girl.

On December 8th 1952 Mr A. Auld, chairman of the school committee, opened the new pre-fabricated infant block. The Headteacher, Mr B. Hodge, and the Infant Mistress, Miss B. Gilbertson, had been teaching 42 pupils in one over crowded classroom for the last two years. The 1953 roll was expected to be over 50. At the end of the 2nd term (1953) Miss Gilbertson left as she was entering Training College for “Teachers’ Emergency Course”. On 5th

Photo captions –

Going to school on horseback 1952.
G. Ryder, K. Issacson, E. Allhusen, A. Ryder, E. Baker, A. Auld – (Alison Marks).

Pets day 1952 (Alison Marks)

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September 1954 the now qualified Miss Gilbertson was appointed permanent Infant Teacher.

On the 4th April 1950 at a school committee meeting Mr Gilbertson donated a cup for the annual, local garden competition. He had expressed delight at the high standard attained in individual gardens. Horticulture was very much a subject at the school with the school having its own vegetable gardens and lessons still given by visiting inspectors. The Education Board gave gardening spades and seeds. In 1953 Mrs Arnott donated a cup for a flower garden competition.

On the 5th July 1955 the Golden Jubilee of the District and School was held. Two large marquees were erected on the tennis court the format being a luncheon, tea and ball. The two-day event was classed as very successful.

After a ‘very and happy and enjoyable 5½ years’ Mr B.J. Hodge resigned on the 28th September 1956. In 1957 the new School year began with Head Teacher, Mr N.K. Overton, and Infant teacher, Miss C Roach. In March that same year the School Committee presented the school with a small radiogram and an electric sewing machine.

Waipawa builder, Mr A Webby, built a new school at a cost of £8,222. In the second term 1961, the school moved into their new classrooms. Previously, the Argyll Hall was used as the classroom and the roll was 88. The roll continued to grow ending the year 1963 with 90 pupils. In 1966 the school committee gave the school a Yamaha piano. It was quoted as being a “first class instrument”.

In January 1968 Keith Overton resigned and was replaced by Mr W. Jones who joined the staff of Mr M. Bowler and Mrs F. Snowsill.

In February 1969 alternations were made to the school. The gymnastic shed was renovated and became the Library and the play shed was modified to take in the physical education equipment. In July 1969 a large working bee altered the old boys and girls toilet to an implement and storage shed, adding a roof onto the girls’ toilet to become a “Wendy House”.

By the end of 1969 the roll had dropped again to 66 and the school was reduced to a two-teacher school again. This saw Mr W. Jones transfer at the end of 1969. There appeared to be a very transient population at this time. On July 21 1969, the children listened to the radio broadcast of the first man on the moon. The 1970 year began with a roll of 53 so only the new block was used as classrooms.

School trips in the past had included Taupo and Camp Kaitawa but a day trip in March 1970 must have been memorable for many. Mr Bowler (relieving Headmaster) took nineteen children on a scenic flight from Bridge Pa Aerodrome over Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. He described it as “A fantastic experience quite awing for some participates”. On that same day the remaining eleven children from his class went caving in Issacson’s caves.

Mr Doug Morland commenced in May 1970 as the Headmaster joining Miss C. Laing the Assistant Teachers. A keen sportsman himself Mr Morland very soon had the school and district sports-mad. The school had been playing inter-school sports since 1957: cricket, rugby, softball and basketball (which later became known as netball), against other rural schools.

In 1974 the first hockey team was entered into the Central Hawke’s Bay Primary Hockey competition, as there were not enough boys for a school rugby team or girls for a netball team. Mr Morland went on to coach the Central Hawke’s Bay Representative Hatch Cup Hockey team, holding training camps at the Argyll school in 1977 and 1978. The players were billeted out among the district and attended Argyll school for a week. Many local players were selected in the Hatch Cup team. One of note was Brenton Giddens who played Hatch Cup in 1975-76. In 1976 Brenton was selected for the North Island Primary School Hockey team. The Argyll school team won the season’s primary schools competition in 1979 for the third consecutive season and for the fourth time in five seasons. (Argyll school with 36 pupils was not only the smallest school participating but also a mixed team extending from Form 2 down to Std 1). The school held many social sports

Photo caption – Fancy Dress 1955 Beryl Arnott, Beverly Basher, Nell Nossiter (Rhys Tidswell)

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games with teams of children against parents, ex pupils against pupils and married against singles.

School trips included locations such as Auckland, Wellington and Camp Kaitawa. Mr Morland even took his class to a Hawke’s Bay versus Scotland rugby game in Napier.

1971 saw the arrival of a Teacher’s Aide for fifteen hours per week, the first of many to be employed in that position.

Mr and Mrs Richard Sunderland bought the schoolhouse having put a tender price in of $105.00. On August 1st 1975 the house was moved with some difficulty to its new site on Sunderland’s property, on the river side by the Brow Bridge. Annie and John Boyd presently own the house. While the new house was being built the Morland Family moved into a cottage on Mr Allhusen’s farm. The house was built by Mr P. Middleton but finished off by Mr Rex Harrison of Waipawa. The garage was also upgraded and a new woodshed was built. The exact date of when the original schoolhouse was built is not known, but reference is made of the house frequently in the school log as the school inspectors also inspected the state of the house. School log February 14th 1919: ‘A carrier brought tubs and bricks for wash house’.

August 1921 Inspector’s report: ‘One of the tanks from the residence leaks badly. The drain from the bath and the kitchen is out of order with the result that the bath cannot be used. Some of the rooms of the residence need to be re-papered.’

School always finished at the end of the year with some kind of event either a concert, picnic or displays and prize giving. In 1977 Mr and Mrs G. Hamilton and the Argyll Ladies Social Club donated awards for prize giving.

On June 14 1978 the school went to the Napier Wharf to see the first container ship (the ‘Toombarra’) dock at Napier

In 1979 the Adventure Playground project began after being given the approval of the Education Board. The project was undertaken by the Home & Away Association headed by Hemi Power, Peter Gray, and Chris and Jad Suttor. The bases of the construction were three power cable reels obtained from the Napier Wharf. This playground became a great success.

Mr Morland left at the end of the second term of 1979, his wife Diane had been involved in the Playcentre, Badminton and worked as the teacher’s aide at school.

With a roll of 39, Mr Geoff Brookes started as new headmaster in September and when the Assistant Teacher, Mrs Jenny Scarlet left at the end of the year after teaching at the school for five years, his wife, Linda Brookes replaced her.

1980 was the 75th Jubilee year, with celebrations taking place from the 31st May to the 2nd June. Described as a well-organised and highly successful celebration, the Jubilee Committee donated $400.00 to the school.

After almost two years of discussion, planning, costing and then shelving the idea again, the tennis court was finally resealed in May/June 1982 at a cost of $2,985.00. this was paid from funds from the Farm Account. A Lottery Board grant had been received of $1,100.00 towards the tennis court. In August 1981 a new film projector was bought at a cost of $968.95, replacing one that was purchased in 1957. Years later this became out dated with the arrival of television and video into the classroom.

On March 22nd 1982 the school closed at 1 pm for a ‘stop work’ meeting, the first such action in 100 years. (This was over salary reviews.)

In August 1982 at the end of the second term, Mr Brookes left and was replaced at the beginning of the 1983 year by Mr Rae Coley. He joined Mrs Shirley Hooper, who had acted as Relieving Principal for a term. The roll was now 31. Computer Technology arrived at Argyll in 1987 when it was decided to purchase a Commodore 64c computer. School log 11th August 1987: ‘Progress on computer use is progressing slowly but thoroughly’. It was suggested to put out a newsletter advising parents on the usage and advantages of the computer and inviting them to see it in use at a later date. Parents were apprehensive over the need for computers!

Photo captions – Original School house: modernised – (Gay Kingston)

Pet day 1991 (Argyll School)

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The Lane family donated a hockey cup in 1986 for ‘the most deserving player’. Richard (1977-79 and captain in 1979), Andrew (1981-83) and Matthew Lane (1982-84) were all I the Central Hawke’s Bay Hatch Cup Teams. In 1984 Matthew played in the NZ Schoolboys hockey team.

The school continued to lay hockey as a school team for many years becoming champions again in 1990, coached by R. Coley. The Argyll Angels donated a trophy for ‘sports and sportsmanship’ with emphasis on overall attitude and achievement. A miniature cup is presented to the winner of the trophy every year.

In October 1988, Ann and Reg Shorten donated a speech

Photos captions –

New playground 1997 (Argyll School)

Demolishing old adventure playground 1996 (Margaretha Butler)

Pupils farewell Mr Coley 1998 (Margaretha Butler)

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cup. All children in the senior room (Std2-F2) were to participate and the parents and district were invited along. This brought a whole new challenge and competition to the school, over the years proving very successful, with winning speakers going on to the Waipukurau Rotary Public Speaking Competition. In 1996 Daniel Butler won the Individual Competition and together with Charlotte Greer won the School Team and Trophy. In 1997 Charlotte Greer won the Individual Waipukurau Rotary Public Speaking Competition.

In 1997 Mr B Olsen, who had been judging the Shorten Speech Competition, donated another speech cup, The Burke Olsen Cup for the winner of year 5 & 6 (std3 & 4). The winner of the year 7&8 (Std5 & 6) speech received the Shorten Cup. Mr Olsen judged the speech competition from 1994 to 2003.

The School Committee was the first to hear of changes happening to the education system, including the mooted change to the four-year term.

On the 28th June 1988 a district meeting was organised to discuss the ‘Picot Report’, the forerunner to ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’. More public meetings followed. Under the guidance of the Principal, Rae Coley, the school and community were kept informed of all developments of the ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’.

1989 opened with a role of 24, twelve in each classroom. On the 9th May 1989 the Argyll School Committee held it’s last meeting. Peter Addis, Graham McDonald, Alisdair McMillan, Ian Parker were present (apologies Rae Coley). Appreciation was formally recorded for all outgoing members with a special mention to Alisdair McMillan for his ten years’ service on the committee and the way he had looked after the farm books during that time.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ YEARS.

Boards of Trustees (BOT) are locally elected and all parents/caregivers of present pupils are eligible to vote. The system is by postal vote. The school committee appointed Brenda Addis as the returning officer for the first Board of Trustee elections.

The elected Board governs the school and establishes a Charter, which sets out the aims and objectives of the school.

A Board includes the Principal, a Staff representative and between three to seven elected parent representatives. A board may also include co-opted trustees.

The Inaugural Annual Meeting of the Argyll East School BOT was held 25th May 1989.

Present were: Mr Rae Coley (Principal), Mrs Margaret Stevenson (Staff Representative) and elected members Mrs Margaretha Butler and Messrs Peter Addis, Ian Parker, Ken Bruce and Ian Cameron.

Chairperson:   Mr Ian Cameron
Secretary:   Mr Peter Addis
Treasurer:   Mr Ian Parker.

The school was now able to decide and prioritise its own expenditure, hire their own teachers and run the school to its own Charter that the school community had helped to write.

Photo caption – Onga Onga sevens 2001 (Argyll School)
Chloe Stein, Sarah Chambers, Annabelle Greer, Steven Jane, Richard Chambers, Joshua Hawkins and Sam Reynolds.

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ARGYLL EAST SCHOOL
Supported by a friendly community and just 14kms from Waipawa with transport available from Waipawa.
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The school is always open for inspection or phone for inquiries to:
The Principal: Mr Rae Coley
Te Onepu Rd, RD1, Otane
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In November 1991 the school role was 28, with very few future pupils in the district. The Board of Trustees and school community expressed concerns that, should the school roll decrease any further, the school might be reduced to a one-teacher school. The decision was made to advertise the school in the local newspaper the CHB Press, enticing pupils from outside the area. 1992 opened with a role of 29. Four pupils transferred to Argyll School, Kane Lawton (Form one) Hannah Butler (Form two) and Robby and Ben Smith (Standard three). The teacher, Margaret Stevenson transported these children to school in her car. This was history repeating itself, as it was not the first time the teacher has driven pupils to school.

The roll continued to grow so a public meeting was called to discuss the future of the school and the possibility of extending the bus route south and into Waipawa. By May the roll had increased to 34, with Margaret Stevenson now driving a mini bus from Waipukurau and she continues to do this today. This bus service was operated in conjunction with Bruns’ Buses, which operates the Government funded bus runs up to Te Onepu. A special community meeting was held on the 27th September 1994 to discuss the school roll growth and the future of the private bus run. The Board of Trustees intention now was to provide two bus runs, the service to be extended to include Otane and the Argyll Road. This became a user pay system of $7.00 per week, per family. Both runs continue today. Initially Principal, Rae Coley drove the Government funded bus run to Te Onepu. When the second Board of Trustees operated bus run came into being Mrs Colleen Parker replaced the Principal as driver. Mrs Parker was the Teacher’s Aide/School Secretary a position she held for thirteen years in conjunction to being the bus driver for eleven years. In 2004 Mrs Karen Gilbert replaced her in the same capacity.

The advertising continued to work and the roll grew. The projected roll for 1995 was 59 and before the 1994 year ended the school was upgraded to a G2, meaning that a third teacher could be employed. This news was received with relief as both the Senior and Junior classrooms were bursting at the seams. Unfortunately the Government was not forthcoming with a new classroom so the Board of Trustees took the initiative and upgraded the original school building themselves. This old classroom was at that stage currently being used as a resource room. The 1995 year opened with a roll of 49, a new teacher, Mr William Stephenson and a new classroom, the ‘Middle Room’.

The adventure playground unfortunately deteriorated over time and in 1991 it was temporarily repaired. But eventually with new Government health and safety regulations and the need to make it more accessible to meet all children’s needs it was decided to completely replace the adventure playground. With the help of Board of Trustee member, Margaretha Butler’s father, Mr Peter Pepping, a retired builder, a plan was drawn up in consultation with Mr Coley and Mrs Stevenson. They found the original playground encourage creative play and so the new plan followed similar lines. Working bees began with the removal of the large macrocarpa hedge, a new fence was built and new fence and shelter trees planted. The old fort was completely demolished and the new one constructed by Pepping Builders. More working bees followed with truckloads of peametal and a new sandpit and shed added. The First Stage of the new Adventure Playground was officially opened in December 1996. With creative play back in action, the need for physical play arose and stage two, a confidence course began with more fund raising and working bees. At the end of 1997 the tubular climbing frames completed the adventure playground.

Also in 1997 a much-needed new water tank and water system were installed and local carpenter, Mr Joe Rossiter, renovated the old toilet/playhouse. This toilet block fulfilled the need of a growing school roll and was accessible to pool users in the summer holidays.

Still with a strong agriculture connection, the enthusiasm for gardening continues among the children, and in 1995 Mrs Shirley Addis and Mrs Betty McDonald donated new ‘Garden Cups’ to replace the now full Gilbertson vegetable garden and Arnott flower garden Cups.

After taking part in the transition from School Committee to Board of Trustees, two teachers to three, a roll growth to 68 pupils and the school divided into four terms years (1995) and many modern additions to the school, Mr Rae Coley resigned. He was the longest serving Principal (sixteen years). His wife Sniedze had worked as the Teacher’s Aide and their three daughters had attended the school. The school and community acknowledged their gratitude with a farewell at the school and an evening function in the Argyll Hall.

The 1999-year opened with the new Principal, Mr Ross McLeod and a roll of 60. A school motto is formed, ‘Achieve and succeed’. With this in mind Mr McLeod continues on from the previous headmaster and a new Library is soon planned. The original library had long become too small and inadequate. On 23rd June 2000 the new library designed by Gary Pidd and built by Waipukurau Construction was opened.

With the roll continuing to grow the Ministry of Education realised that Argyll was in need of a new classroom and felt the original classroom of 1905 was inadequate. The original school building was then gifted to the school, with the school now maintaining it themselves. The Ministry removed the old school room from their books.

2001 school log. ‘There have been many changes before the start of the new school year. A new classroom has been built by Waipukurau Construction. This is now the Junior Room. The Middle Class is next to the Senior Class. The

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Old Room is now a mini hall, music room and extra teaching space. School begins for the year 2001 at a roll of 70 students.’

The Johnson Family Trophy for rugby was first presented in 2001 donated by Mr Paul Johnson and family. Boys became interested in playing rugby as the game moved away from school teams to club teams. One player of note was Richard Buckman who played in the Central Hawke’s Bay Ross Shield team in 2000-2001 and was the 2001 captain. In 2001 he was selected for and captained the Hawke’s Bay Primary School Boys Team and was awarded the trophy for the ‘Player of the Ross Shield Tournament’.

Technology had arrived with the first computer, now the school operates with two computers each in the senior and middle rooms, one in the junior room plus one in the administration block and two laptops. Telecom’s ‘Jetstream’ has been connected. Pupils now have access to the Internet and e-mail.

With new technology the overhead telephone lines went underground and in 1990 the school accepted a proposal from Telecom to dismantle the old Argyll phone lines. They estimated 2550lbs of copper wire @$1.00 per lb plus the poles. This was yet another form of fund raising for the school.

In 2004 building continued with a patio being added onto the staff room, heat pumps/air conditioning replacing the wood burning fires in the classrooms and two new water tanks installed to gather rain water to supply the Principal’s residence. All rooms are security alarmed.

A fourth teacher, Miss J. Carey-Smith began in the second term (April) 2004, the roll was 81. Miss Smith remained until the end of the year when the school dropped back to three teachers.

Mr McLeod resigned in 2004. His wife, Delwyn, was a founder of the new Argyll Playgroup and both had been involved in the community. Again the district showed their appreciation with a farewell function in the Hall.

In 2005 Mr Stephen Johnston, wife Deanna and son William tongue moved into the schoolhouse. As the newly appointed Principal, Mr Johnston’s first introduction to the school was the preparations for the Argyll District and School Centenary.

The school catchment area has changed over the past 100 years. In the beginning it included only the children from the east side of the Manga-o-nuku River. The families in the district were fondly referred to as ‘The Top Enders’ and ‘The Bottom Enders’. ‘The Bottom Enders’ were those on the other side of the Argyll Bridge. In 1942, with petrol rationing, the bus route was cut back, so ten children from Tikokino Road came to Argyll School. In 1971 the bus run on the Tikokino Road ceased, as there was only one pupil, Gerald Addis, left to be picked up.

In 1947 the bus route was extended to include the families from the new Soldier’s Settlement Block at Taheke. In 1968 the bus run was to Te Onepu/Pukehou and in 1970 the bus was going as far as Chambers/Taheke corner. ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ brought in changes that gave families choices and now many of the Taheke children go to Raukawa or

Photo caption – Argyll School – 2005

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Pukehou School. ‘Tomorrow’s School’ also enabled the families from outside the Argyll area to send their children to Argyll School.

The change to the education system that brought in the Board of Trustees has made it possible for Argyll school to make its own decision on the priorities of its monetary spending and teaching policies. The school now appoints its own teachers and auxiliary staff. It has modernised and has control over its own future, a future that suits the specific needs of its own community. The Argyll East School roll currently stands at 66 and although a vast majority of the pupils come from outside the Argyll District they are every part of the Argyll community.

THE MCLEOD CUP

The McLeod Cup is named after its benefactor, George McLeod. Described by some as ‘a dapper gentleman who always wore a bowler hat’, and as a ‘bit of a character’, George began school in 1906. He owned approximately 300 acres on Argyll East Road and lived in what is now Nick and Lois Riddells’ home.

Taken from the School Committee’s Minute book dated December 10th 1962: ‘Mr George McLeod had donated £10.00 for a cup and instructed the committee to decide on the award. After discussion it was agreed that the cup shall be known as the “McLeod Cup for Example and Endeavour”.

To be awarded to that pupil in the senior school who displays the following virtues to the best of his ability. Thoughtfulness, diligence, good manners, sportsmanship, behaviour’.

Winners of the McLeod Cup:
1962   I Cameron, J Monk
1963   J McLellan
1964   I Bridge
1965   J Cameron
1966   A Clark
1967   S Fraser
1968   J Cameron, B. Addis
1969   M McDonald
1970   S Robertshaw
1971   S Goodwin
1972   T Gilbertson, R Lawrence
1973   S Gilbertson
1974   J Gilbertson
1975   K Clark
1976   S Goodwin
1977   G Chambers
1978   S MacMillan
1979   D Franklin
1980   L Ryder
1981
1982   C MacMillan
1983   A Coley
1984   A MacMillan, M Lane
1985   K Coley
1986   M MacMillan
1987   K McDonald
1988   B Cameron
1989   A Shorten
1990   A Coley, A Cameron
1991   R MacMillan
1992   A Bridge
1993   A Parker
1994   K Cameron, N Butler
1995   J Bridge
1996   D Butler
1997   A Tidswell, C. Greer
1998   J Laurent
1999   R Addis, B. Menefy
2000   A Gosling
2001   C Forrest
2002   L Addis
2003   C Knock
2004   M McDonald

NB to the best of our knowledge this is a true recording of the past winners of the McLeod Cup. Descriptions on the cup and school honours board are in error.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

The following pupils played in Primary School Representative Sports for either Central Hawke’s Bay (CHB) or Hawke’s Bay (HB) in various sports.

