Logbook - 1909

1908 | 1910

1909 

8th January

Eleven loads of gravel were delivered for use in school paths. 

28th January 

The annual school picnic was held in Mr Speedy’s paddock. 

1st February 

Roll reduced from W F Groves and J Johnston, having secured certificates for Proficiency, have left for higher schools. 

24th February 

School Committee spent the morning in spreading gravel in the paths round the school 

26th February 

School closed for the day. The School Committee having received an invitation from the Whareama and Mangapakeha schools for the children of the Te Nui school to join them at their picnic, decided to accept the invitation and to appropriate the day's holiday allowed by the regulations to this purpose. 

1st March 

Jimmy McIsaac went home without permission at recess time this morning. 

2nd March 

Jimmy McIsaac was punished with three strokes on the hand for leaving school without permission yesterday. His mother wrote to say that he had told her on arriving at home I had sent him home. 

Having had my attention drawn by two of the parents of school children Patrick O’Connor and Annie Maud O’Connor were infested with lice, I took occasion to observe their heads during lessons. I saw a number of nits in the girl’s hair. I therefore sent a note to the parents requesting them to carefully examine the children’s heads and if necessary to keep them at home until every trace of the same has disappeared. 

24th March

Some alterations in the examination and inspection of schools in the Wellington district are projected by the local board's inspectors for 1909. 

A rough outline of the changes proposed is as follows : — With the exception of schools in the Pongaroa and Te Nui districts, and a few other outlying schools, the visit paid to a school during the earlier part of the year will be an inspection visit of which no previous notice will be given. 

The second visit, of which the statutory ten days' notice will be given, and on which the annual report will be based, will, as a rule, be paid in the latter part of the year. This will be the visit more especially mentioned in the regulations as the "annual visit." 

In the case of the schools particularised above, previous arrangements are to be adhered to in view of the fact that, owing to the condition of the roads in winter, and the distances the majority of the people have to travel, the best and most continuous work is done in these districts in the summer months. 

2nd April

The annual distribution of school prizes took place on the 2nd inst. The evening was fine, which enabled a large number of people to be present. 

The children's concert was all that could be desired and reflects great credit on Mr and Mrs Sutton. The club and wand exercises were very interesting to watch; in these items the girls outclassed the boys. Maud Speedy's graceful actions with the clubs were much admired. 

After the distribution of prizes, the children danced till 10 o'clock—the adults then took charge of floor till the early hours of the morning. 

The following was the programme : 

School songs, "The Cobbler," and "Whistle and Hoe;"
recitations, "Suppose" Gordon Speedy, Elizabeth Johnston, Nora Tuckett, Celia Grant, Flora Perry;
pianoforte solo, Elizabeth Johnston;
wand exercise; pianoforte solo, Nora Speedy;
recitation, "Barbara Frietchie," Ralph Groves, Edward Mclsaac, Pratt Hancock;
club exercise; pianoforte duet. Elizabeth Johnston, Maggie Johnston;
recitations, "Mary Queen of Scots," Rewi Speedy, Ellen Groves, Nora Speedy, Elizabeth Johnston, Lucy Perry; school songs, "The Clacker," "Geography." 

The following is a list of the prizes:—
Standard Vl.—Proficiency: William Groves, John Johnston, Nora Speedy. Competency: Rewi Speedy, Lucy Perry. 

Standard V.—Maud Speedy. Maud Schofield. 

Standard IV.—Elizabeth Johnston. 

Standard lll.—Pratt Hancock, Edward Mclsaac, Alfred Mclsaac. 

Standard ll.—Ralph Groves, Nora Tuckett, Dorothy Page. 

Standard I.—Celia Grant, Annie Schofield, Muriel Hancock, Reta Page, Maggie Johnston. 

Primers.—Gordon Speedy, Flora Perry, James Mclsaac, Adelaide O'Connor, Maud O'Connor, Elsie Crawford, Winnie Grant, Annie O'Connor, Effie Tuckett, Douglas Groves, Huia Page, Gavin Speedy, Ella Schofield, Annie Maud O'Connor. 

Sewing prizes. —

Standard VII: Ellen Groves.
Standard VI: Nora Speedy.
Standard V: Maud Speedy.
Standard IV: Elizabeth Jonhston.
Standard II: Celia Grant.
Standard I: Muriel Hancock.
Juniors: Flora Perry. 

5th April 

Inspector’s Report included: 

• No. on roll 28; present 25. 

• Some of the children travel considerable distances to school over roads that are bad in winter. 

• Mr Sutton has improved the discipline and tone of the school since he took charge. 

• The pictures forwarded have not yet been framed. 

• The dining room of the residence requires papering 

• The teacher’s backyard should be fenced off from the school grounds.

• Needlework very good (Mrs Sutton) 

• Also in Standard 7 Bookkeeping, extra drawing, French and English. 

• Deserted Village and Prisoner of Chillon will be read this year. 

26th April 

School committee:

H S McIsaac (Chairman),
E Collerton (Secretary)
F Groves,
J O’Connor,
C Ball,
D Stephens, and
W Bovey 

24th May 

Empire Day. With the consent of the Chairman the holiday was postponed until the following Monday week. 

14th June 

Mr F Groves, assisted by his workman, spent most of the day in cutting up by machine, the willow wood, which had been supplied to the school by the members of the committee for firewood. 

2nd July

The school committee's annual ball was held on July 2nd, and as usual was a great success. 

The weather was fine and a large number of people were present. The funds of the school will benefit to the extent of about four pounds by the ball. 

The energetic secretary, Mr E. Collerton, and the other members of the committee are to be congratulated on the success of the function. The duties of M.C. were ably carried out by Mr J. Stephen, while Messrs J. O'Connor and T. Spackman supplied good music. 

A special word of praise is due to Mrs Crawford and Miss Collerton for decorating the supper tables and other assistance rendered. Several songs were sung during the evening, and were well received.  

6th July 

Mr C Ball, member of the School Committee visited the school this morning and carefully examined the fences and outbuildings 

30th July 

Received by coach a parcel of linoleum for use in school as a blackboard. Also instructions for fixing the same together with a supply of nails. 

2nd August 

Heavy rain last night -  rivers in flood. School and schoolhouse were surrounded with water. Said to be the highest flood known in Tinui for over 30 years. No children attended.

The old settlers say that the flood on the 2nd inst. was the highest for thirty years. The Catholic Church suffered from the flood water considerably—the water being up to the chancel and therefore damaging the carpet and other furniture. 

31st August 

Mr Schofield’s fourth day at repair of fences 

1st October 

There has been a troublesome epidemic of coughs and colds among the children this week. The constant coughing was a great hindrance to work.

8th October 

The epidemic of whooping cough has been very troublesome all the week. Although this cough is in a mild form several children are unable to attend school.

13th October 

Received 6 copies of the Wolf and Seven Little Kids and 6 copies of Ned and Santa Claus and The Tailor and Giants as supplementary readers 

20 October

There is an epidemic of whooping cough all over the district. 

22nd October 

The epidemic of whooping cough still troublesome. 

12th November 

Still much sickness among the children - whooping cough, bronchitis and influenza. 

Average attendance for week is 14 

17th November 

The Inspector, T R Fleming, visited the school without notice and remained some time after closing time. 

1st and 2nd December 

Two scholars - D H Speedy and L M Perry - were absent from school to attend the examination for “Junior Board” and “National Scholarship” 

3rd December 

Inspector's report included 

• The fence is partially repaired 

• The residence requires a bathroom and one room and one ceiling require papering 

• The back of the residence should be fenced.

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1908 | 1910