MESSAGES OF GREETING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 May 1925, Page 3

MESSAGES OF GREETING.

FROM THE CHAIRMAN, TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Tlie Taranaki Education Board desire to associate themselves with the expressions of congratulation sent on the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Hawera Public School. All the board’s records reveal the great work accomplished at the school' during that long period. The number of citizens who 'are passing through the. school and have occupied and are occupying high positions both in public and in private life are ample evidence of the reputation the school has made for character moulding and for the excellent tuition which has always been associated with the school. For many years the Hawera School has held the distinction of having the highest roll number of all schools in the Taranaki district. Special mention can be made of the wisdom and vision which were shown in providing the school with ample playgrounds, and thus ensuring that proper attention can be given to manly sports and athletic games, a very necessary adjunct to all forms of education. My board express the hope that the good work so long associated with the name of the Hawera District School will be long continued, and indeed increase, as the vears pass. SYDNEY G. SMITH, Chairman.

I MR T. A.. BLYTH j (Master 1902-3). II Waiting from Ohakune, Mr. Blyth says that “of a surety the two- year s spent on the staff were the two most enjoyable years of his.life.’’ He gives a few notes on some of his old pupils which will be of interest. “Looking hack,’’ he adds, “the brightest scholar l taught was Frank Hutchens; the nicest girl of a very nice lot probably Alison Young., Queen.ie Glenn was the fastest runner and best hockey player; Eva Baird’s name comes to my mind as another girl who was good, at games (she afterwards became a tennis champion of the Dominion). Dick Roberts (afterwards New Zealand rep) was a promising footballer, as was also Charles A’Court, who- unfortunately, was drowned later. School swimming was started at the baths in 1903. 1 was insfrirctor, arid £ think the first f boy X taught to swim was Jack Grant, afterwards some swimmer arid also some soldier. ’’ ARCHBISHOP O’SHEA. The Archbishop writes in response to an invitation to be present at the jubilee celebrations: — “1 must thank you and the Jubilee Celebrations Committee for your very kind invitation to attend the function on May 15, to honour the jubilee of the Hawera Public; School. I am sorry .that 1 have already committed myself to another engagement in another part of the Dominion on that date, and so cannot be in Hawera to rejoice with you on thi s occasion. Although L was not a pupil at the HaweihGPub-

lie School at any time, as a, Hawera boy I "can sincerely' arid heartily rejoice with niy old friends arid fellowtownsmen in the ! celebration of the jubilee of the school, and Would have been delighted to attend were it at all possible. Will you then please convey my regrets and : at the same time my congratulations and good wishes to the committee on t'hi s celebration. May it 'be a 'great success in every way and create renewed interest amongst former pupils and citizens of Hawera in the welfare of the school and with every other good wish.” : .

j . MR. J. CA UGH LEY (Director of-Education). ‘‘ I have to thank you for your iuvitatiou to attend the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the Hawera School. 1 regret very much that 1 shall be unable to be present. I wish, However, to convey my congratulations to all thdse connected with the school on the completion of its jubilee. I feel sure that, if the complete roll of all the pupils have passed through your school during the last fifty year's could be made, it would be found that a very large number of men and women who have occupied positions 1 of responsible service to ' the eommixnity. in various parts of New Zealand have been taught in the Hawera School, while even those' who have not attained any/ notable prominence have fulfilled the highly serviceable and '"worthy duty of the good average citizen who, after all, is the founda-

i tion of the home life and the national life of New Zealand. If to any. extent you were able to,collect such a record, l am certain, that it -would: be an inspiration, to the present pupils', i hope that you will be favoured wjth fine | weather for the celebrations, that there will be a large gathering of old pupils and teachers who have been connected with the school, and that the occasion will be serviceable and profitable to all concerned.” MR E. DIXON. Half a century of influence on the thousands- of boys and girls who have passed through the Hawera School. Who can estimate the value of the. in-, struction imparted and high ideals' placed before the pupils? When one" remembers the splendid men and wo-; men who have had the responsibility of. moulding their, character in’ the", plastic age of childhood. I say. high ideals, for it'was my privilege to know many of them personally duling the, many years that I held the honoured position of member of : the Wanganui and Taranaki Education Boards. A large imbiber of the teachers recognised their great responsibility in training the future men and women of a young nation. -While it is true- that some enter the profession for the remuneration, the larger number have a higher ideal.. For this they-deserve, the thanks : of the mothers and fathers of to-day, and those yet .to be. We are reminded also that for half a century we have had men of publicspirit who have served on the school committees!.. .They have been . men' of vision; the surroundings are proof of this. . . - "• \ ,