HOCKEY
Tony Christenson, 1975-76-77-78
Brenton Giddens, 1975-76 North Island Team
Susan Goodwin   1975-76 (HB)
Tracey Scott 1  975-76 (HB)
Mark Lawrence   1975
Mark Tonge   1975
Robert Hay   1975
Kevin Dyer   1975
Shayne Ryder   1976
Richard Lane   1977-78-79
Wayne Eru   1979-1980
Julayne Giddens   1979
Lisa Franklin   1978-79
Lyn Ryder   1978-79
Stuart MacMillan   1978
Sinclair MacMillan   1978
Gavin Eru   1980
Andrew Lane  1981-82-83
Matthew Lane   1982-83-84, NZ School boys team -84
Alexander MacMillan   -83
James Gray   1985
Kim Coley 1985
Jason Mcdonald   1983-84-85
Kirstie Mcdonald   1985-86-87
Geraldine Gray   1987
Paul Shorten   1987
Jade Tuckwell   1992
Ashley Ratima   1992
Richard Shorten   1992-93 (HB)
Daniel Butler   1995-96
Harry Parker   1995-96
Benn Smith   1995
Robbie Smith   1995
Rebecca Groome   1995
Alice Tidswell   1997
Charlotte Greer   1997
Amanda Menefy   1997
Kansas Pebble   1997-98
Emma Forsyth   1997-98-99-00
Leah Kersten   1998
Charlotte Riorden   1998
Jaqui Laurent   1998
Brian Gosling   1998
Ricky Meldon   1998
Sereena Sisson   1998-99
Mary Butler   1999-00   HB under 15 2003
Pip Sherratt   1999
George Butler   2001-02
Emily Stephens   2003-04
Ruby Ritchie   2004
Danielle Harty-Isaac   2003-04
James Taylor   2004
Cameron Lagan   2004
Sarah Boyd   2005

SOCCER
Senior Team
Steven Beckett   2003
Ben Stephens   2000-01
Joshua Aramoana   2002
Tim Stephens   2003-04
Dan Tynan   2004
Thomas Gilbertson   2003-04-05
Devin Knock   2005

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Isabeau Anderson   2005
Blake Harty-Isaac   2004-05

NETBALL
Ester Goodwin   1968-69
Jean Bruce   1969
Nicole Groome   1969
Sarah Goodwin   1970
Adriene McDonald   1972
Kerryn Chambers   1979
Naomi Hut   2002
Putti Smith   2003
Kimberley Gilbert   2004-05

CRICKET
Brenton Giddens   1976
Robert Hay   1976
Richard Buckman   2001
Dan Tynan   2002-03-04
Sam Macklow   2002
Steven Beckett   2002
Edward O’Sullivan   2004

MISCELLANEOUS SPORTS
Laura Macklow   1998 silver medal NZ National Trampoline Championship
James Gray   1993 cycling
Geraldine Gray   1985-86 Cross country Team
Nerida Gray   1985 Cross country team
Christine Walker   1985 Cross country team
Chad Gough   2001 Boxing   40kg Canterbury Title and under 40kg South Island Title.
Amy Forsyth   2001 Gymnastics HB/Poverty Bay team
Wesley [Westley] Gough   Cycling 2004 National titles. 2005 World Junior Champion

RUGBY
Ross Shield
This is a primary school rugby championship that has been running for 102 years. Boys and girls (minority) are selected to play for six teams: Wairoa, Napier, Hastings East, Hastings West, Central Hawke’s Bay and Dannevirke. People from the school and district who have been selected to play include:
David Giddens   Dannevirke
1965   John Bruce
1966   Bob Bruce
1968   Ken Bruce and Guy Hamilton
1969   Alfred Goodwin
1995   James Bridge
1999   Richard Addis and Brett Menefy
2001   Richard Buckman
2002   Richard Buckman
2004   Brandon Gray and Sam Macklow
2005   Brandon Gray and Richard Bowman

Richard Buckman was named Player of the tournament in 2002. He was selected into the Hawke’s Bay Ross Shield team in two consecutive years, the second year as captain. In 2005 he was selected into the Hawke’s Bay under sixteen-rugby team.

William Reynolds 2004 HB under sixteen rugby team, 2005 HB under eighteen rugby team.

ACADEMIC
Robert Goodwin   1967 WDFF Bursary
Jean Bruce   1969 Maori Scholarship
Ester Goodwin   1969 Maori Scholarship
Duncan Bruce   1997 Dux Hastings Boys High
1994   Natalie Butler   Iona Scholarship
2000   William Reynolds   Lindisfarne Scholarship

HIGH SCHOOL PREFECTS
Helen Groome   1942 Prefect   Woodford House
Bridget Twist   1989 Prefect   Woodford House
Holly Bruce   1995 Head Prefect   Hastings Girls High School
Duncan Bruce   1997 Head Prefect   Hastings Boys High School
Hannah Butler   1997 Deputy Prefect   Iona College
William Reynolds   2005 Head Prefect   Lindisfarne College

DRAMA/SPEECH
Daniel Butler   1996 Winner, CHB Rotary Speech Competition
Charlotte Greer   1997 Winner, CHB Rotary Speech Competition
George Butler   2001 Highly Commended CHB Rotary Speech Competition
Madeline Macdonald in Drama Productions of: 2001 ‘Annie’, 2002 ‘Hercules’, 2005 ‘Jekyll & Hyde’

Page 36

ARGYLL HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

‘A nucleus for a gathering together in goodwill of the householders and school teachers in the district’. Quoted from the initial meeting of the Home & School Associations’ first meeting June 6th 1951.

After being in recess for several years the Home and School was reformed in 1956. It went in and out of recess over the years but in 1975, a school picnic to Blackhead Beach was organised and in 1977 a Progressive Dinner was held making a pleasing profit of $200. By 1980 the School Committee was trying to encourage support for a dying Home and School. With a lack of interest in meetings and the duplicating of many functions by the School Committee, it was decided in 1987 not to re-establish the Home and School.

In 1990 it was reformed, as with the new ‘Tomorrow’s School’ system in place the School Board of Trustees found the workload too great for them without the assistance of people in the community. The new objective was that the association would be responsible for the school farm and farm bank account and other fund-raising efforts for the school as a need arose for extra financial assistance to make up the shortfall to the monetary grant from the Government. Organised social sport games, ‘Quad and Dog’ Pub nights, Mystery Auction Nights, producing play night ‘What’s for Pudding’ and Mystery Bus trips will bring interesting memories back to many who were involved. The ‘Slink Skin Run’ begun in 1985 was of financial importance to the Home and School. This example shows that due to the unfortunate weather the farms in the Argyll District had during the lambing season of 2004, well over 4,500 dead lambs were collected and delivered to the factory in Waipukurau making just over $5,000.00 for the school. The assistance given during the Argyll Centennial with lunches morning and afternoon tea, show that the Home and School have become an important link between the school, school community and district. Over the years the association has fund-raised for not one (1979) but two (1996) adventure playgrounds for the school, books for the new library, computers and the school is now well equipped with resources that they would otherwise not have had.

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100 YEARS
1905 – 2005
ARGYLL EAST SCHOOL
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EXCERPTS OF A BUS DRIVER

Driving country children especially had its moments and they were most of the time enjoyable.

I think of the times when I would drive with the lights on and invariably forget to turn them off at the end of the day. Fortunately, I always parked the bus at home facing down hill so the many times I had to crash start the bus was always my secret.

Flat tyres were also a problem and I had had a few of those in the eleven years I drove. I had a flat tyre along the main road with about eight children on board. What was I supposed to do? The best thing was to look useless and some nice bloke would turn up and help me out while I entertain the children on the footpath.

Utmost on my mind was getting the kids to school on time but that wasn’t always the case. I remember waiting on the corner of Tamumu Road, Waipawa, expecting any minute now for the family to turn up and we would be on our way. Not so this time, so I proceeded on down the main road towards Otane when in my side mirror I saw blue and red flashing lights, “Help” I thought, “I’m not speeding!” I pulled over to the side of the road to let the police go by but he stopped and parked behind me. The fresh face of a constable and a child appeared at the door, “Sorry about that. We were running late and that was the only way I could stop you”.

Nothing seems to phase country children. I was travelling up the road through Argyll and had only one child with me when we met a mob of sheep. The child wound down his window and banged on the door and said, “Come on, get moving you csss!” I wasn’t sure what to do, so I left it, but then he said it again. This time I thought action! So I gently patted his knee and said, “While we are on the bus we will call these animals sheep.” The child responded, “But that’s what Dad calls them”. I often smile to myself now when travelling through a mob of sheep.

I often had to wait for children at their gates. I got into the habit of tooting a special code with the horn to alert the child that the bus was here. Often a bedraggled mother in her nightie with hair standing on end would rush to the fence and wave the bus on. The family was no doubt running late. This was quite a favourite with a couple of families.

Children create a lot of noise and I found that shouting at them to quieten down just didn’t work. I did discover that the louder the noise got the slower I would drive so when the bus started jerking to a stop the noise would calm down and there would be a lot of worried faces wondering if the bus was going to break down. There were also rules on the bus – one of them was if the noise was too great you could opt for a silent night. One such occasion comes to mind when I said, “Okay silent night”. The kids burst into ’Silent Night Holy Night’. So much for that!

There are always rascals in any group and on this particular day two of the rascals let down the tyres of a wheelchair that was being transported on the bus. I was very red faced when I got the chair off and had to explain it to the mother. Am I supposed to have eyes in the back of my head?”

One of the biggest fears was running out of petrol, which did happen one particular day. There were only two children on the bus when we ran out of petrol, just before the outskirts of Waipawa. I had to flag someone down to borrow their cell phone to ring the bus depot and my two passengers hid with embarrassment.

Many times I would be on auto pilot and would cruise past a stop while bewildered children would wonder, “Why hasn’t she stopped and picked us up?” There would be lots of yelling and I would have to back-up and say, “Sorry kids, just didn’t see you”. One child told me it was old age creeping in, my senior moments were upon me!

Every two years the school would have a Book Fair. We would all dress up and yes I would drive the bus in some outrageous costume. One year I was Goldilocks dressed in a big, blonde wig and a chequered baby doll dress. I received lots of strange looks when I stopped to pick up the children who were equally dressed up, and I’m sure the parents thought it was time for me to give this job up. In the mini bus we were all squashed in like sardines but the loading was correct and we coped. But come Pets Day, it was beyond a joke. We would cram in flowers, cake tins, bottles and bits and pieces, all for the great day of display. I’m pleased we didn’t have room for the pet lamb or cat, though many times I was asked if we could put them on board too.

(Colleen Parker drove the school bus for eleven years from 1993 – 2004)

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School Committee Chairman
Mr H Beyers   1908
Mr Nation   1919/1920
Mr J T Little   1920/1925
Mr W G Aitken  1925-
Mr G W Johnston   1932-
Mr H L Couper   1936
Mr G W Johnston   1936/1937
Mr T C S K Gilbertson   1937/1950
Mr A S Auld   1950-
Mr J G Pattison   1956/1961
Mr M L Cameron   1961/1969
Mr J P Robertshaw   1969/1973
Mr W P Clark   1973/1976
Mr G Ryder   1977/1978
Mr G MacMillan   1979/1982
Mr P Gray   1983/1986
Mr P Addis   1987/1989

Elected Board of Trustees
(C) Chairperson, (S) Secretary, (T) Treasurer
1989   Messrs I Cameron (C), P Addis (S), I Parker (T), K Bruce, Mrs M Butler
In 1990 K Bruce leaves the district and K Groome is co-opted on
1992   Mrs K Groome (C), M Butler, Messrs I Cameron (T), R Tidswell, J Greer
In 1994 Mrs K Groome resigns but not replaced.
1995   Messrs J Greer (C), R Tidswell (T), G Sherratt, Mrs M Butler, D Perry
In 1996 Mrs D Perry resigns and Mrs P Macklow is co-opted on.
1998   Messrs J Greer (C), G Sherratt, W Butler, Mrs P Macklow, M-C Reynolds
2001   Mrs M-C Reynolds (C), R Butler (S), P Macklow (T), Messrs R Gough, R Stein
In 2002 Mr Stein resigns and Mr Quinlivan is co-opted on
In 2003 Mrs P Macklow becomes Chairperson
2004   Mrs P Macklow (C), P Kruger, E Mason-Smith, Messrs D Quinlivan, H McDonald

The Principal is automatically on the Board   1989-1998 Mr R Coley
1998-2004   Mr R. McLeod   2005   Mr S. Johnson

One Staff Representative is also automatically on the Board   1989-2000 Mrs M Stevenson who also acted as Secretary from 1992-2000 2001-2005   Mrs B Addis

1st Board of Trustees; Argyll East School 1989
Rear L-R:  Peter Addis, Ken Bruce, Ian Cameron (Chairman), Ian Parker (Treasurer)
Front L-R:  Rae Coley (Principal), Margaretha Butler, Margaret Stevenson (Staff Representative)

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SCHOOL STAFF

Head Masters / Head Mistresses / Principals
*  Relieving Head Teacher
*  Miss C A Kemsley, July 1905 / Dec 1905
*  Mr G R Norman, March 1906 / Oct 1906
*  Mr H B Huddleston, Oct 1906 / March 1907
*  Mr J Johnson, April 1907 / June 1907
Miss E Tucker, July 1907 / Oct 1907
Miss A Morrison, Oct 1907 / March 1917
Miss M Barclay, April 1917 / Dec 1918
Mrs L Fletcher, Feb 1919 / Jan 1924
Miss E Wyatt, Feb 1924 / April 1926
*  Miss I Rhodes, May 1926 / July 1926
Mrs H.M. Preston, July 1926 / May 1930
*  Miss L Jackson, May 1930 / Feb 1931
*  Miss McCardle, March 1931 / March 1931
Miss A Wilson, April 1931 / Dec 1935
Mr W R Burke, Feb 1936 / Feb 1939
*  Mr R B Bickerstaff, March 1939 / March 1939
Mrs R A Lea, April 1939 / Aug 1942
Miss M Peacock, Sept 1942 / Aug 1944
*  C Orbrist, Sept 1944 / Nov 1944
Mr A E Kinsella, Nov 1944 / May 1948
*  Mr N L Skilton, May 1948 / Aug 1948
Mr N Ensor, Sept 1948 / March 1951
*  Miss K Tracey, April 1951 / May 1951
Mr B J Hodge, May 1951 / Sept 1956
*  Mr Olsen, Sept 1956 / Dec 1956
Mr N K D Overton, Feb 1957 / Dec 1967
*  Mr A D Wallace, Feb 1968 / May 1968
Mr W G Jones, May 1968 / Dec 1969
*  Mr M A Bowler, Feb 1970 / May 1970
Mr D M Morland, May 1970 / August 1979
Mr G Brooks, Aug 1979 / Aug 1982
*  Mrs S Hooper, Aug 1982 / Dec 1982
Mr R Coley, Jan 1983 / August 1998
*  Mr R Mettrick, Aug 1998 / Dec 1998
Mr R McLeod, Jan 1999 / Aug 2004
*  Mr R Mettrick, Aug 2004 / Oct 2004
*  Miss S Drummond, Oct 2004 / Dec 2004
Mr S Johnston, 2005 –

Junior Room Teachers
*  Relieving Teacher/Assistant Infant teacher
Miss J McDonald, March 1950 / Dec 1950
Miss B McDonald, March 1951 / Sept 1953
*  Miss P O’Dowd, Sept 1953 / Dec 1953
*  Miss S Jenson, Feb 1954 / Dec 1954
*  Mr D Thompson, Feb 1955 / Feb 1955
Miss J Bedingfield, Feb 1955 / Aug 1955
Miss B Gilbertson, Sept 1955 / Aug 1956

PRINCIPALS
K Overton   1957-1967
D Morland   1970-1979
G Brookes   1979-1982
R Coley   1983-1998
R McLeod  1999-2004
S Johnson   2005+

AUXILIARY STAFF
J Scott   1973-1976
C Parker   1990-2002
K Gilbert   2003+

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*  Miss M Hamilton Sept/Oct 1956
Miss Papps, Oct 1956 / Dec 1956
Miss C Roach, Feb 1957 / Dec 1958
Miss R Wilkie, Feb 1959 / Oct 1960
Mr P Dadley, Feb 1961 / Dec 1963
*  Miss J Houlahan, Feb 1961 / May 1961
*  Mrs J McKay, May/June 1961
*  Mrs C Addis, June 1961 / Dec 1961
Miss R Israelson, Feb 1962 / Nov 1964
Mr K Brown, Feb 1964 / Dec 1965
Miss M Parsons, Feb 1965 / Dec 1967
Miss C Martin, Feb/Dec 1966
Mr M Bowler Feb 1967 / 1970
Mrs F Snowsill, Feb 1968 / Feb 1969
Miss C Laing, Feb/Dec 1970
Miss C Easton Feb 1971 / Aug 1972
Miss J Church, Sept 1972 / 1973
*  Mrs M Gilbertson, Sept/Dec 1973
Mrs S Cullen, Feb / Dec 1974
Mrs R Tibble, Feb / Dec 1975
Mrs G Scarlett Jan 1976 / Dec 1979
Mrs L Brookes, Jan 1980 / March 1981
Mrs C Arnold, March 1981 / Dec 1981
Mrs S Hooper, Feb 1982 / Dec 1984
*  Mrs J Bainbridge, Sept/Dec 1982
Miss J Wilson, Jan 1984 / Dec 1985
Mrs B Addis, Jan 1986 / Apr 1987
Miss C Beadle, May 1987 / Dec 1987
Mrs M Stevenson, 1988 /

Middle Room Teacher
Mr W Stevenson, 1995 / 1998
Miss J Perry, 1999 / Feb 1999
Mr W Stevenson, Jan 2000 / Sep 2000
Mrs R Hay, Oct 2000 /

4th Room Teacher
Mrs J Carey-Smith, Term 2 / Term 4, 2004

Principal Release Teacher
Mrs B Addis, 1987 /

Teacher Aides
Mrs D Morland, July 1970 /
Mrs M Gilbertson 1971 / 1972
Mrs J Scott, 1973 / 1976
Mrs D Morland, 1976 / 1978
Mrs K Linley 1979 / 1981
Mrs L Brookes 1981 / 1982
Mrs M Oliver, Sept 1982 / April 1985
Mrs S Coley, April 1985 / March 1988
Mrs A Shorten, March 1988 /
Mrs C Parker, 1990 / 2002
Mrs K Gilbert, 2003 /

TEACHERS
R Israelson   1962-1964
K Brown   1964-1965
C Laing   1970
C Easton   1971-1972
C Scarlett   1976-1979
S Hooper   1984-1985
M Stevenson   1989 +
B Addis   1986 +
W Stevenson   1995-98, 2000
J Perry   1999
R Hay   2000 +

Page 41

ARGYLL EAST PLAYCENTRE

The Playcentre has been well supported in its 36 year history. Its inaugural meeting, on 13th August 1964, was held in the home of Mr and Mrs P Clark and attended by thirteen people with two apologies. Mr K Overton chaired the meeting and the officers elected.

President; Mrs Mary Hamilton

Secretary; Mrs Marie McIlrath

Treasurer; Mrs June Clark.

Later in the year the subscriptions were set as below:
10 shillings to be paid on admission of a child,
10 shillings to be paid per year per family, and
1 shilling per session.

Parents were requested to supply sugar bag aprons for each child attending.

In February 1965 tentative inquiries were made with the Hall Committee for the erection of a building for storage, possibly an old army hut. The building was then delayed until more finances were available. In November, Mr P Clark offered to help finance “the addition to the hall for storage”. By May 1967 the loan was repaid.

In 1970 a 50 cent postal note and congratulatory card were sent to mothers on the birth of their babies.

By 1971 the roll was nineteen, travelling allowance was eight cents per mile and a uniform was bought for the duty supervisor.

In January 1974 an ‘A framed Wendyhouse’ (10ft x 8ft) was constructed at a cost of $82.42 on the Settlers Hall ground. This was designed and built by Mrs S. Wilson’s brother, Mr P Morgan. This was later sold for $80.00 and a new shed erected in 1983.

In November 1978 discussions began with the Waipawa District Council to help fund an extension to the hall for the Playcentre. Finally work began in February 1980 on the extension and the Playcentre sessions moved to a vacant cottage on Cameron’s farm. Funding for the building was shared between the Waipawa District Council, the Department of Education and Playcentre, Playcentre’s share being $3750.00 with the final cost of the building $13,307.39. In June 1980 Playcentre moved into their new room.

Christmas parties were held every year, many fathers and grandfathers taking on the role of Father Christmas, one of note being Mr George Tidswell who took on the role for many years.

