Annat School - 1936 Jubilee

ANNAT SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATIONS

The Annat School Jubilee celebrations, held in favorable weather, were very successful. An energetic committee had made every effort to ensure an enjoyable gathering, and altogether there were about 250 persons present. Some of the former pupils had come considerable distances, some from Palmerston North, some from Greymouth, and others from 50 miles south of Timaru. Reminiscences of the history of the school were exchanged. and there were reunions of the various decades, which were greatly appreciated by those who took part. Three former masters, Messrs H. Grant, G. G. Hancox, and A. C. Barr, were present, and were given a cordial greeting by the pupils. The first schoolmaster of the Annat School, Mr H. Grant, taught in the Orange Hall in 1884, and later in the school itself, which was built in 1886. In 1886 there were 70 pupils, where to-day there are. only 40. One former pupil remembered two families living in a sod hut in 1880, on a property now owned by Mr L. T. Wright. The oldest girl pupil was Mrs D. Naismith, who cut the three-tier cake, and the oldest boy pupil was Mr Charles Searle. ‘ The children had an enjoyable time, and the old pupils told tales of their school experiences. An interesting visitor was Mrs M. Searle Of Annat, who is 89 years of age. The speeches were limited to five minutes, Mr W. P. Spencer, who represented the Canterbury Education Board, said that in the past it had seemed easier to obtain money for public works than for education, but this would probably be altered in the future. The photographing of the pupils of the various decades was also a happy function. In one group there were five sons of Mrs R. K. Black, of Russell’s Plat. Mr L. T. Wright, chairman of the Annat School Committee, presided at the dinner and welcomed the visitors. The toast list was as follows: “The School,” proposed by Mr T. Pearson and responded to by Mrs R. V. McLintock; “Past Pupils," proposed by Mr G. G. Hancox and responded to by Mr G Nuttall; “Past Teachers,’’ proposed by Mr G. P. Wright and responded to by Messrs H, Grant, A, C. Barr, and G. G. Hancox; “The Parents,” proposed by Mr George Butler and responded to by Mr P. W. Compton and Mr D. J. Hawke; and “The Education Board,” proposed by Mr L. T. Wright and responded by Mr W. P. Spencer. Among the apologies for absence received were those from the Prime Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage), the Minister for . Education (the Hon. Peter Fraser), and Mr C. S. Thompson, chairman of the Canterbury Education Board.