OLD PHOTOGRAPH.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 20 August 1937, Page 2

OLD PHOTOGRAPH.

NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS. EARLY THAMES TEACHERS. The great interest being taken in the early history of Thames prompted the “Star” to inquire for particulars regarding the photograph which is published again to-day. As a result, we are able to publish tho following interesting description, and thus preserve for the future one incident in Thames history which may' easily have slipped into oblivion: — The photograph was taken at the old Kauaeranga School, which stood on the site of the present High 'School. It was taken one Saturday morning about 1887, by the late Mr. John Grigg, who had a place of business in Pollen Street in premises now occupied by Edwin Brown and Co. Mr. Grigg was employed by the Auckland Education Board as instructor in singing for tho Thames primary schools, and on Saturdays, from 12 to 1, he gave teachers of the Thames schools instruction in the Tonic Sol-fa Method. It was after one of these lessons that tlie photo was taken.

The teachers assembled every Saturday morning in the old Kauaeranga Boys’ School from 9 until 1 p.m. Mr. Horatio Phillips, tlie principal, gave instructions in school method and in drawing; then Mr. W. J. Barlow, drill instructor, took over the teachers for physical and military drill. Mr. Grigg followed with one hour for singing. The teachers are, reading from extreme left:—Fred Lough, pupil teacher, at back Wm. Elgar Johns, p.t., James Christie, aksista'nt-master Waiokaraka school, later headmaster of Waiotahi Greek school, and Bayfield school, Auckland; Albert Gerring, assistant master, Kauaeranga Boys’ School; others in back row, Miss Wilson, Miss J. Paterson; then in centre, Mr. Horatio Phillips, headmaster of the Kauaeranga School, Crowther, Miss Wolff, W. Hammond, p.t. (back row; in front, A. Chas. Hill, p.t., W. Simmonds, p.t., W. H. V. Hall, Mr. Taylor, assistant teacher at Parawai School. Middle row, from left: Miss Kate Fletcher, Miss F. Flet clicr, Miss Gibb, Miss Ashman, Miss K. Mulvany, Miss Ryan, Mrs. H. Phillips, Miss Colebrook. Front row, from left: Miss Truscott, Miss A. Hall, Miss Murrish, Miss-Brown, —, Miss Gibbons, Miss McQuade, Miss M. McLaughlin, —, Miss Goad. One in the back row may be Miss Jessie Heighway. Among the males, Messrs. Jas. Christie, A. Gerring, 11. Phillips, M. W. Simmonds and Taylor are deceased. Messrs. F. Lough, W. E. o'olvns. W. Hammond, Chas. Hill, W. H. V. Hall are still living.