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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Education Board

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Education Board.

The Taranaki Education Board dates from the 1st of June, 1874, when it was known as the New Plymouth Education Board. At that time the late Mr. Benjamin Wells was chairman, and among the members were Major Atkinson, Archdeacon Govett and Messrs Hursthouse, Richmond, and Standish. Some years later the name of the Board was changed to the Taranaki Education Board. The district under its jurisdiction includes the counties of Taranaki, Egmont, Clifton, and Stratford. It extends from the Mokau river, on this north, to Ngaire, on the south, and the furthest inland school is situated fifty-two miles to the east of the borough of Stratford. At the beginning of 1905 there were seventy-seven schools under the control of the Board, and the children on the rolls numbered 4968, with an average attendance of 4190, under the care of 136 teachers. Members of the Board in 1906: Mr. J. Wade, chairman, Messrs G. Adlam, H. Faull, J. Mackay, M.A., D. H. McDonald, G. H. Maunder, A. Morton, W. Monkhouse, and Mrs J. R. Dougherty. Officers: Mr. W. E. Spencer, M.A., B.Sc., Chief Inspector; Mr. W. A. Ballantyne, B.A., Assistant Inspector; Mr. A. Hooker, Truant Officer; Mr. J. Sanderson, Architect; and Mr. P. S. Whitcombe, Secretary and Treasurer. The Board's offices are in Devon page 70 Street. There is a Technical School in New Plymouth, and another at Stratford; the latter of which has been in operation since 1904.

Mr. George Henry Maunder, who is a member of the Taranaki Education Board, was born in London, England, in November, 1844, and was educated at private schools. In 1858, he gained a certificate under the Committee for Education of the University of Oxford, and subsequently a first class certificate under the College of Preceptors. He afterwards learned flour milling in England and
Collis, photo.Mr. G. H. Maunder.

Collis, photo.
Mr. G. H. Maunder.

in Canada, whither he had emigrated in 1860. Two years later, he returned to England, but in another year went back to Canada, where he remained for two years at his trade. Mr. Maunder finally came to New Zealand in the ship “England,” and landed in Auckland, on the 9th of February, 1867. He found employment as a miller for some time, and also subsequently in Hawke's Bay for about two years. Then he returned to Auckland and settled at Mauku, where he had some experience of farming, and in 1874 he became teacher of the Mauku school. In the year 1882 he removed to Taranaki, and opened the Okaiawa school in 1883, and was, later, in charge of the Matapu school until 1892. Mr. Maunder was for some years farming in Hawera, and in 1902 he built his residence, “Waiake,” on the Carrington road, New Plymouth, where he has since resided. Mr. Maunder has been a member of the Mauku school committee, and the Mauku Road Board, and was a member of the Hawera County Council for the Okaiawa riding for three years. He has been a member of the New Plymouth school committee, the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and honorary secretary of the New Plymouth No License League. Mr. Maunder married a daughter of the late Mr. William Taunt, of Ayrshire, Scotland, in the year 1885.

Mr. Archie Hooker, Truant Inspector of the Taranaki Education Board, was born in the year 1868, in New Plymouth, where he was educated. He afterwards learned the printing trade, which he followed for fourteen years. Mr. Hooker subsequently joined the Police Force, and served for several years in the Auckland district. He then went to Australia, and for two years he was employed in Mort's Dock, in Sydney. He returned to New Zealand, and in 1900 was appointed to his present position. Mr. Hooker is a member of Lodge Egmont, Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity. For some years he was secretary of the New Plymouth Horticultural Society, by the managers of which he was presented with a watch in 1904; and he was sergeant of the Taranaki Rifles, and won the district medal for the Taranaki-Wanganui district. Mr. Hooker has a fine collection of coins. He is married, and has three children.

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