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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Private Schools

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Private Schools.

Mrs. Croasdaile Bowen's School , 265 Armagh Street, Christchurch, was originally established about 1874 at Upper Riecarton by Miss Lohse and removed by her a few years later to the best part of Christchurch, between Hagley Park and Cranmer Square. In 1880 Mrs. Bowen, widow of the Rev. Croasdaile Bowen, Archdeacon of Christchurch, became principal. About eighty day-pupils and from twenty-five to thirty boarders are regularly in attendance. There are seven separate class-rooms all of which are equipped with modern appliances. A very large staff, including resident, day and visiting teachers, is employed. The play-ground, where there are swings, ladders, and vaulting-bars, adjoins the schoolhouse and twice each week the girls are drilled by a qualified drill instructor. The course of education includes primary and secondary subjects; girls are prepared for examinations but a wide knowledge of general subjects is the object always kept In view. Special attention is given to French, both conversational and grammatical, the services of a lady educated on the Continent having been procured for that subject. Music and painting are taught by the best masters. Mrs. Bowen takes the general supervision of the school and is very fortunate in her selection of teachers, all of whom are ladies well qualified to deal with the subjects which are under their respective care. The proportion of resident teachers is large, the discipline of the school is good, and the well-being of the girls is in every way considered.

Miss Buchanan's Ladies' School , (Misses Elizabeth, Jessie, And Gertrude Buchanan, Principals), “Aorangi,” 31 Hereford Street, Christchurch. This School Was Established In 1885 And Is Conducted In A Two-Storey Wooden Building Containing Ten Rooms. There Are Two Class-Rooms On The Ground Floor With Accommodation For Thirty Pupils, Who Are Prepared For The High Schools And Colleges. Miss Elizabeth Buchanan, Who Was Born In Brixton, England. Is A Well-Known Soloist, And Was Prima Donna Of An Amateur Opera Company Which Was Under The Directorship Of Mr. Arthur Towsey Some Years Ago.

Mrs Coleman's School, 226 Gloucester Street West, Christchurch. This day school for girls, which was established in 1890, is attended by pupils ranging from eight to seventeen years of age. A thorough English education is given, including:—Languages, science, mathematics, music, drawing, painting, callisthenics, and needle-work. The principal, Mrs. Catherine Coleman, who has been engaged in educational work since she was sixteen years of age, was trained specially as a teacher at Park House College, London. This institution was connected with the College of Preceptors, and was recognised as an important training establishment, Mrs. Coleman was subsequently for eight years first assistant teacher in this college, where she prepared pupils for the Cambridge local and College of Preceptors' examinations. She arrived in New Zealand in 1872 and was left a widow in 1884, having since that time been actively engaged as a teacher in Christchurch. Many young ladies who have been Mrs. Coleman's pupils are now engaged in teaching in various parts of New Zealand. The Principal is assisted by her two daughters. he Misses Winifred and Emily Coleman, together with one other assistant and a pupil-teacher. Miss Winifred Coleman is in undergraduate of Canterbury College, where she studied for three years. Miss Emily has had a careful training as a musician and has gained a third year certificate for theory at Canterbury College.

Standish and Preece, photo.Mrs Coleman.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mrs Coleman.

Standish and Preece photo.Miss W. Coleman.

Standish and Preece photo.
Miss W. Coleman.

Standish and Preece, photo.Miss E. Coleman.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Miss E. Coleman.

Girton College (Miss Caroline Freeman, B.A., principal), Corner of Gloucester and Madras Streets, Christchurch. This school was established in 1897 by Miss Freeman as a branch of her college, of the same name, in Dowling Street, Dunedin. Some time ago the Dowling Street School was disposed of to Miss F. J. Ross M.A., an early pupil of the college, and Miss Freeman now devotes her whole attention to the college in Christchurch. Thoroughness of understanding in connection with all the subjects taught is the aim of all the teaching at Girton College, and one of the means to that end is the maintenance of a genuinely friendly feeling between the teachers and the pupils. The college buildings are freehold property, and so is the large playground, which is particularly well adapted for its purposes. The college contains a remarkably fine hall, with complete appointments for its educational purposes. At one end of this room there is a large stage, fitted with very choice casts especially imported from Brucciani's, in London, as models for the drawing class. Every girl has to read and recite from the platform, with a view to perfection in the art of elocution. Yaggy's anatomical studies, consisting of splendid plates of the human body, have been procured at great expense, together with other modern educational apparatus. Various cosy class-rooms, each with seating accommodation for thirty pupils, are attached to the central hall. The library and the office, occupying the right and left portions respectively of the fore part of the building are richly furnished and cosy apartments. There are about 2000 volumes of sound and suitable literature in the library, and the office is furnished with a piano, musical literature, and other modern page 183
Interior of Girton College.

