EARLY HOKITIKA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 10

EARLY HOKITIKA.

More Pioneer Residents Recalled. (Special to the “ Star.”) HOKITIKA, December S. As the jubilee of Hokitika approaches, still more names of the early identities are being brought to the notice of the executive which is compiling a register of the first residents of Hokitika, and many interesting details and personalities are recalled. Among the first arrivals was Mr Charles Downie, of Murchison, who came here in 1865, from Melbourne. His son is the present chairman of the Murchison County Council. Mr James Thompson, of Oxford, who will be a visitor here this month, is the son of the late Captain Thompson, formerly harbourmaster at Okarito. He is able to remember when the Racing Club held its meeting at Clapcott’s paddock on the south side of the river. Mr Herbert Williams still resides on the spot selected by his father, the late Mr William Williams, in 1867, and in those days the family had to travel along the beach and thence by bush track to the dwelling in what later became Fitzherbert. Street North. Mr Joseph Brocklehurst was their guide. Mrs S. R. Honey, of Hokitika, and formerly of Callaghan’s, arrived with her parents. Mr and Mrs John Havill, from Auckland in 186 4. Others included in th*e pioneer band are Mrs Atkinson. of Hornby, the daughter of an official, Mr Robert Ferguson, who was here In 1869; Mrs M. Henderson, of Hokitika; Mrs Dempsey and Mrs Phelan, of Ruatapu. Education in the Seventies. Among the early schools in Hokitika was a private institution conducted by Mrs Dunbar. Then there, was Scott’s Academy, conducted under Presbyterian influence. Jt was taken over under the State system in 1876. Ths State School at the start was under the supervision of Mr E. B. Dixon, who, with two other masters, Messrs Soundy and Plaston, and a mistress, came from Victoria. Included among the pupils at this stage were Herbert Williams, Jim and George Shields, Solomon and Moses Goulston, Colin Macfarlane, George Park, Peter Helming and Adam Ellis. In 1870 the roll strength in the private schools was a*s follows:—St Mary’s 81, All Saints’ 80, Presbyterian 63 and ® u * b Spit 21. In the same year an effort was made to form a high school, but this was not realised until later. The first school committee was Messrs C. Reid (chairman), J. Churches, J. Mulligan. G. G. Fitzgerald, R. Patterson and W. G. Johnston.

The Central Boarl of Education, established in 1874, was as follows;—Messrs Fitzgerald (chairman), Seddon, Gibson, Patten. Revell, Mueller and Kenrick with Mr E. T. Robinson as secretary