SCHOOL JUBILEE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23002, 1 April 1938, Page 11

SCHOOL JUBILEE

BEBESFOKD STREET 60 YEARS OF SERVICE CELEBRATIONS NEXT WEEK The diamond jubileo of tho Beresford Street school will bo celebrated next week, commencing on Thursday, and a function lias been arranged for each day until Sunday, when the final event of the-celebrations, a commemoration service, will be helii at the school. Unfortunately the present headmaster, Mr. J. H. Hill, will bo absent from the celebrations, as ho became ill on Monday and is in a serious condition. His place has been taken by Mr. A. E. Thompson, as acting-headmaster. The opening function will be a dance and social 011 Thursday evening for past pupils, members of tho staff and friends. The host and hostess respectively will be Mr. J. Caughley and Mrs. W. Court. On Friday afternoon a display of folk dancing, physical drill and gymnastics, interspersed with sports events, will bo given by the present pupils in the school grounds and on the following day former pupils will gather at the school for a reunion and roll call. Building Being Replaced At the commemoration service an address will bo given by Mr. T. T. Garland, chairman of tho jubilee committee, who will presido at all the functions. Mr. F.- C. Ballantiue Burnnand, president of the committee, will also be present at the gatherings. The jubilee comes at an appropriate time in view of the fact that tho present building, which has stood since J 879, is to ho demolished on the completion of a modern school building, now being constructed at the back of tho grounds and adjoining Western Park.

The history of Beresford Street school begins with the school situated at tho corner of Hepburn and Wellington Streets, known popularly as Harrison's , school, as the first headmaster, Mr. B. M. C. Harrison, conducted it as a private school before it was taken over by tho Education Department. Rapid Increase in Roll The present school building was opened in July, IS7O, and_ the attendances increased rapidly with the result that the gymnasium and covered playsbcd in the basement had to be turned into classrooms, serving as the infant classrooms until 1907, when the Government had the present separate infant building erected. Mr. Harrison remained as headmaster cf the school when it was taken over by the Education Department and served until 1892, when ho was succeeded by Mr. E. T. Hart, who was formerlv a teacher in Birmingham. -Air. Hart came to New Zealand in 18(9 and became first assistant at the Beresford Street school in 1881. Two years later he was appointed headmaster or the Napier Street school, but returned as headmaster to Beresford Street, whore he remained until his retirement in 1915.