KENNINGTON SCHOOL

Southland Times, Issue 22487, 23 January 1935, Page 3

KENNINGTON SCHOOL

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS FURTHER REMINISCENCES. (From Our Correspondent.) About one of the first pupils at the Kennington School was Mrs J. Irving, nee Miss McLeay. In those days the school grounds were not in such an orderly state as at present, there being tussock and bog up to the school door. Mr Gazzard was the sole teacher at that time, the school consisting of only one room, which is now the infants’ room. It was his habit to cycle down from the schoolhouse on one of the old-fashioned big wheeled cycles. The first assistant appointed to the school was Miss C. Edwards, daughter of Mr R. A. Edwards, who lived below the blacksmith’s shop, the blacksmith’s shop being owned by his brother, Mr B. Edwards, who reckoned it cost him 8/a day in “shouts” at the hotel just next door. There was no store handy for the school children to spend their pennies, the only residence by the school being a small cottage, about where the present butcher’s shop now stands. It was used at different times as a blacksmith shop, butcher’s shop and was finally occupied by a Mr and Mrs Douglas as a telegraph office, being eventually burnt down' There was an hotel across on the main road, being owned by Mrs Jackson, who, when the licence was cancelled, carried on. as a boarding house. A recreation reserve was laid out on the flat below the house and a fine garden was maintained, supplying strawberries and cream to those who cared to make the trip out from town on a summer’s evening. The string band coducted by Mr R. A. Edwards consisted of the following members: Laura Stone, Rosie Butler, first violins; Billy Jordan, Edward Wilcox and McNab and Herbert Edwards, second violins; B. Edwards, bass; Bob Brown, flute; Donald McKillop, euphonium; Robert-Cloughley, comet; Clara Edwards, piano; president, Mr J. Matheson; secretary, Donald McKillop. The practices took place in Mr B. Edwards’ house, the services of the band being given gratuitously, chiefly at school concerts.

Mr Edward Wilcox, of Oteramika road, has some interesting photos taken in the early sawmilling days of bush and swamp which to-day are up-to-date farms. In recalling the early days, Mr Wilcox said that the Broomlands estate of some 1000 acres was about the largest in the district at that time and it has since been divided into some 10 sections, each one being a complete farm. “Maple Grove,” owned by W. Lawerence, was another estate of some 700 acres, being now taken up by six well-kept farms. James Crombie’s property, “Puni Bush,” has now been divided up into six farms and also Copeland’s, which is now part of the main township. The transport of those days has developed from bullock waggons and flax reins on mud tracks to modern motor cars on bitumenized roads. The early settlers under most difficult conditions had developed the district from a sour waste and dense bush by falling, clearing and draining into a progressive district so that those following on on the foundations laid by the early pioneers were now living in a flourishing district which now supports a fellmongery, cutlery works and a large cheese factory of eight vats, two stores, church and hall and sends away many thousands of fat; lambs to the works each year, besides numerous other stock, A great number of ex-pupils and visitors have already arrived for the celebrations, which commence this afternoon with a social afternoon at the school, one man having travelled all the way from Ninety Mile Beach to be present, while others have arrived from lesser distances. The registrar reports that some 250 have advised him of their intention to be present at the banquet and provided it is fine weather a most enjoyable time should be in store for all who attend the Kennington School jubilee celebrations.