Playcentre sessions were held once a week and in 1974 an extra session once a fortnight, for older pre-schoolers was trialled. In 1987 an extra session began for four year olds. Many children from Pukehou, Tikokino, Onga Onga and Argyll attended this four year old session.

In 1989 a 25 year celebration was held taking the form of a “Mix and Mingle” evening in the Argyll Hall.

Melanie Stevenson and George Williams, art students from the Hawke’s Bay Polytechnic painted a mural on the exterior wall during the summer holidays of 1993-94.

In 1994 with 24 children on the roll, Playcentre celebrated 30 years.

New Government regulations under ‘Tomorrow’s School’, (1989), meant more training requirements for parents and a ‘point’ system for group supervision. Grounds and buildings were re-assessed for health and safety and educational needs. The qualification requirements expected of the parents, from the Playcentre Association and the Government became too onerous for the three hours, one day a week playcentre session. This put immense pressure on the mothers who were running the sessions.

On 19th April 1999, a meeting was held whereby the parents of the Argyll Playcentre decided to close the Argyll Playcentre. “We still feel very strongly that we need a centre for parents and children to meet, socilaise and play, but without the pressures associated with belonging to the Playcentre Organisation.”

A decision was made to replace the Playcentre concept with a Playgroup.

Over the years Playcentre was well supported by the families, children have benefitted from it and together with the school formed the backbone of the Argyll District.

Father Christmas (George Tidswell) visits playcentre 1994

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PRESIDENTS OF THE ARGYLL EAST PLAYCENTRE.

1964/65   Mary Hamilton
1966/67   June Clark
1968   E Jones
1969/70   Julie Walker
1971/72   Mary Plummer
1973/74   Sue Wilson
1975/76   Diane Morland
1977   Anne Power
1978/79   Wendy Twist
1980/81   Karen Groome
1982   Linda Bruce
1983   Janice Addis
1984   Margaret Bruce
1985   Cathy Mills
1986   Janice Addis
1987   Kathy Bruce
1988   Nikki Gilbertson
1989   Cynthia Cameron
1990/91   Brenda Addis
1992   Shelley Lagah
1993   Margaretha Butler
1994   Wendy Gough
1995   Karen Carswell
1996/97   Mary Clare Reynolds
1998   Janet Bambus

ARGYLL EAST PLAYGROUP.

The Argyll East Playgroup replaced the Playcentre holding its first session on May 12th 1998.

The Playgroup is independent and run by parents with funding from the Ministry of Education.

Families from Argyll and the surrounding districts meet every Wednesday morning. The Playgroup meet in the ex-playcentre room and two parents run each session with an organised activity. There is an average of eighteen children attending each week with 26 on the register.

Playground 2005

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THE ORIGINAL/EARLY FAMILIES

ADDIS

Benjamin Thomas Addis and Sarah Ann Jones emigrated from England in 1879. They were fortunate to be balloted a farm in the Argyll settlement on 23 June 1903. They had seven children – 4 sons, Fred, Frank, William and Harold and three daughters, Polly, Ethel and Ena. Bill’s father, Fred, was the eldest son in the family.

Fred bought the farm nowadays known as Glen Athol and Addavale. Fred’s other brothers bought the following farms: William farmed Tunabrook, Frank took over his Grandfather’s farm and Harold farmed at Gwavas. When Polly died Benjamin and Sarah brought up her son, Addis Pattison and later settled him on the farm next to theirs.

* Bill’s brothers, Tim (Stan) and Tom, eventually took over from their father, Fred and farmed Glen Athol and Addavale. Bill and Shirley (Nathan) continue to farm this farm along with their son, David and his wife, Brenda. David and Brenda’s children, Richard and Lucy were the third generation to attend the Argyll East School. Shirley and Bill’s daughter, Joanne lives with her family in Australia.

* Bill’s cousin, Keith Addis farmed his father’s farm, Tunabrook. His son, Mark took over and has since sold this block to Wilson/Greer.

* Tim and Frank Junior, Bill’s cousins, kept their grandparents’ block, bought Stephensen’s farm and shared that between themselves. Tim’s son, Graham, now farms his father’s block.

* Frank Junior passed away in 2995. His daughter, Sue Gardner and her husband John, now farm his block.

* Harold’s block went to his son Pat, and has since been sold.

It is not hard to understand how Tikokino Road was often referred to as The Addis Straight! Bill Addis is now the only surviving grandson of Sarah and Benjamin Addis currently farming one of the original Argyll blocks. The past century has seen many changes. Some of the next generation will continue to farm into the next 100 years but fortunately for the rural mailman, deliveries to the Addis mailboxes will be fewer and less confusing than in the past!

BUTLER

Thomas Butler (1844-1930) emigrated from Ireland to Otago in 1875 and settled in Waipawa in the late 1880s. He had four children John (1866-1935), Daniel (1870-1953), Mary and Ellen.

He was a contractor with a team of over 30 horses. Thomas and his sons, John and Daniel, undertook many large road and bridge contracts from Woodville to Wairoa. The Forest Gate water race, begun in 1905, appears to be the last contracting job Tom Butler and sons did. There was an off season camp for the men and horses by the Manga-o-nuku stream.

In 1901 Tom Butler drew a block in the Hatuma ballot and in the 1903 Argyll Settlement ballot both John and Daniel drew a block in what is now part of Tikokino. Agricultural contracting and the carting of goods continued but eventually attention turned to full time farming and the contracting was given up. Initially the men and horse teams proved useful in draining and working up the new farms. Hatuma was sold in 1907 and ‘Puropuro’ part of the Tamumu Estate was bought in two parts, in 1906 and 1907. Daniel went to the coast from Waipawa and John shifted from Hatuma to the Argyll farms, which had been named ‘Tralee’ after his birthplace in County Kerry.

John married Loretta Boyle and they had two sons, Thomas and Daniel and four daughters, Nora, Loretta, Kathleen and Eily (who married Stan Bridge).

After John’s death, Thomas (1902-1967) and wife Frances (nee Nutter) farmed Tralee. They had two sons, Kerry and Brendan and three daughters, Bridget, Margaret-Anne and Patricia.

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Addavale
F.W. & S. Addis

Mt View
W. & M. Butler

Tirohia
H. Carlson & M. Schorer

Anaroa
J. & J. Bridge

Longridge
M. & B. Chambers

Te Onepu
J. & S. Bunworth

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Kerry and Brendan farm Tralee independently. Brendan and Prudence (nee Beadle) and their fur daughters, Harriet, Frances, Belinda and Rebecca live in the original Tralee Homestead.

Daniel (19908-2000) after his marriage to Ngaire (nee Rathbone) in 1936, moved to ‘Nga Maunga’ on the Tikokino Road. They had six children, Juliane, Owen, Rosemary, Peter, Warwick and Angela. Juliane died at the age of five.

Owen and Sally (nee Lopdell) and their three children, Thomas James and Lucy farm ‘Glenalvon’ at Tikokino.

Rosemary and Roger Tynan and their son, Daniel, returned to Australia, set up Limerock Wines and live in Waipawa. Daniel attended the Argyll School.

Peter, Jeanette (nee Sherning) and their three children Toby, William and Hannah moved into the Nga Maunga homestead. Hannah attended Argyll school. Toby, his wife Charlotte (nee Macklow) and their son Barnaby, live at Te Pau, Tikokino, which was purchased in 2001.

In 1980 ‘Mt View’ was purchased from Paul Clark. In 1986, Warwick and Margaretha (nee Pepping) built a new home on top of a rise gaining a panoramic view of the area up to the mountains. Their children Natalie, Daniel, Mary and George attended the Argyll school.

Peter and Warwick combined their properties and have been farming as D. Butler & Sons since 1981. Their sons Toby and William, Daniel and George, farm with them, as the fifth generation farming the Argyll land.

Angela married Guy Hewitt and they farm at Tapairu Road, Waipawa. They have four children, Nicholas, Peter, Digby and Elizabeth.

BRIDGE

Stan married Eily Butler (1913-1977) daughter of John Butler of Tralee in 1944. Stanley Gordon Bridge (1908-1993) was the son of a Wellington dentist, Joseph and his wife Marion. After finishing his education at Wellington College, Stan moved to Hawke’s Bay where he worked for his brother Harry.

At the outbreak of WWII, Stan enlisted. He was wounded in late 1943 and later sent home as unfit for duty.

Eily and Stan moved to Kairakau to manage a farm for Frank McPhail. In 1949 Stan and Eily bought Rangihau from Hugh Gilhooley. They had three children, Alison, John and Ivan and they attended the Argyll School. Alison married Nigel Hanton and they have two children, Nikki and Johnty

John married Jacky Hurst and they have three children, Odette, Alisha and James.

Ivan married Rebecca Spiers and they have two children, Simon and Jodie.

John took over farming Rangihau and his children attended Argyll school. In 1988 he sold the majority of the land to Eastern Equities retaining the home and 50 acres. John and Jacky bought Anaroa in 1990 selling the Rangihau home block. The home block, Rangihau has had a few owners but is now the home of Doctor Bob Stephenson and Rachel Beanland and their family.

CARLSON

Henry Carlson was born in Carlshamn, Sweden, in 1844 and followed a seafaring life. He married Careng Nielson in 1865 and had two sons, Olaf and August. They immigrated to New Zealand on the ship ‘Shakespeare’ and landed in Wellington in 1876. They settled in Palmerston North, where the boys completed their education they began in Sweden.

Henry became involved with sawmilling and started in business as a bridge constructor. He bult the Waipawa and Waipukurau traffic bridges, Tamumu and others, in Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu.

In 1890 he started the Timber Bay sawmill near Dannevirke and also mills at Pahiatua, Mangatoro and Te Aute. Both sons worked in the business when they left school.

The Anaroa sawmill at Te Onepu Road had the name, ‘Te Aute Sawmill’ and was established in 1903. The main timbers were totara, kahikatea and matai. The mill and yard covered three acres. Machinery included a traction engine, four driving engines including a log hauler and a steam winch, a portable and stationary engine of sixteen-horse power each. Also twin 5½ foot circular saws and planning and moulding machine. The output average 11,000 feet per day. 100 oxen and fifteen horses were used for hauling logs on the ground and wooden railway tracks.

The mill employed 35 people who lived on the site in single-roomed huts. There was an office and post office at the mill with Charles Rosser in charge and a school nearby.

Careng died in 1900. Henry remarried Hilda Fredsburgh and he died in 1912. In 1914 the two families separated their interest, the 2,200 block was split, Olaf farming 880 acres and Hilda 1,300 acres.

Olaf married Agnes Amundsen in 1888 and they had four children, Ada, Henry, Viola and Bernard. Henry married Edna Jull in 1921 and had two children, Nancy and Geoff.

Bernard married Marjorie Bibby in 1921 and had three children, Dorothy (Dos), Alan and Graeme. All children went to the Argyll School.

The brothers farmed together before subdividing Anaroa in 1945. Bernard farmed Anaroa, with Alan taking over the farm in the 1950s. Alan married Joy Smith in 1955 and they had five children, Graeme, Susan, David, Peter and Andrew. In the 1970s, Anaroa was sold and they moved to the Bay of Plenty.

Henry farmed at Tirohia (name meaning long or clear view), with Geoff taking over the farm in the 1950s. Geoff married

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Elizabeth (Betty) Clarkson in 1952 and they had three children, Helen, Hamish and Ann. The children from both these families attended Argyll school.

Geoff and Hamish farmed together in the 1980s, with Hamish taking over in 1989. Hamish married Mathilda Schorer from Germany and they have two children, Jacqui and Thomy, both of whom attended Argyll School.

CHAMBERS

William and Elizabeth Chambers bought ‘Longridge’ in 1922. They bought 1600 acres, 640 hectares for approximately 10 shillings an acre leasehold from Mr Alf Monk. 80 percent of the farm was scrub. Elizabeth milked the cows by hand to make extra money.

Maurice, an only child, was born in 1932. Maurice left school at the age of fifteen to work on the farm helping to break in the land.

In 1946 land was divided up into Rehabilitation Blocks for the Returned Soldiers. Electricity then became available to the Chambers and MacMillans in 1947 at £80 per year. Before then they had relied on generated power and Aga Cookers.

William (Bill) died in 1953. Elizabeth married Ronald MacMillan and he moved to Longridge.

Maurice married Barbara Clayton from Weber and they have two children, Gary and Kerryn.

Gary now works on the farm. He married Joanne Galbraith and they have two children, Richard and Sarah.

Kerryn worked in England for three years where she met an Irishman,, Joe O’Sullivan. Upon returning to New Zealand Joe and Karryn married and now have four children, Ashley, Edward, Connor and Keeghan.

The Chambers’ and O’Sullivan children are the third generation to attend the Argyll East school.

In 1988 Maurice bought a farm in Monk Road from Bert Monk (Alf’s father) for $750 an acre. Compared this with 2005 prices of $4,000 per acre.

Kerryn and Joe O’Sullivan and family live there.

GROOME

Murray Roberts & Co bought Te Onepu from the Maori in 1880. The Groome family’s association with the property began in 1882 when Michael Edward Groome began working there. In 1884 he and Mr David Ballantyne purchased Te Onepu from Murray Roberts.

It was about 1883 that a house was built and M E Groome’s wife Mary and their seven children (Charity, Thomas, Alice, Godfrey, John, Arthur and Ernest) moved from Hastings to the farm. The house was built from native timber milled from the property and the roof made of totara shingles.

The children were all educated at home by English ‘Tutors’. A trip to Napier once a year was a real adventure for them – taking several days on the bullock dray with 2/6d to spend. Mail was collected once a week by riding through the bush to the Opapa Railway Station.

Michael Edward and Mary moved into Hastings in 1918. Michael died in 1920 followed by Mary in 1923. Mary was survived by only two of their seven children, son Ernest and daughter Charity (Chatty).

1918 also saw Ernest and his wife Marjorie (nee MacNiven) move to Te Onepu. By this time they had a car, a two-seater Saxon with a dickie seat. Ernest was taught to drive by his wife. Ernest and Marjorie had three children, Janet (Armstrong), Michael Ernest (Mick) and Helen (Tiny White).

Drovers, rabbits and swaggers were a common sight around the district at this time. The roads were varied – the road to Te Aute was limestone, to Argyll it was clay, with scrub over the boggy parts and to Raukawa it was a grass track.

The 1931 earthquake saw the Te Onepu homestead completely shaken off its piles and all the chimneys shattered. Apart from that the house was left pretty much intact. The Argyll School was reopened a few weeks after the earthquake and Janet, Mick and Tiny started at the school. They rode their ponies there most days – occasionally they never made it (playing in the scrub on the way was a lot more fun). When they were caught out they were punished by being taken to school by car and then made to walk the seven to eight miles home (12 km).

In 1949 Mick took over the management of Te Onepu. At about this time the then Labour Government wanted to take the property and provide farms for Returned Servicemen. Fortunately the General Election in November saw a change to the National Government and Te Onepu weathered the storm.

Mick and Barbara (nee Dalzell) were married in 1950 and had five children Michael Edward, Margot (McNaughton), Philippa (Lowery), Nicola (Wink Mabin) and John (Jack).

1950 also saw the Goodwin (Kekena) clan becoming a very close part of the Groome family. Mick and his father Ernest employed Pai and his brother Pini Goodwin from Rarotonga. When they arrived they spoke very little English. To this day they are still part of ‘our whanau’.

Mick’s son Michael started to take a more managerial role around 1974. He continued to do so until a large part of Te Onepu was sold in 2003 and the balance sold in 2004. He and his wife Karen (Ahern) have three children, Michael, Andrew and Rebecca.

Barbara passed away in 2001 and Mick in 2003. Jack and his wife Sarah still live on their small plot opposite the homestead.

The Bunworth family from Ireland purchased the homestead block. The Groome family have been given access by the Bunworth family to visit ‘home’ and the family cemetery on the hill whenever they feel the need to chat to Mum and Dad, or

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the rest of the family who are interred there, amongst the daffodils, cow pats and thistles. Five generations of the Groome family have lived at Te Onepu between 1882 and 2004.

LITTLE/OLIVER/CAMERON

James and Helen Little lived in Scotland.

Their son Henry with his second wife and their five children, plus his five sons and one daughter from his first marriage, all came to New Zealand. They arrived at Port Chalmers, Dunedin, between 1858 and 1867. The ships they sailed out on were the Helensea, Stratheldraye, Caribou and the Canterbury. All settled initially in Otago.

One son of Henry’s (and his first wife Margaret Tait) James Little, was the founder of the Corriedale breed of sheep. Another son of Henry’s, William, came north and drew two ballot farms at Argyll in 1903. One of these ballots was under his son-in-law’s name – E. Mannning.

William and his wife Helen Burton, had seven children. One of their sons, John Robert, died of wounds in Crimea in 1917. William himself died in the influenza epidemic in 1918 while he was down in Christchurch judging stock at the Agricultural & Pastoral Show. After William and a second son died (Harry), a third son – James Tait Little – took over the two farms. James later sold one farm (to S. Auld) in 1933 and kept Annandale. He married Ethel Oliver in 1907.

Ethel’s great grandfather, Robert Oliver, came from Newcastle-on-Tyne. Her grandfather George Andrew Oliver married Fanny Yates and they sailed to Wellington on the Pudsea Dawson in 1854. Ethel’s father, George Yates Oliver, was born in Napier that same year. He married Louisa Key in Gisborne in 1879. They had eleven children. George also drew a ballot farm at Argyll, under the name of the eldest daughter – Jane Oliver. George and Louisa called their property Mount View. They lost two sons in WWI – Edward, missing at Gallipoli and Thomas who died of wounds in France.

James and Ethel Little had four children: Jean Airini, James (Jnr) and Dorothy. When they retired in 1949 their son-in-law Murray Cameron (Dorothy’s husband) bought the farm. Dorothy met Murray at a dance in the Argyll Hall. Murray was home on leave from the Air Force, staying with his parents. His father Onslow Cameron was at the time managing Auld’s farm. Murray and Dorothy had four children, Anne, Ian, John and Judi.

Ina, who has Annandale now, is the fourth generation on the property. Ian and Cynthia (nee Wiggins) have four children, Belinda, Amanda, Katrina and Bevin. They were the third generation to attend the Argyll East school.

McDONALD FAMILY

Thomas McDonald came from Ardgour, Western Scotland, to New Zealand in 1862, as a shepherd at Hakataramia Station, South Canterbury. He was the first Dog Trial Judge in New Zealand.

In 1879 he married Jessie Hamilton of Oamaru. They settled at Corriedale Station, North Otago managing the station for Sir Richard Oliver who had bought the station from Mr Webster. Mr Webster’s manager was James Little who started the Corriedale breed of sheep there. Thomas managed the station for 34 years until it was sold in 1907 as part of the Government’s “Land for closer settlement”.

Ronald was born in 1880. In later life he went shepherding and in 1906 was at Mangahane Station, Taihape. In 1909 he was at Pakuratahi Station near Eskdale. In 1910 he purchased the farm from the Magill’s of Napier who also had Peter Gray’s farm. His parents joined him there and his father died a few months later.

Ronald went to WWI serving with the NZ Rifle Brigade in Palestine, Egypt and France. The family friend, James Little (Dorothy Cameron’s father) looked after her farm while Ronald was away.

In 1919 he married Ida Harding of Napier. They had four children. That same year he purchased a lease block of Te Aute College to give access to the railway at Pukehou. Sheep were walked through the farm to be loaded onto the train bound for the Freezing Works. Fat lambs were taken down the Argyll Road to Otane and loaded onto the train there along with neighbours’ lambs. In the thirties, trucks took fat lambs but during WWII fat sheep were still taken to the rail at Pukehou. The mail was collected from the Little’s where the Argyll Post Office was.

Ronald and Ida had four children, Jessie, Flora, Margaret and Even. Jessie and Flora rode horses to school with Mick Groome and later Cyril Watson. In 1935 Margaret and Ewen were taken to school by cars until the bus service was started in 1938.

Ewen left school at sixteen to work on the farm taking over management upon his father’s death in 1951. Ewen and Betty Scheele were married in 1954 and have four children, Graham, Marion, Adriane and Hugh.

In 1971 the neighbouring property of Mr Lewis was purchased and in 1988 the Te Aute lease was sold to Te Aute College and a lifestyle block near Waipawa was purchased where Betty and Ewen retired.

Hugh and Rose (nee Story) and their children, Madeline and Ruben live on the family farm, which Hugh manages.

Graham and Christine (nee Munday) have three children Jason, Kirsti and Thomas. Kirsti and partner Bark Baker now live on the farm in the old homestead. Their children, Chayse, Laike and Lily are the fifth generation of McDonalds living in the Argyll District. Chayse and Laike are the fourth generation to attend the Argyll East School.

