Martinborough School reunion 

The School Reunion. The Martinborough School has been operating for 150 years in the district, under many Names. The first. The Scottish Church Sunday School in the 1st. Waihinga Church. End of year 1871 and early 1872. The next Name, Wharekaka School, Waihinga School, Martinborough School, Martinborough District High, [that was the name when we went] now it is just the Martinborough School.

In September of this year, the Old Pupils of the School will gather together and tell theirs, and other stories of the times. Do you remember this or that, or was that over there? The Sunday school in the First Church Waihinga. The Teachers, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Oliver from Dry River.

They taught a little religion, and then the “Three R.R.R.’s” to the Pioneer’s Children. It wasn’t long before all in the area collected money and asked the Education Board of the time for a Teacher and a School building. Reply. Money for a 72 time Teacher, it would be a waste of money on a building in such an out of the way place. So the Pioneer’s chose to continue to use the First Church Building. This till 13 September 1875, when the Schoolroom on the corner of Weld and Hurschberg Street was Opened.

The First 1/2 time Teacher was Mr. G Scott. Mr. Scott till 1874, Mr. J Badland from 1874 till 1890. Now Mr. Scott was at Kaiwaiwai. It was a 14 mile horse ride to Waihinga. Those days no direct road or track from Featherston to Waihinga. Mr, Scott would have to go from Kaiwaiwai to Tauherenikau Hotel, across the Maroa Plain to Morison’s Bush, along the high ground to the Waihinga Ferry, cross over the Ruamahanga river and up to the Village and the same way home. A long day. Full time Teacher at the new Schoolroom. Mr.J Badland. In these times, one usually passed out of school at standard two.

The Cake for the 100year Celebration. Ivy Wilton, Old Pupil of the School. She baked 10,14inch x 12inch, fruit cakes. Her Daughter, Elizabeth Higginson, placed them in a “L” shape on a large base, then did the decorations. Not so large a collection of cakes for the 125year Celebrations.

Please get together in September and make this a Great Celebration. 

Ex Old Pupil. Mate Higginson, 

Photo caption: The reunion cake.