ST. MICHAEL'S

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 7

ST. MICHAEL'S

FJI£ST I'KI.UAKV DAY SCHOOL. | The foundation of £t. Michael's Primary School dates back to the very earliest days of the Canterbury Settlement. It was opened soon after the Church, in ISol, and was then the only primary day school in Ohristehureh. It was hold first in the Chnrcli; but soon after a schoolroom and master's house were built, a little nearer Tuam street than the present building. For the first year or two it was supported by the Church and by voluntary subscriptions, but later received grants, in common with schools established by other denominations, from the Provincial Government. The first master was Mr Bilton, and the second Mr Prince. From 1860 to IS7O it was under the charge of Mr and lira llawley, and the numbers attending were as high as 400. Another master was tlii,* ltuv. C. J. Merton. When the general State School system came into existence the school was closed tor a while, but was revived by Dean Harper soon ai'ter he became \ icar in the early eighties, and has continued ever since. .Miss Hookham, who is still resident in Christchurch, was tho first head teacher after the revival, and the school prospered greatly, [n 1898 Aliss K. V. Kiver was appointed, and still holds the position. The present school, a line and convenient stone building, was built in lt'l3, at a cost of over £3OOO. The school up till 19.18 was managed by the Parish. From that date it has been under the control of the Diocesan Board of Education, and tho religious education is under t li»: supervision of the Bishop.