MacMILLAN

Andrew, Willy and George MacMillan arrived in Dunedin in

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approximately 1862. They worked on Hakataramea Station, Kurow, South Canterbury as shepherds. In that time they were competitors in the first (unofficial) dog trials in New Zealand and the judge was Thomas McDonald.

Andrew married Ada Sinclair Black and had three sons, Martyn (1897-1963), Ronald (1905-1961) and George (1908-1965).

Andrew purchased in 1907 ‘Ophero’ (795 acres/321 hectares) at Mangatahi, and in 1923 purchased Te Ranga (627 acres/253 hectares) (Taheke) from the Herberts for £1900, where at a young age Ronald and George moved to. Andrew died in 1924.

In 1927 Ronald purchased ‘Te Heka’ (1145 acres/462 hectares), (Argyll) from the Wilkies for £2045. Te Heka consisted of three paddocks around the house, the rest of the farm was a paddock covered in scrub. Between the years 1928-1930 the scrub was cleared in three stages, not to be cut higher than six inches/152mm from the surface. The scrub contractors were Mr Hislop and Mr Allan. It cost £675. Later the farm was ploughed and sown by crawler tractor.

There was a great amount of stock movement between Te Heka and Te Ranga seven miles/eleven kilometres up the road. Even to Ophero nineteen miles/thirty kilometres away George had to clear his way through farms between the top of Raukawa and Maraekakaho where the Whakapirau road now exists.

George won many Dog Trials, wining many events with either individual dogs or a team of dogs. Cups and certificates show him as the youngest competitor amongst the top three places and consecutive victories. George was the North Island Dog Trial Champion in 1938 and 1939.

In 1942 Ronald went to war serving in Egypt and George worked between the farms driving a 1929 Chevi, a car he bought with his dog trial winnings.

In 1941 George married Jessie McDonald and in 1943 his mother Ada died.

Electricity arrived in 1947, before then lighting was by white spirit lamps and candles. Cooking was done on a coke-fired Agar. The telephone arrived in 1952.

In 1956 George bought the neighbouring property Te Ranga, ‘The Trig’ (473 acres/191 hectares) from the Wilson Brothers for £55 per acre.

George and Jessie have five sons, Ronald, Gordon, Alasdair, Calum and Stuart

Ronald moved to Auckland working as a draughtsman.

Gordon married Maureen Caves and they have two children, Sinclair and Camille. Sinclair and family live at Te Ranga.

Alasdair married Maggie and they live at Te Heka. They have three children, Alexander, Matthew and Rebecca.

Calum married Mandy Overton and they live at Ophero. They have two children, George and Lucy.

Stuart married Michele Oakley and they have four children, James, Rowan, Emma and Libby.

In 2007 the MacMillan family will celebrate 100 years at Ophero. They have had three generations attend the Argyll East school.

MOORHEAD/RIDDELL

1903 Thomas Moorhead from Killinchy, Canterbury, NZ, drew a ballot block of 535 acres on what is now Butler Road, which he called ‘Willowbrook’. He lived in a wash house whilst building the house and was joined by his wife, Mary-Ann (nee Crooks) and three children, Mary (Maizie), Thomas (Keith) and David (Mervyn). Leicester (Tik) was born in 1907 and in 1911 Hazel, also in that year the two eldest boys, Keith and Mervyn, died.

At first there were no trees on the property and Thomas set about breaking in and caring for the land he loved, planting trees on the farm, creating a wonderful garden, which has been improved and enjoyed by future families. 1913 Thomas purchased Crosses block of 247 acres and later more land was bought bring the total to 997 acres.

The farm was managed when the family moved to Hastings to live while Mary-Ann had cancer treatment. She died aged 50 in 1921. Thomas returned with his three children to Willowbrook where he continued farming until 1931 when son, Leicester (Tik) married Moira (nee Pettit) and they farmed with their family Ann, Richard and Stuart.

1969 Willowbrook was divided up between Leicester’s two sons, Richard and Stuart. Richard and Gabrielle (Gay), (nee Smith) brought up their family there, where they devoted many hours caring and sharing their beautiful garden. Willowbrook has since been sold.

Stuart and Val (nee Joll) farm at “Two Mile Garden” on the Tikokino Road, also among lovely trees and garden.

Mary (Maizie), elder daughter of Thomas, married James (Oliver) Riddell in 1933 and in 1937 they purchased land on Butler Road from Herbert Sebley and named it “Whinlea” where they raised their six children, Margaret, Helen and two sets of twins, James (Jim) and Jane, and Nick and Nancy.

After farming at Springhill, Jim Riddell and his wife Glenys (nee Hawkins) purchased land from Charlie Bruce on Monks Road, Argyll which their son, Michael leases with his wife Charlotte and their three children,.

Nick, following his marriage to Lois (nee Hobson) in 1967, farmed at Whinlea with their children, Karen, Paula, David and Toni. In 2000 son, David remained farming Whinlea when Nick and Lois purchased the Argyll East Road property, originally owned by McLeods. Nick and Lois grow paeony flowers for export, as well as farming a property on the Argyll Road, which was part of William Hastie’s ‘Milbourne’.

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THE SOCIAL LIFE AND SPORT OF ARGYLL

The social life of the early settlers was often organised by the residents themselves and usually based around the school life.

The Settler’s Picnic was held annually in the February/March months, the first recorded was on March 2nd 1910. The school was closed that day to enable the children to attend. For many years the Argyll district joined in with the Tikokino District Picnic held at the Brow Bridge.

Weddings and Funerals were always a district affair as shown in the school logbook.

April; 3 1911. ‘Wedding of the daughter of one of the settlers – only 3 pupils present’. April 4th 1911, ‘Day after wedding – only 3 pupils present again. November 3rd 1915, ‘All pupils went to a wedding in the afternoon so school was closed’.

Again the school closed on May 30th 1919 for the funeral of Mrs Clark and 21st 1922 for the funeral of Miss Little. Dances were a popular event and again recorded in the school log. October 16th 1913 ‘only 5 pupils present on account of this being the day following the school dance’. December 12th 1924 ‘A school concert and dance held in the Hall in aid of the Prize and Picnic Fund an enjoyable time was spent by all present’.

The Football Club decided to disband in 1935 due to difficulty with numbers for a full team. A number of players from the disbanded Argyll Club were welcomed as members at the annual meeting of the Waipawa United Club, as recorded in the Waipawa ail March 20th 1935.

In the era of Headmaster, Arthur Kinsella (1944-1948), a Social Club was formed to raise funds for the Argyll Hall improvements. Funds raised helped to pay for the lining of the ceiling and supper room. Dances were held every fourth Friday evening and attended by people from Waipawa, Tikokino and surrounding areas. A bus run was provided from Waipawa after the shops had closed. Les Henry, Bill Te Tau and Ken Brookers orchestras provided live music.

An Argyll Settlers’ Christmas Party for the children in the district was organised by the mothers in the district and was in operation by 1954. The Argyll Hall was decorated, many a father played Father Christmas and presents, sweets and cordial were given out. By 1974 only the junior class children attended the Christmas party. In 1976 the Argyll Settler’s Christmas Party went into recess as so few Settlers’ children remained.

A Tennis Club had its opening day on the 28th October 1972 and games were played every Saturday afternoon. Previously a tennis club had formed but in 1929 it was wound down, as most of the members had left. Again in January 1939 the Education Board approved of the use of the school tennis court by the Tennis Club.

A Badminton Club played regularly in the Argyll Hall (somewhat disadvantaged by the supporting steel braces and low ceilings) and entered a team into the Central Hawke’s Bay Inter-club competition. The team won the competition two years in succession. The 1972 winning team consisted of: Doug Morland, John Gray, Ross Bramwell, Del Bramwell, Betty McDonald, Nick Riddell, Diane Morland and Carol Easton.

In 1960 an Indoor Bowls Club was formed and a secondhand mat and bowls were purchased. The 15-20 members played for the club against other clubs of Otane, Waipawa RSA, Elsthorpe and Waipawa. By 1974 due to lack of support it closed, donating money to the rugby team to enable them to purchase new rugby jerseys and to the Argyll Angels Sports Club for the extending of the school sports field.

Social games of rugby, cricket, netball and hockey were played within the district. The first match, played in 1968, was the ‘Married versus Singles teams’. The games often involved ex-pupil teams versus present pupil teams, or women and men teams playing various sports such as cricket, rugby, hockey and netball, ended with after-match functions held in the hall. These games also extended to include an annual invitation to Tikokino sports teams.

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In 1972 the name ‘Argyll Angels’ was given to a local sports team. Annual trips away were planned to Palmerston North, Wanganui and Turangi by rugby teams and supporters and in 1980, to Taupo to play cricket. They also played other local teams such as ‘Waipawa Hornets’, ‘Omakere All Stars’, ‘Porangahau Gladiators’, and ‘Tikokino Tigers’.

Extract from school log: “June 28 1975: The inaugural trip of the Argyll Angels Rugby Team to Palmerston North. A most memorable weekend with 19 men (only) undertaking the expedition. We played rugby on Sunday. (God knows how!) and lost as would be anticipated!’

“June 25 1976: The Argyll Angels Rugby Team travelled on the school bus – driven once again by Peter Brun. The arrangement to play rugby fell through and as a result of a radio appeal Argyll’s strong men ended up playing a match of netball against Eastbrook Ladies Team! Imagine the reception when we returned home to our wives”.

In their time as a sports club, the Argyll Angels added showers onto the school pool changing shed (1981) and improved and extended the school playing field to enable a more free flowing game of rugby and room for spectators. This was complemented and completed in 1982 with the planting of 40 trees of various species and 60 pampas grass.

The school again still had a large impact on the social life of the district. The school committee as a means of fund-raising organised many events such as Woolshed dances and Cabarets. At the end of 1974 at the school’s End-of-Year function the School Committee made a presentation to Mr Allan Carlson who was leaving after 48 years as a resident in the district. Numerous other families had a farewell in the same manner with a function organised by the School Committee. In 1976 they were holding district film evenings in the Hall. School working bees ended with an organised barbecue that became the highlight of the day.

In 1953 a branch of the Women’s Division of the Federated Farmers was formed with Mrs B Plummer as President. Monthly meetings were held in the Argyll Hall and later in members’ homes. There were competitions for prize flowers and shrubs and cooking. Speakers and demonstrators were invited and an annual excursion to a hotel for dinner was a highlight. Book prizes for ‘Endeavour’ were donated to the school each year. The WDFF closed in 1971. Later a Ladies Social Club emerged with monthly social meetings but as attendance dropped this club too ended.

Hunting is a sport that has been in the district since 1889 when Henry Mason started the Hawke’s Bay Hunt and together with Michael Groome and William Hastie, were it’s founding members. Henry Mason was the first Master of the Hunt. Hunts were held at Te Reinga, Te Onepu and The Brow. Meets attracted hordes of spectators who arrived on foot, bicycles and in gigs and buggies.

In 1896 Henry Mason departed for Great Britain and was replaced as master by Mr George Langdale Sunderland. A descendant, Tom and his son Richard lived at Aramac and were keen huntsmen. Garry Sherratt now owns that farm and is also a keen huntsman.

The Brow Hunt continued after the Milbourne property was divided up. The old Brow homestead had pockmarks on the wide wooden front steps, reputedly made by sporting ex-manager William Hastie firing his shotgun to get things moving. The hunt ‘threw off’ from a high mortised post-and-rail paddock and Hastings would lock the gate and encourage them away with “now break your bloody necks if you must!”

The Brow hunt ceased after Mr W.D. Wilson bought the property in 1988. Te Onepu held its last hunt in 2004 when the property was sold. Mananui Hunt (N. Twist) began in 1984 and continues as does the Wharetoka (R. Jull) and Longridge (W.M. Chambers) Hunt. The hunts involve many of the neighbouring properties.

Hunt Masters has included Henry Mason (1889-1896), Michael Groome (1907-1909), John Pattison (1977-1983) and Deputy Masters Ron Orr (1968-1979) and Garry Sherratt (2004-2005)

The population of both school and district was at its highest between 1960 and 1970s when the majority of the various sports and social clubs were formed. Argyll is a farming district and social changes that later came with a changing national economy had its effect. Many farms reduced their staff levels and women began looking outside the district for job/career opportunities. Sporting facilities became centralised in the town of Waipukurau/Waipawa and hence the Saturday sport was no longer played at the local country schools. Sport teams began using these more modern facilities instead of the local halls. The effect of a declining work force in the area on the school was also evident; in it’s declining roll. It necessitated the advertising for pupils in the local CHB Mail newspaper. The small farming school had a reputation that was to be the draw card in attracting pupils from the larger town schools. For those that live in the Argyll district as it celebrated its centennial will know the privilege that it is to live here.

Photo caption – Indoor Cricket Team 1987
Back: D. Addis, K. Hanson, R. Shorten, D. Gray
Front: B. Bruce, I. Parker, J. Bruce, D. Jude

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ANECDOTES.

IS IT MURDER?
WOMAN’S BODY FOUND IN CREEK
ARREST OF FARM LABOURER
TAHEKE TRAGEDY

Headlines in the Waipawa Mail 1935.

‘Charles William Price, alias Edwards, made his appearance in the Napier Magistrate’s Court this morning for the first day of hearing the charge against him that on or about February 6th this year at Argyll he murdered Evelyn Mary Madden.’

‘Public interest ran high throughout the day, and the proceedings were watched by a large attendance of the public.’ Waipawa Mail, Friday April 12 1935.

Mr Price and Miss Madden left their employment at Oreka Station, Fernhill on February 4th, Mr J.N. Lowry driving them to the Hastings railway station

On February 6th a taxi driver drove the couple from the Stortford Hotel to Taheke Station, where Price spoke to Mrs Nestor-Bayliss, asking for his old job back. On the return journey, the taxi stopped at a Ploughman’s camp. Price and Evelyn then walked towards the camp disappearing over a hill. Price returned alone, saying that the girl was staying the night at Hollis’ place. Price’s socks and the lower part of his trousers were wet, his excuse was that he had slipped in the creek. The taxi driver drove Price back to Hastings.

Herbert Bert Monk, farm hand, while out eeling, found the body lying in a creek on the Nestor’s property underneath a willow tree and about four feet from the bank, on Friday 15th February. He called the local police who came out to investigate. While the constable went to ring the Hastings Police young Bert was left to guard the body. There was nothing on her body to identify her but after a description of her clothes was issued she was later identified by a fellow employee of Mr J. Lowry’s station as Eva Madden, Domestic, aged twenty.

Evelyn had received fatal injuries to the skull from a hit to the head with a 50mm piece of wood about twelve millimetres thick. Her false teeth and parts of her clothing were found scattered around. Money was also missing (during the trial it was stated that she had taken £30 from her bank account).

After an absence of just one-hour the Jury found Price guilty. Mr Justice Blair, assuming the black cap, imposed the sentence of death. The prisoner was then taken to Wellington

Waipawa Mail Friday June 2 1935, headlines read,

‘ARGYLL EAST MURDER’
‘PRICE TO HANG’

BROW BRIDGE OPENING 1981

With the cutting of the ribbon the Brow Bridge was officially opened by the ‘mayor’ and the ‘mayoress’ of Argyll on March 28 1981

Built in the late 1880s the first Brow Bridge was still standing when the settlers came to Argyll in 1903. A new bridge was constructed on the original site in 1980/81, although only to one-way traffic.

The mayoress, Betty McDonald, wore her best bonnet adorned with paper flowers. She was presented with a bouquet of noxious weeds including Scot’s thistle and ragwort.

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The mayor, Ian Cameron, was attired in his morning suit but appeared to have forgotten to put on his trousers.

The Lady-in-waiting to the mayoress, Christine Giddens, was elegantly attired in white.

The mayor and mayoress arrived in the district’s oldest car, a Baby Austin 1927 convertible fondly named ‘Daisy’ owned by Mick Groome and driven by Jack Groome. Unfortunately the car suffered some mechanical failure involving the petrol pump. This was quickly remedied with Kiwi Ingenuity and a temporary fuel tank was tied to the top of the car’s bonnet.

The Lady-in-waiting arrived in the district’s newest car, a Ford Falcon driven by owner Murray Cameron.

Bruce Worsnop of Tikokino piped the official party onto the bridge where the mayoress then cut the blue and gold (the school/district colours) ribbon with a large pair of cardboard scissors made by Lyn Ryder. The party then proceeded to be the first people to drive across the bridge followed by John Gray in a 1926 Morris Commercial one and half ton truck with his son Duncan and Wendy Twist as passengers.

The official part over, a raft race followed, beginning upstream of the Manga-o-nuku River by Cameron’s farm and finishing at the bridge.

The day’s events concluded with a barbecue at the Argyll Hall.

A secret ballot was held to choose the Argyll Mayor and Mayoress. This involved voting papers being sent home with the school newsletter.

AN ARMED DEFENDERS EXERCISE

On a day in August 1990, a fugitive brandishing a .222 rifle stormed into Giddens’ kitchen at six in the morning taking David, Christine and Cynthia Cameron hostage. The fugitive yelled abuse demanding their guns from the gun cabinet and all curtains were drawn.

Traffic through Argyll was interrupted and the school children were ushered into the safety of the school. No one was allowed to leave the school buildings and police re-enforcements arrived. Thirteen point’s men surrounded Giddens’ house; some placed strategically at the front of the school.

With no cell phone coverage at the hall, the Communication Division invaded Diana Greer’s kitchen at The Brow. Police dogs and their handlers arrived making the fugitive very apprehensive, he insisted that they were not to release the young dog. As the tension rose in the house so did the abusive language from the fugitive.

After a four hour hold up, shifting around the house, moving curtains to alert the point’s men, David escaped.

Eventually the fugitive made his escape too but was stopped by the police dogs.

This was an exercise but for all intents and purposes it

Photo captions –

Opening Brow bridge 1981

David Giddens, Fugitive and Cynthia Cameron

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was the real thing with the fugitive (policeman) playing his part. The hostages’ adrenaline levels were running high throughout – initially thought that they would have time to read the magazines that they had brought along! Upon escaping David had planned to go to work but after his debriefing his adrenaline was still pumping making him determined to stay to the end.

Once the exercise had been wrapped up, the police spoke to the school children giving them the opportunity to wear some of the camouflage gear, look at the guns, the smoke canisters and the police dogs.

600 HECTARES BURNT 1991

Fire burnt off 600 hectares of grass and trees on two Tikokino Farms on Thursday January 31st 1991, destroying a haybarn. Implement shed and stockyards. Houses were threatened and the occupants evacuated for the night.

It took four hours to contain the blaze, fanned by 35knot winds. Fire fighters were still at the scene at midday on Friday, watching for hot spots and continuing to damp down the ground

The fire had spread quickly from State Highway 50 across the properties of Kent Enterprises, and Mr R. Robertson on both sides of the Makarora Road. Flames leapt from tree to tree and burning cinders were blown across paddocks in a spectacular display of fireworks igniting the grass or trees where they landed and threatening to spread even further into Argyll properties.

Fire appliances from all over Hawke’s Bay attended the fire including four water tankers from the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council and Te Onepu helicopter, Max Nathan and Farmers Transport were also used to cart water to the fire fighters.

The Argyll School Board of Trustees meeting was abruptly closed to enable those present to help fight the blaze together with eight army personnel and other local farmers.

LARGE GRASS FIRE 2001

Waipawa, Otane, Elsthorpe and Omakere fire services were called out to a large grass fire on Ian Cameron’s property that was leased out at the time, on Thursday 8th February 2001. The fire covered 70 acres/28 hectares destroying haybarns and beehives in its path. A plantation of pine trees was also beginning to smoulder. At one stage the fire was moving faster than could be handled on the ground so Phil Deadman’s Hughes 500 helicopter was called upon, operating a monsoon bucket. A Hastings tanker and Te Onepu water tanker was also present. It could have been worse but for the local people and the fire fighting they did when they first arrived. Man, woman and children grabbed sacks and shovels to help douse the flames that were racing at an amazing speed over the dry ground. The fire was finally extinguished five hours later at 9 pm. It is believed that the fire had started after a spark from a mower ignited the tinder dry grass. The weather had been particularly dry with strong dry northwesterly winds.

LIGHTNING SPLITS LARGE TREE

An electrical storm that lasted about an hour over Peter and Robyn Gray’s farm on Monday 6th December 1999 blew a mature macrocarpa tree apart. The base of the tree was a mass of splintered wood after lightning struck and three metre splinters from the tree were found in nearby paddocks Lightning also caused the underground power wires to fuse together cutting power to surrounding area.

OBITUARY. Monday April 15 1935 Waipawa Mail reads,

‘Passing of an Old Settler.

The death of Mrs C.J. Hickey at her residence in the Argyll Valley. The deceased lady, who was the “relict” of Mr H. Hickey, was one of Hawke’s Bay’s oldest residents, being a member of the Rollo family and sister to the late J. & W. Rollo.

