13 Spring Creek
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Marlboroughtown Marshlands Rapaura Ravenscliff Spring Creek Tuamarina Waikakaho Wairau Bar Wairau Pa Marlboroughtown (1878- 1923) Spring Creek (1923-) Pre 1878 1873 4th June 1873 Marlborough Provincial Council meeting included: This morning petitions were presented by Mr Dodson in favour of a vote for. Marlboroughtown School; from 15 ratepayers, against the annexation of a portion of the County of Wairau to the Borough of Blenheim another vote of £100 for a Library and Public Room in Havelock was carried. Mr Dodson moved for a vote of £50 for the School in Marlboroughtown, but a vigorous discussion arose upon it regarding Educational finance, in which Mr Seymour announced that Government would not consent to the various items for school buildings, and upon the particular subject being put to the vote it was lost. 11th June 1873 The following petition, signed by fourteen persons, was presented .to the Provincial Council by Mr George Dodson; To his Honor the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Marlborough, in Council assembled We, the undersigned residents of Spring Creek and Marlboroughtown, do humbly beg that your Honorable Council will take into consideration this our humble petition. That we have for some years felt the necessity of establishing a school in our district, and having done so we now find a great difficulty in providing the necessary funds for its maintenance, and we do humbly pray that your Honorable Council will grant such assistance as will enable us to carry on the school successfully, as without your assistance the school must lapse, We have a Teacher engaged at a salary of Fifty (50) Pounds per annum, and since the commencement of the school the attendance has been steadily increasing showing at the present time a daily average of twenty (20) children. Your petitioners would call your attention to the fact that the Education Board are not at present in a position to render: any assistance whatever. We would also draw your attention to the necessity of this school being maintained, as the parents of children in this district cannot avail themselves of the benefits conferred on other schools. And your Petitioners will ever pray. 21st June 1873 Marlborough Provincial Council MARLBOROUGH TOWN SCHOOL. Mr Dodson moved— "That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to place on the Estimates the sum of £50 as a grant in aid for the School now open at Marlboroughtown." He said he was aware that it might be said that this was a private school, and to a certain extent it was so, as it had been established independently of the Education Board. .But the people of the district had been compelled to do so for the sake of their children. Three gentlemen in the neighborhood had formed themselves into a committee and engaged a mistress they had applied to the Education Board for a portion of the rates, but as far as he knew that application had not been noticed or replied to. There were about twenty children attending the school, and the district was improving and increasing in population; there were several flax mills in. the neighborhood and Mr Redwood's station, at which there were a large number of boys and youths who would be greatly benefitted by attending a night school, and it was with a view to obtaining a master that he now asked for a grant to this school He might here remark, if it was not beyond the motion, that application had been made for a house for the master at Big Bush, but he-did not think it was so important a school as that at Marlborough Town…………………….. 1st November 1873 About twelve months ago a few of the residents of Marlboroughtown met together for the purpose of considering the advisability of establishing a school for the education of their children. The matter was a serious one, and it was necessary that an effort should be made. Their children were growing up in ignorance, and they were unable to send them to the other schools on account of the great distance. The affairs of the Education Board were in such a confused and uncertain state, that it was considered useless to solicit any assistance until matters assumed a more flourishing condition. A competent teacher was obtained, the School started, and it has now been in existence twelve months, during which time the attendance book shows a daily average of 20 children, a clear proof of its necessity. A short time ago the inhabitants, through their member, Mr Dodson, presented a petition to the Provincial Council praying for assistance. The Government in reply, stated that a lump sum would be handed over to the County Board to be used for educational purposes. A similar petition was then sent to the Board, to which they replied by suggesting that the two Committees of the Bush and Marlboroughtown should amalgamate, and endeavor to fix upon a central site that would suit both parties, as they were unable to support two Schools in the district. According to previous arrangement, both Committees met on Tuesday night last at the Bush School. The letter from the Board was read, and both sides expressed their willingness to assist each other, and were of opinion that a school more centrally situated would produce a mutual benefit. The Committee from Marlboroughtown stated that they had made arrangement for the land, providing it suited their Bush friends. This matter was allowed to stand over and it was finally resolved that a deputation from both Committees should wait upon the Board at its next meeting Big Bush became Grovetown School 19th November 1973 MEETING AT BIG BUSH. A Public meeting was held in the School Room on Friday evening, 14th inst, for the purpose of ascertaining the wishes of the residents in the matter of the removal of the School midway between its present site and Marlboroughtown. Considering the threatening aspect of the weather, the meeting was better attended than could be expected in fact; it represented all the parents, besides others interested in Education in the District. J. Ward, Esq., M.P.C., and member of the local School Committee having been voted to the Chair, he expressed surprise that the advertisement, calling the meeting, had not been procured for him to read (as very few present had seen it, but in its absence he would briefly state that a joint deputation from the Bush and Marlboroughtown had waited upon the Board with the view of concluding some amicable arrangement whereby the School could be removed to a more central site than its present one, to meet the wants of the new district without jeopardising the established claims of the Bush. The Board declined taking action in the matter until the wishes of the people had been elicited, and recommended the deputation to call a public meeting and report its results to the next sitting of the Education Board ……….. 6th December 1873 A deputation consisting of Messrs Busch, Hathaway, Marsh, and O'Dwyer, waited on the Board on behalf of the Marlboroughtown School. An account was presented shewing a deficit of £26 18s after the principal inhabitants had contributed very largely to the support of the School. It was unanimously resolved that this amount be at once paid by the Board. Mr Busch again offered to convey to the Board a piece of land for building a central school for the Districts of the Bush and the Ferry, and the deputation was requested by the Board to furnish an approximate estimate of the cost thereof. 1874 17th January 1874 EDUCATION BOARD. A memorial was presented by Mr P. Rush from parents and guardians at Big Bush, respecting the School proposed to be opened between that place and Marlboroughtown. It was resolved that the teacher's salary at the Bush be reduced to £80, and that £20 be allowed as house-rent per annum also that £50 be granted to the Marlborough-town school as a salary for the year 1874. 6th June 1874 Inspector Bowden of Nelson School Inspector of Marlborough Schools: Thus the schools at Ren wick and Spring Creek are very .satisfactory the Blenheim Borough Girls' School, Havelock Town School, Marlboroughtown, and Waitohi Road, are satisfactory Big Bush was unsatisfactory. 13th June 1874 Inspector’s report MARLBOROUGHTOWN SCHOOL. A small mixed school, under a mistress, held in the Institute, which is lent for the purpose. The building is ample in size, but it is not lived, and there is no residence for the teacher, nor could I see any offices for the children's use. The desks are hung to the wall, and the benches have high backs, which are very inconvenient. There is neither easel, blackboard, nor wall-map in the school. The teacher appeared very attentive to her work, and her discipline seemed both kind and firm. The children were orderly, well-behaved, and interested in their work. Considering that this school has only been opened 18 months, I think it is in a very promising state. The reading and spelling were very good, the latter being systematically taught from spelling books. The tables are accurately learnt, and the children were generally up to the standards in which they were presented. They want, however, more practice in the elementary rules of arithmetic, and in elementary writing exercise. Teachers should be very careful in both these subjects not to push the children on too fast, but to see that they thoroughly master the elements. There are 22 children on the roll, and they attend with considerably punctuality, the average attendance being.81 per cent.