SCHOOL JUBILEES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 13

SCHOOL JUBILEES

THORNDON AND PETONE

CELEBRATIONS ARRANGED

Two school, jubilees, Thorndon and Petone Central, are being celebrated shortly. The Thorndon School, so long known., as the Thorndon. Normal School, will attain its diamond jubilee on Wednesday, having been opened on March 22, 1873. The l Jetone Central School; formerly known as the Petone State School,-com-pleted its fiftieth year recently. Last night a meeting was held by former pupils of Thorndon School in Brook Street, where the 015 assembly hall is situated. Mr. J. C. Webb, who retired in 1924 after being for mauy years headmaster of the school, was in the chair. It was decided to hold a formal function to celebrate the jubilee in the afternoon of April 1, and there will be a social function in the evening. Mr. W. J. Melody, the present headmaster, explained that he was making inquiries as to which was the older school, Thorndon or Te Aro, when he was informed that March 22 would be the diamond jubilee of Thorndon School. He felt he could not allow the occasion to go by without ascertaining if old pupils would not like to celebrate the occasion in some way, and for that reason had called the meeting. The present roll of the school was 294, although in its heyday it was double that number.

The chairman recalled that he was a pupil in St. Paul's Parish School under Mr. W. Mowbray in 1872, a year before Thorndon School was opened. Mr. Mowbray became first headmaster of Thorndon School. The old school had traditions, as waß to be expected from a school which commenced under such an able man as Mr: Mowbray. The hope was expressed at the meeting that it would be possible for Sir Michael Myers, Chief Justice, who is an old pupil of the. school, to take some part in the celebrations. It has since > been ■ learnt that Sir-Michael has consented to speak at,the formal function.

A general.'committee .was set up, from which sub-committees will" be formed to go into details: as . to: the nature of the celebrations, and these -will be .advertised later. The committee consists of Mesdames McNabb, Co'dd; Maunders, Parr, Misses Gribble, Payton,"C. J. Donkin, Messrs. -W. J.-McEldowney,-.-H.- Macarthy, C. Mea'chem, Marcus Marks, Lander, Chalmers, A. Picot, and J. C. Webb.