EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 May 1934, Page 6

EDUCATIONAL MILESTONE

OTAKEHO SCHOOL JUBILEE

FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS

AOHTEV.EMENTS FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS.

Two years prior to 1884 the Otakeho township sprang into existence when traders in general and purveyors of -"the necessities of life cstablisted crude premises from which which ‘ were able to send supplies by pack -horses I>o the isolated set/tlevs of the surrounding district and to iLe porkers in the nearby bush camps. The r township should nave celebrated its jubilee in 1932, but it has been lefty to the school, established in 1884, to record the passing of this milestone in tlie' history of the province. Tb-day’s celebrations took the form of a re-union of past and present pupils at afternoon tea and in the evening a ball will be held in the Otakeho Hall. Oh . Sunday ‘ afternoon a combined thanksgiving service in the hall will conclude the celebrations at which several old pupils of the school will take a .prominent part. Built in 1884 the first school building was a single room until subsequent larger attendances of pupils necessitated additions. The playground was originally covered with light bush and flax, and there was evidence that in the early days before settlement began there had been much tribal war among the'Maoris'of the district. To-day the grounds are prettily laid out and have been well cared for by successive committees. Untd, 1916 the school was in the Wanganui Education Board’s district, 'when it was transferred to the Taranaki board. In 1917 the premises were enlarged at a cost of £2OO and in recent years much has been expended on the planting of trees and the laying down of concrete paths. THe school was opened on September -9, 1884, with 29 pupils, the name of Mr Alan Good, of Hawera, being the first entered on the roll. Others who were present on the first day were Hugh Good, Arthur Young, Margaret Amelia Young, Annie Young, Charles Frederick Young, Mary Jane Bucking, ham John Buckingham. Mary Jane Bartlett Lucy Agnes Bartlett, Alice Grace Barlett, Michael John Carroll, Denis, Carroll', Richard Carroll, Jane Borrie, Elizabeth Borrie, Mary Borrie, Ann Borrie, Ronald James Dingle, Millie Dingle, William Arthur Dingle, Herbert Henry Ogden, Harriet Mary Ogden, Florence Olgden. Elizabeth Davies. Grace Davies, William Yandle, Alfred'Yandle, and Sylvanus Davies, and subsequent enrolments during the remainder of that year were Elizabeth, Bertha, Alice and Florence Hills, E. and Kate Blem*erhassett, jMairgaret King, Catherine -Ryan, William Steuart. Percival and,- Howard Knight, Catherine Carroll, Isabelle Goosey, Agnes Stewart, Thomas Coxhead, Joseph Symonds, Augustus Ogden. William Young, Isabelle Dayies, David Kemble. Robert Yandle, Ada Lloyd, Alfred Young, Abel, Helena and John Gamlin, Elizabeth, Frederick and George Smith and Norman A’Court.

Many ‘of the early pupils achieved distinction after they left school and the records of sport in_ South Taranaki freauently reveal their names. The school. also provided a contingent of young men who served, in the Great War, and the memory of several who fell in the service of their country is held ever green by the. memorial to their valorous deeds. The first master at the school was Mr H. Coventry who served in an acting capacity from September 9 to November 16 Then followed Mr B. Stewart Sfov. 16, 1884—Jan. 31. 1887); SVIr J. onore (June 6. 1887 —June 16, 1915); Mr G. W- Lee (relieving. June 16—20, 1915) • Mr J. Bailie (June 21, 1915 1923) ; Mrs A. M. Evans (1923- —'1929); Mr A. S. Burns (1929—1933); Mr F. Miskeily (ISiieving, 1933); Mr E. G Caigou" (present master). Much credit is due to the committee wlTose far-sighted policy lias placed the school in-its present creditable position. The first chairman was Mr Dennis Carroll and others in the order of theii holding office were Messrs S. E. Corry, Walter Blair. T. W. Owen, W. H. le Fleming (1900-12). H. J. Erives (191228), J- Prince (for a short period), and S. H. le Fleming, 1928 to date-.