Thread: New old lathe

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Haha, old Mr Clarke, our engineering teacher at Waitaki Boys high school (you either got Mr Clarke, or "K-mac" who was stricter, I was one of the lucky ones) was the best teacher, used to let us run riot, but we still learnt heaps off him, kind of a mutual respect thing going on.
Agree that things must be a lot different these days with all the new H&S regulations?

I was a boarder at Waitaki in '61-'62 for my 3rd and 4th forms (the Rector did not like me making home brew in the DX club rooms). I can't remember who the metalwork teacher was but right at the outset we were told we could make anything we liked except guns, knives, and go-carts! In my 4th form year I made a plywood canoe in woodwork and the old man had to drive from Ch-Ch to collect me (and get an earful from the Rector advising that I would not be there for the 5th form) because I couldn't take it on the train at the end of the year. It was bloody good canoe and I used to supplement my pocket money by drifting down the Heathcote (near where the A&P grounds now are) and scoring a few ducks with my little H&R .22 Young America revolver. I could get 5 shillings for a pair of dressed ducks (headshot only) and that would get me two packets of .22 ammo at the local hardware store. Kids today just don't have the same opportunities for fun!