ASHHURST SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 22 March 1939, Page 11

ASHHURST SCHOOL

diamond jubilee, OLD ASSOCIATIONS RECALLED, Memories steeped in sentimental attachment to their place of early learning, memories of associations of over half a century ago, of the parsimonious era of expenditure on education, and of the “gay ’nineties,” when one particularly bad boy. in an unruly outburst, smashed his slate on his teacher’s head and left the framework draped round his neck, wore recalled at the function held in the Ash hurst township, to-day, to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the school. Though the days when “scholars” were almost big enough to intimidate their teachers have long past slipped by, little incidents of the past years .are treasured as transient episodes in school life, and numerous were the anecdotes recounted to-day among staid and exemplary elders of the minor misdeeds of themselves and others when they were at school. Indeed, in the spirit of reunion tliev took a delight in emulating each other with past records of mischief which doubtless they will guiltily recant when it comes to the surprised ears of their children and grandchildren. CHAPTERS FROM THE PAST. School days were ever the brightest passage in the long lane of years through which the minds of those at the reunion wandered reminiscently to-day. The Ashhurst School was opened on that spring day—momentous for the district —of September 27. 1879, and the early events associated with the history of this modest house of learning make most palatable reading. It was no strange occurrence for more than half the pupils of the school to bo absent for reasons which afford a good insight into the difficulties of the pioneering days. Chapters taken at random from past records afford the following entertainment: February 1, .1881. —The weather is excessively dry. Consequently most ol the children aro detained from school, herding cows or looking for them on the roads. February 15, 1881.—The attendance is still irregular owing to the children Ireing away after the cows. April 15, 18Si.—The school was used for a. dance and much ink has been spilt over the desks. March 20, ISB2.—Hop-picking has been in progress for the past three days. Half the children are away. The school was used this morning for the holding of an inquest. January 23. 1883.—1 t is a half-holi-day to-dav, because great fires are endangering many houses, including my own February 16. 1883.—A very small school to-day. Hop-picking has begun. January 1. 1884.—Picnic to-day on tlie island at the entrance to the Manawntu Gorge. July 24. 1884.—At a special meeting of the committee it was agreed that the committee and the teacher should ■ be responsible for payment of a pupil teacher’s salary for the remainder of the year, if the hoard will appoint one. February 13, ISSs.—There is a halfholiday to-day, because of bush fires. November 8, 1886. —A public holiday in Ashhurst to-day. Opening of the Lower Gorge Bridge. ’ August 26. 1887.—Took possession of the new building, which relieved overcrowding. December 11. 1887.--- A (tendance much improved. School breaks up today. And so the entries run on. PUPILS SC'ATT FRED PAR. Owing to their destruction, no complete records arc available covering the period prior to 1906, but some 3500 pupils have passed through the school in its sixty years of existence. The average attendance in 1880 was .”>7. and the peak of 186 was reached in 1905, when there were five teachers. Today there are 100 pupils, under the headmaster (.Mr R. N. Finlay), who has been at Ashhurst for the past three years, and his three assistants, who arc Miss Anderson, Miss E. L. Shaw and Mr ('. G. An near. The nucleus of the old school, with additions made to it from time to time, was demolished for removal in 1926, when the present school. consisting of four rooms, was built. Invitations were sent out to 1030 former pupils to attend to-day’s function. and entering arrangements were made for 600, who have come from all parts of New Zealand to renew association with their old school. Eight invitations wore forwarded to ex-pupils residing in Australia, one to Ttal.v and one to South Africa, where three of Ash hurst's younger generation, Messrs M . A. and G. Hayward, sons of Air A. E. Hayward, now live. Forwarding a donation of 10s, Air George Hayward, of the Royal Antelope Aline, Luanshva, Northern Rhodesia, wrote the following illuminating passages: “1 will always remember the scrap 1. had with , who wanted me to pla.v two “stinkies’ to his agate. . . . Toll Frank Williamson 1 have not forgotten the day he saved mo from drowning at the school picnic in the Alanawat.u Gorge. . . ■ AYo are keeping the old school tie on the map . . . Tell we must fix up a day's bird-nesting when I come hack.” FROM FIRST DECADE. Former pupils who attended (lie school during the first decade and who had signified their intention of being present at the reunion to-day are: — ] 879. —Joseph Wilson, Robert McKenzie, Edward P. Wood, William A. Rimmer. 1880. —William S. Maunder, Sarah Craven (Mrs 8. Ingram), Francis Maunder (Airs L. Whittaker). Elizabeth Ellen Craven (Airs E. Wood). 1881. Jeannette Maunder (Mrs J. Toogood), Francis A. Lowes (Mrs H. Towler), Mary .Lowes (Airs Al. AleBetli). 1882. —Helen McKenzie (Mrs D. Edwards), Albert Hart. Roweua Wood (Airs J. H. Rodfern). 1883. Fred Craven, Alary Elizabeth Saunders (.Mrs J. Roy), Albert .It. Trenicwan. Charles AY. Bogun. 18S4. —Thomas Learie, Harriet Kilforcl (Airs G. Hills), Esther Hackett (Airs E. Hoskins). 1885. —Martha Grammcr (Airs A. Trass), Elizabeth McKenzie. (Mrs AY. E. Roberts). Jack Enright. Fred J. Sanders, Annie Rimmer (Airs A. Shcrratt), Arthur J). Bauekhum, Emma Bogun (Mrs C. Oliver), Henry George Kilford, Arthur AY. Ladd. 1886. —Fred T. Ladd. J. C. AL AA’hittaker, Arthur Edmund Potts, Thomas James, Ethel Lillian Aliddleton, Lottv AlcGonaglc (Airs A. Ross), Harriet Sexton (Airs J. Boyce), Bessie I remowaii (Mrs A. Boote), Elizabeth AleCool (Airs E. Johnston), Harold Rim--1887. —Jessie, Rumble (Airs U. Row- ■ limO, Ada AlcGonaglc (Airs A. Pratt.), Annie James, AYalter George Aitken, William Harvey, Emma AlcGonaglc (Airs J. Gray), Annie Sheridan (All's 1 A. Houlihan). _ . 1888. —Rose Ellen Witt (Airs R. • Httyncs), George Edwin AYalker, Peter Sheridan, Joe Tremewan, Axel AYtlHam Blixt, Albert (Jack) Sanders, Helena Sexton (Airs H. Bambery), Abbv Clapham (Airs E. S. Smith) Alary Pat- ' tinson (Airs M. Burton). Grace Clap- 1 ham, Frances Rumble (ATrs 0. Row-, 1 n past pupils of the school include 1 Major L AY. Andrew. A r .C., of Lower t Hutt, a eon of Air AY. J. Andrew, who i

