School Applications and Grants




32

"a good and solid education, but also for teaching religious training; but a few days after the last object was modified in order to give Protestant children also a chance of obtaining education." Irish National school books used. Site, in Arney-street, belonging to Catholic body in Grey district. Playground, half acre; dimensions, 50 x 20 feet; well-lighted, well ventilated, with fire-place. Double offices, desks for 40 to 45 children, forms for 60, black-board, maps. Books well supplied. Attendance of 50, gradually reduced to 25 weekly. Income in 1866, £2 15s a week, but since February last, 12s to 15s only, expenditure, £6 a week. Hours, half-past nine to twelve, and half-past one to half-past three.

Subjects taught include Geography, History, English grammar, Composition, Latin, French. Teachers: Mr. Joseph Beaupré, with very high testimonials to his abilities and good character, and Mr. William Wood, who teaches music. Catechism formerly used was soon discontinued, Catholic children being now taught after school hours and on Sunday.

(Grant made in aid — See Schedule 4.)

Greymouth—Miss Heaphy’s School.

First application dated 27th September, 1867. School commenced, 29th October, 1866. Subjects taught—"All the branches of a thorough sound English education and music." Dimensions, 20 x 12 feet; well lighted, warmed, and ventilated. Fees, 2s 6d over seven years old, others, 2s. Attendance average, formerly 30, now 20, and increasing again.

(Mr. O’Loughlin visited and reported on this school; and it was ultimately placed in charge of a local committee. Rev. Father Royer, chairman, and Messrs. M. Kennedy, and P. Griffin; and aid was given to it. See Schedule 4.)

Greymouth Grammar School.

First application dated 13th September, 1867. Mr. Henry Warren, teacher and proprietor. Fees, 2s 6d a week. Hours, 9 to 12, and 2 to 4. Attendance, 36 on books, 30 in average attendance. Aid sought for a proposed new school.

(Mr. Warren was requested to procure a committee, who would manage the proposed school, to communicate with the Board, but nothing resulted.)

Greymouth Albert-street Church of England School.

First application, 19th October, 1867, by Rev. G. P. Beaumont, who proposed to build a school 40 x 20 feet, for 70 children, with master’s house. Estimated cost, £250.

(The grant of £62 10s offered by the Board for the purpose, was declined by the School Committee as inadequate.)

Greymouth Wesleyan School.

At the sitting of the Board on 9th December, 1867, Mr. Alcorn, in behalf of the committee of the school, applied for and obtained a grant of £62 10s to aid in building suitable premises, but the amount of grant was deemed too small by them—represented by the Rev. J. T. Shaw—and the help was declined. There was not time before the end of the year for further steps, though plans and specifications were received by the Board from Mr. Shaw in connection with a fresh application which he made on the subject.

Stafford Town St. Patrick’s School.

First application, dated 5th October, 1867. Site and buildings purchased from occupant, under a business license by Rev. W. J. Larkin, Catholic priest, who is sole owner and manager, and who occupies part of buildings for his own dwelling. Play ground of two acres, well drained; three closets; school-room, 30 x 20 feet, with fire-place and class-room 18 x 16 feet, all well lighted, built of wood, roofed with iron, wainscoted and ceiled; school furniture, books, maps, etc., wholly inadequate (a grant being asked for them); school hours, 9 to 12 and 1 to 4. Subjects taught—Reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, dictation, elements of Natural History and singing. Fees, 2s 6d a week—those who cannot pay, free. No denominational catechism used; religious instruction imparted outside school hours; children of all sects come. Teachers, Mr. Moses Fitzpatrick (but afterwards he left) and Miss Heaphy, first-class certificates from Sydney Model Schools; testimonials most satisfactory. Attendance, 75 on roll; weekly average, 50.

(Grant was made for school furniture; and a gallery for small children, a press for books and hats, four long writing desks, four forms, and a black board were purchased by the means of it. See Schedule 4.)

Waimea School.

A grant of £30 was made to Mr. Mowat and Mr. Collyer, members of the Board, to be expended in starting a school, if possible, in the Old Waimea Township. No application from the inhabitants there had been received, but on Mr. Collyer’s representation it was thought the grant could be very usefully expended, the population being numerous, and a school being desirable.

Ross Grammar School.

First application, dated 14th February, 1867. School held in Wesleyan Church, Park Terrace, by Mr. Walter Hill, sole teacher and manager, who rents building for the purpose from Wesleyan community. Dimensions, 20 x 30 feet, well lighted. Play-ground, half-acre of church reserve adjoining. Furniture consists of church furniture, with writing-desks added; Irish National school books, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, and grammar, geography, history; and arithmetic; and three school maps of World, Europe, and America. Attendance highest number on roll.



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Online Sources for this page:

VUW Te Waharoa PDF Westland Provincial Gazette 1868, No 9





✨ LLM interpretation of page content

🎓 Westland Board of Education Report on School Applications (continued from previous page)

🎓 Education, Culture & Science
16 September 1867
Education, School Applications, Grants, Greymouth, Stafford, Waimea, Ross
17 names identified
  • Joseph Beaupré (Mr), Teacher at Greymouth Catholic School
  • William Wood (Mr), Music teacher at Greymouth Catholic School
  • Heaphy (Miss), Teacher at Greymouth School
  • O’Loughlin (Mr), Visitor and reporter on Greymouth School
  • Royer (Rev. Father), Chairman of Greymouth School committee
  • M. Kennedy (Mr), Member of Greymouth School committee
  • P. Griffin (Mr), Member of Greymouth School committee
  • Henry Warren (Mr), Teacher and proprietor of Greymouth Grammar School
  • G. P. Beaumont (Rev.), Applicant for Greymouth Albert-street Church of England School
  • Alcorn (Mr), Representative of Greymouth Wesleyan School committee
  • J. T. Shaw (Rev.), Representative of Greymouth Wesleyan School committee
  • W. J. Larkin (Rev.), Catholic priest and owner of Stafford Town St. Patrick’s School
  • Moses Fitzpatrick (Mr), Teacher at Stafford Town St. Patrick’s School
  • Heaphy (Miss), Teacher at Stafford Town St. Patrick’s School
  • Mowat (Mr), Member of the Board for Waimea School
  • Collyer (Mr), Member of the Board for Waimea School
  • Walter Hill (Mr), Teacher and manager of Ross Grammar School