Logbook - 1883

1883

24 January 1883

The following is the report of the Tenui School Committee for the year 1882:--

The annual meeting of householders was held on January 24, and the following persons elected a Committee, viz., Messrs Mackay, Nicholls, Groves, Bellis, Knight, Stilborn, and Perry. 

The Committee have found it necessary to bring the compulsory clause of the Act into operation, Constable Darby acting as Truant Inspector. The result of this step coupled with appointment of a teacher, who is painstaking and popular, is a marked increase in the attendance. 

The School accommodation is now quite inadequate for the number of children, and a very great degree of discomfort is felt, especially during hot weather. On this point Mr Ward under date November 27 writes:-- 

"The schoolroom is wretchedly ventilated and if rough weather such as that on Friday last be experienced I fear the health of the children will suffer very much. I had thirty cooped up in that small room (20ft x 14ft) on that day and two of theni had to leave the room in consequence of the heat." 

From the very limited space in the School, difficulty is experienced in hanging maps, childrens' hats and bags. 

The schoolroom has also to be used as a place of shelter during play hours in wet weather, the consequence being that it presents a scene of disorder; and the Government property in it is damaged more or less; for it is almost impossible for the teacher to keep the children in order during play hours when three-fourths of the whole number may be termed infants, and the elder children are not old enough to be placed "in charge." 

With a view, therefore of providing suitable accommodation, the Committee would suggest that the schoolroom should be enlarged by having a leanto with a porch added to it, and also that a small shed should be erected for the children to play in during weather. The Committee further suggest that Mr Lee be requested to report to the Education Board on this subject, when he next visits the district.

The examination not having taken place it is impossible for the Committee to report what progress the children have made since Mr Ward's appointment. 

The attention of the Board was directed in last year's report to the fact of the examinations not being held until after the vacation, but apparently no notice has been taken of the complaint. It seems hard and unfair that year after year this particular school should suffer in this way. 

Mr Ward appears to give satisfaction to parents, and hopes are entertained that we may keep his services if his salary is increased to the amount given to the former teacher. The stipend having been reduced from £140 to £100 on the smallness of attendance, now that it has increased again, there can be no valid reason why the teacher should not receive the extra £40. 

The Committee for 1883 will have to commence their, labors with the small credit balance of 1s 8d. The total receipts dating the past year amount to £22 4s 10d, and the expenditure £21 13s 1d, the main outlay being for repairs to the school building and property. Herewith is abstract of School Fund Accounts duly audited. 

Thomas Mackay,
Chairman Tenui School Committee.
January 23rd 1883.

29th January 

Attendance of 15, 11 boys and 4 girls, small attendance to be accounted for by sickness 

2nd February 

Schoolroom oppressively hot. The two visiting members of the committee paid a visit to the school today and found everything in a satisfactory state, with the exception of the ventilation 

6th February 

Notice from the Inspector that he would examine the school on Saturday the 3rd March. 

Wrote to chairman of committee for permission to give children a holiday on the 13th for Forester’s Fete and informing him of inspector's visit. 

7th February 

Weather still very oppressive. Received intimation that Mr Groves had removed Albert from the school 

13th February 

School closed for Foresters' Fete 

14th February 

Hot and Oppressive attendance 18. Margaret Newcombe absented herself today, sent a note enquiring cause of absence 

15th February 

Schoolroom fearfully close and uncomfortable, Margaret Newcombe present, explained her absence yesterday saying she had a bad headache through being at the ball the previous night, punished her, and told her that if her mother gave her permission to go to dances would not allow her to absent herself from school on that account 

19th February 

Edward Hughes new pupil.

1st March 

Wrote to Mrs Telford requesting her to send her children to school. 

5th March 

Mrs Knight scrubbed schoolroom on Saturday 3rd.

On account of having preparations to make for inspector’s visit, dismissed the school at 2.30 

6th March 

Robert Lee Inspector wrote. 

I examined the school today when 25 children were present out of 37 on the books. A poor attendance but the day was wet. Mr Mackay and Mr Perry saw me in reference to the school accommodation and a larger room is much needed, and I will report this to the Education Board to that effect, and make recommendations as to the schoolroom required. The work today in Standard 3 and 4 was weak in arithmetic and writing. The percentage of passes in the whole school was 72, all the pupils in the English class (Standard 2) passing. The whole of the present building requires slight repairs and new paper and paint. 

