WILD BUSH

Southland Times, Issue 22487, 23 January 1935, Page 11

WILD BUSH

SCHOOL JUBILEE ' HISTORY OF INSTITUTION 1872 TO 1935,(By Mac.). ’ In setting forth the brief survey of ' the school and district known as Wild ■ Bush, the writer is indebted to the following for valuable' assistance by way of information supplied: Messrs Stephen Watson, H. S. Pankhurst, Jas. Borland, BfJ. Stevens, Neil McNaughton, George 'JibtVell, Mabille Wood, Henry - Garden, ■ Louis Garden, Farquhar McKay, Chas. 'Molloy, W. Anderson, Mrs George > I4nn; Mrs R. Anderson, Mrs S: Watson. ' Id.' the absence of records, the collected^'of material, relating to the early history of the district and school has proved ’difficult, much having to be gleaned from the memories of these early settlers most of whom were very young, in the early days of settlement. The writer is very conscious that some ' inaccuracies may have crept in, and would be pleased'if anyone in possession of correct information would communicate with him through the Jubilee committee, in order that the facts may be permanently recorded before they are lost.

The Name. It has not been possible'to ascertain definitely how the district received thq name “Wild Bush.” The earliest survey maps and land tenure records, dating back to 1854, all give the locality the name Wild Bush, but do not ascribe the origin -of, or the reason for the name. There are two traditional explanations in the minds of old residents. (1) That the bush took its name from a Mr or Captain Wild who lived near the bush in the distant past, and that on the early survey maps it was shown as “Wild’s Bush.” (2) The wild nature of the ■ locality in early times, together with the fact that in those days an abundance of wild pigs frequented the bush and its neighbourhood and provided good shooting for parties coming up the Pourakino River in boats. The weight of evidence seems to favour the latter as the simple origin of the name. This much is certain: no land in the district was ever owned by a Mr or a “Captain” Wild and the name did not appear on any early map or land tenure record as “Wild’s Bush.” The Bush. Wild Bush from the earliest times of the white man was a definite and welldefined block of native forest of the mixed type, totara, white, black, and red pine, with a sprinkling of beech. Its original area would be about 450 acres. The original outline may still be fairly easily followed on the landscape by the aid of a survey map; indeed, in some parts, the present outline is almost" identical with the original. Wild Bush in its virgin state was a lovely area of native bush, but like so much of our matchless forest it is doomed in the not distant future to disappear entirely. In the early survey, an area of 65 acres was set off near the middle of the bush as a settlers’ reserve, the intention being that the' surrounding selectors could cut their, supplies of fencing posts and firewood from this area. It was intended that a close restriction on cutting should be exercised through permits, and that the timber should go only to selectors of Wild Bush whose areas were less.. But this did not, fully work out in practice’, with the result that under the onslaught of people from far and near this part of the' bush soon became cut out and destroyed. Fire, the great enemy of the forest, also played a part. Then, too, the protective wind-break fringe of the forest has gradually been encroached upon and destroyed, with the result that the prevailing winds now have access to most of the bush, killing numbers of the large trees. Stock have practically destroyed the natural forest. floor, another factor spelling doom to New Zealand native forest. The one redeeming feature, of the disappearance of this beautiful Wild Bush is that its place, will be taken by nice, gently-sloping ridges of pasture land, and not barren, gaping, eroded hillsides as in so many parts of New Zealand have appeared after the destruction, of the forest. The District. The actual bush gave its name to a fairly extensive district stretching 'to the south and south-east of the bush as far as the Pourakino Narrows and the Aparima River; to the west of the bush across the Pourakino to join the Longwood forests; to the north of the bush as far as Blackwater Estate; to the north-east of the bush as far as Gummies Bush; and to the east of the bush as far as Blackstock’s Creek and the Aparima River. When the white man first saw the land in its primitive state, it presented to him the typical wild, broken appearance of so many other parts of New Zealand .where now are situated prosperous . and smiling pastures and meadow lands. The open country round the actual Wild Bush consisted of swamp, manuka land, open tussock land and native grass country, and several areas heavily flaxed, and of course the only road was the waterway of the Pourakino which was much used in the early pioneering days, bearing boatloads and punt-loads of cargo. This, of course, accounts for the fact that a number of the early homesteads were built close to the banks of the Pourakino. The present prosperous district is a monument to the faith, the skill and the assiduity of that early band of pioneers who settled there in the middle years of last century, and to their descendants and followers who maintain a high standard of agricultural practice. Those primitive swamps, tussock mid flax lands have given place to as rich pastures as can be found anywhere in Southland. It has been the writer’s experience to meet men and women who have not seen the district in the past forty or fifty years and who have testified to its extreme poorness then, and further who cannot give credence to the present great stock-carrying propensities of the district. Apart. from the unremitting toil of the settlers in cultivation and drainage, another factor has subscribed greatly to the change, namely liming. Lime on this land followed by judicious manuring and topdressing seems to work miracles, giving it great grass-holding powers and enabling the pastures to carry a high rate per acre of healthy stock. Land Tenure. The earliest form of land tenure which’, obtained in the locality was known as depasturing' licence which entitled the holder to depasture stock on a certain area for ’a 'specified term of .years. »

