PUNGAERE & WAIPAPA SCHOOLS.
KERIKERI, BAY OF ISLANDS
PUNGAERE & WAIPAPA
SCHOOLS.
KERIKERI, BAY OF ISLANDS
The following data is taken from
a large File, the pages
of which are very
brittle and ever so hard to handle. The
File is about 4cm deep,
with the pages secured, top right,
with an old and rusty oversized sort-of staple-cum-button,
and the pages are fast disintergrating!!!. As you may
imagine, the writing varies from scribbled to copy-plate,
in pencil and pen, and was quite difficult to read. Use your 'find'
facility
when looking for
names.
On the 6th February 1892,
the Board of Education,
Auckland, Published a
Notice, announcing the names of those persons
qualified to be elected
Members of that Board, to fill the vacancies caused by
the retirement of
Mr. BUCKHURST, Mr. LENNOX and Mr. LUKE.
They were:
Edmund BELL... William Blythe BUCKHURST... Heywood CRISPE
Margaret Lillian Florence EDGER... John Liddell
KELLY...
Samuel LUKE and George Maurice O'RORKE.
On the 2nd April 1892, a Petition
was posted to the Board of Education,
Auckland
requesting that a School be established in the Pungaere District
of Keri Keri. (sic)
It was signed by:-
P.J.SMYTH
Geo. Usher GRAHAM.
John GRAHAM
George BILLINGS
Jacob BILHAM?
Thomas ROGERS
Thomas LYLE?
Geo. PRESHONE?
Joseph DOWLING
Francis F. MAOR-AE
Wm. HEARN.
The following List of local
children was attached:
NAME
AGE
DISTANCE FROM PROPOSED SITE
John
SMYTH
13½
20 chains
James
SMYTH
12
"
Mary
SMYTH
10
"
Frank
SMYTH
8
"
George
SMYTH
6½
"
William SMYTH
5
"
Mary
FYFE
14½
½ mile (Has attended Okaihau School)
Jennie
FYFE
13
"
"
Janet
FYFE
10
"
Lizzie
FYFE
8
" (Has attended Totara Nth. School)
William
FYFE
7
"
May
FYFE
6
"
James H MACRAE
14
3 miles
George H MACRAE
12
"
Duncan A MACRAE
8
"
Kenneth B MACRAE 5
Mary E BILLINGS
7
1½ miles
Catherine R BILLING
6
"
Alice PRESTON 13
1¼ miles
Charles PRESTON 11
"
Florence PRESTON
7
"
Edwin PRESTON
5
"
Archibald FULLER
8
3 miles
Isabella HEARN
6
"
Henry FAITHFUL 9½
3½ miles
William FAITHFULL
8
"
Euphemia FAITHFULL
7
"
Charlotte HEWSON
13
4 miles
Robert HEWSON
11
"
Esther
HEWSON
6
"
Kate SHEPHERD
13
"
Robert SHEPHERD
5
"
UNDER 5 YEARS
Hilda
SMYTH
3
20 chains
Honora SMYTH 8
months "
Adeline
FYFE
4
½ mile
Robert
FYFE
2
"
David
FYFE
1
month
"
Anna M BILLINGS 3
1½ miles
Ethel PRESTON 4
1¼ miles
Mabel ROGERS 3¾
14 chains
Lily
ROGERS
1½
"
Baby ROGERS
1 week
"
Florence BELUS 2
12 chains
William BELUS 6
months
"
Alfred FAITHFUL
4½
Emily FAITHFUL 2½
Irene FAITHFULL 1
Baby FAITHFUL 5 months
Baby SHEPHERD 6 months
Accommodation for a teacher was available at either Mr. HARRIS' or
Mr. FULLER'S Boarding House.
TENDERS RECEIVED FOR SCHOOL HOUSE
Site of 10 acres, Surveyed by Mr. NEUMANN.
11-4-1893. Edmund WRIGLEY, Rendel
Place, Eden Ter.
