Tokanui School

Record Group

Identifier: A0354

Staff Only

Dates

Majority of material found within 1888 - 1954

Tokanui School

First held in Willie McWilliam's hut, an household school opened c.1885 with a roll of fourteen students. The students were taught the rudimentary lessons by Laurence Thomson, himself a young high school student.

On 6th June 1885 the Southland Education Board requested the settlers renew their application for a school in the Tokanui District when they have the necessary number of children, being 50 students. An application for a new... school was referred to the Inspector in December that same year but postponed 12 months. Eventually tenders for the new school were accepted 11th June 1887. Miss Ella MacDonnell succeeded Laurence Thomson as teacher in 1887.

The school was destroyed by fire in May 1905 but rebuilt and then re-opened in November of that same year. A second room was added in 1919 after the roll exceeded 100 pupils, all of whom were being taught in one room divided by a felt curtain by just two teachers. During alterations the pupils were taught in an old hall in the township. Note: The school roll fluctuated according to the activities of the local Saw Mill.

In 1970 Haldane School was consolidated with Tokanui. The former head teacher of Haldane School Walter Molloy, who still resided in the Haldane School redisence, would drive the school bus to Tokanui School and continue teaching there.

A three-roomed school and administration block was built and opened on a new site in 1972.

- Notes by E. Easton -

See Bibliography for References See more

Extent

1 box(es) (Box 1)

Language of Materials

English

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Additional Description

Bibliography

'Tokanui, Slope Point - Haldane Centennial 1886 - 1986' by Margaret Lamont
Reference: LC 993.96 LAM

This publication contains a wealth of local material and social history of the Tokanui, Slope Point and Haldane Districts. It is also generously illustrated with photographs of early families, sport and social groups plus much information concerning local families. While it does not contain a Contents Page, there are helpful indexes, to teachers, families and local industries (and other groups) at the back on pages 259-271.
Some photographs of pupils, with their names, from the period 1895-1934 are included. At the back,the reader will find a history of Tokanui School, taken from the Southland Education Board files 1885-1971.
A complete list of teachers and their length of service are on pages 239-241. Pupils are listed by decade on pages 243-252. Photgraphs from 1950-1985 are included.