In November ; 1854 licences were granted as follows: Number 83:. ; to .William and George Stevens over the area to the north west of Wild Bush.

Number 84: to George and William Stevens over the area to the north east of Wild Bush. Number 85: to Stephen Watson over the area including and lying south of the bush. The William Stevens was, of course, Captain Stevens who later built ; his homestead (now owned by Mr James

Cormack) on the edge of Bush.

Stephen Watson was father of Mr Stephen Watson now residing at Pourakino Narrows. .' .* ; ‘ It will be seen that these licences for depasturing occupied practically the whole of the district of Wild Bush.

These depasturing licences issued in 1854 were cancelled by the Waste Lands Board in 1857 and the sub-division survey commenced in the following year, 1858/ The survey of the block in the immediate vicinity of Wild . Bush was carried out in that year by Robert Townsend.

The licensee of the depasturing licence No. 85, Stephen Watson, was the first settler to acquire land subsequent to survey.. This was on May 25, 1858, and referred to the area of land surrounding the stone house he erected and now .occupied by Mrs C. White. About the same, time Mr Alex. McNaughton secured the present homestead property occupied by Mrs R. Anderson. Other settlers about this time are as follows:— Mabille Louis Wood: October 15, 1858. The property now owned by Mr Collis. John Lee: February 11, 1859. Mr Lee was the original settler on a part of Mr Stephen Watson’s present holding. Mr Lee built near the river a large open-fronted bam for the purpose of storing grain grown in the neighbourhood, preparatory to sending it down the river to Riverton. Nathaniel Bates: February 11, 1859. The homestead and property of this settler was what is known as Bates’s Point to the south east of Mr S. Watson’s present homestead. The Bates house was right on the high bank above the river. Fragments of broken crockery, bricks, etc., still indicate the site of the house which was situated jusjt about the ford on the old Orepuki waggon track. John Robert Mills: February 24, 1859. “Westwood,” the property Jater owned by Mr Gillow and now owned by Mr R. Shearing. Mr Mills was the founder of the firm of J. R. Mills in Riverton. From this date on the whole district was gradually surveyed into practically its present subdivision, and settled. Space will not permit of the setting out of the full details of the dates etc. of the whole survey and first selection. The original settlers of the various areas will no doubt be interesting to the present generation. At an early date Stephen Watson acquired the properties first owned by John Lee and Nathaniel Bates mentioned above. The northern part of Mrs C. White’s present property was owned by a Captain Cork of Melbourne, but he did not at any time reside on it. Apart from those properties already mentioned the original ownerships of the remainder of the district are approximately as follows:— There are slight variations in some of the properties from the original to the present day. The property now owned by Mr W. Armstrong was originally owned by Henry and de Gouge Wood, and included the present holdings of Messrs F. Peterson and T. Guise, and occupied about 1000 acres.

“Connachra” where Mr Collis now lives, was named by Mr McCarthy and originally 'owned' by Mabille Wood mentioned above. Mr J. W. Dick’s property was originally owned by Gardens. Mr J. R. Haigh’s property: Original owner, Mr Francis-Guise. Mr John Grahams property and the part of Huggins Bros’, across the road from Mr Graham s, between the road and Huggins Bros’, house was first owned by Mr John Trotter, father of Dr. N. G. Trotter of Riverton. ... Mr W. Anderson’s property: Original owner was a Mr Bell, a carpenter. ■ ■ Mr Allan’s property (usually known .as’Blackstock’s) and Mr Frank Spenceris,: first owned by Mr John McNaughton. This Mr McNaughton'.was no relation of the other McNaughton family. . ’ Mr W. Prentice’s: . James Hay, thresh-ing-mill owner.' of-Those days. Wilson Bros’, property ‘ was ; originally • owned by the late Mr -Peter McLeish of Drummond. For a short time a River,ton butcher named Schmidt owned this property->which was later acquired by Mr T. Wilson, senior. • Huggins Bros’, property: The part not owned by;Mr - John Trotter as mentioned above, was owned by Dugald McDonald jn the first instance. Messrs Ingram’s and Sycamore’s properties: First owners, Arklay Bros. Mrs R. Anderson's: Alex McNaughton.

