A SCHOOL'S MAJORITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 11

A SCHOOL'S MAJORITY.

CLYDE QUAY COMES OF ACE.

With tlio close of the school year, tho Clyde Quay State School attains its majority. In 1887 the site now : , occupied by the school was a barren waste Of rocky land, through which tho residents ot Upper Roxburgh Street used to make a short cut to town. On tho Clyde Quay side was a huge hole, into which, the neighbourhood, in the pre-destructor days, threw their rubbish, whilst' the centre of the section. wa6 a line of high rocks, with passes in between, among which the youngsters of the district would play soldiers or . brigands, defying thq whole • world and their big brothers from their rooky fastnesses. In those days, the youtli and juvenility of the neighbourhood attended the Mt; Cook boys', girls', or infants', according to their age or sex, and thought nothing of the two-mile walk there and back. Sortie. evon trudged through tho town to tho Terrace School, where Mr. Young and subsequently Mr. MacMorran dispensed wisdom to the immature. Halcyon days! ■An interesting reference is mado to the schools "coming Of age" in the annual report presented at tho annual meeting of householders. ■ "About the 1887" (states the report) "the residents on the slopes of Mount Victoria considered tho timo was ripe for the establishment of a school in their district. Onr much esteemed chairman (Mr. D. Robertson) and. several others took the matter , in hand, and after considerable work,' the Education Board granted - the request of the resi-T dents, although the board considered it was doubtful if the needs of the district warranted it. Tho present,main building was completed m : December, 1888, by Mi. D. M'Lean, at a cost , of .£2200, and tin splendid conditioa in which tho buildings are now in speaks volumes alike for the, faithfill and solid, work, of Mr. D, M'Lean.and to Mr. Grundy and staff for their caro of the property during tbp> past 21 years. In January, 1889, Mr. W. M. Grundy arid a staff of . four teachers were appointed; the Education Board !in their wisdom anticipating there would h» a probable atteridance of 250 scholars to start with.

"On the first morning that tho 6cliool was opened for business, over 700 scholars presented Hiemselves for enrolment, and Mr. Grundy still retains vivid, recollections of that , first week's work at Clyde (Juay School. Since the date on •which- it opened, the school has had an average attendance of between six and seven hundred scholars. Too much praise canribt be given' to .Mr. Grundy and his staff for the splendid work done in every department of the school, work, and for the high moral standard that has ever marked the conduct of tho school life.From a 6cliolastio standpoint the following facts speak for themselves:—Tho registered number of admissions during the period under review total .7054, and while all have received a sound training, many- have delighted the heart of Mr; Grundy by their -brilliant success. It is highly, satisfactory to note from- the Holl of Honour .Board' that since .1889 -the! school .Has.'never missed, one year .without taking : scholarships. During that time its pupils Kavi secured M scholarships, including four Queen's Scholarships and four National Scholarships. In connection with the famous Rhodes Scholarships, Clyde 1 Quay Scliool probably holds tho most unique record -of. any public school in tho Dominion, for already the register of scholars shows _ that -two. ex-pupils, (Messrs. Robertson anil Ziman) have gained, this much-covetecl honour. .

"In reference to 'tile committees wlio have served - tho ; school during • tho'-.last' 21 years, the district lias put up. another record in the fact that six of its present members bave served continuously for 18 years. It is worthy of note that one member ; (Mr. D. Robertson) has served 21 years, -another (MiV'E; Hurlestone) has served' '20 years, while four others (Messrs. D.: M'Lenn', - RiiSS'ell,' 1 G. Wilson,, and W. J. Gaudin) have done servico for 18. years. Mossrs. W. Cable and C. .Stewart, who retired,.two .years ago, deserve-honourable mention, having served som©, years!.■-Tho late Mr. T B. -.Hewitt also served for soma-44 iyears until compelled through ill-health to resign." , At the meeting - of- the householders, showers of, congratulations fell upon Mr. W. T. Grundy, who has been in charge-of the school since it was first opened. It was stated that the school had been very fortunato in; having a man of his standing and ability, and it was hoped that Tie would bo spared'for many years to fill,tlio position lie had occupied for so long with such distinction. In reply,' Mr: Grundy said that he feltgratified to hear so many complimentarythings said about liim'self. ! He- had been' there 21' years, 'ami it was a life SSntonce—' 1 (laughter)—but' it had been, a very pleasant life sentence.: -When.-he ; had come down from ■ tho-Wairarapa Ji6; knew that he would have many difficulties to contend with.. Competition was. .keen in those days—keener .than.it was now; -foithey then had .that terrible system of payment by resiilts. But he had been especially fortunate in his staffrand district, . and parents had. given the..school a. loyal support. He could, however, say with confidence that he had done his best, though that best have come, shortof their wishes. His, whole 1. heart had been in the work done,, and so it' would be as long as his faculties remained unimpaired. , Subscciuently, on the'motion of-Mr. W. M'Lean, it was decided to set up 'a ; committee for the purpose of. suitably recognising tho long and able services rendered bv Mr. Grundy, and those.'gentlemen.'' of the committee Who had worked so. loyally in tho management of tho school's affairs. , On the motion of Mr. W. G. Skinner tho following committee was appointed to give effect to the wishes of the meeting:— The Hon. J. E. Jenlcinson and Messrs.'■ T. Sim, ,W. M'Lean, Port, H: Plimmer, A. .Bmithj Forsyth, and the mover. ■■ • The committee set up to arrange for a testimonial of somo kind to Mr. W. T. Grundy, on the completion of tiventy-onc years' service as headmaster of the Clyde Quay School, mot on ' Tuesday,' and decided to call a meeting.of old boys and girls of the school to be held in the. schoolhouso on Monday next. Lists are to bo circulated at an early date, and some of tho ladies- of the district are to be asked to' assist. It was also decided to recognise Mr. David Robertson's 21 -years' service as- chairman - of the committee. Parents residing in the district are to bo waited upon with ,lists within the next few days. On the motion of tho chairman (the Hon. .Ji E. Jenkinson), it was decided to make the presentation to Messrs. Grundy and Robertson at a function to be hold (subject to the approval of tho School Committee) in the school.