OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 23987, 30 November 1939, Page 15

OBITUARY

FORMER PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL

MISS C. M. CRUICKSHANK

In Christchurch recently the death occurred of Miss Christina Murray Cruickshank, one of the most loved and revered figures in education circles in New Zealand. Miss Cruickshank had a brilliant career as a student, and achieved great success as a teacher. She was born in Palmerston in 1873, educated at Shag Valley School and Pal—merston District High -School, and later at the Otago Girls’ High School, Dunedin, where, with her twin sister, the late Dr M. B. Cruickshank, she was dux. She gained a junior university scholarship and continued her studies at Otago University, graduating M.A. with honours and Master of Science.

Miss Cruickshank began her teaching career in 1896 at Kyebum, and two years later joined the staff of Prince Albert College, Auckland. Later she taught for a short time at the Otago Girls’ High School, and for five years at the Timaru Girls’ High School. In 1907 Miss Cruickshank was appointed principal of the Southland Girls High School, which position she held until 1911. Although she was one of Otago University’s most brilliant daughters, it is her striking personality rather than her scholarly attainments by which she is remembered. Her keen sense of duty and her efforts to cultivate in her pupils those qualities which make for strength of character, made every girl who came under her influence love and admire her. . In 1911 she was appointed principal of Wanganui Girls’ College, a position which she held for 20 years. dter her retirement in 1931, Miss Cruickshank lived for some time at Cashmere Hills, Christchurch, where she had many friends and admirers. On her return from a visit to England and Scotland, she revisited Wanganui, where she was honoured at many gatherings arranged by her former pupils and friends. Miss Cruickshank was an energetic, dignified woman of great mental and spiritual gifts, who exerted a powerful influence for good on the many hundreds of girls who passed through her hands during the 35 years she devoted to teaching. Tributes to her memory were paid at the meeting of the Board of Governors last week.