Mr Rutherford’s property: Original owner Mr F. Lopdell.

Graham Bros’, property across the Pourakino: Mr Gray.

Mr C. Brice’s property was first owned by the late Morgan Hayes. The history of Wild Bush school dates from 1872, and from the-point of view of actual location and building falls into six distinct sections.

In 1872 a school was opened in the front room of the late Mr Garden’s house. The house was situated on the present property of Mr J. W. Dick to the west of the homestead, and close to the southern edge of the bush. The location is still marked by “a few tom shrubs” and ruins of the house and outbuildings. The house was destroyed by fire twenty years ago. This was a half-time school with Gummies Bush. It has not been possible to ascertain definitely the authority under which this school operated, nor the exact month of its opening; but. circumstances would seem to indicate that it was under the jurisdiction of the Otago Education Board, for the name of the teacher, Mr Henry Henri, first appears in the Otago Board’s records from 1871 in connection with the Gummies Bush school. Records of this first Wild Bush school, however, or of Mr Henri as its teacher, are not to. be -found.- ..This school in Garden’s house must have run for only a matter -of months-, in 1872, for it was during the same year that the second school was opened at Birch Bush. 1872 was of course five years prior to the passing of the Education Act of 1877 which introduced to this country, “free” secular and compulsory” education. In this first school a fee of ten shillings per quarter per pupil was charged. Instruction in scripture was a part of the syllabus of instruction. The half-time system with Gummies Bush meant that each school was open on alternate days, Saturdays included.

The following pupils attended this first Wild Bush School:—

, Felix, Louis, and Henry Garden, sons of the owner-of the house in which the school operated.. •• .

Stephen Watson, Catherine Watson (now Mrs C. White). W. and J. Pattison from across the Pourakino where Mr J. Nuttall now lives. ■ ' ■

Mabille, Emily and Maria - Wood, childrep. of Henry Wood, of Birch Bush. William, George, Lucy and Annie Grey (now all deeeased) from where Graham Bros, now live. -

Jean, Flora and Jack McNaughton. Flora McNaughton became head teacher of Wild Bush school in 1884.. The total roll number of this first Wild Bush school was therefore 17. Towards the' end of 1872 the school passed into'its second stage. Of this stage there are records in the office of the Otago Education Board. The school now moved its location and assumed the name of “Birch,. Bush”.on account of its proximity to Birch Bush, which is the area of native forest on the north bank of the Pourakino slightly further up the river than the Narrows. This school was held; irr the,

