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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Educational

Educational.

The Southland Boys' And Girls High Schools may be said to be the most important educational establishments of the district. In the beginning of 1877, the Girls' School had its first quarters in Ramsay's Hall in Tay Street. The build mg now occupied was opened in 1881 as a Girls' School, but as it was too large for girls only, it was from the first used as a boys' and girls' school. The original site was half-an-acre in extent, and an additional quarter-acre was afterwards acquired on the east side, where the Rector's residence now stands. The first High School Board was constituted in 1877, and consisted of Messrs George Lumsden (chairman), James Harvey, John Robert Cuthbertson, and Henry daggers. The chairman held his position almost continuously till his retirement in December, 1893. In the course of time additions were made to the original building, which now includes a well equipped laboratory. The Board also subsequently acquired the property adjoining the school and Rector's residence, facing Tay Street, and containing half an acre. On this side the residence of the Lady Principal stands; there are also a tennis court and pavilion, and a gymnasium, which was erected in 1902. The school building is of one storey, in brick, and has a tower surmounted with a dome. There are six class rooms, in addition to the chemical laboratory, the girls' lavatory, and the accommodation is fully in use. For many years prior to 1900, the attendance varied from sixty to eighty, including boys and girls. However, in 1000, at the suggestion of Mr. W. Macalister, then chairman of the Board of Governors, a concession was made, that pupils in the public schools who had passed the sixth standard under the age of fourteen should be admitted at half fees. This led to a large increase in the attendance. A further concession was also made of free education for two years to all primary school pupils who competed for the Education Board's scholarships and attained 60 per cent of the possible marks, but failed to secure a scholarship. The fifteen next in order of merit to the winners of the scholarships, were admitted for two years. The schools thus gained in popularity, and there was a steady increase in the attendance. At the beginning of 1903 the Government issued regulations by which all under fourteen years of age who passed the sixth standard should receive free education at High Schools so far as the parents were concerned, but the Government agreed to pay £6 per annum on account of each such pupil. Under this regulation the attendance increased from 110 to over 200. Up to the end of the year 1903 the schools were jointly conducted under the management of a Rector, but they were then separated, and now the boys' school is entrusted to the care of a Rector, Mr. T. D. Pearce, M.A. and the girls' school is conducted by Miss E. Stevenson, M.A., as Lady Principal. The Rector and Lady Principal are assisted by staffs of qualified instructors. In the first term of 1904, the numbers on the roll ware: boys, 133; girls, 114. The Board of Governors for 1904 consists of Messrs W. Macalister, B.A., L.L.B. (chairman) W. B. Scandrett (mayor of Invercargill), J. L. McGillivray Watson, A. F. Hawke, and J. C. Thomson. M.H.R. Mr. Charles Rout is Secretary and Treasurer.

Mr. Thomas David Pearce , M.A., Rector of the Southland High School, was born at Caversham in 1869, and was educated at the Caversham Public School, Otago Hoys' High School, and Otago University, He graduated B.A. in 1801 and M.A. in the following year with first class honours in Latin and English. During his school course he held both junior and senior provincial scholarships, and proceeded to the university with the Richardson scholarship. Mr. Pearce was appointed assistant-master at the Boys' High School in 1892, and in the following year became English master at Nelson College, but returned to Dunedin in 1895 to take up the duties [gap — reason: illegible] English master at the Boys' High School. While in Nelson, Mr. Pearce contined his interest in football, and played in the intercolonial match against New South Wales and in the inter-provincial match against South Canterbury. He was married in 1895 to the third daughter of the late Mr. James Speight, At the close of 1903 Mr. Pearce was appointed to his present position.

Miss Elizabeth Stevenson , M.A., Lady Principal of the Soutrhland Girls' High School, was born at Flaxton, North Canterbury. She was educated at the Flaxton public school, and at the Girls' High School, Christchurch. As dux of the Christchurch Girls' High School, she carried off first prize in every subject, and two years later took a junior University Scholarship, with third place on the honours list for New Zealand. Miss Stevenson graduated B.A. at Canterbury College, in 1892, and took her M.A., with honours in English and Latin, in the following year. While keeping terms at the University Miss Stevenson was part-time teacher at the Girls High School, Christchurch, and became an assistant teacher in 1893, after she had taken her M. A. degree. She was afterwards teacher in Mathematics and Science till September 1901, when she was appointed Headmistress of the Southland Girls' High School. In 1903 the Board of Governors decided to separate the departments for boys and girls, and Miss Stevenson thereupon became Lady Principal of the Girls' High School. Miss Stevenson was a member of the Graduates' and Science Associations of Canterbury College, and served on the committees of both societies. She was for several years secretary of the College Girls' Boating Club, and was also a member of the committee of the New Zealand Natives' Association. Miss Stevenson was one of the founders of the Old Girls' Association of the Christchurch Girls' High School, and acted as secretary till leaving Christchurch.

