Linton School Jubilee

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 108, 10 May 1939, Page 8

Linton School Jubilee

CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK-END

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday next settlers of the district and old pupils from all parts of the Dominion will re-unite to celebrate the jubilee of the Linton School. It will be a momentous occasion for those who attend, not a few still retaining memories of the days when the land was one vast tract of bush. Linton was first opened up for settlement in 1866-67 and by 1868 there were a few pioneers wielding axe and saw in the process of converting the forests into farms. By 1887 new settlers had arrived in sufficient numbers to justify action in the direction of establishing a school, and during that year a provisional committee was set up for the purpose of securing a suitable site before making formal application to the Wanganui Education Board for a building. After much negotiation the committee's efforts were successful and a section was obtained consisting of five acres of bush. The cost of felling was met by public subscription, and the work was carried out by John Alunro and two or three of his stalwart sons, who later became pupils of the school. The first application for a building was not granted as the Education Board was entirely out of funds. Tho committee, however, persisted and finally persuaded the board to depute two members who would visit the district to sec whether a school was warranted. On April 3, 1888, the provisional committee met Messrs. Sanson and Fry, and a tour of the locality convinced them of the necessity for a school. As a result of this visit, the board immediately authorised the first annual householders' meeting, which was held at the house of Air. John Bell on April 23. The boundaries of the new district were fixed and the following committee elected without ballot:—J. Stanley Bruce (chairman), W. Coombs, George Ward, John Bell, James Jackson, John Alunro, Frank E. Clapperton. On June 25 the committee resolved to meet on the ground the following Saturday in order to clear the site for the new building and to sow the section in grass. By August tenders had been let, and the new school, built to accommodate sixty children, was completed and furnished by the following January. The school was opened on Alarch 18, 1889, by Mr. D. Alatheson, w T ho has given his reminiscences of the opening days in the following words: —“On Alarch 18, I found a beautiful welliinished school building, set in such a small cleared space that one could scarcely ride between it and tho mas* of black stumps and logs which covered the whole section. The recently sown grass had barely taken root in the ashes of the previous season's lire. Across the road in front was a beautiful forest; also on two sides, growing luxuriantly right to the boundary lines. Not so, however, on the western side, where a field of blackened timber reached to the railway line. Beyond this were gaunt unsightly skeletons of fire-scorched trees—giant kahikatcas, pukateas, tree-ferns and nikaus, forming a drab and depressing screen to hide the wilderness of swamp behind. I have no recollection of any opening ceremony. A score of children, inexperienced in school life, and varying in size from taller than the teacher down to tiny tots, happened along and met their new master. This was the commencement of a period of which, after half a century, I still retain many happy recollections." List of Pupils, 1889. AMNER, Bert, Jack, Bob, Tom. BELL, Leonard and Harold. CAAIERON, Jessie, Archie, William. FITZSIAIAIONS, Dora, Nellie, Aleredith. HARDING, Nellie, William. JACKSON, William and Nancy. KENNAED, Joe, Roger, Alary. LARSEN, Lena, Harry, Jim, Fred, Oscar, Gus, Caspar. LIDDLE, Albert. LYNCH, Dan, Tom, Sis. AIOLES, Louis. ALUNRO, Jim, Simon, Robert, John, Lena, Kathleen. PRITCHARD, William, Annie, Ted, Arthur. WARD, Bella, William, Alec, Ted. YOUNG, Samuel, Alartha, William, Jane, Nora. [Note: This list is as near as can be ascertained.] School Committees For many years the members of the school committees have given great service to the school and district. A large amount of time and labour nas been devoted by them to school matters and especially to the development of attractive grounds from out of a fiveacre patch of bush. Chairmen: J. Stanley Bruce, J. Bell, A. Pritchard, H. Willans, W. Parr, W. Kendall, J. Hewitt, A. Bell, J. Alcßride, G. Aldrich, J. Andrew, W. Yardley, G. Jonathan, R. Ross, AI. Aloody, J. Tomlin, S. Young, A. Smith, Jos. Batchelar, A. Paget, G. Allwright, C. Jeffs, C. Terry, D. Aicßrearty. Commissioners: Alessrs. J. Jackson and C. Young, Alessrs. Al. A. Moody and G. H. Currin. Secretaries: F. Clapperton, G. Currin, T. Kilpatrick, C. Brill, S. Young, T. Hyman, A. Paget, G. Hampson, Al. Croucher, C. Aldrich. Present committee: T. Lynch (chairman), E. Crawford (secretary), F. Batchelar, W. Gilliland, R. Beckett. List of Teachers Head teachers: Alessrs. D. Matheson, Evans, A. Goldsbury, T. Stagpoole, F. Martin, J. Alurdoch, J. Stewart, K. AIcK. White, L. Schwabe (present). Relieving teachers: Alessrs. Lee, Reid, W. Liggins, E. Rankin, C. Nolan, C. Turnbull. Assistants: Air. P. llemingsen, Ale;. Martin, ATisses Alead, Ferguson, AI. Alolloy, Gills, Gubbin, E. Shaw, Priestley, G. O’Brien, Af. Pellow, I. Henderson, Schlagar, Al. Ahe' , A. Carrutkers, U. Dement, N. Alurdoch, R. Alurdoch, Al. Blake, Laing, P. Green, AlcEwan, AlcDonald, R. Bird, A. Tottman (present).