house of de Gouge Wood who had previously left the district. It is interesting to note that de Gouge Wood was a son of a Paymaster-Captain Wood of the Army of the Duke .of .Wellington 'at Waterloo. Paymaster-Captain Wood married a French lady, hence the French Christian names of some of his descendants who became settlers at Wild Bush—de Gouge, Mabille, etc. De Gouge Wood’s house in which the Birch 'Bush school was held whs a simple wooden structure of one room, brick fireplace and wood-shingle roof. It was situated just on the northern fringe of Birch Bush about 150 yards due west of Mr W. Armstrong’s present residence. Up till quite recent years, the piles and bricks of the old structure were visible, but now all trade is gone, the site-forming part of Mr Armstrong’s pasture land. In the days when the school was held there, the Open ground to the north of the bush and school, and stretching away in the direction of Wild Bush, was heavily covered in flax which grew well in those days on that gently, undulating land. This flax has long ago given place to fine open pastures. Quite close, to ..the site ,of the old school, just on the edge of Birch Bush there grows a nice stand of the lovely native ribbon-woods. These trees flourished there 63 years ago when the school was there. Birch Bush is still a beautiful clumn of native bush almost of its original size. It consists almost exclusively of birch trees (properly of course New Zealand beech). It is to be hoped that its own-t ers now and in the future will preserve it as nearly as possible in its present entirety, as it enhances greatly the setting and beauty of the district. 'Hie school at Birch Bush which replaced the Garden’s house school ran for the remainder of 1872 and on to the end of 1874. It was still an alternate day school with Gummies Bush. Most of the pupils from 'the school at Garden's attended this; The Pattison family had removed to Riverton. The ages of the pupils ranged from tender years up to 17 years—one at least, it is said, sported a beard. The master of this school was Mr A. B. Tuson, also head of Gummies Bush school. The fee was still ten shillings per pupil per quarter. From the beginning of 1875 the school entered its third stage and became definitely “Wild Bush” school. From now on it was to be conducted in a building provided by the Government. There was considerable controversy among the settlers as to where the new school ■ should be situated, whether to the north or to the south of the bush (Wild Bush), more in the direction of where the two previous schools were situated. The difference was overcome by Mr Alex. McNaughton in donating the present school site on which the first Government school building in this district was erected and ready for occupation by 1875. From 1875 until he left the district, Mr A. B. Tuson had charge of Gummies Bush school alone. Of the new school at Wild Bush Mr W. Bell was appointed master. The school in its new building and situation, should have been in a position to make steady progress, but during Mr Bell’s term of office, the pupils were to suffer the necessity of another change of location. ■ Though not long erected this school building was destroyed by fire, and other quarters had to be found. The only suitable building situated near the school site was Mr Alex. McNaughton’s large barn which stood close to the edge of the bush near Mrs R. Anderson’s present implement shed. The pupils in this temporary school building were seated on strong, pit-sawn planks supported on blocks cut from trees growing near. The old barn which served as a school for close on a year stood until a few years ago, when it was blown down by an exceptionally. strong north wind. Mr Bell was still in charge of the school while it was housed in McNaughton’s bam. There were by now some 40 pupils on the roll, a number of course being pupils who had attended the earlier schools at Garden’s house and Birch Bush.

William,' George, Lucy, Annie and Jack Gray, (all now deceased except Jack) came across the Pourakino in a boat from-’where Graham Bros, now live. This was before the erection of the Pourakino bridge. Five children from John Watson’s across the river about opposite Birch Bush also had to cross in a boat: Tom, William, Dan, Annie and Carrie Watson—all deceased except Carrie, now Mrs Fred Nash, of Waimate. Jane, Flora, John, Mary and Neil McNaughton, children of Mr Alex. McNaughton, donor of the school site. Robert and Elizabeth McNaughton from Blackstock’s. This family was no relation to the McNaughton’s already mentioned. They later removed to Auckland and prospered greatly. John, Donald, and Julie Mcßae from “Connachra” where Mr Collis now lives.

William and Mary Marshall from down on the Jacob’s River flat.

James and Mary Fleck. Henry, Louis and Felix. Garden. Hamilton Hay,' son of Jas. Hay, threshing mill owner, from where Mr Prentice now lives.

Catherine Guise, Stephen and Catherine Watson. Duncan Murchison. The McKay family: Jack, Farquar, Murdoch and Bella. These names of ex-pupils of 1875 period are supplied entirely from the memories of some of the pupils here mentioned. No official records or registers of this period are to be had; they perished in the fire. For this fine effort of memory, recalling Wild Bush scholars of 60 years ago the writer is especially indebted to Mr Stephen Watson, of the Narrows. From the stage to the present day space will not permit of the mention of lists of expupils of the more recent decades. They are more within living memory, and in any case from the point of view of a permanent record will be preserved in official registers which is not the case of the names of ex-pupils prior to 1876. The Otago Board’s records show that from the beginning of 1877, Wild Bush school was placed under the teachership of Mr Julian J. de Grix; This was of course following upon the period in McNaughton’s barn; the school was now conducted in the new building erected to replace the one destroyed by fire. Wild Bush school is shown on the list of schools handed over to the authorities on April 1, 1878, but no teacher is shown. No records of Wild Bush school seem to have been preserved in the Invercargill office previous to 1884; so it has not been possible to get the exact date of the departure of Mr Julian J. de Grix. The whole period the school was operating between the time of Mr Bell’s departure and 1881 was occupied by the two teachers Julian J. de Grix and A. F. Elwell. Mr Elwell was an English gentleman who, with his wife and two children, had come to New Zealand in the seventies. Mrs Elwell was also a teacher and taught in one or . two. schools prior to Mr Elwell’s appointment to Wild Bush school which was his first school in New Zealand. vMr Elwell’s only daughter Isa, an ex-pupil of Wild Bush school, gave honourable service to education as a teacher, filling positions in various parts of Southland over a long period of years,- and now living in retirement in Invercargill since 1928. She is Mrs Geo. Linn now. The new building in which the school commenced, to operate in 1877 served until 1914. It was removed in that year to tjie farm now occupied by Mr Finlay, at Gummies Bush, where it still stands, serving the office of a bam. The then school residence removed to make way ■for the present one stands on the same farm. The present school building which is the sixth in which Wild Bush school has operated,l serves also as a public meeting place for the district for dances, meetings, debates, etc., and

