Logbook - 1903

1902 | 1904

1903 

Henry Sutton came direct to Tenui from Birmingham with wife Ellen. 

His daughter Ellen Maud was in Standard 7 at the Tenui school. (Edith Maud born 24/06/89). Last school Aston, Birmingham. 

On 4 September 1913 the Rev John Sykes, former vicar of Tinui Parish, married Ellen Sutton to William James Hands in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Tinui. Hands was an Anglican priest, from Birmingham. He served as Vicar of Tinui Parish between 1912 and 1915.  

Henry and his wife Ellen lived at Calcutta Street, Wellington

Henry Died in 1938. Ellen in 1943. W J Hands was working at Khandallah church in 1922. 

24th January 

Mrs Crisp complained that the other children teased her daughter Sarah and behaved rudely to her. 

26th January 

School reopened after the Xmas Holidays. 

Received from the School Committee six additional pairs of Indian Clubs for the use of the smaller children 

6th February 

Miss Belliss, sewing mistress, did not attend this afternoon for sewing lesson. Girls did sewing without supervision 

10th February 

Member of the School Committee, assisted by Bert Schofield cleaned out the tank (at the back of the school) which supplies drinking water for the scholars. The water was very dirty 

14th February 

The school clock, which had been taken away at the beginning of the last holiday to be cleaned and repaired, was returned in good condition and rehung. 

20th February 

Mrs H Sutton, having been appointed by the School Committee to succeed Miss Bellis (resigned), to charge of the girls' sewing. 

The average attendance was low owing to several scholars who went to the agricultural show in Masterton 

21st February 

A new axe and new saw for cutting firewood were supplied by the School Committee 

3rd March 

Albert Hancock visiting member wrote::

Slight smells at WC’s, think the School Committee should at once order timber to make culverts for the open drains near shelter sheds. 

6th March 

Mr F H Bakewell, inspector, wrote:

• I found the school in a very depressed state 

• Class subjects are very backward 

• In view of the extremely backward state of the children I would recommend Mr Sutton to group his classes 

• Mr Sutton has by no means an easy task in front of him and I trust that he will receive every assistance from the Committee and Parents in carrying out his arduous duties. 

• The condition of the exercise books and drawing books, slates etc. would indicate a lack of proper supervision and systematic instruction in the past 

• The new teacher Mr Sutton is alive to the requirements of the case.

18th March 

Roll 39 

26th March 

Leo and Richard Stratford arrived at 11.30 this morning. Their attendances were therefore not recorded. They had been delayed by some difficulty in catching their horse. 

3rd April 

Owing to rain falling this afternoon, drill was postponed till the afternoon of Monday, April 6th.

14th April 

A small supply of firewood for school was brought by Mr Belliss 

18th April 

Sent to Wellington Education Board re the disposal of the contents of privy pans and cesspits. 

23rd April 

Sixteen pupils were permitted to leave at their parent’s requests at twenty minutes before 3 O’clock in order to attend the Harvest Festival Service in the church at 3 O’clock.

Harvest Thanksgiving Services were held at the Church of The Good Shepherd, Tenui, on Thursday afternoon last, at 3 o'clock. The Church, which was decorated with fruit, flowers, vegetables and grain, looked very pretty and was greatly admired, this being the first time such a service has been held at Tenui. The sermon was preached by the vicar, from the words of Isaiah 9ch 3v ; "They joy before Thee according to the joy at harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil." The collection was given to the Blairlogie Church Building Fund.  

24th April 

School was closed for the day with permission of the Wellington Education Board. 

After sports in the afternoon, the children adjourned to the Public Hall for tea. About 5.30 Prizes were distributed by the Rev J H Sykes and the evening closed with games and dancing 

The annual sports and treat of the Tenui State School took place on Friday afternoon last. The parents, scholars and friends assembled in Mr Maunsell's paddock (kindly lent for the occasion), where much interest was taken in the sports, which were well contested. 

After the sports, a large gathering took place in the Public Hall, where tea was provided for old and young alike, and full justice was done to the good things provided. 

After tea and a number of games the prizes were presented by the Rev. J H. Sykes, who delivered a short address on education. The following is the prize list:—

Standard Vl—Edith Sutton and Annie Perry.
Standard V—Rupert Perry and Iris Stratford.
Standard IV— Mary Johnston.
Standard lll—Mary McGluckin [McGuckin], Clarence Schofield and Edith Nicholls.
Standard ll—Doris Hancock, Laurie F. Hill and Violet Hill.
Standard I—John Johnston, Ellen Groves, William Groves and Thomas Hancock.
Infants—Rewi Speedy, Nora Speedy, Lucy Perry, Lester Foreman, Clarence Hill, Alfred Mclsaac, Sarah Crisp, Maud Schofield and Maud Speedy. 

Dancing then took place, and was joined in by a large number of both old and young. The proceedings, which aroused a large amount of interest, were most successful. 