Fifty years ago Mrs Hickey was one of Hawke’s Bay’s prominent riders and all her life took a great interest in the breeding of stock.
Two sons, W. & H. Hickey and three daughters Mrs Watt, Mrs Jones, Miss Hickey are left to mourn her.

Three sons and one daughter proceeded her’.

(Catherine Hickey was 80 years old)

Photo caption – Whats left

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Annadale
I & C Cameron

Ardgour
H & R McDonald

Kia Ora (era 1920’s)
D & C Giddens

Fairview
P & R Gray

P & J Butler

Previously Cotswold Downs
R & K Tidswell

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RECOLLECTIONS

GROWING UP ON A FARM AT ARGYLL EAST.

By Marjorie Giles (Collins/McLeod)

Extract from Hawke’s Bay Today, September 6, 2003

“This is going back to the 1930s, during the depression in New Zealand, when nobody had any money. But we all did our share and helped our neighbours with haymaking and harvesting, or anything else that needed extra hands. They did the same for us.

My mother would bake big batches of scones or pikelets and I would help her carry it, with a big billy of tea, out to where the men were working in the paddock. If chaff was being made, there would e a fearsome traction engine snorting and blowing. Very awesome for a small girl! Sometimes, it would set the straw alight with its sparks, but thankfully that was quite rare.

When I was old enough I went to the small Argyll school. There were only seven of us at the time and one teacher. That was the day the earthquake struck. My father was riding around the sheep when suddenly he and his horse were thrown to the ground. My father watched as power and telephone lines crossed madly. Trees were thrown over and arose again. He went to help my mother and elderly grandmother who were still trying to get free from the house. Doors kept slamming and jamming on them, and the large scotch dresser nearly crushed them. My mother was doing the ironing and she jumped away just as the chimney came down. All our cooking had to be done on a makeshift fireplace for the next few weeks because it was impossible to get a bricklayer.

There was a bad drought as well as the earthquake. The ewes were so thin they walked away from their lambs after they had been born. There was a sale of stock; they were as worthless as their wool. We grew nearly all our own food and everything was re-used many times until there was only patches left, as my mother would say.

One of the pleasures of my childhood was when a pig had been killed for our bacon. My father would save the bladder and dry it and then it was blown up and tied with string. It was able to kick it around for a football for many weeks until it wore out.

My first riding horse was a huge white draught called Housey. He had been foaled on the farm and died on it 33 years later, a faithful servant. He was used each morning to sledge the cream from the dairy to the road gate, a distance of about half a mile. The sledge had no wheels, just runners. It made a nice smooth ride on the grass, but was a bit noisy on the stones, because it had steel underneath.

I had chores to do before I went to school each day. A normal morning would start with me having to catch my pony (which I had to ride a few miles to school), grooming, saddling and feeding her; milking by hand; turning the separator handle (no power on); calves and pigs to feed; let the dogs loose. After school I did very much the same thing.

Out hot water was heated by the copper, with a fire under it then carried in by bucket for the bathtub. Many times we would have a cold wash at the small creek in the hot weather.

At the side of the house was a large tank which was rain-filled and also had a pipe running down to the creek, where the most amazing little invention called a “ram” pumped water to fill the tank. I loved to be allowed to press the knob downward to start it. Water would spurt out each side, while more water was pushed up the pipe to the tank. It was entirely water driven and served us for many years.

Our farm had lovely spring water, very cold and pure. My father had one of the springs boxed in. this served in the summer months as our cooler. My mother set her jellies and kept milk and cream fresh by putting them in bowls and floating them in the water. My father cooled his beer in there as well. Sometimes when the weather was too hot for the cream in the churn to make into butter, it was popped in as well till it cooled enough for us to finish making it.

In the early years we had no woolshed, so our kind neighbour allowed us the use of his. At last my father was able to build a small two-stand shed of his own. The shearing machine was driven by a Lister engine, which was hooked up by a large belt onto the pulley that worked the handpieces.

The Lister had a large container, which had to be kept full of water, which poured over a mesh screen, as the machine heated up. The water would become hot enough for the shearers to take some out to wash their hands. In the winter the Lister would be pulled down to the wood heap and my father would set it up to drive his saw bench to cut the wood.

As the years went by we were able to afford electric power. What a great excitement the night we turned it on! No more candles in the bedroom and no more benzene lamp with the mantles hanging in the kitchen. Once we had power we were able to have hot water, a fridge and things like toaster! Instead of putting the bread on the end of a long fork and pushing it into the red-hot embers. Sometimes the bread would tip off and drop into the fire. It had to be dragged out again quickly, rather black and full of ashes. A scrape with a knife and it was edible.

One of the not so nice things was, we had a little out house tucked discreetly beside the motor shed. It was not

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a good place to be in wet weather. The rain trickled down the walls when one was using it. The funny side of it all was that the dogs would wait in a circle outside the toilet for whoever was using it at the time. We aways knew when it was occupied.

Then suddenly the war was upon us and everything changed. Our fine young men enlisted or were called up some never to return. Those that stayed behind were all expected to do some kind of war effort. My parents had to buy in over 100 fowls to supply eggs and rear vealer calves for the American soldiers. I was called up when I reached eighteen years, so went into the Women’s Land Service till the end of the war. We did the same work, as a man on the land would be called on to do, some of it very hard and heavy.

My father had a man come in to manage his farm, as his health was by now not so good. He had a new house built in Waipawa where he and my mother retired.

I have fond memories of the years I spent on the farm at Argyll. It was such a different life then. We moved at a slower pace and our pleasures were very simple. They did not cost a great deal of money, but we had fun when we could.”

(Marjorie Collins (McLeod) was a pupil at Argyll in 1931. Her step father was George McLeod).

“I REMEMBER . . . ”

By Dorothy Cameron (nee Little)

My grandparents were among the first settlers at Argyll, and my parents continued on the farm after them. I was born at Argyll in 1924, grew up here, then also settled on the farm. I brought up my four children here too … so my memories of Argyll span my full 80 years.

As a young child I remember …

*  The terrifying Hawke’s Bay earthquake when I was at school in 1931. The pupils being taken home in the teacher’s car. Sleeping in tents for some weeks afterwards because of aftershocks and all our cooking being done in the open (there was no chimney so no stove).

*  Walking two miles (3.4 km) to school from the home that my Dad built on the top half of our farm.

*  Shifting to my grandparents homestead at Annandale in 1932 next door to the school, when part of the farm was sold. My Auntie had run the local post office from there – the posting slot is still in the wall today.

*   The lovely big draught horses – ploughing, discing and harrowing the paddocks. The harvesting of the wheat and oat crops.

*   Having the Head Mistress boarding with us.

*   Walking from the school to the Brow Bridge to swim in the river (no pool then!) and getting hot walking back again.

*   The hard frosts in winter and the chilblains on hands and feet.

*   The wood fire in the classroom.

*   The classes going up to the Clark Senior’s homestead opposite the school to listen to important events on their radio – mainly Royal news and broadcasts from Parliament.

*   The district rabbiter, George Wylie, coming to our house for cuppas – with ferrets in his pockets and down his shirt.

*   The swaggers who came occasionally to have their Billies filled with tea and got sandwiches and scones to take in their swag bags.

*   Churning the cream in the dairy shed and patting out the pounds and rolls of butter.

*   The cured hams and Christmas puddings hanging in the pantry.

*   Corned meat in brine in barrels and dozens of eggs in preservative in kerosene tins.

*   My mother rendering the mutton fat, then making soap with it in the copper.

*   Using the flour sacks and sugar bags to make aprons and oven cloths, even binding the edges and embroidering them.

*   Mum’s long days at shearing time providing three meals plus smokos for the gangs.

*   The early starts on Mondays (washing day) to light the copper and boil the clothes, then to rinse and blue rinse in the tubs, and wring it all out in the hand wringer. Hard work!

Then, as a young woman, I remember …

*   The Argyll Hall being used for farmers’ meetings, school functions, church services and later badminton and bowls. Many dances were held and great times were had. The walls were decorated with greenery and flowers and the floor well polished and dusted with powder. I met my husband-to-be, Murray, at a dance in the hall in 1945.

On reflection, we have been very fortunate indeed. Our four children and eight of our thirteen grandchildren have attended Argyll School. We were so lucky to have such a friendly, helpful neighbourhood.

MY EARLY DAYS IN ARGYLL (the 40s and 50s)

By Murray Cameron.

After war service in the RNZAF my introduction to the district was the drought of 1945/46. It was very seriously dry. A lot of over-sowing had to be done, quite a lot by

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hand sowing, to take advantage of the good rain we had in March 1946.

Going back to my diary of 1950 I couldn’t help but notice that we worked in a lot with our neighbours back then. I exchanged work with the Clarks, Coupers, Plummers, Watsons, Pattisons, Merrits and others. That was the accepted way and there wasn’t a hint of being paid for the help neither on haymaking, dipping, shearing or stock work – nor for lending or borrowing machinery.

There was a lot of scrub (manuka) on the sides of the gravel roads, particularly Te Onepu as it was then called – now Argyll Road. We had trouble driving cattle and sometimes would lose or gain one in the scrub. Roadside fences were not up to the standard they are now.

The wool boom of the early 1950s was the turning point for a lot of farms. Good prices meant money was available for development of properties – fencing, yards, new grass crops and most of all – superphosphate new houses also, and boarding school education for those pupils not on a bus route.. The fifties were a farming period of immense growth and change. From horses to tractors, scrub cutting, clearing and sowing big areas of hill country, increasing stock numbers, better grasses so better returns. But for all of that – 90% of being a good farmer in our district is controlled by what comes down from the sky. Rain! All the breeding and seeding counts for very little without it.

You only have one life, mine has always been all Argyll and I’ve loved every minute of it. Nostalgia Yes, very true.

THOUGHTS

by Ewen McDonald.

Some of my memories at the Argyll East School were the games we played. ‘Hide and go Seek’ seems to be one of the main ones, using the gum tree as the den. Someone would count to 100 and the rest of us would scatter and hide. The last one found would be the next one to man the den and count to 100. Another popular game would be ‘The Hares and the Hounds’. Lunch hour would be spent tearing up old newspapers into small pieces and stuffing them into one or two school bags. Two pupils would be the hares and the rest of the school were the hounds; going for miles following small pieces of newspaper through patches of manuka to the back of Cameron’s or up the Argyll road to the Mt. View bush. Many times it was well past lunch hour before we returned to school.

The girls and boys picked teams to play hockey using the root end of manuka for hockey sticks. Rugby wasn’t really played, as there weren’t enough pupils. Basketball was played on the tennis court in mixed teams, as was cricket,

Murray Cameron
ANZAC Day Parade

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which was played between the tennis court and the schoolhouse. There were no inter-school sports, For swimming we went down behind the school to the creek for lessons or to the junction of the Mangatahi and Manga-o-nuku stream, just upstream from the Brow Bridge. On wet days we played ‘Charades’ in the classroom.

Each year a school picnic was held usually in the paddock along side the Brow Bridge; this was organised by the school committee and parents. Parents organised running races, high and long jumps, sack races and wheelbarrow races. Also swimming in the river if the weather permitted. A picnic lunch with a boiling billy over the fire to make tea, while there were soft drinks for the children

As teenagers in Argyll in the 1940s there was plenty for us socially. During the school holidays parents used to arrange dances in Hastings, Waipukurau or in the country districts. The dances were very well attended including some adults. Petrol was rationed; this was WWII time, so there were petrol coupons to procure. After the war petrol was still rationed but many of us were old enough to have driver’s licences so our parents’ cars were loaded up to take us to dances or the odd party.

About the end of the forties the Young Farmers Club started up. I was a member of the Otane Club, which took in the area from Argyll and out to the coast. Monthly meetings were held in the Otane hall. Very good shearers came to instruct us on the finer points of shearing and wool handling. Competition between clubs took place with winners going to regional and national levels. Also dog trials, rifle shooting, stock judging, debating, tennis and badminton were held. The wind-ups were exceptional. There were plenty of rabbits and time was spent going to each other’s farms for a shoot . Most times you would shoot as many as 60-70 rabbits each. There was plenty to do as a teenager including helping out with farm work.

(Ewen was enrolled at Argyll school in 1935)

GORDON McMILLAN.

The old, oval grilled, Ford school bus that took us to Argyll East school was driven by Mr McGregor. The road was shingle, very dusty in the summer and slushy in the winter.

The next driver was Tip Taylor who made you walk home if you really misbehaved on the bus. On one occasion Graeme Ryder and myself were clowning around on the bus. By the time the bus arrived at Monks Road Tip Taylor had had enough and we were told to walk home from here. Graeme and I had just started walking when a big blue car stopped, Uncle Ronald McMillan. After hearing an explanation he offered us a ride home. 400 metres up the road Uncle Ronald then asked me if I would like to drive? I surely could not have picked a better day or opportunity to misbehave on the school bus. Some punishment!

MAURICE CHAMBERS

The house where Maurice lived was on Monks Road; it was changed to Chambers Road and today is known as Te Ranga Road.

Maurice started school in 1939. His mother would drive him, on a metal road, to Te Onepu Road to meet the school bus. Maurice did not enjoy going to school. He would say to his mother, “Look Mum, there’s no stone on the post. There was one yesterday. We must have missed the bus!” Taking him at his word his mother would turn around taking him home again. That gave him a chance to drive the 1937 Hillman Minx. His mother sat in the driver’s seat and Maurice was allowed to steer from behind. This happened quite frequently at the grand age of seven years old.

TEST CRICKET
By Brenton Giddens

Summer lunch times were between 12.15 and 1.00pm, when we would play cricket on the tennis court ‘Test Cricket’. Doug Morland’s team versus the rest. The boundaries were the classroom roof and over the back of the tennis court fence were a six. It was the last test match for the season and I was batting against Morland’s team. I unfortunately said that I had hit 99 six’s for the season. It was 12.50pm ten minutes to the end of the cricket season, the pressure was on.

Doug Morland shouted out, “Ring the bell for the end of lunch time. We are having a shortened lunch break!”

So we had to go into class. That was the only way Morland could stop me from getting my 100 six’s for the season. If you cant bowl them out you just have to stop the game a bit earlier.

Due to Doug Morland’s encouragement in hockey and cricket I was chosen for the North Island Hatch Cup team and the Central Hawke’s Bay Representative Cricket team.

HALLOWEEN
By Natalie Butler

It was my best friend, Katrina Cameron’s idea to involve Argyll in the tradition of Halloween. To make sure that everyone stocked their pantries full of chocolates and sweets, we added reminders in the school newsletters. Of course we always got a couple of boring healthy items amongst the goodies, packets of raisins or pieces of fruit. And my dad got us a good one once – dishing out lollies rolled in cayenne pepper. Mr Coley always had tricks up his sleeve too, like drenching us in water from his rooftop. We then gladwrapped his toilet bowl. But we always got treats as well as the tricked, the Argyll district is too small to get away with not treating us!

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COURTNEY FORREST

Pets Day was a highlight at Argyll. I used to enjoy doing the activities in the morning, then waiting for the judges to finally came back out of the classroom.

School camps were awesome experiences. One that sticks out was Camp Volcanic in 1999. Thomy Carlson decided to have a sleep on his dad’s pack. This was only the first stop on a long hike, but Thomy thought he had walked enough, to earn himself a sleep. I always got lost looking for my cabin at night.

End of Year Prize Giving – the classes doing their various plays, skits and songs. Always fun and the food at the end was worth waiting for. Well deserved I think.

Argyll was a busy, friendly country school. I have very fond memories that will stay in my life forever. I am very proud of being a student of the school with no regrets. I feel I have met the motto of ’Achieve and Succeed’.

WENDY TWIST

Did you know that there is a Crow Gully on the Argyll Road? Have you ever walked to the Cemetery? Or that Magpie Plateau is a very dangerous area to walk?

With sixteen years experience of walking the district roads I can assure you that the magpies are hazardous as they often go in hot pursuit of my dogs and myself.

Crow Gully is in the dip of the road by the big trees and almost opposite the once proposed district cemetery. There are such places in my mind as ‘School Flat’, ‘Ferret Hill’, ‘Bottom and Top Plateau’, ‘The Brow Straight’, ‘Home Run’, ‘Woolshed One Hill’, ‘Macs Tight One’ and ‘Long Haul’.

I have named the parts in the road as I walk from one end of the district to the other, with a dog or two as a guide or companion and my sturdy white cane that indicates that I am blind.

I the past there have been two official Guide dogs, Dulcie the Giant Schnauzer, and Ali the Poodle. These days either or both, Oliver and Jack Russell, or Abbey the fat, black Labrador accompany me.

As exercise for my dogs and me, we walk from Mananui down to school. Or up the road as my fancy takes me, listening to the water in the reeks (or noting the lack of it), the ewes and lambs bleating, the odd farm motorbike noise, sheep dogs barking and the chance of a chat with fellow road users.

The roads become busy in the weekends and I often share it with Sunday Drivers in cars and on motorbikes and cyclists, making my walks more adventurous especially where the road becomes narrow and the roadside drains are close and deep. I once slipped into one of these drains, luckily it had no water in it and I spent quite some time trying to climb out. However these walks are much treasured and give me hours of thinking about Argyll.

[Wendy was helping to attend to a horse at the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Show in October 1990 when it kicked out hitting her in the forehead just above the nose taking out her sight and smashing the bones in her face.

Over the years Wendy has helped raise funds for the Blind and Guide Dogs and has been involved in Public Speaking.]

Angus Greer piping in Jessie MacMillan oldest pupil and resident with Ian Cameron.

Cutting of the Centennial cake. Jessie MacMillan and Laike Baker

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Mananui
W Twist

N & L Riddell

‘Tahuna’ Homestead

Early Argyll Home
K McDonald & M Baker

M & C Poulton

J & K O’Sullivan

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CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

April 15-17 2005

Eighteen months in the planning, the Centennial celebrations began on Friday 15th April with a ‘Meet and Mingle’ at the Argyll Hall. The walls of the Argyll Hall vibrated with squeals and laughter as long ago friends greeted one another,

Saturday 10.30am, an Official Opening and Welcome at the Argyll school; this included a few words from the Principal of Argyll East School, Stephen Johnston, Chairman of the Centennial Committee, Rhys Tidswell, and ex-resident Paul Clark. A bus tour of the district followed and commentators Alasdair MacMillan, Peter Gray and Murray Cameron explained the many changes of farming and farm ownership.

Official photographs were taken after lunch. The Home and School catered for lunch, morning and afternoon teas.

At 3.00pm the Centenary cake was cut. Piper, Angus Greer (resident and ex-pupil) led Jessie Macmillan and Laike Baker into the school ground. Jessie (nee McDonald) and her great grand niece, Laike, together cut the cake. Jessie started school in 1930 and is the oldest former pupil still living in the district. Laike is the school’s newest and youngest pupil the fifth generation resident and fifth generation to attend the school. The cake was made and iced by resident Christine (Tissy) Giddens.

This was followed with the school children of 2005, entertaining the crowd with a song and skits of the early school days especially written for the occasion. The school was open all weekend with an historical display in the original schoolroom. Lime Rock Centennial wines, recipes books and centenary books were also for sale.

Saturday concluded with a Dine and Dance in the Waipawa Town hall. An after dinner speech was humorously given by ex-principal, Doug Morland. At the 75th Jubilee, the guests danced to the music of local band, ‘Sir Duke’ and once again, 25 years on, the feet tapped to their beat. Many as old as 80 danced until the early hours of the morning.

Celebrant, Jane Kersten (past resident) concluded the weekend with a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday morning at the school.

From the left: Dannielle Harty-Isaac, Corbin Mason-Smith, Jacob Ekanasio [Ekenasion] (hidden), Keegan O’Sullivan, Eliza McLean, Sarah Boyd and Jack Clifton (hidden).
A skit from the centennial celebrations.

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1920 – 1930
Winifred Addis, Tiny Groome, Jessie McDonald, Marjorie Aitken

1930 – 1940
Back: George Johnstone, Ray Nitschke, Bill Addis, Ewen McDonald, Malcolm Cooper, Maurice Chambers.
Front: Ted Watson, Ngaire Johnstone, Dorothy Little, Mabel Couper, Geoff Carlson, Alan Carlson, Elsma Nitschke, Dos Carlson, Jennifer Addis.

