Logbook - 1914

1913 | 1915

1914 

24th February 

Inspector's Report noted that Mr Sutton has attended one of the Department's instruction classes in physical culture and in carrying on the work as laid down. Mr Garlick is making organised games a special feature.

9th March 

Sharp frost of 26º F [-6ºC] - was registered on Saturday night.

16th March 

The following garden tools came by coach, supplied by the Wellington Education Board for use in the school gardens:

2 spades,
2 forks - long handles,
2 forks - short handled,
2 rakes,
2 garden lines,
2 galvanised water cans,
2 trowels,
40 garden labels. 

17th April

Tinui (Tenui) INFANTILE PARALYSIS SEVEN MORE CASES
Up to noon to-day seven more cases of infantile paralysis were reported in the Wellington Health District, including two new cases in Wellington City. The fresh cases are as follows :—
Manaia 1, Palmerston North 1, Feilding 1, Te Nui 1, Rangitumau 1, Wellington City 2. Te Nui and Rangitumau are in the Wairarapa District. 

It should be noted that the Wellington Health District includes half of the North Island, and also the Nelson and Marlborough provincial districts in the South Island. 

[The Tinui case is probably that of the son of Sarah Port, the teacher at Whakataki School.] 

22nd April

The annual Tinui School concert and distribution of prizes was held in the Tinui Hall last Friday, and was considered the most successful gathering that has been held for many years. 

The school committee, Messrs A. T. Hancock (chairman), H. Bennet, E. H. Schofield, D. H. Speedy and J. Munro did their utmost to make the evening an enjoyable one and their efforts were well rewarded. Mr A. Tuckett, an ex-committeeman, also worked very hard. 

The supper tables and hall were very nicely decorated with flowers, etc., by the committeemen's wives and daughters. 

Mr E .H. Schofield made an ideal M.C., and thanks are due to Mr E. Carman for providing most of the music for the dancers. 

Great credit is also due to Mr and Mrs Sutton for the efficient manner in which the scholars got through their various items, the Swedish Drill, led by Miss Muriel Hancock, being exceptionally good. Five senior scholars in Swedish Drill costumes did some fancy skipping that was admired by all. The tiny junior scholars recited "The House that Jack Built" very prettily. Each child went on to the stage carrying a representation of that famous old nursery rhyme, which caused endless amusement. Some very beautiful prizes were presented to the scholars by the Rev. Mr Hands. 

Mr A. J. Speedy very kindly examined the school gardens and he said they were in excellent order. In fact, he was so pleased with them that he donated one guinea to be divided amongst the children in charge of the plot. 

The thanks of the committee are due to Mesdames Maunsell and D. H. Speedy for their kindness in examining the school sewing, and their report was that the sewing was very satisfactory and that good progress had been made during the year. 

6th May

Sir, —I have been a resident of the Tinui district for a considerable number of years, and I am puzzled at the manner in which, the Tinui School Committee allow the children of that school to be treated. 

The committee have fenced off a small area of ground for the children's recreation ground, and on this ground they also have a shelter-shed. This ground and shed the schoolmaster uses for his horses and cows during wet weather, and, consequently, when the children need shelter during lunch-hour on a rainy day, they have nothing but a dirty, filthy shed, that has been monopolised during the night and part of the day by the schoolmaster's stock; therefore, they have to either remain in the rain or take refuge in this shed, which is nothing else but a dirty mudhole.

 l am not writing just what I have heard other people say, but am writing what I have seen with my own eyes. I have been in that shelter-shed when it has been up to one's boot-tops in mud, and hardly fit for an animal to take refuge from the storm. 

This is what the rising generation of the Tinui district have to put up with. It is a deplorable state of affairs when our school children, in such a civilised country as this, have no option but to take shelter in the same shed as the animals of the field. Yet the committee say they have no power to interfere in the matter. If this is the case, it is only a farce to elect a committee. They appear to me to be much like birds without feathers. In my opinion, before undertaking Swedish drill, the children should be given clean grounds and buildings, which is of far more importance to their health. 

