DIAMOND JUBILEE

Grey River Argus, 15 October 1936, Page 6

DIAMOND JUBILEE

GREY MAIN SCHOOL. The Diamond Jubilee of the Grey Main School, which occurs on the 19th of 4Ji’s. month, 'is to be celebrated by a three days’ carnival, com manning on Thursday, October 22nd, the latter date having been found most suitable. Some) three months ago a committee was formed to organise the celebrations, and the body lias been working away quietly to bring about the carnival which will take 1 pi'ace next week. An idea of the task accomplished may be gained from the fact that over eleven hundred invitations were posted,, coveting all of New Zealand postal districts, anq indeed many were sent overseas. Ju addition, 700 have been distributed locally. Although t|otnl’l,v a large number, this coif’d not mean that every pupil' received an invitation, and the committee wish to make ft clear that all ex-pupils, teachers, and especially those connected with the early establishment of the school are, heartily welcome Education in Greymouth had its beginning in private and semi-private schools in the year 1866, there being several of .such schooTs in the yitars prior to the opening of the first State School in .1876. From this time on the school rapidly developed. The attendance on the day of enrolment was more than the temporary school could accommodate, this being the building in Arney Street known as the old Catholic School. The Good Hall being then nearly completed, it was arranged to use this until what is to the present generation known as “the old wooden school’’ was completed, and formally opene/l on October 19th, 1876, which is considered the jubilee date. It is interesting to recall the names of the headmasters since the date of the school’s beginning. Mr A. B. Thomson Was first headmaster, Mrs Magoffin headmistress.. Mr W. B. Douglas assistant master, bliss Stanley. assistant mistress. Misses 11. G ) - roy, A. E. Brown., C. S. Perkins, and Sophia Jones, pupil teachers at tho date; of the final opening. A’arioim additions weire made to the staff,. Mr. A. B. Thomson resigning in 1878, Mr Goulding succeeding him. Mrs Magoffin resigned. Miss Stanley succeeding her. AJr Thornton was next headmaster. and Miss Weaver followed Mis. s Stanley. Mr J. W. Stewart succeeded Mr Thornton, and in turn was followed by Mr A. A. Adams, who was! headmaster for nearly '3O years. Mr Allison came after Mr Adants, and in 1925 Mr D. M. Sh'ierlatw was appointed. Mr Shierlaw’s successor was Mr Larking, now of Shirley Intermeddle School,, and the latter was foltowed by Mr J. Graham, the present headmaster.

The present infant mistress, Miss E. Afoofoi. followed after 'Alisses Laws, Bachelor, Blair, and M. Skoglund. Mrs Wise, also a present member of the staff, was prior to her marriage Alisa Wcenink. Mrs W. Thomas, of Grey-

mouth, formerly Miss E. Ki'gour. will be remembered by early pupils. She has a fine collection of old photographs. Another teacher and former well-known resident was Airs Alf Russell. noe Aliss pollings. There are many others wlm-e mimes would be o! interest, but space ii'mjls the accounting of them all. However, men’"on must be made of Air L. F. de Berry, a former pupil and teacher of th ■ staff, whio is one of New Zea'and’s foremost educationalists.

It is an unfortunate recollection that many old sehollirs have passed on since the Golden Jub'lce, and the number of original State; School scholars is thinning out. It is therefore hoped that the present jubilee will bring the remainder together for a happy reunion. Among the interesting replies to date was one from Air 0. 11. Beynon, Petone. intimating that his wife.' Julia Cooper, one of the original pupils, would be presen* at next week’s celebraf - ons. Other intending visitors are Airs I’- M. dae • (Kaikou.ra). Mr G. Askonbeck (Ahaura)) M. At. Malcolm (Pa morston North), W. E. Lucy (Invercargill). C. S. Perkins (Wyndham). Francis. Arthur Bell (Linwood), Airs 1,. Heyward and Airs Fred Wilton (Wellington). Some interesting letters accompany requests for programmes nnd donations a’so express the interest taken in tho old school. Tlr < ' .war's jubilee will also interest the larw number of ex-pupils who have onli attended the “new wehoo I .’’ This fi” p brick building was erected in 1914 and has been supplemented in recent, years by a- wooden budding to accommodate the increasing numbers of children nepv to the growth of tho fiown. A school dental clinic has also been built in the grounds, where children .from a 1!! the town schools, Cobden and Ka> ata are treated. Al present v tho grounds are undergoing draining c ( xcavations preparatory to tar sealing, a substantial Government grant having been made for this 1 purpose. The jubilee committee take this opportunity of extending to all expupils, teachers and the; general public a .hearty -invitation to take part in tho jubilee functions. a programme of which in the advertising columns. It i's hoped to make this ieunion a memorable occasion, and doubtless renewing of old acquaintances will’ recall many happy incidents of Jong pa st dayq. _____