AUCK. £230.
11-4-1893. Ernest DAVIES,
Whangaroa.
£190.
11-4-1893. W. COOK & Son, Waimate
North.
£234.
23-5-1893. George HATCHER & David FORSYTH, Mt. Roskill ,Auck. £250
23-5-1893. George HERON& Robert HERON, Bell Rd.,Remuera.Auck. £215
23-5-1893. G.SMITH, Sheehan St., Ponsonby,
Auck.
£210
On the 19th June 1893, "G.
SMITH commenced the erection of Pungaere
School." The Schoolhouse was completed by Aug. 1893.
21 Sept. 1893, Messrs. MITCHELL & WATT suggested that a Fence should
be
erected, around the Schoolhouse property. "Cost approx.
£7-10-0."
3 Nov.1893, Mr. H.G.COUSINS was appointed Teacher of the Pungaere School.
On 15th. November 1893 the School was formerly opened .
17 July 1913 a Request was sent to the Education Board, asking for information
regarding the likelihood of a School being built at Waipapa, on Mr. RIDDELL's
property. Reason given was that the nearest Schools were too far away for
the little
ones. Kerikeri being 3 miles, Pungaere 5 miles and Ohaiwai 14 miles. It
was
signed by Arthur Edwin WHITE. The Request was accompanied by Form Listing
the
particulars of Families concerned..
These were:
Frank WHITE, Farmer of 122 acres Freehold.
Arthur WHITE, Farmer of 800 acres
Freehold. W? EARL. Farmer of 200 acres Freehold.
W. COPELAND, Farmer of
240 acres.
Tom ROGERS, Farmer of 50 acres Freehold.
Mary SMYTHE, Farmer
of 50 acres Freehold.
William PRESTON. Farmer.
Names of Children:
Benjamin WHITE 6 years
Emma
WHITE
7 "
T. Sashine? WHITE 3 "
Harry
WHITE
9 "
Betty
WHITE
6 "
Jean
WHITE
5 "
Arthur
WHITE
2 "
Hazel PRESTON 14 "
Earnest PRESTON 12 "
Mabel PRESTON 10 "
William PRESTON 8 "
Walter PRESTON 6 "
Lydia PRESTON 3
"
This Request was turned down by
the Education Board. A letter, recd. 1 Oct.1913,
signed by N.R.McKENZIE, Inspector , states that the children could easily be
conveyed to the Kerikeri School..
The Residents reapplied in 1915
and the application was granted. Letters to the
The Education Dept. in November and December of 1915, are signed by the
Secretary...H.F.SANDEMAN, on Nov. 20th., and Arthur WHITE, on Dec 6th.
R. P. RAY was assistant Secretary.
On the 22nd Jan. 1917, the
Ministry Of Education agreed to pay £5 per annum
for the Rental of Waipapa School.
TEACHERS
The new School was
to be opened in February 1916... "A Miss Magdalene
SHERMAN, at present
practicing at Totara North, and shaping remarkably
well, would be willing to
take the position of Teacher." Signed Maurice
PRIESTLEY, Inspector. However, correspondence shows that Mr. A.G.
WHITE sent a message to
the Education Dept. on March 15 1916, stating ..
"The Residents
'desire' that
the appointment of a Teacher be deferred until
they can guarantee an attendance
of
nine (children) or over as they are unable
to provide free board and residence
for
the Teacher." Signed R.P.J.RAY. Asst. Sec.
The final decission was deferred, while messages went to and from the Waipapa
Parents and the Ed.Dept., debating the number of children, Teacher's
salary and
lodgings for same, right through to August 1916, when Mr. William
HALL, of
Russell was appointed temporary Teacher and instructed to open the Waipapa
School on Sept. 1. 1916.. Miss Magdalen E. SHERMAN, of Saies, was
authorised
as the temporary Teacher, on 22 Feb,. 1917. Miss SHERMAN resigned in Dec.1920.