Interior of Girton College.

conveniences. Girton College is a non-resident college. At the close of each year a gold and a, silver medal are struck; the former for the pupil who carries off the highest general results, and the latter for the one that reaches the highest standard in elocution. The principal is ably assisted by Miss H. G. Fodor, who was educated in Paris; and takes charge of the French and drawing classes; French conversation and elocution being special features of the college course.

Miss Caroline Freeman, B.A., the Founder and Principal of Girton College, was born in Yorkshire, England, but was educated at a district school in the colony. After completing her primary course of study in Dunedin, Miss Freeman commenced her career as a teacher at one of the public schools, and subsequently taught at the Girls' High School for a year and nine months. During this period, she studied at the Otago University, where she graduated B.A. in 1885, when her studies were interrupted by a period of ill-health. In 1886 she established Girton College in Dunedin as a school for girls from eight years upwards. She had only four pupils during the first year, but the attendance afterwards increased until it reached the full number that could be received, and included many ladies and teachers who had entered for special courses of study.” Miss Freeman is an able teacher, and Girton College is one of the best schools of its kind in New Zealand.

Warwick House School (Mr. Charles Cook, principal), Corner of Armagh and Montreal Streets, fronting Cranmer Square, Christchurch. This important preparatory school for boys, which has been conducted by the present proprietor for over a quarter of a century, has been the training establishment of a large number of professional and mercantile men, who now occupy important position a in New Zealand. The school is so well known, and not in Christchurch alone, that any detailed account would be superfluous. The buildings comprise large and well-ventilated class rooms, there is a complete system of drainage and sanitation, and the position fronting Cranmer Square and close to Hagley Park, is one of the healthiest in Christchurch. There is accommodation for twenty boarders and fifty day scholars. The course of study is designed to prepare boys for the University, for country life, or commercial pursuits, and the special aim of the school has always been to provide a thorough fundamental training in all branches of study.

Mr. Charles Cook, the Principal of Warwick House School, is a native of Inverness, Scotland, in which town his father officiated as clergyman for many years. Mr. Cook was specially trained for a teacher, was educated at Edingburgh University, and commenced his scholastic career in his native city. For some considerable time, he was engaged in teaching in England, whence he was appointed to come out to the colony as English master to the old Christchurch. High School, of which he ultimately became headmaster. This position the filled for five years, when he resigned it to open a private school, and this he has successfully conducted up to the present time.

Christchurch Commercial College —Mr. Charles Gilby, F.I.P.S. (honours), etc., principal—150 Worcester Street West, Christchurch. This large and prosperous educational institution was established by the proprietor in 1887, at which time he was on the commercial staff of the “Lyttelton Times,” the work of tuition being carried, on by him during evening and spare hours. In 1893, however, owing to the introduction of the typewriter into mercantile and professional establishments, the development of the school became such as to require Mr. Gilby to devote his entire energies to the work. There are now eight rooms available for the purpose of tuition. The main class-room, which is capable of accommodating thirty pupils, the typewriting room, opening off the main, class-room, and four speed rooms, as well as the principal's office, making seven rooms in all, are situated on the first floor, and two class-rooms on the second floor are devoted to the academical branch of the work of the college. The principal, who is an authorised reporter under “The Shorthand Reporters' Act, 1900,” and an honoursman and Fellow of the Incorporated Phonographic Society, is a member by examination of the National Society of Shorthand Teachers, and Instructor in Shorthand under the Manual and Technical Instruction Act. 1895. In 1876 Mr. Gilby was a papil of Mr. Henry Pitman; brother of the inventor of the well-known system of shorthand. Among the members of the teaching staff may be mentioned Mrs Gilby, [gap — reason: illegible], [gap — reason: illegible] (honours) on the academic side; Miss Ettie A. Rout (honours diploma, I.P.S.), in the shorthand and typewriting department; Miss M. F. L. Olliver, M.A. (honours), and Mr. A. W. Shrimpton, M.A. (honours), for general knowledge, matriculation, and civil service examinations; Messrs L. L. Cordery, A.I.A.,N.Z., H. S. Cordery, A.I.A.,N.Z., James Oswald, A.I.A.,N.Z., for accountancy and bookkeeping, and others. The number of pupils. on the roll for 1900 was 237, and the results of the examinations for 1897 by the local Shorthand Writers' Association show that out of seventeen speed certificates awarded for over 100 words per minute; sixteen were gained by pupils attending this school. Besides this record, twenty-five theory certificates were obtained from Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons for the year's work.