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1940 – 1950
Back: Timothy Plummer, Ronald MacMillan, Gordon MacMillan, Myra Addis, Jennifer Addis
Front: Annette Ryder, Rex Evans, Ngaire Wilson, Annette Little, Kevin Kirk, Glen Patterson

1950-1960
Back: Mark Addis, Richard Sunderland, Ian Cameron, John Christenson, Joan Sunderland, Robyn Clark, Alison Bridge, Ian Blair, Alasdair MacMillan, David Monk, Michael Watson, Rex Addis, Hamish Carlson
Middle: Prudence Goodwin, Phillipa Groome, Rhys Tidswell, Helen Carlson, Stephanie Nossiter, Barbara Gray, Pat Christensen, Gail Cullinane, Carleen Hodge, Lynne Cullinanae, Andrew Clark
Front: Mary Blair, Carol Nossiter, Nel Nossiter, Glennis Addis, Judy Addis, Joy Monk, Margot Groome, Ann Cameron, Winsone Monk, Graham McDonald, John Bruce, Cam Gray, Max Nathan

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1960-1970
Back: Ian Greene, Nigel Hamilton, David Greene, Paul Greene, Shane Scott, David Carlson, Amanda Robertshawe, Jacqui Gilbertson, David Addis, Stephen Gilbertson, Jack Groome
Middle: Callum MacMillan, Tim Gilbertson, Alfred Goodwin, Adriane McDonald, Ester Goodwin, Sarah Goodwin, Nicola Groome, Susan Carlson, Tracey Scott, Rosalie Greene, Robyne Gilbertson, Nigel Monk.
Front: Hugh McDonald, Marian McDonald, Kerry Gray, Kim Clark, Joanne Clark, Judi Cameron, Joanne Addis, Jane Overton, Amanda Overton.

1970 – 1980
Back: Duncan Gray, Mark Lawrence, Robert Hay, Susan Lane, Stewart MacMillan, Gary Chambers, Louise Giddens, Doug Morland, Diana Morland.
Middle: Alexander MacMillan, Mathew Lane, Leanne Flett, Stephanie Harris, Fiona Harris, Michelle Scot, Andrew Lane, Kerryn Chambers
Front: Richard Lane, Carol Easton, Bridget Twist, Sinclair MacMillan, Kristine McDonald, Julayne Giddens, Camille MacMillan, Matthew MacMillan

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1980 – 1990
Back: Phillip Tidswell, Rae Coley, Harry Parker, Alice Tidswell, Belinda Cameron
Middle: Richard Shorten, Theo Twist, Gareth Tidswell, Amanda Cameron, Kelly Cheer, Amy Shorten
Front: Paul Shorten, Margaret Stevenson, Katrina Cameron, Tom Twist, Holly Bruce, Geraldine Gray

1990 – 2000
William Reynolds, Bevan Cameron, Serena Sisson, Emma Forsyth, Samara Knock, Richard Addis, Thomy Carlson, Liam Quinlivan, Rae Coley, Brendan Gray, James Taylor, Ross McLeod, Edward O’Sullivan, Emily Stephens, Jaxon Ritchie, Devon Knock, Angus Greer, Brett Menefy, Mary Butler, Holly Gough, Ashleigh O’Sullivan, Amanda Menefy, Danielle Harty-Isaac, Ruby Ritchie, Richard Chambers, William Stephenson
Front: Hannah Macklow, Molly Reynolds, Margaret Stevenson, Sarah Chambers, Sam Reynolds, George Butler, Jodi Williams, Madeline McDonald, Lucy Addis, Jacqui Laurent, Brenda Addis.

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Argyll East School pupils 2005

Argyll District residents pre 1950

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District residents 1951-1975

District residents 1976-2005

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DISTRICT UTILITIES

THE WEATHER

Being a farming district the weather is always a topic of conversation. As we all know the farmer is never happy, it’s always too hot, cold, dry, wet or windy. But as we also know we have to live with what nature throws at us.

Te Aute Station and the Harker Family on College Road have kept rainfall records for almost a century on their farms. Here is just a small sample of the extremes.

The wettest years with more than 44 inches or 1,100 millimetres

1917   44.20 inches   1105 millimetres
1924   45.28 inches   1132mm
1928   44.00 inches   1100mm
1938   56.25 inches   1406mm
1974   47.52 inches   1188mm
1992   44.88 inches   1122mm

Years with less than 27 inches or 675millimetres

1915   25.72 inches   643mm
1926   22,60 inches   565mm
1931   23.36 inches   584mm
1945   26.64 inches   666mm
1948   25.92 inches   648mm
1957   22.84 inches   571mm
1958   25.44 inches   571mm
1964   25.16 inches   629mm
1982   24.76 inches   619mm
1983   24.28 inches   607mm
1994   22.60 inches   565mm
1998   21.00 inches   525mm

Drought is a term which is widely used for any extended dry spell. But only half a dozen seasons really stand out, warranting the term. They were the summer and autumn of 1913-14, 1930-31, 1945-46, 1951-52, an extended one of 1982 through to 1984 and 1992-93. Rainfall figures only show so much, a great deal depends on the spread of the rain throughout the year, floods really distort this. But 1980’s were very dry with an average over the ten years of only 823millimetres of 32 inches.

There have been four very severe snowstorms of which approximately one foot or 30 cms fell over a short period. They were 1887, 1919, 1951 and 2003. This snow stayed on the hills and in shaded areas for several days.

2003

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POST OFFICE

Yes, Argyll had its own Post Office which was part of Little’s (Cameron’s) old house. An H-class or English-type date stamp was proofed on 8th September 1905.

Early postmasters were:

22 Sept 1905   Post Office opened. Constance Kemsley was postmistress with the mail coming daily from Waipawa.

10 Mar 1906   Gordon R Norman

In March 1906 mail was exchanged with coach on Hastings/Waipukurau road. Now called State Highway Two.

11 Oct 1906   Herman B Huddleston

1 Mar 1907   Miss Mary H Little, daughter of a local farmer

15 July 1909   Telephone Office handle telegrams was added Call ALE (The telephone exchange call sign)

31 Oct 1911   Telephone bureau closed but Post Office continues.

Aug 1914   Included in Otane/Pukehou thrice weekly mail service.

20 Nov 1923   Miss Margaret T Little

15 Mar 1927   Mrs Hilda Preston   local teacher

18 July 1928   Post Office closed, and then served by Rural Delivery from Otane. Postage date stamp cancelled.

Mail carriers

1917-1918 three times weekly by motor vehicle John Ruddick
1920-1921   J.J. Langridge
1922-1924   Bruce Rough Ltd
1925-1927   G.W. Thorpe & Co
1928   H.M. Preston
1945-1950   Mundle
1950-1965   W. Turner
1965-1973   Ewen & Viv McLaughan
1973-1981   Brian & Vera Heffernan
1981-1983   J. Milne
1983-1996   Peter Allborn
1996-2003   John Bloomfield
2003-2005+   Les & Jan Rowe

ARGYLL EAST.   22 SP 1905 – 18 JL 1928

15 km. N. East Waipawa.

When the Milbourne run was divided in 1903 for closer settlement, Argyll was the selected name for the district.

An H-class or ‘English-type’ datestamp was proofed 8 SP 05 and used throughout.

Scarcity:3.

Residents in the are now obtain mail on a rural delivery service, R.D. 2 Otane.

[date stamp]

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TELEPHONE

The telephone would have changed the daily lives of the early Argyll residents. The telephone not only became a means of communication but also for many people making them feel less isolated. Just being able to chat with neighbours and friends must have been great, as they would not see each other too often. However, more important, the ability to now ring the doctor or order groceries or farm supplies that would be delivered out to the farm.

On September 30th 1905, the telephone exchange announced that a direct line would soon operate from Waipawa and Tikokino through what was then Argyll West. By 1908, a start was made to connect Argyll East with Waipawa. As per usual, a meeting was organised to discuss the cost to residents and how many were likely to connect.

Charges in 1913 were:
Four on a party line   5s/pa
Three on a party line   6s 8d/pa
Two on a party line   10s/pa
Private   £1/pa

By 1914 total number of subscribers was 200. However, remember that Argyll extended all the way to State Highway 50 and took in all the small dairy farms on the plains.

On 15th July 1975, a new automatic exchange was opened in Waipukurau and the telephone systems in Central Hawke’s Bay were up-graded. It was not until 1989 when Telecom did another major upgrade that the copper overhead telephone lines became obsolete. These wires were forever being tangled up so that communication was lost, sometimes for days. Underground cables and private phone numbers (party lines had gone forever) has meant that the country had finally caught up with the city. It is now possible to have facsimiles and computer connections. The school has just recently hooked up to broadband. Adults and children alike have a cellular phone to ring each other or to send text messages. However many areas in and around Argyll still have little or no cellular phone coverage.

Telephone communication is changing rapidly so who knows what the future will bring?

NATURAL GAS PIPELINE

In the summer and autumn of 1983, a gas pipeline went through the western side of Argyll Road. This was an extension from the Maui gas field in Taranaki and heading for the bay cities of Napier and Hastings. A twenty-centimetre pipe was put into a depth of almost two metres and this took a massive amount of planning and physical effort. Major disruption was caused to farming operations for those whose land it went through. The Natural Gas Corporation, under a government act, compulsorily purchased a ten-metre wide strip of land, which gave them access to lay the pipe and future maintenance. Farmers were compensated for the loss of production and the land was leased back at no cost.

Massive machinery was involved, bulldozers, euclids, excavators, pipe benders and welding platforms. Most farmers took more than a passing interest at what was going on through their properties. Today it is almost forgotten where the pipeline is, apart from the odd marker posts.

Lying of gas pipeline through John Gray’s

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HATUMA LIME COMPANY LTD

This company traded as Arnotts Lime and Shingle and was conceived in 1957. It was a subsidiary of the Hatuma Lime Company,

It is a high testing lime, in the range of 88-92% and is from a very soft deposit. The plant was originally started up because of this high quality lime and the shingle in the nearby Manga-o-nuku River.

It developed into a large operation during the late 1960’s through to the early 1980’s. in this time large storage sheds and mixing facilities were established. Dicalic phosphate was also manufactured during this time. At its peak the works employed nine staff full time and had annual sales of just under 50,000 tonnes. The farming downturn during the 1980’s and 1990’s reduced production tonnages dramatically.

Today the quarry is still well maintained and fully operational and trends are showing an on going demand for lie in the pastoral sector.

Twist Trucking loading at Hatuma Lime Works

TE ONEPU RURAL FIRE FORCE

An idea started by Jack Groome while he was renovating the old Hawke’s Bay County fire trailer, which resulted in a community fire tender with keys in the ignition and ready to go. Two large fires (Makarora Road at Tikokino ad much closer on Rotoma Station near Te Onepu Road) and occasional smaller fires prompted a self-help response.

Formed in 2000, residents from Argyll, north to Takehe put in $150 each. The ex-Otane fire truck, a twin cab Bedford with a 3,500-litre tank was purchased for $1,500. Two pumps were added, one stationary and a mobile Wajax forestry type and approximately two kilometres of hose.

Some basic fire training courses have been attended, conducted by Emergency Management Team of the Hastings District Council. To date, the local volunteers have shied away from doing unit standard papers and thus the links to the District Council have become more distant.

However, it remains a community and district resource, useful to give a first and vigorous response to a fire before bigger units arrive. Fires attended include at Cameron’s (grass), Maraekakaho (grass), Raukawa (old cottage), Tuhana (tractor) and others. The Argyll truck’s role at bigger fire events is to shuttle water from a point source such as a creek and top up larger tankers.

The machine is kept going by fund-raising, through donations and sometimes District Councils will reimburse expenses when they call us out. The unit is kept in Jack Groome’s yard at Te Onepu corner and is ready to go if required.

Here’s a plug: Any donations are welcome. The unit is there to be used. Come to one or two practice sessions, become familiar with the gear and then use it if there’s a need. It just needs a knowledgeable person to direct others to set up the equipment. Contact names: Jack Groome, Wayne Mouat, Bruce Gear and Hamish Carlson.

Acknowledgement is given to the Hastings District Council Emergency Management for training and equipment they have donated over time.

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A COLLECTIVE MEMORY

PEOPLE’S ACHIEVEMENTS, SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND ANYTHING ELSE OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

Addis Family (including Bill and David) (pupils)

They have had the most mixed of mixed farms, including livestock, orcharding and crops for processing, mostly vegetables. Crops in the past have included kiwifruit, boysenberries, stone fruit, grapes, squash, peas, barley, wheat, tomatoes, broad beans, sweet corn and evening primrose. Present crops include apples, pears, onions and grass seed. All crops are irrigated.

Keith Addis, J.P., Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal (pupil)

Noted for his long service on the Waipawa County Council 1958-1981, the last ten years as chairman. Died in 1988.

Board of Trustees

The first Board of Trustees was elected in 1989 and represented a change of thinking by the government of how schools should be run. There was to be more community involvement via their representatives on the Board. A Board consisted of the five elected members, the principal, a staff member and latterly a representative of the Home and School Association.

The first Board under Ian Cameron’s chairmanship had the massive job of dealing with the change. They had the responsibility of the school’s finances, setting up a budget and trying to keep within it, responsible for the buildings and grounds and so on. They had no precedents to work from and discussions did last well into the evening when they held their monthly meetings.

The second Board under Karen Groome’s chairmanship set to work on policy writing. Again there were no precedents and policies were required to cover all aspects of school life. Now the existing policies are occasionally reviewed and updated.

In the third and fourth Board Jeromy Greer was chairman for six years from 1995-2000.

A major influence a Board has on the school is their appointment of the principal and the teachers.

The Board of Trustees have been going nearly seventeen years. The concept is well understood and many people have given fine service to the school through their involvement on the Board.

Ross Bramwell, J.P. (MNZOM) (resident)

Resident 1958-1974, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council for twelve years, eight years as Chairman, Hawke’s Bay Pest Destruction Board, Hawke’s Bay Animal Health Committee, Hawke’s Bay Badminton player and coach and numerous other committees. Presently farms in the Te Pohue district.

Chris Bray and Jude Laurenson (resident)

Chris Bray and Jude Laurenson are strategic marketing consultants – the internet makes it possible for them to live in the Argyll and yet work with clients all over New Zealand. Their company, Odyssey was contracted by the New Zealand Rugby Union to put forward a proposal to the International Rugby Board (IRB) to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup. This was successful.

Returning to New Zealand from Melbourne they purchased “The Brow” from Ken and Sally Eade in 2002.

Ivan Bridge (pupil)

A vet in South Auckland with a specialty in horses. He heads an equine referral veterinary hospital at Takanini, Auckland, treating horses from Taupo northwards. President of the NZ Equine Association.

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John Bridge (pupil)

A breeder, trainer and racer of horses, presently farms at Te Onepu Road.

Rosie Butler and Rodger Tynan (residents)

This wife and husband team, together with Rosie’s brothers, Peter and Warwick, established Lime Rock Wines in 2000.

Rosie started her career in wine making in 1974 with Montana Wines. She studied at the prestigious Roseworthy College in South Australia and graduated as one of New Zealand’s first woman wine makers. Following graduation she worked for Montana in Gisborne. Later moved to Australia to work for respected Pataluma near Adelaide. Rosie has also been involved in wine judging and has lectured at the Eastern Institute of Technology (Hawke’s Bay).

Rodger has a degree in Natural Resources and worked for the South Australian Department of Environment.

The 50 acre/20 hectare vineyard is situated west of Waipawa, on the Tikokino Road. At 230-270 metre elevation it has a base rock of porous limestone. In the limestone are found three million-year-old fossilized oysters, scallops and barnacles. These are depicted on the Lime Rock Label.

The fruit is hand picked. The vineyard is operated on an ecologically sustainable management philosophy.

The first commercial release, a 2004 Sauvignon Blanc won a bronze medal at the Hawke’s Bay/Mercedes Benz Wine Award and also bronze at the 2004 Air New Zealand National Wine Awards.

Linda Bruce (resident)

Completed a Diploma in Visual Arts and Design at EIT and launched a career as a ceramic sculptor. In 1996 she established a workshop in Hastings: “Works of Wit” creating contemporary ceramic artworks; sets of wall mounted ceramic objects.

She sells her work in object art galleries in New Zealand, Sydney and Norway as well as holding solo exhibitions with New Zealand.

Currently she’s developing new work with ceramics combined with found materials.

Hugh Blair PhD (pupil)

Currently Professor of Animal Science at Massey University. Rugby representative for Manawatu (Shield era), North Island Universities, North Island Juniors, New Zealand Universities, All Black trialist (twice) and Hong Kong Sevens (twice).

Murray Cameron, J.P. (resident)

A long serving member and Chairman of the School Committee. A lifelong interest in hunting and a trophy hunter of big game animals, particularly in North America and Africa. Was a professional hunting guide in New Caledonia for Russa deer. Author of the book “Trophy Hunter”. Presently retired in Waipukurau.

Rae Coley (principal)

The longest serving Principal at Argyll, a total of sixteen years, from 1983 to 1998. Rae is remembered for his teaching, cultural interests and sport. From Rae’s era came ‘magnificent’ school plays often made up by the children under his guidance. He promoted the speech competition when the Shorten cup was introduced.

He had a strong interest in hockey and coached many successful Argyll teams. He encouraged cross-country running and the inter-school competitions.

A distance runner, he would often be seen jogging on Argyll roads after school hours. He was a regular competitor of the Fletcher Marathon around Lake Rotorua.

In 1989 Rae helped guide through the reforms of “Tomorrow’s Schools” together with the inaugural Board of Trustees. The reforms gave schools and their committees more independence with boards having a governance role and principals a greatly expanded management role as well as their teaching duties.

Dog Trialling

A rural sport enjoyed by a good number of Argyll residents, many belonging to the Te Aute Dog Trial club. Listed are Argyll trialists who have been successful at club, regional and national levels.

Name   Club   Regional   National   Judge

Bob Bruce    *    *    *    * heading
George Bulled   *
Graeme Duff   *   *   *   * heading
Dave Giddens   *
Barry Greene   *
Clive Hobson   *   *
Ted Isaacson   *   *   *
Joe McClelland   *
George MacMillan   *   *   *
Hemi Power   *
Graeme Ryder   *   *   * hunts
Reg Shorten   *   * NZ Expo   * hunts
Jack Tait   *   *
Willie Whyte   *   *   *

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In addition there have also been many other people from the district with roles in the club as chairman, secretary, time-keepers, liberators, kitchen hands and members of the committee.

Stuart Gilbertson, Q.S.M. (resident)

A long serving member of the school committee, a ward member on the Department of Education and a member of the Trust Boards of Te Aute College and Smedley.

Westley Gough (pupil)

A young and upcoming cyclist to keep an eye on. A seventh former (year 13) at Central Hawke’s Bay College, Westley was selected into the New Zealand Junior Track Cycling Squad to compete in the Junior World Track Championship at Vienna, Austria in August 2005.

As part of a four men pursuits team, he won gold medal beating Great Britain in the 4000m race. Their time shattered the New Zealand national record.

As a result of his Austrian success, the sport’s governing body, the Union Cycliste International will fly Westley to Switzerland to take up a high performance course for three months. Previous career highlights include five national titles in 2004, New Zealand Representation for the last three years and a bronze medal in the Youth Olympics in Sydney, Australia. His aim is the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Duncan and Janice Gray (pupil and resident)

Before farming Janice and Duncan Gray spent ten years in the shearing industry. In 1985 Duncan went to Smedley for a week to learn to shear under the tutelage of Barry Baker and continued to shear for Barry. His biggest season was 1989/90 shearing 38,000 sheep, averaging 250 plus sheep per day.

Janice is a “ticketed” wool handler and was also a shearer, mainly of lambs shearing up to 5,000 per year during the summer lamb shear.

James Gray (pupil)

James started competitive cycling as a young boy in the hey day of BMX in the 1980’s. he became the North Island BMX Champion at the age of 10 in 1985.

He progressed to mountain biking and won the Open Triple Peaks (Te Mata, Mt Erin and Kahuranaki) twice at ages 14 and 15.

He turned to road racing and in 1993 was the N Under 18 Road Champion. In the 1994 Tour of the North Island, James won the Waikato Stage.

He also represented NZ overseas in Taiwan and Perth

Mick Groome (pupil)

A Spitfire pilot in World War II, Hawke’s Bay Meat Company (Whakatu) director and chairman. Hawke’s Bay County Council elected member and chairman, Hawke’s Bay Airport Authority member and chairman and a number of other company directorships. Farmed at Te Onepu, died in 2003.

Michael Groome (pupil)

Established a commercial helicopter business and for a time was contracted by the Helicopter Rescue Service in Hawke’s Bay. Tony Aldridge (resident) was Te Onepu helicopters’ full time pilot with both Tony and Michael sharing after hours flying. Tony moved onto flying overseas for oil prospecting firms in New Guinea and “South East Asia. Tony lost his life at sea in 1999, flying for a tuna boat, spotting schooling fish near Guam.

Kevin Hansen (resident)

President of the NZ Equestrian Federation, instigator and now President of the New Zealand Horse of the Year show, held annually in Hastings.

David Jude (resident)

David and Judy came to the district in 1981 to manage Bert Monk’s farm. David is remembered for his enthusiastic attitude to life and involvement in the school, hall, sport, Argyl Angels, dog trialling and more. In 1993 David accidentally lost his life while fencing underneath 110,000volt transmission lines, when the fencing wire touched the power lines.

Justice of the Peace

The Argyll District is served by three Justices of the Peace, Murray Cameron, Roger Jull and Peter Butler.

