Logbook - 1904

1903 | 1905

1904 

25th January 

School reopened. 37 present. 

Owing to measles in the house Austin, Edith and Ethel Nicholls were unable to return to school at present.

26th January 

Six of the pupils did not return in the afternoon, having gone to Blairlogie on the occasion of opening the new church [St Andrew's Anglican Church, Whareama].

1st February 

Dick Stratford did not arrive until 11.50. He had been delayed by the lameness of his horse. In the afternoon Dick Stratford was too unwell to do his lessons and therefore went home 

8th February 

Alfred McIsaac received 4 strokes on the hands for taking an apple from another boy’s kit. He has been several times warned against. stealing from kits in the porch. 

15th February 

Attendance for the day fell to 21 due to unsettled weather, combined with measles, influenza, illness after vaccination, the attractions of the show at Masterton and in one case to chicken pox. 

16th February 

Teddy McIsaac who was taken ill with chicken pox only three of four days back, appeared at school with scabs still unhealed. In accordance with a resolution of the School Committee, requesting the teacher to enforce the proper quarantine in cases of infectious diseases, he and his brother Alfred were sent home with a note requesting the parents to keep them at home during quarantine. 

17th February 

A workman appointed by the School Committee commenced to cut down the willows along the bank of the river at the far end of the playground. 

5th March 

The desks, walls and floor of the schoolroom were well scrubbed today 

9th March 

The quarterly examination commenced today- results to be submitted to the inspector at his visit on the 16th 

Several men were engaged in cutting down the willows along the river bank today.

School windows were cleaned in the afternoon. 

15th March 

The girls took sewing for the last hour today, at the request of the sewing mistress. 

Received word after afternoon school that the inspector, owing to a family bereavement, would not be able to attend next day. 

23rd March 

Annie Perry and Edith Sutton passed Standard 7 

30th March 

Annie Perry met with an accident during morning recess. She ran against a post while trying to catch a ball, and severely bruised her eye. She was unable to do lessons for the remainder of the day. 

6th April 

Annie Perry returned after her accident a week ago 

7th April 

Weather very wet, River in flood. Only 2 children attended in the morning, seven in the afternoon.

8th April 

The annual children’s treat and prize distribution took place today. Sports were held in the open air and at 5 O’clock the children adjourned to the hall for tea. This was followed by singing, recitations and dancing. 

At 10 O’clock the parents and friends took up dancing for the rest of the evening. 

The school was closed for the day 

15th April 

Girls took sewing for two hours from 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. 

The chairman of School Committee (Mr Speedy) assisted by his workman, spent all day yesterday and all this morning, in preparing and drawing driftwood, poplar and willow from the river, for school firewood. 

21st April 

Received one cord of firewood – manuka- for firewood. 

Inspector’s report: 

• Two candidates passed Standard 7 

• This school was in a depressed condition when Mr Sutton took charge. 

• The number of recent admissions and the irregular attendance of many of the children who have had to travel considerable distances to school have rendered the work of the year somewhat difficult 

• Taking these facts into consideration I am satisfied with the progress made by the children 

• The school is a difficult one to manage 

• The master is entitled to an assistant 

• The discipline is easy but I found the children obedient and I was pleased to notice a considerable improvement in their manners and general behaviour.

• I spent some time with Mr Sutton explaining the work of new syllabus 

• Two windows were broken 

• The schoolroom still leaks. The present urinal is too open to the playground 

• One office still has a pit.

• As capitation at the rate of ten shillings per head of the average attendance of girls can be earned for Needlework, provided two hours per week be given to the needlework [teacher?]

5th May 

Two workman, on the authority of the River Board, commenced cutting down the willows along the river bank within the school grounds. 

10th June 

Several still absent from mumps 

17th June 

Received from School Committee one dozen pairs of small clubs for use at drill 

29th June 

Clarence Hill fell into a pool of water during the morning recess and went home to change his clothes 

30th June 

A fowl, having entered the schoolroom during the dinner hour, broke a pane of glass in trying to escape through the window 

1st July 

The pane of glass broken yesterday was replaced this morning by the teacher 

22nd July 

Finley Hill, having fallen in a pool of water during the dinner hour and wet his clothes, was allowed to return home at 1.30 to change them 

30th July 

15 Boys rode to Blairlogie where they met a number of boys from Taueru School and played football for one hour. Taueru boys were the victors. 

5th August 

A workman was engaged in repairing the fence on the south side of the playground for the better protection of the ornamental trees. 

9th August 

At about twenty minutes after 10 O’clock the work of the school was interrupted by a violent earthquake, which threatened to bring down the building. The portion of the brick building above the roof was broken down, some of the bricks falling inside the chimney. 

Tin models, blackboards, easels and books were thrown down. 

The glass from broken vases and much soot strewed the floor. One pane of glass was cracked and a blind thrown down. 

The children were greatly alarmed and some of them much frightened. They were allowed to return home at once and the register was not marked. It was then found that the teacher’s residence had suffered severely.

