RETIRING HEADMASTER

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10096, 24 November 1925, Page 5

RETIRING HEADMASTER

LENGTHY SCHOLASTIC RECORD MR G. W. CHATWIN’S CAREER. Mr G. IV. Chatwin, headmaster ol' the Pahiatua ‘ District High School, who retires from the active list on superannuation at the end of this year, will have achieved a' scholastic feat he might well be proud of, as he will then have completed nearly 42 years’ . service under the Education Department. Mr Chatwin began his education at the Ballarat School, Australia, and on reaching the second standard came, with his parents, to New Zealand. He attended the old school then legated in Buckle Street, the site of which vfas shortly af'ter changed to what is known now as the Mount Cook Boys’ School, so that he was one of the original pupils. It is a eo-ineidence that the Mount Cook School is at present celebrating its jubilee. From Mount Cook. Mr Chatwin went to Terrace End School. He attended ft till he reached the sixth standard, and, obtaining a scholarship, entered the Wellington College . After a secondary training at the College, he commenced teaching as a probationer at the Mount Cook Boys’ School. This was in the year 1884. Following a period at this school, he went to the Training College for a course o-f instruction, remaining three years. The year 1887 will not easily be forgotten by Mr Chatwin. It was the year- of the big slump, when Major Atkinson brought into operation his great letrenchment scheme to the extent of 10 per cent on everyone, from office ’boy to Prime Minister. He withdrew the grants to Training Colleges, all of which were forced to close except the one at Christchurch which the Canterbury Education Board carried on without a grant. All of the Wellington students were thrown out of occupation, waiting for a position, and Mr Chatwin was one of them. Rather than remain in Wellington, however, lie took a small country school in Marlborough, where he remained for a year and six months. Then the Wellington Education Board offered him the position of first assistant at the Hutt school. Mr Chatwin was there for exactly three years when he was appointed headmaster at Taueru (near Masterton). After five years and eight months in this locality, he was, in 1898, appointed to the position of headmaster at Mangatainoka. From then till August Ist, 1916, Mr Chatwin retained that post, during which period he became greatly endeared to all who came in contact with him. For the last nine years Mr Chatwin has been headmaster of the Pahiatua District High School, with very successful results, and had he continued to March 31st next, lie would have completed exactly 42 years’ service under the Department. It is interesting to note that there are some 20 children at the Pahiatua school now whose parents, either one or both, Mr Chatwin has also taught. | Among the many assistants who have tairgjit under him are Messrs A H. locker, M.A., lecturer on economics at the Canterbury College University (Mr Tocker was assistant at Mangatainoka) ; Balfour Kean, now Head "of the Blenheim Borough School; and F. L. Combes, MA. headmaster of the Featlierstoji District High School.