also served-as-church .up. till two years ago, when the fine new church was erected close by. This school building has also had the distinction of housing a.function,somewhat rare in this country—a pearl-wedding.- In-1928 the late Mr and Mrs W. Huggins celebrated the 65th anniversary of their wedding day, the gathering being held in Wild Bush School. Up till that date that was the sixth pearl wedding iin the history of the Dominion. About 1875- the. attendance ■ and the half-time system were . militating against the welfare of education in this district. The following is an extract from the report of the Otago Education Board for the school year, 1874: — “Owing to the schools at Gummies Bush and Wild Bush being so near each other, the sparseness of the population, and the decided objection of the settlers to the half-time system, it will probably’be found necessary by the board to close one of these schools.” From the end of 1874 the half-time system was abandoned, both Wild Bush and Gummies Bush operating as full time schools from 1875 on. The necessity of closing one of these schools as feared by the Otago Board in 1874, did not come then, but a few years later, by which time the attendance had dwindled seriously. Wild Bush School was the one to be closed. At the end of Mr Elwell’s term as master, some time in 1881, the school was closed, the remaining pupils attending Gummies Bush School. It would be more correct to say that the closing of the school caused Mr Elwell’s removal to another school.

.Wild Bush School, was re-opened in 1884, with Miss Flora McNaughton as mistress. Miss McNaughton was, of course, herself an ex-pupil of the early Wild Bush schools. Since 1884 the attendance has remained fairly steady, and since that date there has not at any time been a fear of the closing of the school owing to paucity of numbers. The following are the, teachers who have held permanent positions in Wild Bush School since 1884:— Flora McNaughton, head teacher 1884-

1888. Jane B. Jamieson, head teacher, 18881893. Helen Pattison, head teacher, 1893-1896. Donald McKenzie, head teacher, 1896-

1899. Joseph Kilburn, head teacher, 1899-1904. Williamina L. Fairbairn, head teacher,

1904-1908. Madeline Lind, head teacher, 1908-1910. Geo. F. Griffiths, head teacher, 19101914. Maria Simon, mistress, 1911-1912. Jean C. Graham, head teacher, 1914. James W. Lopdell, head teacher, 19141917. James Cusack, sole teacher, 1917-1920. Mary A. Ericson, sole teacher, 19201926. Allister P. McDonald, sole- teacher, 1926-29. Elizabeth Affleck, sole teacher, 1929. May McQueen, assistant, 1933. Margaret Sim, assistant, 1934. Of all this long list of teachers of Wild Bush School, dating from 1872, only the last four and Messrs Geo. F. Griffiths and James W. Lopdell now remain on the active teaching list. During the twenty years which have elapsed since Mr Griffiths left Wild Bush, he has climbed high on the professional ladder, having occupied headteacherships at Waianiwa, Otautau, Bluff, Winton, and now fills the important position of headmaster of Middle School, Invercargill. Mr Griffiths has also faithfully served his fellow teachers over a long period of years. He has been secretary of the management committee of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute for 14 years, and at present fills the responsible office of vicepresident of the Dominion executive of that body. Since leaving Wild Bush Mr J. W. Lopdell, who is an ex-pupil as well as an ex-teacher, has been headmaster, of Waianiwa School, rector of Owaka District High School, and is now headmaster of Bluff Public School. Mr Lopdell is also a member of the management committee of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. Both of these gentlemen take a very keen interest in the progress of education generally and Wild Bush School may well feel proud of them as ex-teachers. Miss Flora

