BOYHOOD DAYS

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6599, 14 May 1925, Page 5

BOYHOOD DAYS

SCHOOL IN LONDONDERRY William Ferguson Massey was born in Limavady, 16 miles from Londonderry, in 1856. His father, Mr John Massey, was a farmer, but resolving to emigrate, he sailed with his wife in 1862 for New Zealand. His boy William was left in the care of his grandmother, so that he might have an opportunity of acquiring more education than was possible in New Zealand at that time. Young William was sent to the national school at Limavady, where, in the words of his teacher (Mr Brandon), he showed himself “the smartest boy in the school.” He is said, however, to have shown one weakness in those early days - : he was always wanting to help those who were not so far on with their lessons as he was. If a sum was set William was sure to have it done quickly, and to have it right, and he would leave his slate down so that other boys less fortunate could see it. From his teacher’s point of view this, of course, was highly reprehensible, but William Massey liked to help those in He is described as having been “a reserved boy, and, like his father, a worker.” Beside the school in Limavady was the Church, in the Sabbath School of which the boy who was to be Prime Minister of New Zealand learned his catechism. Subsequently he went to live with his uncle, and from there he

was sent to a school in Londonderry, where he remained until 1870, when, at the age of 14 years, he joined his parents in New Zealand. On landing at Auckland young Massey joined his parents at Tamaki West, and helped his father on the farm for nearly three years. He then spent two or three years in the employment of Mr John Grigg, the original owner of the Longbeach estate in Canterbury, and then returned to Mangere to start farming on his own account.