Karangahake School and District 70th Jubilee 1889-1959
When one gazes at the bare hills of Karangahake it is hard to imagine just how all the homes that once existed found even a foundation to rest on, yet I can't recall any sliding down even the steepest slope. Having lived on the top of one of these heights — access to which was via Scotchman's Gully, or No. 8 Road (from the station) named after No. 8 level half way up the side of the trig — I recall the following families: Delamore, Keoghan, Hyde, Hungerford, Ross, Grace, Hassett, McIntyre, Dixon, Nolan, Sheehan, Mason, Hamilton, Eady, Rowley, Gilmour, McCallum, Warne, Nightinggale [Nightingale? - E] and McGuire. Other homes I can recall but not the occupants' names.
To and from school, the above families used Scotchman's Gully route through which flowed a small stream and most of the way small ferns covered the banks. I can still see the hundreds of glow-worms as one passed through at night and although I have never visited Waitomo glow-worm caves, I'm sure they could not be more beautiful. The road wound past the Talisman Battery with its snow white floor, sparkling windows and shining machinery. From the assayer's room next door, we collected chalk for our hop-scotch dens, then over the swing bridge across the street and up the numerous steps to the school itself.
About half way up Scotchman's Gully lived an elderly couple who had a summer house on a knoll commanding a view of most of the road. From this vantage point they spied on us and always butted in on any arguments that arose between the children. The bank from their house to the road was covered in foxgloves, nasturtiums and Canterbury bells and many a time we tried to pick a bunch for the teacher without success as we were too closely watched.
— G. Hewitt (nee McGuire).
[might be thought of today as "Scotsman's Gully" - E]