The Southland Board Of Education was constituted in May, 1878, when the district was separated from that of the Otago Board. The district comprises the counties of Lake, Wallace, Southland, Fiord, and Stewart Island, and there are 100 schools under the control of the Board. Members for 1904: Messrs John Cowie (chairman), D. Gilchrist, T. MacGibbon, G. McLeod, M.A., W. B. Scandrett, W. Macalister, B.A., L.L.B., J. C. Thomson, M.H.R., I. W. Raymond, and the Hon A. Baldev, M.L.C. Messrs J. Hendry, B.A. and G. D. Braik, M.A., are Inspectors of Schools; Mr. J. Neill, Secretary and Treasurer; Mr. W. A. McCaw, Architect page 820 and Director of Technical Instruction; Mr. D. Boyd, Truant Officer; and Mr. J. V. Hanna, Gymnasium Instructor. The Board meets monthly at its office in Tay Street, Invercargill; a handsome two storey building in brick, and well adapted for the purposes of the Board.

Mr. John Neill , Secretary of the Southland Board of Education, was born at Leith, Scotland, in 1851. He has acted as the Board's Secretary since 1885. Mr. Neill was married, in 1875, to a daughter of the late Mr. Edward Martin, of Milton, and has, surviving, two sons and six daughters.

Mr. James Hendry , B.A., Chief Inspector of Schools for the Southland Board of Education, is a native of Morayshire, Scotland, where he was bom in 1859. He was educated at Milne's Institution, Fochabers, near Gordon Castle, Morayshire. In 1873 he emigrated with his parents to Otago by the ship “City of Dunedin.” Shortly after his arrival in Otago, he joined the service of the Otago Board of Education and for eleven years held various positions, the last being that of first assistant master of the Norma School, Dunedin. On the retirement of Mr. Gammell, in 1887, from the Southland inspectorate, Mr. Hendry was unanimously appointed to succeed him.

The Park Public School , Invercargill, was established in 1879, on a site which was originally part of the Park. A Government grant of an acre and a half of the land was then made to the school, and the children are allowed to use the Park lands—150 acres in extent—as a playground. The school building, which adjoins the well known avenue of shelter trees leading from Invercargill towards Gladstone, is of wood and iron, and includes live class rooms and four porches. There is accommodation for 300 children, and that was the number on the roll in 1904, when the average attendance was 270. Mr. James Hain is the headmaster, and he is assisted by a headmistress, two assistant masters, and three pupil teachers.

Mr. Robert Anderson Stenhouse , First Assistant at the Park School, Invercargill, was born at Lawrence, in 1872. He was educated at the Lawrence High School, served four years as a pupil teacher, and afterwards studied at the Normal Training College, Dunedin, for a year. After a year in relieving work, Mr. Stenhouse was appointed first assistant at Mataura; two years later he became fourth assistant at the South Invercargill school, and was appointed to his present position at the Park school in 1903. Mr. Stenhouse is a member of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. He was married at Easter, 1903, to a daughter of Mr. Thomas MacGibbon, of Mataura.

North Invercargill School , which was opened in 1879, is built in the ordinary style of schoolhouses. The number of scholars on the roll is 200, with an average attendance of 160. Mr. Inglis is headmaster.

The Middle School , Invercargill, was formerly denominated a Grammar School, but became a primary school on the establishment of the High School. It consists of two buildings, one of brick containing seven class-rooms and the headmasters office, and a wooden building for the accommodation of the junior classes containing three rooms. The roll number of pupils is 650, with an average attendance of 600, and there is a staff of fifteen teachers.

Mr. William Graham Mehaffey , Headmaster of the Middle School, Invercargill, was born at Dromore, County Down, Ireland, in 1850. He arrived in Victoria, with his parents in 1856, and attended the public school at Portland, till 1864, and then entered the Portland Grammar School. In 1868, Mr. Mehaffey entered the Training College at Melbourne, and there was awarded a first class Training College certificate. He then became first assistant at Heathcote school, where he remained for one
Gerstenkorn, photo. MR. W. G. MEHAFFLY.