8th May 

A fire was lighted in school the first this season.

Man arrived from Masterton to carry out certain repairs to school and residence 

13th May 

Boy McGuckin unable to use right hand, which was trodden on by the pony yesterday. During the dinner hour McGuckin trod on Rupert Perry’s wrist which deprived him of the use of his right hand this afternoon 

13th May 

Received instructions from the Wellington Education Board for the due observance of “Empire Day” on the late Queen’s birthday

May 24th. 

This year the day will be deemed to be May 25th as the 24th falls on Sunday, 19th May 

Learnt that Arthur Schofield, who broke his leg a few weeks ago is to be sent to Wellington for school, until after the next midsummer holiday.

25th May 

Empire Day. 

The scholars assembled at 9.30. Two members of the School Committee (Messrs Hancock and Perry) attended. After a short explanatory address in school, the pupils formed in line round the flag and sang the National Anthem. After giving three cheers for the King and a second salute, the children were dismissed for the remainder of the day. 

28th May 

William and Ellen Groves arrived at a quarter before twelve, too late for their attendances to be registered. They travel about 4 miles. 

3rd June 

Prince of Wales' Birthday. Owing to an oversight of the Board’s regulation, morning school was held as usual. The discovery that the day should be observed as a holiday, was made during the morning.  The scholars were dismissed at 12.30 for the remainder of the day.

5th June 

Boy Lester Forman again too late to have his attendance registered. Arrived at 11.45 a.m. Comes about 7 miles to school 

8th June 

Visited the school and grounds. Found all the closets etc. in clean condition, the boys' urinal requires a new downpipe, as at present there is a deal of smell through the downpipe being blocked. 

Both taps on the tank are leaking badly, the one on the boys' side is turned half round. 

The school was as clean as can be expected at this time of the year with sloppy roads. The attendance was 34. 

School Committee visiting member.

24th June 

Another wet morning after a rough, windy and stormy night. Tom Hancock fell into the river, which was very full during the dinner hour. He was sent home and did not return for the afternoon. 

30th June 

Ethel Maud Mason, of Whakataki, attended school this morning but, as she only intended to attend for the remainder of the week, her name was not entered in the register 

29th July 

Fourteen scholars were absent in the afternoon after attending on the morning, in order to attend the funeral of a former pupil of the school, Edward Madden, who was unfortunately drowned when attempting to ford a stream while in full flood.

Te Nui, This Day. Edward Madden, aged seventeen, employed as a shepherd at Blairlogie, was drowned on Sunday morning, while crossing the Whareama river. The body was recovered at two o'clock on Monday. An inquest will be held this afternoon. 

Poor Ted Madden's death has cast quite a gloom over this district. The family are well known and are highly respected. 

It appears that he left Blairlogie on Saturday evening, and spent the night at the residence of Mr White. Sunday morning he started for home, intending to be back in time for Divine Service at Blairlogie in the evening.  In attempting to ford the Whareama River, near Mr Birkett's cottage, he unfortunately met his death; the horse coming out at the place where it entered the river. 

He was of a quiet, happy disposition, and was on the best of terms with ali his fellow employés. 

At the inquest, held on Tuesday, Mr Thos. Cripps, J.P., Acting-Coroner, presiding, a verdict of "accidentally drowned" was returned. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon, at Tenui Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Rev. J. H. Sykes. A very large number of settlers followed the remains, together with most of the employés of lca and Blairlogie, testifying to the general regret which is fell. Deep sympathy is felt for ail the members of deceased's family.  

5th August 

In accordance with the wish of the School Committee, the children were strictly forbidden to go near the river in future. 

26th August 

The boy Alfred McIsaac received four stripes on the hands, as a punishment for a second offence in making use of dirty language 

25th September 

Every scholar on the roll was present today. 40 children 

9th October 

The scholars having received subscriptions from parents and friends in the district to the extent of £5, this day secured a new set of cricket things and began play in the school ground 

15th October 

Ellen Groves, owing to severe tooth ache, was unable to do any lessons during the holiday 

20th October 

Edith Nicholls received a blow on the head from the cricket ball, during the dinner hour, and was unable to [do] the lessons in the afternoon. 

20th October 

Sent to the Wellington Education Board sketch plans showing area of floor space in the schoolroom and in each room of the teacher’s residence 

18th November 

Maud Schofield owing to some difficulty, in catching her horse, did not arrive at school until 11.30 a.m. 

A thunderstorm with heavy rain, came on during the dinner hour, and several pupils did not return for the afternoon. 

Owing to the teacher suffering from a severe attack of neuralgia the scholars were left to continue their work, without supervision from 2.15 to 3.20 when they were dismissed 

11th December 

No less than five children were suffering from the toothache at times during the day 

17th December 

A workman appointed by the School Committee was today engaged in making a culvert in front of the boys’ and Girls’ sheds and in deepening the drain across the boys’ playground.

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1902 | 1904