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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Fernridge

Fernridge.

Fernridge Public School was established about thirty-five years ago in a small building now used as a Sunday school. The first portion of the present convenient wooden building was built in 1871, and twice since it has been necessary to enlarge the premises, which now contain three rooms, each having accommodation for fifty pupils. There is a large play-ground and a comfortable six-roomed residence for the teacher, the land occupied being some two acres in extent. The school roll numbers 115, the average attendance being ninety. The headmaster is assisted by one certificated and one pupil teacher.

Mr. Frederick Gover, the Headmaster of the Fernridge Public School, is a Yorkshireman. Born in Skipton in 1844, and educated at Bath, Mr Gover came to New Zealand, per ship “Haddon Hall,” in 1875, and joined the Wellington Education Board, his first appointment being at Taratahi School, from which he was transferred after a year to the position he now holds. In 1882 Mr. Gover was married to a daughter of Mr. M. R. Ashwin, of Eltham, Taranaki, and has two sons and a daughter.

Burnett, Alexander, Farmer, Serpentine Farm, Fernridge, near Masterton. Born in 1813 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was educated, Mr. Burnett came to Lyttelton in 1863 by the “Brothers' Pride,” after a most eventful and terrible voyage, Of 349 adults who embarked, fifty-one died from fever during the passage, and the trip occupied 140 days. After a period of quarantine, Mr. Burnett was engaged in road-making for two years, and subsequently in farming at Temuka, Canterbury. In 1873 he came to the Wairarapa and took an hotel at Taueru, also working a sawmill in the vicinity. After three years he sold out of the hotel, and till 1895 was engaged in farming and sawmilling in the Masterton district. Having sold his mill he devoted his attention to the management of the farm of 500 acres at Fernridge on which he resides. Mr. Burnett is married and has two children.