was head master of tho school for 13 years, and held a captaincy in the Ashhurst YoliLiitcers. DOWN THE YEARS. Air E. AY. Whiblev was appointed headmaster, pro tern, on September 27, 1879. Mr Alfred Gower was the first permanent headmaster and took tip his duties in February, ISSO. He resigned in March. 1887. Teachers in the early da vs were : Head teachers.—Air D. AY. Campbell (April, 18S7. to November, 1889); Mr A. Buehler (November. 1889. to .November, 1895). Cadets.--Miss Kate AA’a rno __ (1886, February to October). Miss E. E. Craven (1887, June to October), .Miss Isabella. AleGonaglo (1889. January). A 1 r Arthur Rouchler (1890. October), A 1 r G. 8. Clapham (1891, September). Pupil teachers. —Aliss Annie H. Rolf (1884 to 1886), Air Norman Crabbe (1886 to 1889), Aliss Kate AYnrne (1887 to 1893). Aliss Ellen Craven (1887 to 1893), Miss Josephine Ray (1891). Air G. S. Clapham (1891 to 1895), Miss Ixititia AlcGonaglc (1892), Aliss Annie Kitchen (1893). Assistants.—Aliss Agnes Chalmcr (1890 lo 1891). Aliss Joanna Prcndergast, (1892 to 1895). The chairman of the School Commilleo from 1915 i,n 1918 was Air B. Abraham, the late Mr T. Hart from Julv to January, 1919, and Mr A. Arlidgc in the same year. Air AV. G. Bromley was chairman from 1920 to 1922, Mr AA". N. Brewer from 1923 lo 1932 Air J. H. Sumner in 1933. Air E. A. D[install in 1934-1935, Mr M. P. AYilkin in 1936-37, and Mr J. H. Sumner, who at present occupies the position, was also chairman last year.

The present school committee consists of Atessrs Sumner (chairman), R. I). Davis (secretary), R. A. Jones, E. R. TimniclifTo, C. Curtis, J. B. Seurlc, and G. Storey. Tho personnel of the jubilee committee responsible for today’s efficient arrangements consists of the School Committee, also Messrs AY. N. Brewer (who presided at the function). J. Hill, C. Thomson, A. Davis, Afosdames C. Thomson, C. Curtis, J. Scarlo, J. H. Sumner, R. Davis, R.' A. Jones' J. blowers and Aliss A 7. R. Hills. The large two-Lier jubilee cake was made and donated by Airs A Klein and Aliss K. Sixtus. A LONG SPAN. Epitomising the spirit which has imbued the school was the address of welcome delivered to-day by Air AY. N. Brewer at the opening the reunion celebrations:— “\Ye greet the pupils, pasL, present and to come. Sixty years! It is a long span, especially to tliose who are in (he first school decade. “To reach this period of a man’s life brings impairing vigour and the near approach of old age. fortunately in a school it is otherwise. The original superstructure has decayed and has been replaced by one of modern design. “The life-blood of the school— its ] succession of pupils—is renewed and , replaced year by year. Thus, as the years pass by, time widens and extends its history and traditions. “We therefore desire to hand on the memory of good deeds ot the past with the wish that they may be a stimulus to the present and future pupils so that their lives may lx; more upright, honourable and unselfish. “After all, if the school achieves little else than the building of character, what else matters? Alan’s destiny arises therefrom.”