Old Pupils Meet For Last Time In Former Schools

Northern Advocate, 18 January 1940, Page 7

Old Pupils Meet For Last Time In Former Schools

Former pupils, the oldest of whom averaged more than 80 years of age, met at four schools in the Waipu district yesterday, renewing memories and former comradeships as they bade farewell to buildings which have now ceased to function for educational purposes.

The four schools—-Waipu Central. Waipu Upper, Waipu North River, and Waipu Cove—together with the Mata School, at which no closing ceremony was held, have been closed following the erection of the new consolidated school which has been erected near the Waipu township and which was officially opened by the Minister for Education (Mr. Fraser) yesterday. Waipu Central School. Former and present pupils of the various schools met in the school buildings except at Waipu Central at which, owing to the weather, they adjourned to the Waipu Hall where the official opening of the new school took place. With the* surrounding walls decorated with old photographs, former pupils of the Waipu Central School met and exchanged reminiscences of former years. Speakers included Mr. A. G. McKay, Mr. D. N. McKenzie, one of the earliest pupils, Mr. H. Abercrombie, Mr. E. H. McKay, former teachers, and Mr. A. J. Brooks, chairman of the school committee.

The roll call showed that since the opening of the first school in 1857, 1096 pupils had passed through. Of these 919 were living while for the 177 dead a lament was played by the school piper (Mr. G. McGregor). The school opened with 50 pupils and closed with 72. The three oldest pupils present were Mrs. W. Lang. Miss E. McLean and Miss M. McLean. Opened in 1857. A birthday cake worded “1857-1940” presented by Mr. D. A. McKay was cut by Mr. E. H. McKay and distributed. Built by the settlers, the first school was opened in 1857 and was superseded by another building in 1876 the third school, which was closed yesterday, being erected in 1924. One of the notable visitors was Mr. J. M. Lewis, of Okaihau, who attended the first school when it opened in 1857 but who had not been to Waipu for about 50 years. Items were given by present pupils of the school and refreshments were served by former and present pupils. New Order Introduced. Speaking on behalf of the school at the principal ceremony in the afternoon, Mr. A. G. McKay said they were proud of the reputation and traditions which had been maintained throughout the years. Two Under-Secretaries to the Government were among former pupils who had gained important places in later life while another, a little Irish boy, was now drawing a salary which would make the Minister for Education’s mouth water. A new order and new educational methods were coming into being and Mr. McKay appealed to pupils going to the new consolidated school to keep up the Central School tradition's. North River School. Another gathering took place in the North River School which was opened in 1862, the second in the district. Pupils of the. Waipu Caves School, which, opened in 1872 and closed in 1890 took part. The present North River School was opened in 1875. % During the whole period the school had 30 head teachers and only two assistant teachers indicating that it was always a small school. During the last 30 years the roll has always been under 30. The oldest pupils present were Mrs. N. McKay, Mr. D. N. McMillan and Mr. S. Mclnnes, of Devonport. .-. . Bouquets were presented to Mrs. McKay and to Mrs. N. H. Campbell, another of the older pupils. Speakers at the function were Messrs S. Mclnnes, J. A. S. Mac Kay, another former pupil, D. R. McKay, chairman of the committee, and A. O. Stevenson, .a former teacher. Mr. J. A. S. Mac Kay spoke on behalf of the North River School at the official ceremony in the afternoon and congratulated Mr. Fraser on the work he had done for education as well .as Minister for Health. Flag and Roll of Honour.

Mr. Mac Kay said he knew of the yalue of this work in his capacity of a governor of the Whangarei High School .and as chairman of the Whangarei Hospital Board. AJthough he had not discussed politics with the Minister he had always found him a man of his word.

Mr. Mac Kay presented the chairman of the consolidated school committee (Mr. G. McLean) with a flag presented to the North River School in 1902 and which had been regularly saluted by pupils of the school. He also presented a roll of honour bearing the names of 42 old boys and two old girls who had served in the Great War.

Asking that they should be given a place in the new school Mr. Mac Kay said that the boys and girls of the North River were just as ready today to do their part as those of an earlier day had been. Braigh School.

The ceremony at the Waipu Upper (Braigh) School closed the • oldest school building still in use in New Zealand.

The school was opened in 1862 and except for additions was in its original state.

Opening with a roll of 40 the school’s largest total of pupils at one time was 82 while at another time it had dropped as low as 11, the present number being 20. __

The oldest pupil present was Mrs, John Mcßae.

Speakers at the closing function were Mr. J. Bryham, chairman of the committee, and Mr. J. A. Finlayson. Waipu Congratulated.

On behalf of the school, Mr. Finlayson spoke at the principal function later and thanked the Minister for what he had done for education in the Waiou district.

I lie Braigh School claimed to be the first school in the Auckland Province under the education board system while it also claimed to have the first lady teacher in the Auckland Province.

He congratulated the people of Waipu on securing a consolidated school and assured parents of the fine work which would be done in the dental clinic when it was erected. Waipu Cove School.

Former pupils also met at the Waipu Cove School which goes back to 1863 when the settlers erected a school building at what was then known as the Entrance. On acount of the withdrawal of the provincial government grant of £SO towards the salary of the teacher the school was closed in 1867.

Three years later a school was built by the settlers close to the present site while the present building was erected in 1880, the land being given by the late Sir John Logan Campbell. First Educational Chance.

When first opened the school had a roll of between 30 and 40 pupils including a number of young men and women who were taking their first opportunity of gaining education.

When it closed the school roll totalled 15.

Oldest pupils present were Miss K. McGregor, Mr. J. McGregor and Mr. A. McLennan, all original pupils, while also included was Mr. E. H. McKay who was both former pupil and former teacher.

Speaking on behalf of the Cove School at the later function, Mr. McKay said he was connected with three of the schools which were closing that day. He spoke in reminiscent vein and reminded present pupils that a school was not a building and did not depend on the furtherance of education but on the combined work of the teachers and pupils. Mata School History.

The Mata School went back 53 or 54 years, said Mr. H. E. Hewlett, a former pupil, speaking on behalf of that school.

School was first held in a fishing shed at Springfield but later the Government had erected a proper school at Mata.

Many of the boys and girls of those days, had only ,a few months oi schooling but they had played their parts in life fairly well despite this handicap. Today education was necessary and the country would be lost without it. He felt sure that the pupils of the consolidated school would make their mark in the future as some of the former scholars at district schools had done in the past.