Standard 1: 5 presented, 4 passed.
Standard 2: 9 presented, 9 passed.
Standard 3: 2 presented, 0 passed
Standard 4: 2 presented, 0 passed.

8th, 9th March 

Holidays for races sanctioned by the Inspector and Committee 

15th March 

Received notice from Mr Darby that he would remove his 2 children from the school at the end of the week as he is going to leave Ti Nui 

21st March 

Peter Carleton started 

22nd March 

Committee met last evening, decided to have sports etc.. on the 28th inst.

28th March 

School Fete and distribution of prizes 

28th March 1883 

The Inspector recommended the Board to erect a small school at Tinui apart from the dwellinghouse, which also required papering and repairing. It was resolved to call for tenders for the work to be undertaken early in the spring.  

It was decided to pay 5 pound for a sewing teacher 

31st March 

Mrs Knight scrubbed out schoolroom 

3rd April 

On account of the glazier having to put some panes into the schoolroom window I was obliged to dismiss the school at 2.00 

6th April 

Very hard frost last night 

11th April 

Norman Owen returned to school after 14 days holiday 

12th April 

Mrs Knight called on me this morning requesting me to let her boys home every day at 3.00, which I granted on condition that they remain till the usual hour as soon as she moves to another house. 

16th April 

Attendance small, 12, in consequence of the wet, and being without firewood, I sent the children home at the dinner hour 

18th April 

Mr Millar wrote informing me that he could not send his son to school, as there is no fire. 

18th April

19th April Weather fine but cold, no fire in schoolroom yet, not having any wood 

20th April 

Received notice from chairman of School Committee that a meeting would be held on the 2nd May and authorising me to order some firewood. 

Mr Robert Lee, the Inspector of Schools, for the Wellington district reported:

No passes were made in the higher Standards at the Tenui School, and the result of the examination is only looked upon as moderately satisfactory.  

23rd April 

New pupil Florence Granger 

25th April 

Had fire in schoolroom for first time today, weather cold.

27th April 

Wet day - only 4 girls present 

2nd May 

24 present. Fine days, but roads in a terrible mess 

3rd May. 

Committee met last evening 6.30 

7th May 

Mr Groves put tin in front of school, in front room fireplace also. 

10th May 

J O’Connor asked permission to absent at 12.00 which I granted, but he returned in the afternoon, not being able to execute his commission 

15th May 

James O’Connor came to school first time today since Xmas 1882, 38 now on the books 

16th May 

Roads drying. Gave John and James O’Connor 2 strokes on the hand for loitering on the road to school. It being 10.15 when they reached the school room. 

21st May 

Emilie Granger put into 3rd class. New pupil 

22nd May 

Weather very damp and disagreeable, the playground and all round the house being terribly wet and muddy, and badly in want of gravelling 

24th May 

This being the Queen’s Birthday I decided on keeping the school open, and giving tomorrow as the holiday, attendance 26 

28th May 

Received notice from chairman that Committee would meet on Friday 8th June 

29th May 

Mary Stilborn called to say she would not be at school until the roads dried out 

31st May 

Blowing hard. Gave Norman and Bobby Owen 2 strokes each on the hand for being late for school. Mr Groves has been at work at the fences for the last two days 

5th June 

The Stilborns came to school again, the roads having so much improved. 

18th June 

The weather has been fine all week. The O’Connors have been absent all week potato digging. 

Committee met 5 pm 

11th to 22nd May 

Being confined to my bed with a severe attack of Lumbago the school was closed for two weeks. 

18th July 

16 desks arrived for school and 1 master’s desk 

23rd July 

Willie Miller returned to school after a lengthened absence. Mr Perry called to inspect desks 

25th - 27th 

School closed, pouring wet day. No attendance of scholars. River rose to a peak height on the 26th and 27th. 

31st July 

Visited school today with Mr Perry, found everything is satisfactory and children were tested. 