Arthur Kinsellar [Kinsella] (principal)

Principal of Argyll school from 1944-1948. Subsequently he moved on to Paeroa District High School and in the early 1950’s became involved in politics with the National Party.

In 1954 he became Member of Parliament for Hauraki, 1960 Minister of Broadcasting, 1961-63 Post Master General, 1963-69 Minister of Education. Died in 2004.

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Betty McDonald (resident)

Betty was involved with music and the Argyll school for over 40 years, in particular playing the piano for group singing. She also taught the recorder, ukulele and briefly the guitar and from time to time directing and playing piano with the children in small group orchestras.

Christina McDonald (resident)

Well-known on the stage before her departure to the islands. Her first main role was in ‘Superstar’ produced by the ‘Waipawa Musical and Dramatic Society’. She appeared in fourteen shows in three years among them were parts in Hamilton, Napier, Fielding as well as Central Hawke’s Bay. Her acting also took her to Auckland with the Mercury Theatre and television work playing Tamara in the children’s serial ‘Betty’s Bunch’.

Graham McDonald (pupil)

Graham left Argyll, farming and New Zealand for Rarotonga in 1991 and established himself as a diving instructor. In 1995 he and Christine bought a diving tourist venture “Pacific Divers” teaching diving and guiding divers on the local coral reefs.

Ross McLeod (principal)

Principal of Argyll from 1999 to mid 2004 Ross is remembered for many things including teaching and a love of sport, outdoor activities and doubling the size of his family, his last two children being born while living at Argyll.

Ross came to Argyll with a strong rugby pedigree including:

1978 Ross Shield and the Player of the Tournament. Under Sixteen and Eighteen Hawke’s Bay representative and under Sixteen North Island representative. Playing for Massey University while at Teachers’ College, also for New Zealand Universities and Manawatu. A highlight game was Manawatu versus the Wallabies: lost 6-3. From 1988-1990 teaching at Porritt school and playing for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies.

In 1992-3 “O.E.” and playing rugby in France for the St. Egreve Club. Later in South Africa playing rugby in Durban.

From 1994-1998 Ross and Delwyn returned to New Zealand and Ross became the Deputy Principal at Clive School and resumed playing for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies. Highlight game Hawke’s Bay versus France, won 23-15 in 1994. After leaving Argyll, Ross became principal at Twyford School.

Bert and Nola Monk

Together they ran a Christian based Sunday School in the district for twenty-one years, held every second Sunday with as many as 30 children attending. Bert had a Land Rover with a canvas cover over its deck, in which he would collect the children. At one time he collected children from four different roads going down as far as Tidswell’s. This was in the 1950-1960 era.

Doug Morland (principal)

Principal of Argyll from 1970-1979. Sportsman particularly hockey and cricket; cricket representative for Hawke’s Bay and Central Districts. The instigator of the Argyll Angels Sports Club. Resident in NZ and Australia,

Olsen Family (including Peter and Burke) (residents)

They moved their Hereford stud cattle from Te Pohue and continued to call it ‘Titiokura’ Stud; 45-50 stud bulls are sold each year to commercial beef herds and dairy farmers.

John Pattison (resident)

Learned to fly a bi-plane at Bridge Pa. Spitfire pilot in World War II. Shot down in Battle of Britain and subsequently nine months in hospital. Farmed at “The Brow” and established a Romney sheep stud flock. In 2003 awarded the Legion of Honour by France at the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landing.

Michael Pattison (pupil)

A young fashion designer, Michael was invited to the 2005 New Zealand Fashion Week as the Verge Breakthrough Designer. Now with his own fashion label, ‘Michael Pattison Design’, Michael has won many awards since his first achievement, winning the secondary school Make and Model competition at the Hawke’s Bay A & P Show.

Peter Plummer, Nuffield Scholar (resident)

Chairman New Zealand Federated Farmers Meat and Wool section, President of New Zealand Federated Farmers from 1969-1973. Founding director of fertiliser works at Awatoto, founding director of Richmond Meat Company. Established a Shorthorn cattle stud.

Timothy Plummer (pupil)

Chairman of Hawke’s Bay Federated Farmers, national chairman New Zealand Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Section, Central Hawke’s Bay district councillor and active on many committees. First commercial grower of asparagus in the district; continues the stud started by his father.

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Returned Servicemen

Returned Servicemen from WWI include the Merritt Brothers, Ronald McDonald, Henry Carlson, William Chambers…Those who did not return include Edward and Thomas Oliver, John Little, Murdoch McLeod and Godfrey Groome.

The end of WWII brought a number of new residents to the district, returned servicemen who took up ballot farms provided by the government as a gesture of gratitude and thanks for services rendered. In Taheke this included Alec Hay, Ivan Oliver, Scott Davies, Jock Gear, Ted Isaacson, Dick Bardell, Henry Pattalo and Joe McLelland. In Argyll: George Tidswell and Brett Gray.

Argyll residents who served and returned include Stan Bridge, Charles Bruce, Barney Cullinane, Mick Groome, Murray Cameron, Ronald McMillan, John Pattison, Peter Plummer and Tom Sunderland. One serviceman did not return, Cliff Lausen.

Servicemen to serve in hostilities since WWII include Mia Eru Te Hopu in Korea, John Linley in Vietnam and Matthew MacMillan in Iraq (British Army).

Jim Robertshawe (resident)

Became a well-known stud breeder of Romney sheep. At its peak 1,000 stud and flock rams were sold each year. In the late 1980s Jim sold the stud to Dennis Bell from Omakere. A founding Director of Farmlands. Died 1993.

Dianne Ryder (resident)

Painting mainly on commission Dianne has completed many works of horses and dog-trialling dogs and landscapes. Some of her work has been exhibited. She began painting in 2001 working in oils and is a member of the Otane Arts and Craft. In the past Dianne gave her talents to the school and for many years cartoon characters such as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse adorned the walls in the library of the original school.

Shorten Family (including Reg and Ann) (residents)

In the last twenty years they have established a large organic farm producing and marketing organic lamb and beef. Currently their produce is sold under their ‘Tahi Organics’ brand to Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand (small quantities) and United States of America (for baby food).

Paul Shorten, PhD (pupil)

A mathematician working for Ag Research with a role in mathematical modelling and involved in the design of experiments for research purposes.

Richard Sunderland (pupil)

Delegate for New Zealand Equestrian Federation, involves work in New Zealand and overseas including the Olympics in Greece.

Tree Guys

Jack and Kathy Ritchie established their native tree nursery in Otane in 1993.

Specialising in collecting seeds and growing out seedlings and plants. Initially they relied on gate sales but now increasingly plant into revegetation blocks and urban plantings.

With their children going to Argyll, the school has benefited from their expertise, time and donations of plants. They have been involved with planting the new shelter replacing the old Macrocarpa hedge, a Black Matai to commemorate the death of Sir Peter Blake and numerous other plantings about the school.

Twist Family (including Neville, Theo and Tom) (resident and two pupils)

As well as farming interests in Argyll they established a trucking firm in 1996, Twist Trucking. This has now grown to seven trucks, three livestock units and four bulk carriers, all Mercedes painting in smart livery. The bulk haulage includes bringing “Balance” fertilizer from Tauranga to the Waipukurau and Dannevirke depots. Gravels are back loaded to Auckland particularly round pebbles – a tan coloured greywacke stone sourced from the back of their farm.

Tiny White (nee Groome) OBE (pupil)

A Land Girl during and after World War II. Has had strong equestrian interests throughout her life including pony club, hunting and eventing. First New Zealander to compete in dressage in Australia in the early 1970s. Champion Lady Rider Sydney Royal Show 1980, national and international judge in F.E.I. show judging and eventing. Daughter Tinks Pottinger won Olympic Bronze at Seoul in 1988 with the NZ Eventing Team

Postscript: In writing this article the hope is that the information is accurate. In casting our net, we have more than likely forgotten or overlooked some people who should and could have been mentioned. For mistakes and omissions we apologise. In a sense, it is a living list that really has no end and maybe one day someone may wish to fill the gaps and expand it.

Page 77

SCHOOL ROLL 1905-2005

1905
Arnott, Emily
Bargrove, William
Bargrove, Robert
Biel, Eva
Biel, Ina
Biel, Eric
Biel, Roy
Clark, Eric
Clarke, Lila
McLeod, Eric
McLeod, May
McLeod, Ernest
McLeod Murdock
Oliver, Tom
Oliver, Edward
Oliver, Florence
Oliver, Lena
Whyte, Willie
Whyte, Marjorie
Whyte, Kitty

1906
Oliver, Harold
McLeod, George
Parker, Hetty

1907
Marsh, William

1908
Clark, Graham Chas
Wallace, Dorothy
Wallace, Ivy Mary
Clar, Muriel

1909
Manning, Helen Almeda
Muir, Archibald

1910
Manning, Herbert

1911
McLeod, Ella
Muir, Keith

1913
Muir, Gwendoline
Marsh, Ivy May

1914
Handcock, Marjorie
Handcock, Brian Allison
Handcock, Lawrence
Little, Jean Louisa

1915
Lindop, Henrietta Hulne
Lindop, Monica Beatrice
Lindop, Alfred
Wells, Ernest

1916
Attick, Isabella Phoebe
Marsh, Molly

1917
Addis, Edna M
Hill, Harold
Nation, Norman
Benton, Avis Frances
Addis, Lily A
Cook, Eileen
Cook, Harold
Spring, Charles

1918
Carswell, Ronald
Carswell, Charles
Carswell, Colin
Tawera, Ben
Hudson, John
M Aitken, Cyril M
Aitken, Alice L
McGregor, Lucy
Spring Joyce
Pattison, Margaret

1919
Fletcher, Zoe Muriel
Fletcher, Marion Lilian
Benton, Douglas C
Carswell, Roxana
Morrison, Gilbert Jarvis
Addis, Thomas Henry
Benton, Olive Mavis

1920
Hudson, Mary
Clapham, Thomas
Little, James Oliver
Hinman, Hazel Winifred
Benton, Joff Richard
Pohio, Herbert
Priest, David

1921
Addis, Winifred Ann
Grant, William Robert
Grant, Guy Sutherland
Grant, Nancy Gwendoline
Pohio, Agnes
Pohio, Rose
Douglas, Sidney Ralph
Rutherford, William
Smith, Edith
Smith Elsa
Smith, Nancy,
Smith, John

1922
Morrison, Nesta Rose
Bruere, Joan
Bruere, Audrey Minnie
Mackie, Betsy
Rutherford, Jean Margaret
Retson, Philip
Addis, Ema Myrtle

1923
Aitken, Alice L
Kinder, Johnn Bruce
Bruere, George Lauri
Aitken, Marjorie Nita
Pohio, Herbert
Arnott, Phyllis
Stephenson, John Thomas

1924
Martin, Marjorie
Martin, Robert
Martin, Agnes
Perry, Winifred Beryl
Perry, Cyril Pasco
Larsen, Cyril Raymond
Perry, Clifford Neil
Addis, Stanely Frederick
Stephenson, Jessie
Rutherford, Nancy Lorraine

1925
Perry, Jean Mary
Rutherford, Bruce James

1926
Pattison, Brian Charles
Pattison, John Gordon
Bueck, Harry
Matheson, Jean
Preston, Donald Noel
Preston, John Carrick
Preston, Marie Hilda
Preston Leonard Roy
Perry, Irene Margaret
Fowlds, Valda Kathleen
Holyoake, Nellie

1927
Addis, Keith

1928
Stephenson, Cecilia
Mudgway, Raymond
Mudgway, Cyril
Mudgway, Melva
Mudgway, Joyce
Addis, James

1929
Harris, Beatrice
Yule, John Alexander

1930
Brown, Douglas Walter
McDonald, Jessie
McDonald, Flora
Yul, William Murray
Stephenson, George Noel
Little, Dorothy Oliver

1931
Groome, Janet Mary
Groome, Michael Ernest
Groome, Helen Patricia
Collins, Marjorie
Stephenson, Thomas Bruce

1932
Theobald, Margaret Pauline
Theobald, Patricia Anne
Watson, Cyril Herbet

1933
Monk, Myrtle Emily
Carlson, Nancye Estelle
Carlson, Geoffrey Edmund
McDonald, Margaret
Janett, Marguerite
Janett, Paul Frederick
Gilbertson, Deidre
Addis, Una May

1934
Carlson, Maurice Graeme
Lewis, Margaret
Brown, Ian

1935
Johnston, George Andrew
Lewis, Barbara
McDonald, Ewen Thomas
Couper, Mabel Joan
Gilbertson, Peter

1936
Watson, John Edward
Monk, Margaret Grace

Page 78

Couper, Malcolm Harry
Gilbertson, Jennifer Anne
Nitschke, Rayfield

1937
Bryce, Eric
Gilbertson, Beverly
Manning, Fay

1938
Nitschke, Donald Frank
Nitschke, Peter Philip
Johnston, Ngarie [Ngaire]
Nitschke, Elsma
Chambers, Maurice
Carlson, Dorothy Anne

1939
Bryce, Gwen Evelyn

1940
Patterson, William Peter
Gill, Harry Kingsford
Connell, Maureen Joan

1941
Brock, Ida Mary
Brock, Robert Phili

1942
Addis, Dorothy Jennifer
Herbert, Leslie Gordon
Herbert, Francis Oliver
Herbert, Ethne Joyce
Patterson, Glen Addis
Patterson, Ian Addis
Addis, Bernice
Ireland, Stanley
Ireland, Caroline
Herbert, Robert
Herbert, Coral Marjorie
Monk, Doreen
Monk, Eileen
Johnston, Shirley Ann
Cameron, Peter Francis
Cameron, John Dale
Plummer, Bridget Elizabeth
Martin, Mereama
Martin, Willie
Martin, Janie
Renata, Jimmy
Renata, Ngariki
Renata, Dolly

1943
Greenfield, John Charles
Gilbertson, Elizabeth
Thompson, Merle Annette
Renata, Te Aroha (Peggy)
Renata, Joe
Ward Johnson
Ashton, Albert
Ashton, Mervyn Lynn

1944
Kirk, Keith Robert
McCauley, Marion Aline
Mackay, John Roderick
Vallance, Joy
Vallance, James
Tareha, James

1945
Addis, William Frederick
Little, Annette Airini
Wilson, Ngaire Judith
Schramm, Carl William
Kir, Michael Johnson
Plummer, Timothy James
Gill, Dorothy
Johnson, Noeline
Johnson, Eric Trevor
McKay, David

1946
Ryder, John Miles
Ryder, Annette
Smith, David Eric
Smith, Mavis Jeanette
Little, Robert John
Auld, Pamela Margaret

1947
Arnott, Ngarie Grace
Walker, Rose
Walker, Phyllis
Walker, Libya
Allhusen, Elizabeth Anneka
Lincez, Brian Peter
Evans, Rex Davis
Evans, Olivers Neil
Evans, Valerie Joy
Bardell, Renata Ropiha
Bardell, Richard Frederick
Isaacson, Kevin
Ryder, Graeme Hugh
Valance, Betsy Elizabeth
Ireland, Kathleen
Macmillan, Ronald Andrew

1948
Arnott, Lorna Lillian
Robottom, William
Taylor, William Johnson
Taylor, Mary Sophia
Taylor, Hilda Evelyn
Taylor, James Leonard
Addis, Janice Mary
Watson, Douglas Allan
Little, Kevin Alfred
Fayen, Louis Ester
Fayen, Colleen Margaret
Potter, Christopher
Gilbertson, Margaret
Herewini, Margaret
Herewini, Waiora
Mane, William

1949
Hamilton, Tui
Bardell, Tony
Holloway, Margaret Ann
Auld, Alison Mabel
MacMillan, Gordon
Fairbanks, Rosemary
Irwin, John
Irwin, Elsie
Addis, Judith Myra
Allhusen, Mary
Anderson, James
Anderson, William Henry

1950
Dakin, Allan
Dakin, Edward
May, Henry
May, Helen
Bridge, Alison
Pattison, Michael Charles
Kara, Rangi
Beck, Brian
Prentice, Margaret
Goodall, Mearilyn

1951
Natusch, David
Addis, Glennis Ann
Addis, Robin Elsie
Addis, Fayth Lillian
Anderson, Ellen
Hodge, Kenneth
Wiersma, Emy
Kirkpatrick, Denis Johnson
Allhusen, Christopher
Thompson, Richard
Thompson, Elizabeth
Addis, Rodger Thomas
Drain, Richard
Taylor, Mavis
Taylor, Penelope
Kaminska, Edward
Kaminska, Nola

1952
Hodge, Bruce Henry
McLellan, Margaret
Wiersma, Bettina
Bekker, Ineka
Bekker, Dorothy
Bekker, Fekka
Anderson, Margaret
Isaacson, Lynden
Pattison, Christopher
Symons, Humphrey
Patterson, Lynaire

1953
Hodge, Cheryl Rita
Cameron, Anne Elizabeth
Christenson, Patricia Dawn
Oliver, Joy Clare
Oliver, Judith Ann
Monk, David,
Ries, Christpher Thomas
Addis, Judith
Bridge, John William
Plummer, Anthony
Samson, Harold
Samson, Lynette
Kohe, Lola
Fergusson, Patricia
Fergusson, Mary
Luke, Murray
Birch, Basil
Birch, Shirley
Birch, Mervyn
Devine, Linda
Kelly, Robert
Kelly, Janice (Bonnie)
Groves, Ken
Groves, Beatric
Grovers, Heather
Alderson, Brett
Zajko, Stephen
Saunders, Bryan
Saunders, Betty
MacMillan, Alasdair
Bardell, Diana
Ormerod, Robin
Dakin, Rowena
Dakin, Joanna

1954
Addis, Peter S
Gray, Camplin W
Simmers, David
Simmers, Janet
Williams, Joyce
Williams, Mervyn
Rakei, Ruta
Williams, Bessie
Stephens, Basil
Stephens, Edith
Blair, Mary
Blair, Ian
Lynch, Kerry

Page 79

Cameron, Ian Murray
Hodge, Carleen
Fill, Rhonda
Hartley, Philip
Hartley, Valarie
Hartley Beverly
Hartley, John
Monk, Joye
Oliver, Margaret
Phelan, Kerry
Phelan, Mark
Sakai, Toko
Nossiter, Philip
Nossiter, Neil
Nossiter, Carol

1955
Price, Judith
Tipu, John
Tipu, Hannah
Whitfield, Peter
Waerea, Huitau
Ruwhiu, Annette
Cullinane, Gail
Cullinane, Lynne
McLellan, Jennifer
Clark, Ross,
Goodwin, Teremoana
Goodwin, Teariki Tuna
Goodwin, Ngametua
Grey, Agnes Mary
Pattison, David
Matheson, Kathleen
Kirk, Reece Winston
Monk, Warren Alred

1956
Groome, Michael Edward
Kara, Thomas Christopher
Kara, Walter
Eagle, Annette Margaret
Arnott, Shirley Ann
McKay, Jock
Brown, Ian
Brown, Norman
Christeller, Michael
Christeller, John
Ruwhiu, Joanna Tuatina
Goodwin, Robert
Nathan, Max Arthur
Addis, Leslie Henry
Brown, Marie Jean
Goodwin, Mary Anne

1957
Bridge, Ian Stanley
Gray, Dianna Frances
Watson, Michael John
Addis, Christine Ann
Eagle, Gordon Henry
Eagle, Dianne Gayle
Grant, Peter Anthony
Grant, Andrew Richard
Sunderland, Joan Mary
Eagle, Marea Janett
Waerea, Rex Kingi
Clark, Robyn Theresa
Sayer, Christine Sheryl
Tyacke, Susan Heather
Eagle, Hilton Maurice
Groome, Margot
Tidswell, Rhys Geoffery
Sayer, Barbara Anne
Forrest, Lesley Priscilla
Falconer, Marie Anne
Cameron, John Stuart
Bruce, John

1958
Goodwin, Prudence Meenie
Christenson, Roy John
Gray, Barbara Monica
Evans, Owen Lloyd
Addis, Mark
Wainohu, Charlene Sandra
Nossiter, Stephanie Linda
Addis, Malcolm Rex
Tidswell, Cyrus George
Patterson, Elysia Kathleen
Grey, Cynthia
Gray, Puke
McBurney, Mark
McBurney, Erin Hazel
Bruce, Robert Charles
Sunderland, Richard John

1959
Blair, Hugh Thomas
Oliver, Peter Howard
Eagle, Robin Selwyn
Hamilton, Maxwell Andrew
Pattison, Nicholas James
Gair, Gilbert Bruce
Tihema, Johnson
Tihema, Maurice
Tihema, Rennie Valance
Tihema, Rex
Tihema, Tui Te Aira
Watson, Judith Mary
Carter, Bridget Mary
Clark, Andrew William
Robertshawe, Amanda Ruth
Forrest, Christpher John
Gallagher, Kim Donavan
Carlson, Hamish John
Carlson, Helen Estelle
Monk, Winsome Nola
Groome, Philippa