i 'To all those who have given time and - thought in the management of the' _/e - school we. speak words of appreciation.-'- .yjjj a Those who have lived here for tliirfy - --wf- ® .years or more, can trace the growth bife/sK 1 the education facilities in and - around 1 iM* * Hawera, the outcome of concentrated \ effort to secure land- and buildings--0 cope with the growing need of the" s people. To-day Hawera, can• boast. bidng the educational centre oF v .Squt& L/ij/ g Taranaki. -W In conclusion I wish to pay. a. tribute.'to the memory of 'Mr G. .Braik, laje ' Chief Inspector of Wanganui- Board, and Mr Fred Pirani, who was of the Board during the dfeyelopmeht. : .|fi of advanced ideas in created the need for the yve r - have to-day. : '- '* In mentioning these two I id&najot; forget many others who played/ tbej^, 2 part in the developments referrjetf tq-.' May the number of teachers; incite proZ fession who have ihgh iciggls be' pn.0 creased in the years to fully alive to their great responsibility II in directing the thoughts and 1 aspilpah tiqns of the; men and- women yet totb’eT -ve£ S : ' '/'■ E. DIXOH, * Sm t Hawera. / <‘4 11 l - • FROM MR.- R. GRANT; '*■ f|9 e , • * -- ‘;■ - -■- ' -C-. . > y >; ,1 (A Master of the Eighties). . ® “I have to thank, you very much-®rl : A"* d your kind invitation to be e the jubilee celebrations of the Hawera '§| - School, hud I regret exceedingly am- unable to accept that -invitation.-,T-'must be i present at the meeting of- v Canterbury Education Boarrl.takes place oh Friday, the~ loth, day-of -your celebrations. V .> V/ -p “Your iiiv.ithtabh~T>rings back, to jne' -9M recollections of two very happy years /ag spent amidst pleasant surroundings-; in/sial tlie- Hawera Pu’bh'c School under the late Mr Alexander Mair. . id-believe I was the first' male assistant -ap-'C® pointed, to the Hawera School, j 'My ./M appointment dated from the 17th of ' % May, 1887. Although I have been j.® engaged in since that' -p----time, the memory days eyer lingers with me. I co-hldKii-a-me 'a many of -the pupils who' attended school during those two years, and Trkijl can remember most of the teachers. : take off my hat to the memory of the -gl kite Mr A. Mair: he was tlie deafest friend I ever had, the kindliest sdflE.rfP one of nature’s gentlemen. Through-. Ji| out my whole experience as a. teacher in primary, secondary and technical schools. I have never met- a man jnJt*’;/® like him. He was a born educationist;,-'t who imbued those surrounding him witjh' V fcj a love for his or her work, and a d£- v Mfjj sire to do the best under all circuln- v-US stances. He ruled by love, not fear, .'/s! aiuh.seldom, if ever, resorted to car- 'ZM poral punishment, a rare thing at that-/\j| time, as in most schools the stiekNnnd. -pW strap were a good deal in evidence.The discipline at the school was lent, • and. in those days Hawera; was' -S the premier v school of the Wahganiij. district, always securing a high peid. centage of passes and gaining most of -;, ill the scholarships. Looking" hack/Sit; seems to ine that in those -olden 'days'.f-f'f® both pupils and teachers were, more .v% earnest about their work than they ,•§ appear to be to-day; perhaps there "‘‘M were fewer distractions. I- have byV'Ag me specimens of work done at Hawera school during the period, fcr neatness and correctness-'the speciP mens could not be equalled nowadays,/d-iitf with all our modern ideas and im- 4 | ; a •proved /conditions.' “There must be mapv old pupils in "V~al the. Hawera district who, like ruvse’f. -y revere the memory of our old beloved ' '*sl headmaster. ' •'*.•3® “I tru§t that your celebrations may ' be a. great success, and that the rehi ion of old scholars and teachers alike /sJj§ may prove a verv happy-one.'. My oplv regret is that I am unable to be with /kill you all. ”• . •

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD. Lxllj The chairman, members and secre- , T tary of the Wanganui Education Board ' ’ desire to convey t.o the committee and, c.d.staff of the Hawera S’chqol cohgratula-' ' tions'on the school having attained its jnlbUee. They trust that the school will i • continue its good-' work; in the training of. the children for citizenship-! and . ij that past traditions will be worthily ' 'dj upheld. . * i'/l w. ', A” .!.- ~1 c X : Chairman.