Mr. Charles Horace Gilby, the Principal, was born in 1856 in Cambridge. England, where he was educated, and also page 184 at Birmingham, and brought up to mercantile life. Coming to Wellington in 1880 by the auxiliary screw steamer “Northumberland,” he became assistant-master at Mr. C. Cook's school in Christchurch, which position he quitted in order to accept employment in the “Lyttelton Times” office. Subsequently he became a member of the Armed Constabulary Force, and was stationed first in Taranaki and afterwards in the Waikato. At a later period he became engaged in storekeeping at Cambridge, Waikato, and was for a short time a commercial traveller; returning, however, to Christchurch to re-enter the employ of the “Lyttelton Times” Company in 1886, which position the relinquished in 1891 to accept that of private secretary to the chairman of the Board of Governors of Canterbury College. On the departure of this gentleman for England in 1893 Mr. Gilby determined to devote the whole of his time to his school, with the result that the establishment over which he has presided with so much success during the past eight or ten years now occupies a foremost position among the educational establishments of the Colony.

Standish and Preece photoMr. C. H. Gilby.

Standish and Preece photo
Mr. C. H. Gilby.

Christchurch Shorthand And Technical School (Mr. H. W. Lockyer Digby, F.I.P.S. (honours), N.S.S.T., N.U.T. principal. Grain Agency Buildings, High Street (opposite the D.I.C.), Christchurch. The premises occupied by this school are on the second floor of the Grain Agency Buildings, and comprise seven rooms, including office, shorthand speed and theory rooms, typewriting room, matriculation and civil service rooms. The school is now one of the foremost teaching establishments in New Zealand, and as time goes on the number of brilliant successes achieved by pupils constantly increases. Day and evening classes in all subjects are hold throughout the year, and the yearly attendance of pupils is nearly 200. Thorough and rapid tuition in shorthand, typewriting and all commercial subjects is made a specialty. There is a typewriting office in connection with the school, and every description of mimeographing and typewriting is done by an efficient staff of operators. The school is equipped with life latest models of the Remington, Yost, Densmore, and Caligraph New Century Typewriting machines. In the matter of fast shorthand writing, the school has always led the way, and its records have never been equalled by any other institution in Australasia. During the season 1900–1901 over 100 shorthand certificates were granted by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons to pupils attending the school, which constitutes a record for the colony. The excellence of the tuition given, is further shown by the fact that nearly all the large commercial and legal firms in Christchurch have selected their corresponding clerks and typists from the pupils of the school. The following are some of the offices in which the pupils are holding positions at the present time; Messrs Chrystall and Co., A. Tyree and Co., Duncan and Cotterill, Dalgety and Co., Pitcaithly and Co., Mason, Siruthers, and Co., Beswick and Harris, Skelton, Frostick and Co., D. C. McIntyre and Co., M. O'Brien and Co., Hopkins, Simpson and Co., North Canterbury Education Board, the New Zealand Shipping Co., and the New Zealand Express Co. The principal teacher in commercial subjects is Miss E. E. Digby, who has achieved remarkable success as a teacher and in commercial work. Miss Digby holds the Teachers' Diploma granted by the Incorporated Phonographic Society, and also the Typewriting Diploma, granted by the National Union of Typists. In addition to teaching at the Shorthand and Technical School, Miss Digby holds the position of teacher of shorthand and typewriting at the Boys' High School, Christchurch.

Mr. Henry William Lockyer Digby was born in Christchurch in 1879, was educated privately, at the Normal School, and Canterbury College. He studied shorthand and typewriting with such marked success that within a comparatively short period from when he commenced he became an honoursman and Fellow of the National Phonographic Society, a member of the National Society of Shorthand Teachers, and National Union of Typists, As a competitor for shorthand certificates Mr. Digby is a double medallist and holder of the Australian record certificates for speed up to 200 and 220 words per minute. His record as a shorthand writer and typist has been one of the most brilliant ever achieved.

Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. H. W. L. Digby.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. H. W. L. Digby.