McNaughton is now Mrs E. Stevens, and lives in Wanganui. Miss W. L. Fairburn is now Mrs H. Playfair, of Gummies Bush. Miss M. Lind is Mrs J. McLean, Thornbury. Miss Jean Graham became Mrs W. Anderson, and now lives at Waiwera. Miss M. Simon is now Mrs Leask, and lives in Invercargill. Mrs M. A. Ericson in 1926, while at Wild Bush School, retired from the profession and now resides at Orepuki. Mr Donald McKenzie was on active service during the Great War, returned to New Zealand, and so fai as the writer can gather, now lives in Dunedin. , The remaining ex-teachers of Wild Bush School are now all deceased, and at this time of Jubilee and re-union, their ex-pupils pay a ' respectful tribute to their work for the school m the days that are gone. The ex-pupils of Wild Bush School hold a good record of service in the Great War, 1914-1918. On February 10, 1923, Memorial Gates, erected at the school by the residents of the district to perpetuate the memory of those who served and those who made the supreme sacrifice, were dedicated. The tablet bearing the names of those who fell was unveiled by Mrs C. White, mother of Donald and Alexander White whose names appear in the list of the fallen. . .... The following gave their lives in the Empire’s cause:— R. Anderson J. Rolfe N. Barron W. Guise T. Wilson L. Beer D. White A. Jamieson \ A. White The following ex-pupils and exteachers served in the war and returned:— W. Prentice F. Lopdell J. Wilson W. Prentice O. Greenhouse W. Wilson C. Watson A. I. Milne E. Wilson N. Guise H. McFeely R. Stevens R. Kingsland D. McKenzie A. Stevens A. Smith W. Anderson W. Carran E. Trail J- Anderson J. Carran < T. Torbet C. Anderson T. Rolfe T. Molloy T. Barron E. Rolfe T.H. Molloy S. Barron T. Collins C.’ Pickett G. Barron G. Collins Committees.

No history of a school would be just or complete that dealt only with dates, buildings, teachers and pupils. Under the New Zealand system, much of the success of a school and particularly a rural school, is due to the measure of support given it by its local committee. Wild Bush School has received loyal support from many enthusiastic committeemen. during its 63 years or existence. The names of all those, ana especially of the very early period, it has been most difficult to procure. No name is. deliberately omitted. The writer as a past teacher, and on behatt of past teachers and pupils, and of the spirit of the old school, wishes in this public article to acknowledge the work of all those committeemen throughout the years have so willingly given their time, energy and labour to the welfare of the school. Many othese have long passed on, and others will not be taking part in the Jubilee Celebrations, but their work is not forgotten in this time of jubilation. The writer has been able to procure the names of the following gentlemen who have served the school splendidly at various stages of its history as chairman, secretary or committeeman: Of the .very early period the parents of the scholars took a lively interest in getting a school established in the district, particularly Messrs Garden, Stephen Watson, sen., Alexander ' McNaughton, Henry Wood and Pattison. ft has ncrt

been possible to clear up definitely whether there was then a school conimittee in the district in the sense in which we think of a school committee to-day, but the authorities of those days certainly expected local residents to take an active interest in the ■welfare of the school. Of the period from then to the present day the following have served:— Messrs Francis Guise and his two sons John and Tom, Adam White, John and Tom Wilson, E. J. Stevens, W. Blackstock, Frank and Tom Trail, Rebert Anderson, James Chalmers, John Ross, E. Williams, A. Sutherland, R. Hunter, Geo. and W. Humphries, J. Russel, Geo. Rodger, R. Shearing, Charles Evans, Charles Huggins, J. W. Dick, W. Anderson, F. Peterson, William Armstrong. The service rendered by Mr James F. Chalmers is particularly praiseworthy in that he has acted continuously as secretary of the Wild Bush School committee for 24 years. The school wishes also' at this time to acknowledge the courtesy and consideration it has always received from the Southland Education Board. Through the years no reasonable request for advice and assistance has been refused. During recent years, when good loading and fast means of travel have made this possible, the board has specially shown its willingness to encourage country schools by visiting on special occasions. In 1923 the board was represented at the dedication of the Memorial Gates at Wild Bush School' and participated in the ceremony. In 1927 and 1928, six members of the board and the senior inspector visited the school to present the silver cups donated by J. D. Trotter, Esq., and won by the pupils of Wild Bush School in the school garden section of the Southland A. and P. Association Winter Show in those years. Th- writer of this brief history of Wild Bush intends at a later date to publish an article dealing with the Pourakiho as a waterway, reading and communication in Wild Bush and mining and milling in the Longwoods, treating each from the early days of settlement, '