Mrs. Dorothy SMITH was appointed in her place.
Hilda FITZGERALD was a Teacher at
Waipapa in July 1922.
Winifred NATHAN was Sole Teacher at Waipapa in March 1925
In Feb. 1921 there were 21 pupils
attending Waipapa School, and Miss SMITH
wrote to the Ed. Dept. requesting that the area be fenced. "The
COPELAND,
SMYTHE, CHURCHIS (sic) and PRESTON children have 4 miles to walk and
neither she nor they could ride because their horses wandered off"! This
request
was refused!
On the 10th. Feb. 1922, an Application was made for the
Establishment
of a new School at Waipapa. Families Concerned were:-
HEAD OF
FAMILY.
CHILDREN
WARD. G.A.B. Farmer of 585 acres......... Thomas Robert 4
Robert John 2
N. McDOWELL. Engineer ........................ Veeda 13 ½
Bertha 11½
Mary 9
Irene 8
Nathan 7
Ian 5
H.B.FISHER. Farmer of 216 acres .......... Arthur 11
Hilda 6
Arthur Edwin WHITE. Farmer ............. Betty 14
Jean 13
Teddy 10
T COVICH. Settler ............................... .. Gladys
Mark
Miller
Standly (sic)
Ana
Charles R. PRESTON . Farmer................ Mary 14
Alice 12
Mavis 9
Jessie 6
George Peter KLINAC. Farmer ............... Tony
14
Ancy ? 13
Remarks:
With regards Teacher: "Man preferred. Less trouble."
(Hmmm!!PMW)
On the 14th. April 1922
G.H.PLUMMER, Inspector replied, refusing
the Application!
PETITION RELATING TO WAIPAPA SCHOOL. June 17. 1924
Request that the Board of Education Acquire and Improve the Waipapa
School.. Signed by:-
E.
O'NEILL
M. SMITH/SMYTH
A.
BOWYER
A.M.CHURCHIS
M.
BOWYER
H. C. IRELAND
K.
IRELAND
K. SMITH
M.
COPELAND
B. MURRAY
W.
GOULTON
T. VAN TOLICH
L.
MCDOWELL
C. FISHER
H.B.FISHER
H. T. BATES
L.
BATES
A.C.MURRAY
W.
LINDSAY
J. W. JEFFERIES
E.A.
WARD
Guy H. B. WARD
R.
CLEAVE
J .T. HENDERSON
G. M.
KEMP
Edwin B. TAYLOR
J. S.
FULLER
L. SCOTT
A,
WHITE
M. WHITE
C.
WATERMAN
J. P. KLINAC
Mrs. G.
KLINAC
K. KLINAC
N.
MCDOWELL
M. E. TOLICH
Manly
HITCHON
A. E. ROBINSON
Charles
PRESTON
Ethel PRESTON
J. SHEEHAN.
This request was turned down and
the Waipapa School was declared "Not
Available" as from January 1925. The Pungaere School was also closed
and the building moved to Kerikeri..(can't find a date) and discussions
began
regarding a new School on the Pungaere site. The building to be of 417 sq.
feet.
Cost £365.
LIST OF FAMILIES CONCERNED IN THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF
NEW PUNGAERE SCHOOL. 29th. July 1925.
William COPELAND. Farmer.
....................... Pat 13
Mary 11
Kathleen 9
Charles PRESTON . Farmer. ......................... Alice 15
Mavis 12
Jessie 10
Gilbert 6
William GOULTON. Farmer ......................... Mary Anne 6
Ellen 5
Ruby 4
Diamond 3
Edward MARSH. Farmer ............................... Joe 15
Hugh 13
Lily
11
Arthur CHURCHESS, Farmer....................... Maitland 13
Eric Arthur 11
Harold 10
Iris 8
Lloyd 6
? McTAVISH. Farmer.................................... Jean 11
Jack 10
Molly 9
Gladys 7
Murdoch 3
Mary SMYTH. Farmer .................................. Mick 12
Herbert IRELAND. Farmer ......................... Grace
12
Arthur JAY. Farmer .....................................
