JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 839, 6 December 1929, Page 9

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

MOUNT EDEN SCHOOL’S HISTORY

REMARKABLE GROWTH SHOWN

Fifty-two years of progress will be celebrated at the jubilee reunion of scholars and old boys of the Mount Eden District School in the school grounds, Valley Road, tomorrow. Varied entertainments and special displays by the children will make the occasion a memorable one. When the first school of the district was opened at the corner of Valley and Mount Eden Roads in 1877, there were only 23 scholars. Under the control of Mr. Percy S. Stevens, the headmaster, however, numbers soon increased until within a few weeks there were SO on the roll. A single room contained all . tl irre classes. This building has since been enlarged and has seen service as a Methodist church. An interesting tale of early hardships is told by the Rev. Percy S. Smallfield, headmaster of the school from 1879 to 1882. when it was still on its first site. The playground was covered with loose volcanic stone so plentiful in the district, and the same material formed the walls which bounded the property. There were no shelters of any kind for the children except one small porch on the school building. The drinking water, which was in tanks, was often unfit for use. Yet, in spite of all these drawbaks the school continued to thrive, and soon accommodation was taxed to the utmost. The Education Board determined to build a new wing, doubling the size.

While the wing was being built all classes above the infants were housed in St.. Barnabas’s Church, then quite a small building. It was the original structure which had stood on the St. Barnabas Point, Mechanics’ Bay, used solely by the Maoris. In 1880 these had all moved away from the growing city, and the church was moved to Mount Eden. The number of pupils at the school had to be limited in 1881 to 260, and manv disappointed children were turned away when school resumed after the Christmas holidays. Parents naturally protested, and the authorities decided to build a new school at the corner of Valley and Sherboume Roads. 'Although I was connected so closely with the first building, I have never seen the new school.” said Mr. Smallfield with a smile. “I have not been down Valley Road for 50 years. I will get my first view of the new buildings at the jubilee celebrations.” SCHOOL ENLARGED The next headmaster was Mr. George Newell Phillips, who was In charge for only a year. His successor. Mr. Alfred Hosking, held the position for 26 years, during which term the status of the school was raised, and many improvements made to the grounds. *At this time, too. the Mount Eden Borough Council built baths through the co-operation of scholars and parents, and today all pupils are admitted free for swimming tuition.

Overcrowding has been relieved of recent years by the building of further schools at Maungawhau and at Brixton Road, and the Kowhai junior high school has taken the :iigher standards. A normal school at the Training College, and a. subsidiary building to the Mount Roskill school, at the Dominion Road terminus, have also been erected.

AVlmre 50 years ago there were less than 100 pupils, all housed in the cne room, today there are these many schools, serving a district which has come to be considered the most densely populated area in the Dominion.

It is not in growth alone, however, that Mount Eden is worthy of note. Many well-known men have passed through the early school. including both Sir James and Lady Gunson: Mr. William Goodfellow. managing director of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company; M.r. Hugh Grierson, the well-known architect; Mr. Jas. Robertson; and several of the Potter family, including Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden. TOMORROW’S CELEBRATIONS

The celebrations tomorow will be opened at 2.30 p.m. by the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Public Health and member for the district. The picturesque grounds will be gay with flags, bunting, and electric lights, further colour being given the scene by the decorated vehicles and fancy costumes of the children.

It is hoped permanently to mark the occasion by the establishment of a dental clinic, and by making very necessary improvements to the playing areas.