1960
Isaacson, Michael John
Thompson, Raymond Jon
Thompson, Lynette
Bruce, Gordon Kenneth
McDonald, Thomas Graham
Clark, John Stewart
Patterson, Gary Michael
Curtis, Dalray Joan
Curtis, Brian
Tidswell, Lance Alexander
Addis, Cyril Brent
Goodwin, Diana Margaret
Junk, Suzanne Ellen
Cameron, Judith Dorothy
Gair, Margaret Helen
Curtis, Peter Stuart
Monk, Nigel Stanley
Buckle, David James
Thompson, Rangi
Hamilton, Guy John
Addis, Joanne Elizabeth
Goodwin, Alfred Tapini
Guerin, Janice Margaret

1961
Thompson, William
Robertshawe, Cynthia
Addis, Kevin John
Fraser, Jock Donald
Fraser, Sally Robyn
Clark, Joan Helen
Bruce, Thelma Jean
Lamb, Jennifer Ann
Lamb, Leila Jane
Carlson, Graeme Bernard

1962
Gray, Kerry Anne
Bainbridge, Ruth Ellen
Fergusson, Penelope
Guerin, Lynette Ann
Goodwin, Kim Douglas
McDonald, Marian Marjory
Patterson, Angela Mary
Goodwin, Ester Dershaye
Holliday, Catherine Mavis
Robertshawe, Sally Jane
Land, Trevor Arthur
Forrest, Jennifer Shirley
Smiler, Peter Uanoko
Smiler, Joseph
Addis, David Frederick
Groome, Nicola
Redward, Stephen Clifford

1963
Bishop, Yvonne Ruth
Henderson, Robert Harold
Fergusson, Jane
Fergusson, Sally
Brown, Marie
Brown, Norman,
Gair, Marilyn Ann
Thomson, Kin-Aino
Goodwin, Garth Stanely
Green, Rosalie Helen
Carlson, Elizabeth Ann
Cooke, David Warren
Cooke, Michael Anthony
Cooke, Sandra Denise
Craft, Faymond
Craft, Walter Alfred
Grey, Audrey Louise
Addis, Dianne Frances
Powell, Rhonda-Lee
McDonald, Adriane Kaye
Overton, Diane Jane
Sunderland, Graeme Bruce

1964
Goodwin, Sarah Marie
Bruce, Juliet Mary
Redward, Leicester Michael
Bishop, Deirdre Maree
Robertshawe, Felicity Ann
Williams, Graeme Paul
Williams, Jan
Carlson, Susan Joy
MacLean, Joanna Morag
MacLean, Catriona Mary Ann
Robertshawe, Charlotte Ann
Sayer, Tony Kenneth
Hale, James Edward
Hale, Terrence Joseph
Williams, Hamish Warwick
Vickers, Kathryn Margaret
Heaslip, Christopher
Heaslip, Susan Jane
Hamilton, Nigel Blayney
MacMillan, Callum Robert
Greene, Ian Joseph

1965
Gair, Maxwell Stuart
Gilbertson, Timothy Stuart
Andrews, Marchile Patricia
Gerbes, Vicki Anne
Cottle, Richard Phillip
Cottle, Sandra Jean
McDonald, Hugh Maxwell
Redward, Rex Edward
Sayer, John William
Nossiter, Iola Diane
Christenson, David James
Williams, Rachael Warwick
McIlraith, Joanne Maria

Page 80

Godfrey, Ian Patrick
Greene, David Murray
Goodwin, Hamish John

1966
Simpson, Jennee Isabel
Clark, Kim Marie
Overton, Amanda Katherine
Gilbertson, Stephen
Christenson, Stephen
Wilton, Barry Michael
Wilton, Sandra
Heaslip, Maryanne Myrtle
Gillice, Josephine
Gillice, Malcolm
Scott, Shane Nelson

1967
Willis, Janine Anne
Godfrey, Karen Margaret
Harris, Janine May
Harris, Kevin Peter
Bruce, Marjorie Anne
McDonald, Fiona
McDonald, Scott Grant
McDonald, Kirsty Jean
Walker, Hineteata
Walker, Robyn Marlene
Walker, Keri Paranahia
Walker, William John
Walker, Marie Denise
Winterburn, Gloria
Winterburn, Ronald Peter
Harris, Stephen
Harris, Anthony
Nossiter, Lynette
Peebles, John Alexander
Peebles, Ruby
Bee, Graeme Russell
Bee, Sandra Christine
Gilbertson, Jacqueline
Groome, John Hamer
McIlraith, Debra Margaret
Harris, Leanne Elizabeth
Clark, Kirsty Ann
Rohloff, Warren David
Winterburn, Matene Te Pou

1968
Jacobs, Linda
Walker, Fiona Louise
Jones, Nicola Ann
Willis, Hamish John
Robertshawe, Lucy Belinda
Godfrey, Alan Michael
Lunt, Robert Grant
Lunt, Vivienne Ann

1969
Bee, Karen Eva
Hay, Janet Alexandra
Hay, Gordon Alexander
Greene, Paul Aaron
Goodwin, Susan Shermaine
Carlson, David Allan
Walker, Christina Robin
Dudley, Christine Jahn
Scott, Tracey Anne
Walker, Shayne Nicholas
Ryder, Vernon Shayne
Jones, Kieran Michael
Dyer, Kevin Frederick
Gilbertson, Robyn Joanna
Dudley, Graeme Leonard

1970
Chambers, William Gary
Fraser, Lee Elizabeth
Fraser, Timothy David
Caster, Louis James
Walker, Stuart Grant
Addis, Gerald Mason
Wilson, Roxanne
Tonge, Mark
Tonge, Paul
Lampitt, Michael
MacMillan, Stuart
Hapuku, Maxine Rosemarie
Hapuku, Kathleen
Smith, Shiree Ann
Wilson, Jordie
Ford, Steven Albert
Akers, Gillian Maryann
Wood, Patrick

1971
Dyer, Philip Gilbert
Hay, Robert Iain
Franklin, Donna Marie
Clark, Penelope
Lane, Susan Elizabeth
Hapuku, Toko
Chambers, Kerryn
Wong, Stephanie Louise
Poi, Ngaire Mekepaea

1972
Dyer, Lynley Grace
Carlson, Peter John
Bramwell, Gaylene Delma
Thompson, Sonny Richard
Thompson, Michael Dean
Thompson, Mary-Ann
Thompson, Hera Eymard
Thompson, Aoraha Bernadette
Thompson, Theresa
Thompson, Miha Virgil
Lawrence, Robyn Anne
Lawrence, Mark Stephen
Ryder, Tracy Lyn
Franklin, Joanne Lisa
Lane, Richard Peter
Christison, Raymond Shayne
Christison, Tony Gregory
Wilson, Grant Hugh
MacMillan, Sinclair

1973
Plummer, Anthony Stuart
Dyer, Anne-Marie
Tonge, Stephen Shane
Giddens, Brenton Gregory
Giddens, Louise Noleen
Robertshawe, Bridget Nita
Suttor, Bridget Valentine
Christison, Nicola Irene

1974
Plummer, Miranda Ann
Bawden, Kerri-Ann
Bawden, Antoinette
Eru Te Hapu, Wayne Maia
Eru Te Hapu, Maia Gavin
MacMillan, Camille
Wilson, Nicola Frances
Bramwell, Greig Ross
Scott, Michella Sandra

1975
Christison, Tracy Andrea
Tonge, Lisa Marie
Lane, Andrew Maitland
Bawden, Vanessa Christine
Suttor, Thomas Charles

1976
Langdale, Georgina
Power, Moana Mary
Hermond, Aaron
Hermond, Scott
Morland, Michelle Diane
Hapuka, Jennifer Frances
Harris, Fiona Jane
Plummer, Elizabeth Mary
Lane, Matthew Scott
MacMillan, Alexander Scott

1977
Flett, Karin Joy
Twist, Bridget Louise
Hanham, Stephanie
Haerewa, Jackie Angela
McDonald, Jason William
Gray, Nerida Robyn
Hanham, Grant Allen
Haerewa, Tuta
Aldridge, Brent David
Power, Aroha Ann

1978
Linley, Helan
Linley, Karen
Niania, Andrew
Bradshaw, Suzanne
Bradshaw, Vanessa
Bradshaw, Shane
Walker, Christine Ann
Plummer, George Sidney
Harris, Stephanie Maree
Aldridge, Lance Ross

1979
Anderson, Daniel Norman
MacMillan, Matthew Aaron
Oliver, Nathaniel George
Haerewa, Jeffrey
Morland, Glenn Douglas
Truman, Brendon Peter
Morris, Susan Rachell
Morris, Wayne Patrick
Horne, Aaron
Flett, Leanne Marie
McDonald, Kirstine
Uri, Moeroa
Coombes, Duncan
Coombes, Wendy

1980
Gray, James
Cherrington, Karl
Cherrington, Lance
Cherrington, Bevan
Cherrington, Natalie
Riding, Douglas
Twist, Theophulis Neville
Walker, Andrew
Riding, Rose Tania
Williams, Michael
Williams, Alisa

1981
Goodall, Kelli
Saunders, Nicola
Jude, Steven
Oliver, Laurinda
Cameron, Belinda
Bruce, Holly Louise,
Dalzell, Luke Murray
Nia, Tanya Hughina
Gray, Geraldine Lesley
Bushell, Elizabeth
Bushell, Fiona
Addis, Megan Elizabeth

Page 81

Saunders, Kelle
Nia, Daniel Pou-ariki
Groome, Michael

1982
Eru, (Te Hop) Mara Gavin
Uri, Moeroa
Uri, Alexander
Hiania, Stephen Earl
Hiania, George Edward
Hiania, Sila Angalica
Jeffries, Leah Jade
Cameron, Amanda
Twist, Thomas David
Hay, James Brendon

1983
Coley, Angela Kay
Coley, Kim Maree
Coley, Amanda Lee
Hay, Adam Raymond
Bruce, Duncan Robert
Truman, Brendon Peter
Truman, Shaun Arron
Pattison, Katherine Alice
Groome, Andrew Kevin

1984
Hansen, Stuart Doidge
MacMillan, Rebecca Hunter
Addis, Nicola Mary
Ashley, Thalia
Gray, Simon Upsall

1985
Foster, Robert Iverson
Foster, Bruce Dryden Iverson
Mills, Tracey Chantal

1986
Bruce, Jamie Marcella
Hansen, Ian Kevin
Shorten, Paul Robert
Shorten, Amy Joanna
Shorten, Richard Mark
Cameron, Katrina Cynthia
Parker, Jackson Henry
Parker, Amy Lee
Pattison, Michael

1987
Power, Jodine Mary
Power, Joshua Leonard Patrick
Mataira, Angela
Cheer, Kelly
Addis, Jonathan Peter
Bruce, Nathan Charles
Ridings, Natasha Joy
Butler, Natalie (Nellie) Johanna
Tuckwell, Jade Patea
Gilbertson, Aaron Mathew
McDonald, Thomas Bevan
Groome, Rebecca Jane
Frings, Lisa Alice

1988
Bevin, Anna Lee
Bevin, Tessa Jane
Tidswell, Gareth Rhys
Bruce, Callum Alexander
Gilbertson, Emma Kaye
Butler, Daniel Warwick Pepping

1989
Greer, Charlotte Mary
Crump, Steven Barry
Crump, Kevin James
Crump, Michelle
Tidswell, Alice Kaye
Parker, Hamish (Harry) Robert
Addis, Thomas Stanley

1990
Bruce, Rachael Elizabeth
Mabin, James Hugh
MacMillan, James Michael
Baldwin, Lesley Michelle
Carlson, Jacqueline Elizabeth
Fair, Kiley Rachel

1991
Bridge, Alisha Margo
Bridge, James (Jamie) William
Greer, James Lewis
Gilbertson, Daniel Richard Suitor

1992
Miller, Erena Mihi
Tidswell, Philip Neill
Cameron, Bevan James Ian
Ratima, Ashley Paul
Ratima, Krystal Maraea
Smith, Benn Jeffrey
Smith, Robby Timothy
Butler, Hannah Nora
Lawton, Kane
Menefy, Amanda Maree
Menefy, Brett Robert
Morrison, William Daniel
Sission, Sereena Verity
Kiingi, Anthony Joseph Willis
Perry, Rachael Anne
Addis, Richard
Boyd, Shaun Michael
Boyd, Cara-Lee Patricia
Boyd, Nicole Terese
Lawton, Kirsten Marie
Story, Sara Catherine
Greer, Angus William

1993
Williams, Jodie Leah
Laurent, Jacqueline Elizabeth
Peebles, Kansas Samantha
Taylor, Robert
Sherratt, Nicki Alice
Yeoman, Andrew James
Sherratt, Pippa Leigh
Gough, Westley Marc
Butler, Mary Elizabeth
Reynolds, William David
Barham, Jesse
McKelvie, Benjamin David
Carlson, Thomas (Thomy) Geoff
Otton, Alexandera Kay

1994
Boyd, Amiee
Morris, Jason Roger
Knowles, Mathew Corey
Perry, Anneka Rose
McGivern, Shannon
Forrest, Courtney Raymond
Gosling, Brian James
Gosling, Anna Louise
Peebles, Harata Hinemoa
Kersten, John
Kersten, Samuel
Kersten, Leah
Courtney, Rebecca
Normanton, Troy Robbie
Roberts, Jared David Alexander
Meldon, Eric Allan
Addis, Lucy Rose
McKelvie, Stuart

1995
Taylor, Philippa (Pip) Kaye
Grough, Chad Benjamin
Wilcox, Judia
Wilcox, Oliver
Otton, James Fletcher
Butler, George Peter William
Gosling, Edward Murray
Middleton, Keryn Elyse
Knowles, Christopher Guy
Taylor, Nikki Elizabeth
Forsyth, Emma L. Rosemary
Forsyth, Amy Kathleen
Reynolds, Samuel John
Stein, Olivia
Kiingi, Kayla
Greer, Annabelle
Beckett, Steven
Mora, David Justin
Mora, Alice Catherine

1996
Wood, Chloe May
Macklow, Laura Jayne
Fargher, Nicholas Henry
Forrest, Braden Aron
Thomas, Benjamin Scott
Thornicroft, Thorin Norton
Riordean, Charlotte Joanna
Morris, Samantha Annett
Gough, Holly Rosemary
Chambers, Richard
Ritchie, Tyler Joanne
O’Sullivan, Ashley Brooke
Johnson, Brett Anthony
Hawkins, Joshua, Chris Kapene
Meldon, Ricky
Macklow, Samuel Thomas
McDonald, Madeline Ruby
Mora, Kate

1997
Carswell, Kristie Elise
McNamara, Kirsty Lee
McNamara, Shane Thomas
Meldon, Dylan Maurice
Steigen, Nicole Lee
Steigen, Kelly Marie
McKelvie, Brooke Y Florence
Whiti, Misty
Whiti, Holly
Whiti, Zinzan
Harty-Isaac, Danielle
Taylor, James Williams
Coombe-Gray, Brandon Coombe
Stein, Chloe Diana
Van Sleeuwen, Cindy
Ritchie, Ruby Antoinette
O’Sullivan, Edward

1998
Clarke, Puti,
Anderson, Isabeau
Lucas, Benjamin John
McLean, Amelia Grace
Quinlivan Liam Alexander
Thomas, Daniel
Ritchie, Jaxon Darroch
Leonard-McLean, Tyler

1999
Tucker, Sage Arthur Jordan
Chambers, Sarah Elizabeth
Macklow, Hannah Brooke
McCormack, Tasmin Larissa
Gabrielle, Alexandrea
Reynolds, Molly Cecily
Woon, Travis
Woon, Zara

Page 82

Harty, Jeffrin
Knock, Samara Roas
Knock, Callista Elizabeth
Knock, Cohen David
Knock, Devin William
Buckman, Richard
Spencer, Tony Ross
Davies, Briar Leahn
Wood, Rata Isabella Rose

2000
Grainger, Zach Deane
Grainger, Samuel David
Tynan, Daniel George
Prasad, Cayla Maire
McDonald, Rueben Arie John
Smith, Anneke
Stephens, Benjamin David
Stephens, Emily Rebecah
Stephens, Timothy James
McCormack, Jared Scott
McLeod, Campbell William
Beanland-Stephens, Laura M R
Harty-Isaac, Blakely James
O’Sullivan, Connor Liam
Huxford, Crystal Summer

2001
Grant, Mitchell
O’Leary, Jordan William
Jane, Steven Charles
Hunt, Naomi
Hunt, Travita Lumanai
Zohrab, Joshua
Macklow, Connor
Coombe-Gray, Duncan John (DJ)
Anderson, Rheanna Nelson
Stein, Jack
Quinlivan, Megan Amelia
Watson, Nicole Rose
Ekenasio, Jacob Brendan
Beckett, Jessie Marie Caitlin

2002
Grainger, Briana Nancy
Clifton, Jack Henry
Mason-Smith, Corban Chesworth
Aramoana, Joshua
McLean, Dliza Iris
Baker, Chayse Ewen
Utiera, Jessie Cairo
O’Sullivan, Keeghan Hunter-Forrest
McLeod, Connor Patrick Angus
Hart, Kristin
Wood, Oliver James

2003
Kruger, Kieran Joshua
Potter, Nicole Elizabeth
Knowles, Philip Nahu Wiremu
Gilbert, Kimberly Ann
Gilbert, Thomas William
O’Leary, Jessica Rose
Jones, Darren William
Ekenasio, Nicole Samantha
Johnson, Liam Harry
Coombe-Gray, Louis Albert
Bowman, Richard Wade
Bowman, Douglas Cyril
Merwood, Keeghan Timothy
Williams, Olivia Rose
Kruger, Laird Keil
Thornicroft, Kyle Justin
Thornicroft, Farryne Beverly
Lagah, Reuben Kelsey
Lagah, Cameron Peter George
Lagah, Natalie Flora
Thornicroft, Jayge David Paul

2004
Purcell, Natalie Mirrin
Stuart, Monique Cody
Ludlow, Hannah Mary
Stanley, Priscilla Lyuna
Stanley, Mataia Herbert
Stanley, Gaga Robert
Stanley, Saga Elijah
Huxford, Bradley Joe
Clifton, Georgia Margaret
Mason-Smith, Noah Digby
Harris, Samuel Regan
Hemmings, Shani Leigh
Thornicroft, Jannah Rose
Boyd, Sarah Elspeth
Boyd, Emma Louise
Boyd, Rebecca Catherine
Hawkins, Charlotte Tahwee
Hawkins, Jack Oliver
Hawkins, Emily Victoria
Stephenson, Briana Roberta Taela

2005
Tongue, William Michael George
Goodley, Chrysler P. Schumacher
Baker, Laike
Grant, Clair
Purcell, Holly
Watson, Brendon
Owen, Katie
Owen, Lucy
Lowe, Karyn

Page 83

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1   Argyll East School log books 1903-2005.
2   Argyll Settlement Booklet 1903.
3   Argyll 75th Jubilee booklet.
4   “A Case History The H.B. Hospital Board 1876-1989” by Geoff Conly
5   C.H.B. Mail & Waipawa Mail 1880, 1903-05, 1935.
6   “Early Hawke’s Bay Stations” by Miriam MacGregor
7   Hawke’s Bay Almanac 1865, 1867.
8   Hawke’s Bay Museum.
9   Hugh McBain (pers. com.)
10   Bill Robottom
11   Minute books Argyll Playcentre.
Argyll East School Committee & Board of Trustees.
12   One Hundred Years of Sport with Hawke’s Bay Hounds” by Theo Herbert.
13   The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Volume 6 1908
14   “Tikokino a History” by Sally Butler & Judy Matthews.
15   “Town and Country the History of Hastings & District” by Matthew Wright

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It has been a “labour of love” for the past six months to put this book together and a much bigger project than we envisaged at the start. We have each written different sections of the book and collectively edited and so on to get to this final edition.

Many thanks to the people who contributed articles, information, photos, newspaper clippings and who were patient interviewees, mostly over the telephone. A particular thanks to Sally Butler (co-author of the book “Tikokino a History”) for her advice at the beginning and later when the book had some shape.

We would like to acknowledge Graham McDonald and co-writers and their 75th Jubilee book Argyll District and School 1980, which we have expanded and added the succeeding 25 years.

Every endeavour has been made to verify information as accurate. Inevitably there will be errors and omissions which we apologise for in advance.

Margaretha Butler, Hamish Carlson, Rhys Tidswell and Wendy Twist

PLAN OF
ARGYLL
SETTLEMENT

BLOCKS X, XI, XIII, XIV &XV
MARAEKAKAHU [MARAEKAKAHO] SURVEY DISTRICT

BLOCKS I, II, III, V. VI & VII
WAIPUKURAU SURVEY DISTRICT

J.W.A. MARCHANT
Surveyor General

Built 1911