Waikino School shooting and fire: The secret that remains 98 years later

The funeral of the two school boys, Kelvyn McLean and Charles Stewart, who were shot dead by John Higgins at Waikino School on October 19, 1923. Photos / The Auckland Weekly News, November 1, 1923.

It's been 98 years since New Zealand's one and only school shooting — the Waikino School tragedy of October 19, 1923. The school was burnt to the ground and it's still a closely guarded secret who the perpetrators were.

Bev Stubbs has her lips sealed.

For 98 years, the identity of the persons who lit the fire destroying Waikino School after the 1923 school shooting, has remained a closely guarded secret.

And Waikino's foremost historian and longest resident is not telling either.

''I know who did it and I've only just found out in the last 10 years.''

Bev won't say as there are still relatives in the Waihi area. She hints that there might have been two or three people — who she doesn't know — but she knows the instigator.

There's long been rumours that it was the grandfather of a local boy who was a student at the school. But Bev can understand how no one pointed the finger as it was a well supported decision.

''It was a day of fear and confusion, and tragedy.

The Waikino School shooting must be spoken of sensitively as there are still people connected with the story, Bev Stubbs says. Photo / Rebecca Mauger

''The feeling at the time was that after the shooting, the school must go. No one was unhappy about the fire.''

Bev, with late husband Homer, has written multiple articles for various publications about the tragedy. The couple published their own book True Tales Waikino and Waitekauri in 2016 which includes this information. Bev has a collection of newspaper clippings and publications of the event.

On that fateful day, John Higgins shot dead Kelvyn McLean, 13, and Charles Stewart, 9, and wounded six others.

He turned up at the school ''for revenge''.

Headmaster Robert Reid tried to talk him down but Higgins shot him before entering the classroom to shoot children. Despite his grudge against certain parents of the school, he shot at random.

''He thought parents of the school had poisoned his cattle. He needed money and he was unhinged. But he had a great respect for the headmaster, Robert Reid, and that's why he said to him he didn't want to hurt him. He actually asked Reid to leave before he shot some of his children.

''Of course Mr Reid would not leave. And as Mr Reid kept pleading with Higgins to leave, instead Higgins got annoyed and shot him in the throat and neck.''

Reid survived.

It was discovered later he had explosives and was going to blow up the school.
The gunman was convicted of murder and sentenced to death but ended up in a mental institution.

Three weeks later the school burnt to the ground.

Phil Bayly stands at the old Waikino School site which was burnt to the ground soon after the shooting. Photo / Rebecca Mauger

Road to nowhere
The original site of the Waikino School tragedy is atop a hill on private farmland deep into the Waikino area.

To get there, the journey takes you past the new primary school, along windy back roads turning into a long dirt road. The bumpy road goes to nowhere really — stopping at a sprawling grassy farmland area exposed to the wind.

All that's left is a slight mound in the middle of a closeby paddock which is thought to be some buried remains of concrete and rubble from the school.

The private farmland is owned by the Knyvett family. Daughter Rebecca and husband Phil Bayly have been dairy goat farmers on the land for eight years.

Phil says he's learnt of the land's history from visitors who have asked to see the site. A motorcycle group once came along and pointed out where the school was and what's thought to be the nearby buried foundations, he says.

The funeral of the two school boys, Kelvyn McLean and Charles Stewart, who were shot dead by John Higgins at Waikino School on October 19, 1923. Photos / The Auckland Weekly News, November 1, 1923.

Waikino School Tragedy: The story of New Zealand's first and only school shooting

Two headstones in Waihi Cemetery are of the two boys killed in the Waikino School tragedy of October 19, 1923.

The shooter was John Christopher Higgins, who was out for revenge against the parents at Waikino School — which was half a mile from Waikino township at the end of a long winding path. He was a firewood dealer and settler who lived nearby in Waitawheta.

The building had two main classrooms.

Principal Robert Theodore Reid ushered Higgins into the study where Higgins pulled out a gun. Higgins had great respect for the principal and gave him the opportunity to leave.

Reid refused and tried to persuade him to leave, and he was shot in the face. Reid survived.

On entering their classroom, the gunman, said: "I'll have a shot at you lot."

Children were fleeing the school in all directions, some climbing through the windows. Others hid under and behind desks and cupboards. Brave teachers shepherded as many as possible outside to safety.

The gunman shot two schoolmates dead — Kelvyn McLean, 13, was sitting at his desk when Higgins approached and shot him twice, killing him. Charles Stewart was 9 years old when he was also shot and killed by Higgins.

Five more were injured.

The town's residents heard the gunfire and a group of men from Victoria Battery rushed to the school.

They arrived to find Higgins barricaded inside the study, where headmaster Reid was lying in a pool of blood.

Three policemen from Waihi and two doctors arrived at the school soon after the men from the battery and, with some of the civilians now also armed, a long siege ensued with Higgins. He fired from the window of the study.

A police constable was shot as bullets flew back and forth.

Eventually, Higgins was overcome, and he threw his gun out of the window. The door was broken in, and an infuriated crowd rushed at him.

He was also found to be carrying a knife and plugs of explosive gelignite, complete with a detonator attached to a fuse.

The crowd had gathered and were mad with fury. Headmaster Reid was found still alive in the study. He and the other five wounded were rushed to Waihi Hospital.

The two dead children were taken to the miners' hall at Waikino.

Higgins was eventually convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but this was later commuted to life in prison, on the grounds of insanity. He is said to have spent his final days in a mental institution in Auckland, where he died.

Kelvyn and Charles were buried on October 21, 1923 and hundreds attended the funeral.
- Source: Bay of Plenty Times