DIAMOND JUBILEE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 14

DIAMOND JUBILEE

CHRISTCHURCH GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL- ; ■ '. • \. ■ ' :. . . . ■ , ' This month the Christchurch Girls' High School will celebrate its diamond jubilee (states the "Press"). In September, 1877, when the Hon. William Rolleston was: Superintendent of > the Province of Canterbury and the Hon. William .Montgomery was chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, the school was opened, six years after the establishment of the Otagq Girls' High School. On July 2, 1877, the first lady principal was appointed. She was Mrs. Georgiana Ingle, a Yorkshire woman, a daughter of the Rev. R. D. Poulett- | Harris; M.A., who for 30 years Was rector of: the High School at Hobart, Tasmania. Mrs. Ingle was a widow with three young children, and she was chosen for-the pdsition out of 57 applicants. Her assistants were Miss K. M. Edgar, , the first woman in the British Empire,to take the B.A. degree, Miss M. Hamilton,-Miss Helen Connon, the second woman in the Empire to take her B.A. degree, and Miss F. Dunnage. ■ : " ' ~' V Miss, Edgar, afterwards Mrs. W. A. Evans was later first principal of Nelson Girls' College; Miss Hamilton was later principal of Wellington Girls' College; and Miss Connon (afterwards Mrs. Macmillan Brown) was appointed the second lady principal of the High School. Many other distinguished educationists have guided the destinies of the High School. Mrs. T. S. Foster succeeded Mrs. Macmillan Brown as lady principal, arid after her sudden death at the end of 1897, Miss M. V. Gibson was appointed principal, and held that position for many years. Her successor was the present principal, Miss P. M. P. Clark. Amongst notable teachers who had ' long connection with the school were Miss K. M. Gresson, a member of' the teaching staff for 31 years, and Miss C. K. Henderson, who was on the. staff for 27 years. Ten years ago, when the school celebrated its' golden jubilee, many entertainments and reunions worthy of the occasion were held. For this month a varied programme has v been arranged to celebrate fittingly the school's diamond jubilee. The first entertainment was given on Friday afternoon, when Mrs. Edwin Hamilton, president of the Old Girls' Association, held a reception at her home in Papanui Road for pupils who had attended the school in the first decade of its existence— from 1877 till 1887. Invitations had been issued to 80 former pupils, including many who were present on the opening day, and the party was a particularly happy and very largely attended gathering, thoroughly enjoyed by the guests. • . ' The programme was'provided by old girls of the school. . . ,