New desks are rather small. T Mackay Mr Perry and Mr Mackay complained that new desks were too low 

20th August 

John Stelin came to school after 5 weeks' absence and John O’Connor after 9 weeks absence 

22nd August 

Margaret and Sarah Newcombe asked permission to absent themselves from the dinner hour which I granted. Emily Grainger went home at dinner hour without leave 

23rd August 

Gave Emily Grainger 2 strokes on the hand with the cane for playing truant yesterday afternoon and for telling me a lie 

24th August 

Bitterly cold day. Attendance 21: 18 boys and only 3 girls.

27th August 

Emma Stelin started school 

29th August 

Percy Bellis came today for first time since May 

31st August 

Very wet day, only 2 children present beside my own 

3rd September 

Tommy Knight at home sick.

5th August 

Showery day but not sufficiently wet to prevent children coming to school, though I am sorry to say a few did absence themselves under that excuse. 

6th September 

Emily and Florence Grainger for being absent from school yesterday, taking away 3 marks from each. 

7th September 

Showery and cold in the morning, dismissed the school at 11 am on account of the cold in the morning, having no firewood. 

Emily Granger and Sarah Newcombe absent from school but able to walk about Ti Nui township. 

10th September 

No firewood closed school at the dinner time. New pupil Stephen Oliver 

11th September 

School closed at dinner hour on account of cold. 

12th September. 

Closed school again at dinner time. Mr Bellis brought a load of wood this afternoon for use of the school 

13th September 

Weather still very cold. Had fire in classroom 

25th September 

Gave Maurice Knight 4 strokes on the hand for telling me a deliberate falsehood. 

2nd October 

The 2 Stilborn girls returned to school after an absence of 15 weeks. They brought their brother Burton Stilborn to school for the first time. 

3rd October

Weather getting very hot Attendance 29.

4th October 

The sewing mistress reported to me that she had severely reprimanded Mary Stilborn for telling lies. 

5th October 

The classroom is getting overcrowded and consequently oppressively hot. 

Mrs Knight scrubbed school room 

10th October 

In consequence of Mrs Wards' sudden illness I closed the school for the day. 

11th October 

Small attendance 23, the children not knowing the school was open. 

15th October 

Mrs Ward not being able to attend to sewing class I instructed Ellen Telford to take charge of it. Emma Stilborn brought no work, told her to bring it on Thursday 

17th October 

Closed the school on account of Mr Peach’s death.

Mr Charles Peach, an old and respeoted settler at Tenui, died early this morning after a long illness,  

18th October 

Weather threatening for rain blowing very hard, attendance 28. Emma Stilborn brought no work, punished her by keeping her in at 3.30. Mrs Ward not yet able to attend sewing class. 

19th October 

School closed at Dinner Time for the purpose of attending Mr Peach’s funeral. 

Received by post 36 inkwells for desks 

22nd October 

Mrs Ward resumed her class. 

25th October 

Very Hot weather. Classroom oppressive 

29th October 

Mrs Ward again unable to attend her class, placed Ellen Telford in charge 

31st October 1883 

Plans for the Tinui School were approved, and tenders ordered to be called for by Thomas Turnbull, Architect, Education Board.

1st November 

Put Annie Ward in charge of sewing class. 

7th November 

Received notice of Committee meeting for Saturday 

10th–11th November 

Fine weather has been experienced throughout this week but the attendance has been interfered with through shearing and whooping cough 

12th November 

Mrs Knight scrubbed room. Committee met (10th) 7 pm 

A curious affection of the eyes is keeping a number of the children from school. Attendance 28.

13th November 

Applied for and obtained leave of absence for one week for Mr Ward on the score of ill health 

14th November 

John Stelin absent shearing 

19th November 

Mrs Ward resumed her duties as sewing mistress. Stelin still absent shearing 

21st November 

The children who had been kept from school on account of sore eyes have not yet returned, attendance 18 

The Committee gave the children a holiday on the 12th to witness a cricket match which was played at Langdale. 

28th November 

Mr. T. L. Ward asked to be removed from the Tinui School . No action was taken 

Tenders for works at Tinui were opened, and those Mr. A. Cleghorn were accepted. 

21st December 

Addressed children on various subjects and awarded prizes and dismissed the school for the Christmas holidays at 12.30 pm.

1882 | 1884