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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

Education Board

Education Board.

The Education Board of Westland. This Board's district originally included the district now under the control of the Education Board of the district of Grey, but, on the 14th of September, 1885, Grey was constituted a separate district. The country under the control of the Westland Board extends from the Teremakau river southward to the boundaries of the old provincial district of Westland, and includes the boroughs of Hokitika, Kumara, and Ross, and the pastoral districts to the southward of Ross. The original Board was constituted under the old Act, and the existing Board under the Westland and Grey Education Boards Act of 1888. The returns for the year ending 31st of March, 1905, showed that there were thirty-four schools under the control of the Board; these had a total number of 1015 names on their rolls, with an average attendance of 903, and were in charge of forty-eight teachers. The offices of the Board are at the back of the Supreme Court, between Sewell Street and Fitzherbert Street; the building, which is of wood and iron, and contains a board room, an inspector's room, and a store room, was originally used by the Survey Department, and has been in the occupation of the Board since 1888. Members of the Board for the year 1905: Messrs T. W. Beare, LL.B. (chairman), H. L. Michel (treasurer), J. S. Benyon, J. J. Clarke, A. Cumming, T. W. Duff, J. Staines, J. Grimmond, and G. A. Perry. Mr. A. J. Morton is secretary and inspector of schools, and M. C. R. Kirk, clerk and truant officer.

Mr. Thomas W. Beare , LL.B., Chairman of the Westland Education Board for the year 1905, has been a member of the Board for several years. He is further referred to as a solicitor of the Supreme Court at Hokitika.

Mr. Albert James Morton , B.A., Inspector and Secretary of the Education Board of Westland, was born in the year 1860, in South Australia. He was educated in New South Wales, and in New Zealand, and graduated B.A. in the New Zealand University while at Napier. In 1874, Mr. Morton became a pupil teacher at East Christchurch School, where he was afterwards assistant master, and served in all for six years. Later, he was second master of the Boys' School at Napier for five years. In 1886, Mr. Morton became headmaster of the Woodville school, and was appointed Inspector and Secretary under the Westland Board in 1893. For several years he has been conductor of the Hokitika Glee Club, which has performed some important cantatas and oratorios. Mr. Morton is a member of the library committee of the Westland Institute.

Mr. Charles Robert Kirk was appointed Clerk and Truant Officer of page 501 the Westland Education Board in December, 1893. He was born at Kanieri in the year 1876, and was educated in Hokitika. Mr. Kirk afterwards became clerk of the Westland Education Board, secretary to the Hokitika High School Board and clerk to the Hokitika District High School Committee. He is a member of the Menti-cultural Society in connection with the Methodist church, and a member of the local orchestra. Mr. Kirk married a daughter of Mr. Robert Sweney, of Woodstock, in August, 1903, and has two sons.