SCHOOL JUBILEE

Chronicle (Levin), 24 August 1946, Page 4

SCHOOL JUBILEE

Celebrations At Ohau CHILDREN ENTERTAINED Fine, sunny weather favoured the . opening part of the Ohau School L golden jubilee celebrations at the ; school yesterday. Although the afternoon was one set asicle especially for the children at present at the school, many old pupils were present and enjoyed themselves as much as the children did_. Some renewed acquaintances which had been broken olf when they left school, and spent the time in talking over old times. In^welcoming old pupils and visitors," the chairman of the jubilee committee, Mr. H. J. McLeavey, said that many of them had come long distances to be present, and that he appreciated the fact that they had found it pos.sible to attend. He urged them to enter into the spirit of the celebrations, and reminded the children to always remember that day as one they should never forget. Mr. McLeavey concluded by thanking the entertainers-, who had taken much trouble to be present. Following the distribution of jubilee souvenir badges to the children, Mr. Tom Mayne, of Levin, and "Jerry" entertained the children with their ventriloquial act. The children, and not a few adults, were thoroughly entranced with this performance, as they were again with a Punch and Judy show, staged after by Mr. and Mrs. K. A. Bowater. It is doubtful whether many of the children hacl ev-er seen a Punch and Judy show before, and they enjoyed it immensely. Following the programme of entertainment, afternoon tea was served in a marquee in the schpol grounds. During the afternoon the Horowhenua Highland Pipe Band played selections. A scale model of the school and grounds as they were in 1891 was the object of much interest by old and present pupils, as did a display of photographs of classes from 1891 down to the present day. Those responsible for the organisation of the celebrations were as follows: — Chairman: Mr. H. J. McLeavey; secretary: 'Mr. S. C. Saint; assistant secretary: Mr. H. Benning; committee: Mesdames J. Burnell, R. Graham, P. Holder, J. Kilsby, H. J. McLeavey," E. Saint and V. Saint; Misses L. Blackburn, J. Fanning, C. Hunter, M. Karauti, M. Page and J. Winiata; Messrs. W. G. Benning, R. Blackburn, J. Bowling, R. Catley, F. Catley, P. Drake, H. Drake, J. Eagle, C. Eagle, J. Fanning, A. Holder, Ian Horn, J. G. Horn, D. Honore, E. J. McLeavey, W. A. McLeavey, P. A. Page, W. Page, D. Patuaka, W. Seymour, E. Watts and L. Whiley. A Brief History In January, 1891, the Wellington Education Board decided to build a school at Ohau. In July of that year the first committee, consisting of Messrs. John Kebbell (chairman) , J. Hurley, D. Brown, T. Jukes, J. Giles, W. Gorrie and T. Mudgway was formed, and the school was opened in September. Twelve scholars attended that day, but by the end of the month no less than 42 names were on the roll. By 1896 the school was cvercrowded, and as the Education Board paid no attention to an application for a second room, the committee resigned and asked parents to withdraw their children from the school. Although this action was endorsed by a meeting of residents, it was neyer cdrried out, but a new room was a,dded soon after. . The first teacher was Miss H. Brown, who was repiace.d in 1895kby, Mjr. Coll^e., While he'was in chafge: the r"oll> grew tb sajch an extent that he hired an assistant teacher, Mr. Edgar Pink, at his own expense, paying him a salary of £20 per annum. This was necessary because the Education Board would not confirm Mr. Pink's appointment. In 1904 a side school was opened at Muhunoa East, which was replaced a year later by a school near the foothills. One of the early entries in the minute book states that on February 15, 1892, T. Robinson and others received 16s for saving the school from fire. In April 1907, these gentlemen were, unfortunately, not at hand, and the .school was burned to the ground. A hew school was ready for use by February 1808. This building was added to during the war, and in 1929 a fourth room, the infant room, was added. Gardening had always played a big part in the life of the school, and during the first World War vegetable crops fropi the school gardens were sold and the proceeds forwarded to the Belgian i;elief fund, the Re'd Cross fund and the school ambulance fund. , Later supplies of vegetables were^sent to the children's health camps. During the last war proceedsbof the sale of vegetables were used to supply parcels for local boys overseas. Being a country school, Ohau has never neglected the'lmportance of fostering an interest in agriculture in its pupils. Agricultural instruetors first yisited the school in 1907, and in 1930 the first calf club was formed. Since then the school has always taken part in the' yearly calf judging day at Levin. Headmasters of the school from the time of opening were: — Miss A. H. Brown 1891-95, Mr. R. S. Collie 1895-99, Mr. A. Feist 1899-1909, Mr. G. M. Henderson 1910—20, Mr, L. H. Arcus 1920-28, Mr. J. Oonnor 1928-: 29 and Mr. F. C. Attwood 1930-41. The present staff is Mr. E. Watts

(head) , Misses Arnaboldi and Mulcahy, and Mr. P. Bond. To-day's school committee is as fpllows: — ^Messrs. J. G, Horn (chairman), W. Mudge (secretary), J. Burnell, H. Campbell, C. Eagle, H. Williams and E. Pilgrim. The roll has risen from 42 in 1891 to 136- in 1941. The school has had a notable record in both World Wars. Thirtysix ex-pupils went to the 1914-18 war, and two were killed. Of the 101 ex-pupils who served in World War II, five were killed, three men- ' tioned in dispatches, and one awarded the D.F.M.