NOTABLE CAREER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23201, 22 November 1938, Page 13

NOTABLE CAREER

MR. G. T. MAJOR DEATH IN LONDON TEACHER AND SOLDIER .WORK FOR KING'S COLLEGE News was received yesterday of the tfeath in London on Sunday of Mr. Charles Thomas Major, D.5.0., C.8.E., for 20 years headmaster of King's College, Auckland, an educationist with a. record of constructive achievement unsurpassed in New Zealand and a, soldier who performed fine service in and after the South African War. Mr. Major, who was 69 years of age, left Auckland ' last June with Mrs. , Major for an extended visit to England. His death occurred in the Royal Masonic Hospital after a brief illness. Mr. Major was born in Auckland and received his early education at Nelson College. In ISS9 ho becaino a student at Auckland University College, where he gained the Gonior scholarship in mathematics, the M.A. degree with first-class honours in the same subject, and the B.Sc. In 1894 he became assist-ant-master at St. John's Collegiate School, then conducted in the buildings of St. John's College, Tamaki, by the Rev. P. S. Smallfield and the late Mr. Graham Bruce. Growth of King's College When Mr. Bruce established King's College at Remuera in 1895, Mr. Major went to Nelson College for a year, and then returned to Auckland, remaining with Mr. Bruce until the outbreak of tho South African War. When the campaign ended he taught again at Nelson College and then for a timo was: head of the preparatory department of , Scotch College, Melbourne. Meanwhile Mr. Bruce had died, and in response to an appeal Mr. Major came back to New Zealand and took over the ownership of King's College, which had about 70 pupils. Gathering an exceptional staff around ■ him, he developed tho school until seven years later it had a roll of 400, including 140 boarders. In 1913 Mr. Smallfield's college at The Pah, Onehunga, was amalgamated with it. Just before /the Great War Mr. Major, in pursuance of his ideal, vested tho school in a representative board of governors, including the Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Averill, and incorporated it under a formal constitution. In spito of difficulties arising out of the war, the board acquired a fine site of 45 acres at Middlemore and erected permanent and temporary buildings which, with the land, represented an investment of about £IOO,OOO. The school was removed to its new quarters in 1922. Transfer,to Church Control Included in the buildings was a fine chapel set up as a memorial to the many old boys who had fallen in the war. This project was originated by Mr. Major, who provided most of the furnishings and more than half of the superb 6efc of stained-glass windows which make the building one of the artistic glories of Auckland. In 1925 Mr. Major resigned the headmasterslnp, - and, five years later, as tho result of negotiations, the school was transferred to the St. John's College Trust Board, which had a trust fund available to assist it. In order to make the transfer possible, a fund of £20,000 was raised by old boys and friends of the school. When King's College was removed from Remuera, Mr. Major vested, the original school property in a separate board for the'establishment of King's School, also providing the necessary finance. In 19,'i0 tho school mot with difficulties, and' he temporarily resumed financial control, also taking over the headmastership for two years. At the same time the consent of the Supreme Court was obtained for the diversion of a considerable trust fund which he had cheated to endow university scholarships, and the money was utilised to erect the first part of a modern school building in permanent materials. Pine War Service Mr. Major's military career extended over nearly half' a He was mainly responsible for founding a cadet corps at King's College in 1890 and the College Rifles. He left for South Africa in command of tho North Island section of the Fifth Contingent, and, when a New Zealand artillery battery was formed in the field, he was given command of it. Although without previous training in this arm, ho handled his guns with such effect in a major engagement that tho Distinguished Service Order was , awarded to him. In 1906 he" was able to form a cadet battalion at King's College, and in 1912 was made colonel commanding the Auckland Infantry Brigade. Although the, Great War depleted the school staff and threw much extra work upon bis shoulders, Colonel Major took over the command of the Auckland Military District, and held it for a considerable time, receiving tho C.B.E. in 1918 for his services. High Office in Freemasonry A freemason for more than JO years, under the English Constitution, Mr. Major was master of Lodge To Awamutu in 1914 and deputy district crano master for five years prior to when he succeeded the late Sir Alfred Bankart as district grand master. Ho also held the office of grand superintendent of English Royal Arch Masons for tho North Island, and bis association with the craft extended to the Knights Templar,degree and the Rouge , Croix. Tho charitable work of I' rccinasonry always interested him, and tor many years ho was president or the Auckland Masonic Benevolent Institution. „ Mr. Major wfts twice married, and is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. The daughters aro Mrs. I. P. de L. Willis, wife of the vicar of St. Andrew's, Epsom, and Mrs. J. K. Morris, wife of the headmaster of King's School. His eldest son, Mr. Arthur Major, was accidentally killed in 1928. and the other two, Messrs. 31. and F. Major, are farming at 'fuakaiK A service in honour of Mr. Major j Memory will be held in the Kings j College chapel at 7.'JO p.m. on 1' riij«i.V« and will he conducted by Archbishop j Averill. The date has boon fixed in ( jiew of the certainty that old boys i from all parts of the Auckland Pro- , 1 Jince and from, further afield will wish | to bo present. 1