I now understand that the master is applying for an assistant teacher. Yet this privileged gentleman holds the position of Castlepoint County Clerk, in addition to that of schoolmaster. If parents take their children away from the Tinui school to send them to the Mungapakeha [Mangapakeha] school (a matter of six miles further,) there may soon be no need for one master. Then he will probably be able to devote the whole of his time to the business of County Clerk, instead of monopolising two public positions.—l am, etc., TINUI RESIDENT. 

11th May

Letter to the editor:

Sir— A letter, signed "Resident" appeared in the "Age" of Wednesday May 6th, in which he complained of the way in which the Tinui School Committee allow the children attending that school to be treated. 

The statements made by "Resident" in reference to the schoolmaster's stock grazing on the play-ground, and also inreference to the state of that shelter-shed and grounds, are absolutely contrary to fact. The schoolmaster's stock are not allowed on the playgrounds during the winter, or in wet weather, and only with the committee's permission at any time. 

"Resident" also states that during lunchhour on a wet day the children have no shelter but in a dirty shed. This is also false, as in bad weather the children have the use of the school, warmed by a good fire, where they may take their lunch in comfort. 

The school building and grounds are kept in good order, clean and tidy. One can hardly credit how "Resident" make such false statements, and write such rubbish. 

To show how groundless the statements made by "Resident'' are, at a meeting of householders, held in the Tinui schoolroom on May 7th, the following resolution was unanimously carried:—

"That the Chairman of the incoming committee write to the Editor of the 'Age,' stating that the public meeting of householders beg to contradict the statements made in the letter signed 'Resident,' and published in the 'Age,' regarding the state of the shelter-shed and play-grounds at the Tinui school, and that the householders have every confidence in the schoolmaster.—(Signed) E. H. Schofield, Chairman of the Tinui School Committee." 

13th June 

Mr Bennett, member of the School Committee, brought his horse and cart and carted several cords of blue gum from the boundary fence near the County Council’s property: and also carried up a large quantity of pine logs and put them in place ready for cutting up by circular saw. 

15th June 

The chairman of the School Committee (Mr E Schofield) spent the afternoon in stacking and arranging the blue gum and pine logs ready for cutting with circular saw. He brought with him a man to assist.

29th June 

The cutting up the Blue Gum and pine logs was done by Mr Cripps with his circular saw 

6th July 

The School Committee at their monthly meeting decided to plant a portion of the horse paddock with pines and blue gums which would not only supply firewood for the school but check the slipping of the hillside at that spot. They decided to do the planting on Arbor Day. 

15th July 

The chairman and Messrs Bennett and J O’Connor, members of the School Committee, spent the day planting young blue gum trees in that portion of the horse paddock which the chairman had fenced off for the purpose. Mr D H Speedy sent a man for the afternoon as he was unable to attend himself. About 150 trees were planted and holes were prepared for more 

21st July 

180 more trees were planted.

Mr J O’Connor presented the school and planted in front of the school near the entrance gate an ornamental tree- Wellingtonia. The teacher promised to supply and plant another on the other side of the entrance gate. 

3rd August 

The children planted in the school garden a number of trees and shrubs, the gift of Mr R J Barton of Mataikona. 

6th October 

Two accidents occurred in the playground. Ruby Brown was accidently but severely cut over the left eye with a bat by Lizzie Collins while playing rounders. Winnie Grant had a front tooth broken by Howard O’Connor who threw a fir cone at the football and it struck Winnie on the front teeth 

7th October 

Ruby Brown too unwell to attend school, she fainted when preparing to start for school 

13th October 

Mr F G A Stuckey, inspector, examined the school 

• Roll 37, present 35. 

• Spelling and composition should improve. 

• In other respects the work is satisfactory 

17th December 

Mr A P Roydhouse, Physical Instructor under the Education Department, visited the school. After seeing the pupils drill under the teacher’s management he gave the children some new exercises and also some new games. 

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1913 | 1915