Arthur Henry 1
On the 10th.
Dec. 1925, the Secretary of the Education Board, wrote to
the Residents, advising that the Building of the new School had been
deferred!
On 9th. Jan. 1926 Mr. S. JAY (Secretary of the Kerikeri and Waipapa School
Committee), advised the Board that the Waipapa School was closed, and
that
the Owner of the School Building, Mr. WHITE, was selling the School
building
for removal.
19th. Feb. 1926.The Education Dept. authorised the School Committee to
arrange conveyance, from Waipapa and Pungaere to Keri Keri at £1 a day...
"provided that the number of children approximates twenty-two." to be
paid
by the Education Board.
On the same day, the Education Dept. authorised a grant for the erection of a new
School at Pungaere...
" The Building is urgently required, as over 20 children
have not received any education since the end of last year. E. PURDIE,
Secretary."
TENDERS RECEIVED. 19.3.1926
JOLLY & PRESCOTT,
Auckland £459
Giles RODGERS, Birkdale,
Auck, £463
E.& H.CASHMORE, Ponsonby, Auck, £546
B. ROPE,
Dargaville,
£585
H.C. CURLETT,
Auckland
£597
The Tender from Messrs JOLLY & PRESCOTT was
accepted.
23.3.1926. A Letter was
sent to all Parents asking were they satisfied with
the Lorry being used to convey their children to KeriKeri School. Those
who
were, signed and returned the Letter. :-
Arthur JAY
Daisy V. JAY May COPELAND
E. O'NEILL A.
BOWYER W. COPELAND
M. BOWYER H.
IRELAND E.A.WARD
Guy WARD M.
WHITE A.
WHITE
B. ROBINSON M.M.ROBINSON E. WATERMAN
N. McDOWELL L. McDOWELL M.
McTAVISH
A.M.CHURCHIS A.E.CHURCHIS Sam McTAVISH
Also on 22.3.1926, a Letter was
sent to the Education Board, suggesting
that the proposed new Pungaere School was not necessary. That it would
be more suitable if "One Good School was made - at Kerikeri.." This
was
signed by Guy A.B. WARD .
CHILDREN CONVEYED TO THE KERIKERI SCHOOL, BY VEHICLE
HORSE OR FERRY FOR THE
QUARTER ENDING 9-4-1926
(Mr. H.O'NEILL was the Lorry Driver.
S.J.MARKS, Head teacher.)
A.E.WHITE
C. COPELAND
J. SHEEHAN
M. CHURCHIS
J.McTAVISH
J.McDOWELL
E. CHURCHIS
H. CHURCHIS
T. WARD
R. WARD
L. CHURCHIS
N. McDOWELL
M. McDOWELL
J. McDOWELL
M. COPELAND
J. McTAVISH
M. McTAVISH
K. COPELAND
L. MARSH
J. PRESTON
M. PRESTON
G. McTAVISH
I (J?) CHURCHIS
NEW PUNGAERE SCHOOL
One new Classroom 17'6 x 16.0', together with Porch, Shelter Shed, and
approx. 23 chains of fencing and gate, was completed on
4-11-1926.
And at this point the Correspondence File closes as, eventually, did
Pungaere
School..
The Pupils then attended the Kerikeri School. I will
endeavour to find the date on which this took place..
Merle WHIPPLE merlewh@in4free.com.au
wrote to me regarding her
relatives who attended this School... "Thomas WILSON's daughter
Elizabeth
mar. George PRESTON ( see above). Their dau., Alice, mar. Thomas FYFE
(see above). They were my G.G.Grandparents. Thomas FYFE was the son of
Thomas and Agnes FYFE (see Stone Store info.) and two of his sisters mar.
into the SKIDDER and FULLER families."
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