Still to Be Edited the School on State Highway 2, the Last School for the Old Wellington Education Board Travelling North on State Highway 2
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Mangatainoka Still to be edited The school on State Highway 2, the last school for the old Wellington Education Board travelling North on State Highway 2. 6 kilometres North of Pahiatua. The home of the Tui Brewery and a rugby match some Super rugby Seasons. The boundary for the Wellington Education Board was the Manawatu River in this area Mangatinoko or Mangatainoka? [Early reports used in this research usually had the area’s name ending with an o but also used in 1888 and later was the last letter as a, which at some stage became the accepted spelling. I have kept the spelling as used in the report of the time] 1888-1889 1889 76 Mangatainoko Wilson Henry Headmaster £245 $44,543 Mary H Female Pupil 1889 76 Mangatainoko Wilson Teacher £20 $3,636 Mary Henrietta Wilson started teaching in 1889, Born in 1873 So about 26 years old when acting as a pupil teacher She in 1896 finished at Mangatainoka and reappeared in Wellington Education Board Schools as sole teacher at Nikau School in 1899 until 1902 when she went to Ngaturi until 1905 and then completed her teaching service in Wellington Education Board at Makuri from 1906 to 1909 The wedding registration Mary is registered as May in Births Deaths Marriages. Died in 1954 aged 81 TAYLOR—WILSON.—At St. Anne's Church, Northland, by the Bishop of Wellington, on December 21, 1910, William James Taylor, of Makuri to Mary Henrietta Wilson, elder daughter of Mr. Henry Wilson, of Stratford.. Had 1 child registered in 1912 called Katrine Mary 1st February 1889 A few weeks ago Messrs Gardner and Hill of Mangatainoko, wrote to the Education Board asking leave to take timber from the reserve opposite the mill, stating that they would clear it thoroughly if granted permission. The reply they got was it could not be granted. They wrote again offering to buy the timber on it but have not received a satisfactory reply. Now comes the point, the timber is now being daily destroyed by fire, and when the Government want the site for building purposes they will have to pay to have the remainder of it felled, when it could have been done just for the timber. Perhaps the Education Board have got more money than they want. 15th February 1889 It is strange that we have heard nothing from the Education Board about building the Mangatainoko School. It is time something was done in the matter. 20th February 1889 . A meeting of the Works Committee of the Mangatainoko School was held on Tuesday at Mr Jessop’s house, when there were present Messrs Jessop (chair), Farley, Black* Anderson, Cocksfoot and Sweatmen. It was resolved on the motion of 'Mr Farley, seconded by Mr Anderson, that the Chairman forward a letter to the Education Board pointing out the necessity of the school, and stating that the site- had been all, cleared and burnt and asking them to erect it as soon as possible. °A meeting will also be held on Saturday for the purpose of trying to get the School Road formed and metalled 28th February 1889 Wellington Education Board It was decided to call for tenders for erection of a school at Mangatainoko 22nd March 1889 A new school is to be built at Mangatainoko, tenders for the erection of which will be called for immediately 27th March 1889 Wellington Education Board work now under contract included Mangatainoko School, .£300 5th April 1889 The school to be erected at Mangatainoko will provide accommodation for 80 children 10th April 1889 Alternate tenders are. called for the erection of the Mangatainoko school house., Plans and specifications may be seen at Mr Walker’s house. 15th April 1889 MANGATAINOKO SCHOOL COMMITTEE." TO THE EDITOR.] S!R,-Having been away from the district for some considerable time for the benefit of my health, and being Chairman of the Mangatainoko School Committee, one of the members called a meeting in my absence and .laid the facts to them in Mr Jessop’s house. It will be remembered that Mr Jessop was in the chair, and during the evening two fresh names were added to the above named Committee. Now. Sir, the- Act distinctly states that there should be no more than seven, three to form a quorum.. I should like to know on whose authority the other two names were put there. At this meeting was both Secretary and Chairman, which there is no record of in the minutes, only that two new members were nominated and that Mr Jessop should receive all communications. Now, sir, I as Chairman, would like to know who authorised him to write to the Education Board. I have spoken to one of the members of the Committee who was present at that meeting and asked him whose place these- two men filled, and the reply I got was that he did not know. Surely some action should be taken in the matter. I may state that I do not recognise the additional members as committeemen. Another thing; I have heard several complaints about the specifications being left at my place, and m the Pahiatua Star .it makes a great deal out of nothing in saying that my place was not convenient as it was a private one Now, Mr Editor, let me inform him that my place is as public as any shop m the town. Apologising for taking so much space in your paper-I am, etc., J. H, Walker, _ Chairman. 24th April 1889 MANGATAINOKO SCHOOL. (to the editor.) Sir—Will you kindly allow me to say they were not contractors who complained about the plans being left at my house, also wish to say that I still hold the position of chairman of committee. I know of no reason for complaint excepting„ my not allowing the plans, &c to be taken from my place. Apologising for taking so much space in your valuable paper.—I am etc. J Henry Walker 8th May 1889 The tender of Mr Burbush has been accepted for the bailing of the Mangatainoko school on the larger alternative plan, the price being £435 28th June 1889 The Wellington Education Board have decided to take the necessary steps to form the Mangatainoko District into a separate school district 1st July 1889 A meeting of the Village settlers was held on Saturday evening in a room belonging to Mrs Davis, when there were about 20 present for the purpose of considering whether they should have a School Committee to manage the affairs of the Mangatainoko school, or to allow the Pahiatua school committee to manage for them, and other business. Mr G. Gardner was voted to the chair. Mr Walker staled that about twelve months ago there 1 was a Committee appointed consisting of seven of the settlers, to sec about having a school erected, and that he was appointed chairman of the said committee. They let Messrs Gardner and Hill have the timber from the site providing they cleared it afterwards of the scrub, and had it burnt ready for the school to be erected, and everything had been done in a satisfactory way. He (Mr Walker) and Mr Stenberg waited on the member for the district, pointing out to him the necessity of having the school erected at once. Since then Mr Jessop had written to the Education Board stating that a new committee had been appointed, and that he (Mr Jessop) had been appointed Chairman of the so-called committee. Mr Jessop had also written to .the Education Board stating that he, (Mr Walker) had taken into his hands to have the school built, and the consequence was that it had been put in a water hole, and that if the school wanted to be enlarged at any lime it would have to be shifted, as it had been built close to the road, and there would not be any room. Messrs Sweatman and Stenberg, two of the Committee, stated that they were fully satisfied that the place was not in a water-lime, and that it was being erected according to the committee’s instructions. Mr Walker further stated that Mr Jessop had written a long letter to the contractor telling him to slop operations and also to the Education Board asking them to have the school shifted, and the result was that a telegram came to the contractor from the Education Board telling him not to go on with the work ; at the same time writing to Mr McCardle asking who was Chairman, Mr Jessop or Mr Walker and Mr McCardle had replied stating that letters should in future be addressed to Mr Jessop. Mr Waller stated that he had been to Wellington about the matter and he had bean asked to convene a meeting of householders to see if they should have a committee of their own to manage the school affairs instead of having the Pahiatua Committee to do it for them. He had also been accused of having been one sided. Mr Black had been opposed to the building of the Mangatainoko school ever since it was first talked of, but for what reason he could not understand. Letters were then read from the Education Board about the school. Mr Thompson wanted to know if Mr Jessop had been acquainted of the meeting. Mr Walker : As far as I am aware he has been told of it. Mr Smeatman said he could not give dates re Mr Jessop claiming the position of chairman. He remembered Messrs Jessop and Anderson coming to him and stating that they thought a meeting should be bald for the purpose of pushing on the school.