The 1904 Cape Turnagain earthquake struck 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of Cape Turnagain on the morning of 9 August with a magnitude estimated at 6.8 Ms and 7.0–7.2 Mw.[2] It was felt throughout the North Island and upper South Island, with many communities within a 500 kilometres (310 mi) radius reporting noticeable ground shaking.[3] Heavy damage occurred to the landscape and personal property and one man died.[4] It was the largest to strike New Zealand since the 7.0 Mw North Canterbury earthquake in 1888.

Liquifaction was experienced at Whakataki and Castlepoint, along with slips and boulders falling at Tauweru. Slips and cracks in the earth appeared everywhere, especially along the coast.  

10th August 

Three members of the School Committee attended this morning to examine the school and residence. They removed the fallen bricks and mortar from roof and spouting and found the iron roof had been damaged. 5 holes being made in the iron. Many heads knocked off the nails and the spouting damaged. The down spouting was so arranged that the next rain would not enter the tank, owing to dirt on the roof and spouting. 

The teacher’s residence was seen to require much attention and it was decided that school should not reopen until next day. 

11th August 

Owing to the difficulty of obtaining labour it was found necessary for the teacher to execute temporary repairs [to the] the chimneys in the teacher’s residence, to clear and repair the roof, clear the spouting etc. and it was therefore decided that school should not reopen until Monday Morning. 

29th August 

J H Sykes Chairman writes. 

Visited the school. The day being beautifully fine there was a large attendance of pupils. The children seemed to be happy in their work. Discipline good. 

Stayed some time and saw several standards at work 

30th August 

The clerk of the works, Mr McDougall, visited the school this morning in company with Mr Hancock [member of the School Committee] to examine the buildings, and learn what repairs were necessary, to make good the damage done by the recent earthquake. 

1st September 

Three bricklayers, under the instructions from the Wellington Education Board, arrived to repair the damaged chimneys in school and residence. Arranged to start on the school chimney on Saturday. 

2nd September 

Teacher repairs 2 damaged window blinds in school room. 

5th September 

A workman, under instructions from School Committee, took out a tall poplar tree from the Girls’ playground, preparatory to laying out a tennis court for the use of the girls. Voluntary subscriptions had already been collected by the children to the amount of £6.7.0 for the work 

12th September 

William Groves complained shortly after afternoon commenced, of feeling unwell. He was unable to do any lessons for the remainder of the day. 

29th September 

The workman, lately engaged on the Tennis Court ground, completed the work today, having sown it with lawn seed. 

30th September 

With regard to an application from Mr. Forman, near Tenui, for a grant for schooling for his family, the applicant was advised to apply to the Department for the capitation allowance in terms of the Act 

13th October 

Nora Tuckett, during the first lesson- drawing- pushed a small piece of rubber up her nostrils. After several attempts to get it out, she was sent down to the doctor’s surgery 

26th October 

Leo and Richard Stratford arrived at school at 12.15 having, they said, been detained by their brother, who required their assistance. 

4th November 

Two pupils are still away recruiting their health at the seaside. Roll 42. 33 present 

24th November 

Thomas Hancock wrote: 

Visited school and outbuildings, found things generally satisfactory, noticed that Tank Tap on Boys’ side required repairing, instructed Ratty to repair plantation fence in the pine trees. 

29th November 

Annie Schofield aged 5 years, attended school for the day, but as she was not intending to come regularly, her name was not entered on the roll 

6th December 

A wet cold and boisterous morning. Only 3 present when school opened at 9.30. 

By roll call there were 17 present. 5 more came for the afternoon. 

7th December 

It has been necessary to have a fire in the school for the last 4 days. 

10th December 

A workman, engaged by the School Committee, was today employed in erecting a new fence along the south side of the girl’s playground to protect the ornamental trees from damage by the stock. 

12th December 

Many children were absent this afternoon, attending the funeral of Mr John [William] Groves, aged 32, who died from the effects of an accident in the late Boer Wars. 

The news of the death of Mr J. W. Groves, which took place in Masterton on Saturday last, was received in Te Nui with many expressions of regret. Mr Groves, who had resided in this district for about fifteen years, was well known and highly esteemed by a large circle of relatives and friends. He was of a very cheerful disposition—one of those hearty souls it was always a pleasure to meet; and his early death is greatly to be deplored. He was one of the best specimens of a straightforward, vigorous Colonial it has been my pleasure to know. 

When the war in South Africa broke out, and the different Colonies were proving the unity of the Empire by sending forth Contingents of men to assist the Mother Country in her hour of need, Mr Groves was one of the first to volunteer. He was a member of the 4th Contingent sent by New Zealand, and served the full time alloted to them. Unfortunately while in South Africa he met with an accident. While riding across the plain his horse put its foot in a hole and fell on him, hurting his chest so severely that eventually it brought about his untimely death. 

About six weeks ago Mr Groves went down to Masterton to consult Dr. Hosking, and became a patient in the doctor's private hospital, where he passed away on stated on Saturday morning. The funeral took place at Te Nui on Monday, and was largely attended.  

John William Groves was the son of Henry Groves and Isabella Grant. Henry was a son of John Groves senior and Ann Peach. 

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1903 | 1905