DILWORTH SCHOOL.

Waipa Post, Volume 39, Issue 3088, 12 December 1929, Page 3

DILWORTH SCHOOL.

ULSTERMAN’S GIFT TO HIS ADOPTED COUNTRY.

Quite one of the most interesting and informative reviews of the Dilworth School appeared recently in the Belfast Weekly Telegraph, and we publish it below for information of our readers.

There is no doubt that the people of Ulster are in character particularly well suited to become pioneers in the Dominions and in foreign lands, descended as many of them are from families which came to Ireland at the time of the Plantation, they have inherited the tenacity and determination of their forefathers, and to them a removal of a new country and the effort to make good in it are but a repir tition of their history. In the North Island of New Zealand, which was in early days called New Ulster, are many families of Northern Irish origin. They came in sailing vessels, which to travellers of the present day seem to have taken a truly weary time to complete the voyage. Even to contemplate embarking on such a journey required great courage and initiative, but embark they did, men, women and children, and that in many cases their enterprise was rewarded with success is evident to anyone living In New Zealand to-day. An Ulster name which is held in great esteem in Auckland-is that of James Dilworth. Born near the town of Dungannon, in Co. Tyrone, In the year 1815, and educated at Dungannon Royal School. He helped his father in the management of their farm for several years, and then in 1839 sailed for New South Wales, where he obtained an appointment in the Post Office. He did not remain in Australia for long, however, as in 1841 he went to Auckland and proceeded to travel extensively looking for land. That his journeyings were arduous may be safely concluded, as even in these days of rapid development and extensive road-making, travelling in many districts Is still difficult enough. ESTATE AT REMUERA.

After some time Mr Dilworth returned to Auckland, where he joined the New Zealand Banking Company, and it was while he was in this company that he bought land from the Macris at Remuera, then still a country district, but now Auckland’s most fashionable residential area.

When Mr Dilworth left the bank he went to live on his Remuera estate, which he farmed.

It is a somewhat strange fact that his farm stock included black llamas, which he kept for their wool. These animals were naturally a great source of interest to the children of the neighbourhood, who were attracted by their unusual appearance and also by their habit of spitting over the bolder spirits who entered on a too close inspection. Mr Dilworth continued to live at Remuera until his death in 1894. Contrary to what one would have expected of an Ulsterman, Mr Dilworth was very little interested in politics. He, however, took a prominent part'in public affairs, and was for some time a member of the Provincial Council. He was also one of the founders of the Auckland Savings Bank, an excellent institution, under private management, which has the reputation of giving generously to charitable objects.

-Mr Dilworth was deeply interested in educational and church matters, and was a member of the University College Council and of the Diocesan Board. INSTITUTE FOR BOYS.

By his will, after providing for relatives and friends, Mr Dilworth bequeathed the major part of his fortune to trustees who were directed to establish “An institute to be called the Dilworth Ulster Institute, with the object of affording to boys of the classes hereafter mentioned such maintenance, education, and training as will enable them to become good and useful members of society.” The will also provided that the “ Trustees shall select so many boys of sound mental and bodily health, being orphans or sons of persons of good character, and of any race as in the opinion of the trustees, the income available will be sufficient to support and educate; the boys so selected must be either destitute or orphans or children of parents in straitened circumstances, residents in the Province of Auckland or in the Province of Ulster, in Ireland.” It was further stipulated that the children were to be brought up as members of the Church of England, and that the bishop of the diocese of Auckland should be appointed a visitor to the institute. The trustees were also directed by deed that when the assured annual income of the estate amounted to £5,000 they were to proceed to accumulate a sum of £IO,OOO with which to erect institute buildings at Remuera. The estate held by the trustees for there purposes comprises very valuable property in the City of Auckland and the Borough of Parnell and a large area of land in the suburbs of Remuera and Penrose, besides country property. SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL. In 1903 the schools opened with a handful of boys. To-day a hundred and thirty are boarded and educated. A member of the school board is at present in England, where he is visiting the most up-to-date education establishments, and soon the ei’ection of new f institute buildings, large enough to accommodate three hundred boys, will be commenced.

Boys are accepted between the ages of seven and ten (it is considered that children over that age would not be so amenable to training); they usually remain in the institute until they are fifteen.

A year ago secondary education was introduced, and if a boy shows special promise, the Board defrays for him the expense of a University career.

At present the old homestead in. which Mr Dilworth lived forms the main building of the school; it is approached by a straight drive about a hundred and fifty yards in length and flanked on each side by flower boarders, and beyond by park-like grounds in which are growing several British trees. There are also many native New Zealand trees, and among them two fine young specimens of the Kawie pine, the most wonderful tim-ber-producing tree in the world. Where the drive widens into the gravel sweep in front of the house, stand two immense magnolias with rounded head of handsome dark foliage, starred with large white water lily-like flowers.

SPACIOUS ROOMS. Although the house, like most New Zealand houses, is a wooden one, the interior is reminiscent of the Old Country. The rooms are lofty and well proportioned, the fireplaces large and the grates capacious; everything has an air of comfort and stability. Out of the hall rises a wide flight of shallow-stepped stairs which curve gracefully to the upper story. No doubt the rooms were built in the style of the Old Country, but now most of them have been altered and several thrown together to form dormitories, fine airy rooms with abundant window space and bare polished floors, and everything arranged for cleanliness and a plentiful supply of fresh air.

The classrooms are on the ground floor in a part of the house which must have been added to the original building; they are fitted with modern desks, and, like the dormitories, are airy and well lighted. The dining hall is a separate building and is situated a little to the rear of the house, and close to it is the workshop, where the boys are taught carpentery. Behind the workshop lie the extensive playing fields.

It is sometimes remarked that it is strange that so few people in Ulster have taken advantage of the opportunities offered by the Dilworth Institute by sending out their children to be educated there,' but it is easily understood that the age at which the boys are admitted would be a great deterrent. Very few parents, unless forced by dire necessity, would bewilling to send a child of under ten years such a long journey to a country almost as far removed from Ireland as it is possible to be, the distance probably prohibiting their seeing their child for many years and perhaps for always. Nevertheless, some boys have been sent to the institute from Ireland, but they have naturally been very few in number, and the pupils are almost entirely drawn fro New Zealand families and from Ulster families settled in New Zealand. WELL CARED FOR.

The boys appear to be an exceedingly cheery, healthy crowd; they are simply, but well cared for, the board even providing them with pocket money.

In addition to the teaching staff there is a kindly matron, who attends to the general household management, and takes personal charge of any boys who are ill. She is evidently exceedingly popular with the boys, and her keen interest in everything concerned with the institute makes this lady a delightful guide to any visitors who are fortunate enough to be shown over the buildings by her. With a frontage to Auckland’s most important street stands the large block of the Dilworth buildings, the site of which is said to have been bought by Mr Dilworth in Auckland’s early days for only £l7O. A small tablet is inserted in the side wall of the entrance and on it is engraved:— “ This building is a part of the bequest of James Dilworth, an early Auckland settler, to found and maintain a school for boys to make them good and useful citizens. The wealth you give away is the only wealth you will always possess.”