JUBILEE PROJECT.

Wairarapa Age, 30 July 1936, Page 5

JUBILEE PROJECT.

MASTERTON’S FIRST STATE SCHOOL. PRELIMINARY PROPOSALS. At a well-attended meeting last night, preliminary steps were taken to arrange for the diamond jubilee celebrations, to be held next year, of the Masterton State School, now known as the Central School. A strong organising committee was set up and it was decided that a small committee confer with the Masterton Borough Council and the Masterton A. and P. Association regarding the jubilee celebrations the two bodies propose to hold next year. Considerable enthusiasm was displayed regarding the proposals. Mr. G. R. Sykes, who presided, said the meeting had been called for the purpose of setting up a strong committee to make arrangements for the celebrations next year of the diamond jubilee of the first State school, now known as the Central School, in Masterton. The convenors felt that they would be neglecting their duty if they did not organise a celebration fitting for a town of the size of Masterton. As far as could be ascertained, the first State school in Masterton was opened in 1877 and was situated at the rear of the present Technical School. In 1881 or 1883 the Central School was erected and the pupils transferred to the new building. It was decided that thosQ present form themselves into a committee to organise a fitting celebration of the diamond jubilee of the Masterton State School (Central School). Mr. W. H. Jackson said that the four headmasters who had been in charge of the Central School in the past 56 years were all alive to-day. Mr. W. J. Grundy was in charge of the new school from 1880 to 1888 and he himself was then headmaster from 1889 to 1923 when he was succeeded by Mr. R. C. Drummond. Mr. Drummond retired in 1933, when the present headmaster, Mr. E. G. Coddington took charge, I 1 Messrs Sykes, C. W. Perry, W. H’ Jackson and A. H. Vile were appointed a committee to confer with the Borough Council and the A. and P. Association.

It was decided to invite local members of the Wellington Education Board, the Central School Committee and the Central School Parents’ Association to attend the next meeting of the committee.