Gerstenkorn, photo. MR. W. G. MEHAFFLY.

year. Afterwards he occupied a similar position at Stawell, in one of the largest schools of the colony, and there he continued till December, 1878, when he was appointed headmaster of the South School, Invercargill, where he arrived in January, 1879, to take up his new duties. Mr. Mehaffey retained the position till 1883, when he was appointed headmaster of the Middle School, and removed to his present residence in Don street. Mr. Mehaffey is well known throughout Southland as a lecturer on literary subjects. He has taken a keen interest in the cadet movement, and is major of the Southland Battalion. He was married, at the end of 1883, to a daughter of Mr. J. W. Mitchell, of Invercargill, and has four daughters and three sons.
Mr. Charles William G. Selby , First Assistant Master at the Middle School. Invercargill, and at present in sole charge of a large Standard IV. class, is the eldest son of Mr. Isaac Selby, J.P., of Dunedin, and was born at Millwall, Loudon, in 1832. He was educated at Mr. G. Winchester's Preparatory School at Greenwich, and at Albion House Academy, Cardiff, Wales. Mr. Selby arrived in Dunedin in 1868, with his parents, by the ship “Schleswig Bride.” When the Education Act came into operation he entered the service of the Otago Board of Education, and after receiving a short preliminary training at the Normal School, Dunedin, was appointed to a country school, and subsequently had charge of several rural schools. During his career of twenty-five years, Mr. Selby has proved himself a good disciplinarian and a capable and successful schoolmaster. In September, 1890, he was unanimously chosen by the Invercargill Middle School committee to succeed Mr. W. H. Clark, B.A., who wished to exchange positions with him, and who became headmaster of the Lumsden school. Mr. Selby is a member of the New Zealand Educational Institute (Southland Branch), and one of the managing committee of the Technical Classes Association. He is a member of the page 821 choir at St. John's Anglican church, was initiated in Lodge Taringatura, Scottish Constitution (now No. 100, New Zealand Constitution), and became a member of St. John's, No. 94, Invercargill, afterwards transferred to the New Zealand Constitution. Mr. Selby holds a D1 certificate from the Education Department.

Miss Annie Thomson , First Assistant of the girls' side at the Middle-School, Invercargill, was born at Castlemaine, Victoria. She was educated privately, and at the Middle School, Invercargill, where she afterwards served as a pupil teacher for two years. Miss Thomson was mistress at Mataura for two years, before receiving her present appointment. She has been for many years a member of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute.

Invercargill South School , situated in Crinan Street, is a wooden building with nine class-rooms, besides the headmaster's office, etc. The number of pupils on the roll is 724, with an average attendance of 645. A special feature of the school is the kindergarten and the gardens of the pupils, who, to the number of seventy, avail themselves of the privilege of devoting a portion of their school hours to this delightful and intellectual pursuit. The staff consists of Mr. Edmund Webber, headmaster, assisted by Messrs. John Porteous, M.A., W. H. Sebo, W. Brownlie, E. McKay, Misses Caroline McLeod, B.A., L. Joyce, J. King, and M. Ramsay, and six pupil teachers.

Mr. Edmund Webber , Headmaster of the Invercargill South School, was born at Blackheath, Kent, and received his scholastic training at Greenwich Proprietary School and Lewisham Grammar School. He arrived in Dunedin by the ship “Countess of Kintore,” in 1807, entered the teaching profession under the Otago Education Board in 1809, and took charge of the South School, Invercargill, in 1888.

Mr. John Porteous , M.A., First Assistant at the South School, Invercargill, was born in 1868, at Waitati, Otago, and was educated at the Palmerston District High School, of which his father was Rector. His education was completed at the Otago Boys' High School, and at the Otago University, where he graduated B.A. in 1892, and M.A., with, honours in Physical Science, in the following year. His teaching career commenced with a four years' pupil teachership at the Palmerston district school, and he was afterwards for four years at the Normal Training College in Dunedin, during which time he kept terms at the University, having gained an exhibition scholarship, tenable for three years. Mr. Porteous was headmaster at Thornbury for three years and a half before receiving his present appointment in 1890. He is a member of the Southland Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, has been Captain of the Invercargill City Guards since 1901, and was previously lieutenant for two years, and a
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. J. Porteous.

Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. J. Porteous.

volunteer in another corps for four years. Mr. Porteous is a member of the Invercargill Musical Union, and frequently gives his services at concerts and entertainments.

Marist Brothers' School , Invercargill. This educational establishment was opened on the 1st of February, 1897. The number of pupils on the roll is 100, and the school is conducted under the Government syllabus and inspection.

St. Catherine's Dominican Convent , Invercargill, occupies a pleasant and convenient site, facing the beautiful public gardens of the city, and adjoining the new Roman Catholic church, in Tyne Street. The Convent is a fine two-storey wooden building surrounded by its own grounds, with large airy schoolrooms and a kindergarten. There is accommodation for about twenty resident, and one hundred day pupils. The tuition afforded embraces all the branches of a High School education, including music, drawing, plain and art needlework, painting and languages. Adjoining the High School there is a primary school, also conducted by the nuns, with accommodation for 200 children. Special attention is given to the moral training of all the pupils, and their health is carefully guarded.