SIXTY YEARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 7

SIXTY YEARS.

HOWICK SCHOOL.

DIAMOND JUBILEE,

CELEBRATION THIS MONTH,

Sixty years ago, in a district then a bustling pioneering outpost against the turbulent Maoris, but now a drowsy hamlet content to live on memories of the past, like one of its aged pioneers, a school was established. It was the district of Howick, and this month, on Wednesday, the 24th, the school is to celebrate its diamond jubilee. In these days of large secondary schools and colleges, it is difficult to gauge in correct peVspective the part played by such small schools, but the history of this school is bound up with the story of a district which has seen stirring days.

Fittingly to remember the jubilee, then, an eager-to-work committee was set up under the chairmanship of Mr. A. Cherry. The secretary is Mrs. W. D. Amiss, who as Linda Andrew was one of the foundation pupils of the school.

The first of the celebrations—in the morning—will be a reading of the school roll of honour and the roll of old pupils, in the school grounds, to be followed by morning tea. At 1 p.m. there will be a complimentary luncheon to ex-pupils in the Howick Hall. An attendance of over 250 is expected. Sports have been arranged in the afternoon, to take place in the Domain, while in the evening the jubilee ball will be held in the Howick Hall. Many of those connected with the school in the days of its infancy will be there, as well as representatives of the Auckland Education Board and other educational bodies. School Opening. The Howick School, the conditions of the Education Act being coniplied with, was constituted in May, 1873, and the first school committee elected in _ the same month consisted of Messrs. N. Iv. Barry "(chairman), A. Conlop, J. Fmlay, J. Mclnerney and J. McNeil.

Years before the establishment of the school, however, the Roman Catholic Church set the education wheels in the district moving. In 1850, three years after the first settlement, a school was opened under Father F. J. Fynes, who was under the direction of Bishop Pompallier. When a school was opened at Pakuranga, miles away, the Catholic school at IlowicK was closed. In 1873, therefore, there was no school nearer than Pakuranga. I At tirst the old Catholic school buildI ing was used for the new State school, | which opened on August 12, 1873, with I Mr. William Gregory as first teacher. | Before the lirst six months had elapsed, i feeling arose in the district over the use I of the Catholic building for school purposes. The controversy dragged on until January, 1875, and the school was removed to the library building, after the tentative approval of the board had been secured.

In two years' time, there was not room enough in the library building for all the pupils, so that some had to go to the Pakuranga school. Thereupon the committee applied for the erection of a permanent building. 11l October of the same year, 1877, a grant was made, and in April of the next year, the new school was built in Picton Place. In June, 1883, however, as tlie\result of several applications by the committee, the school was removed to a site in Gibraltar Terrace, on which also, a teacher's residence was built. List of Head Teachers. In the middle of 1880, Mr. Charles Bulmer Davis, an old boy of Bluecoat School, became headmaster, and held the position for nearly 11 years. On his death in 1890, he was succeeded by his son, Mr. A. W. B. Davis. From, 1898 until 1901 Mr. A. C. Hall was in charge. Mr. Hall has just recently retired from the headmastership of Gladstone Road School. All the teachers before his time are now dead. An old boy of the school Mr. H. P. Andrew, was appointed headmaster in 1902, and was so until October, 1909, when lie was transferred to a city school. Mr. A. J. T. Judkins, who came in 1910, easily holds the record for length of service. He was headmaster for 21 years until his retirement at the end of 1930. In 1923, when the roll number was 70, the school was divided and remodelled at a cost of £280. The present headmaster is Mr.' Norman Day, who took charge in February, 1931. In that year

the roll stood at 100. It was then that the board agreed to provide lurther accommodation uy making a grant for part of the cost of a portable building, which is used as a primary department. Appended is a list of bead teachers since the inauguration of Howick School: Mr. William Gregory, August, 1873March, 1877; Mr. P. R. Peacocke, April, 1877-July, 1877; Mrs. I. C. Irvine, July, 1877-December, 1882; Mr. T. Brown, February, 1883-June, 1S81>; Mr. (J. B. Davis, July, 1880-December, 18!)(i; Mr. A. W. B. Davis, February, 1897-February, 1898; Mr. A. C. Hall, March, 1898- , December, 1901; Mr. H. P. Andrew, February, 1902-oetobcr, 1909; Mr. A. J. T.j Judkins, February, 1910-November, 11)30; Mr. N. Day, February, 1931, onward.