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Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Volume 2, Issue 1, 1987
Table 1: Parents' Occupations
Table 1: Parents' Occupations
| Accountant | 1 |
| Agent | 3 |
| Architect and Builder | 1 |
| Armed Constabulary, Major | 1 |
| Army Captain | 2 |
| Army Captain, Retired | 3 |
| Army Major, Retired | 1 |
| Auctioneer | 5 |
| Baker | 2 |
| Bailiff | 1 |
| Bank Manager | 3 |
| Banker | 4 |
| Barber | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Bookseller | 4 |
| Bootmaker | 6 |
| Brewer | 6 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Butcher | 6 |
| Cab Man | 1 |
| Cabinetmaker | 1 |
| Carpenter | 3 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Chemist | 2 |
| Chief Gaoler | 1 |
| Civil Engineer | 2 |
| Clerk | 5 |
| Clothier | 1 |
| Commercial Agent | 3 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Commission Agent | 2 |
| Commissioner of Lands | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Customs Department | 8 |
| Dentist | 3 |
| Doctor | 4 |
| Draper | 5 |
| Draughtsman | 1 |
| Druggist | 2 |
| Engineer | 8 |
| Farmer | 29 |
| Fellmonger | 1 |
| Gentleman | 21 |
| Governor of Gaol | 1 |
| Grocer | 3 |
| Hop Grower | 1 |
| Hotelkeeper | 18 |
| House Agent | 1 |
| Indian Army, Colonel | 1 |
| Insurance Agent | 2 |
| Iron Founder | 1 |
| Journalist | 2 |
| Judge | 2 |
| Judge's Secretary | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Land Agent | 3 |
| Land Commissioner | 1 |
| Landwaiter | 1 |
| Layreader | 1 |
| Lime Burner | 1 |
| Magistrate's Clerk | 2 |
| Maltster | 1 |
| Manager, Farmer's Co-op | 1 |
| Manager, Railways | 1 |
| Manchester Warehouseman | 1 |
| Merchant | 12 |
| Merchant Traveller | 1 |
| Milkman | 3 |
| Miller | 3 |
| Mining Agent | 1 |
| Mining Manager | 1 |
| Minister of Defence | 1 |
| Minister of Lands (Ex) | 1 |
| Minister of Religion | 15 |
| Music Seller | 1 |
| Optician | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Pilot Harbourmaster | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Port Officer | 1 |
| Postmaster | 2 |
| Printer | 2 |
| Railway Inspector | 1 |
| Registrar, Supreme Court | 1 |
| Resident Magistrate | 1 |
| Runholder | 2 |
| Sawmiller | 2 |
| Secretary, Farmer's Co-op | 1 |
| Secretary, Provincial Council | 1 |
| Settler | 1 |
| Sharebroker | 1 |
| Ship Captain | 4 |
| Shipping Agent | 2 |
| Shipping Clerk | 1 |
| Shipman | 1 |
| Solicitor | 5 |
| Speaker, House of Reps | 1 |
| Speaker, Provincial Council | 1 |
| Station Manager | 1 |
| Storekeeper | 10 |
| Sub-Treasurer, Prov. Council | 1 |
| Superintendent, Prov. Cncl. | 1 |
| Suveyor | 5 |
| Tailor | 4 |
| Teacher | 4 |
| Telegraph Inspector | 1 |
| Timber Merchant | 1 |
| Tinsmith | 3 |
| Upholsterer | 1 |
| Vinegar Manufacturer | 1 |
| Volunteers, Major | 1 |
| Wharfinger | 3 |
| Widow | 16 |
| Wine Merchant | 2 |
| Not with parents | 8 |
| Unknown | 32 |
Further investigation is needed to provide comparative data relating to other local schools, and to the social structure of the city of Nelson at this time (1860–95). It is still very clear, however, that one whole facet of the social order is missing — the unskilled worker. There is only one labourer's son listed in the whole school roll. William Street had managed to obtain a singing scholarship, available to boys who sang in the Anglican Cathedral choir,(12) but he left when it terminated.
At the other end of the stratum there are the political elite, both provincial and national. There is ample evidence of the professions, but again, information about their individual backgrounds would be needed to establish their upper, or middle-class socio-economic standing. The majority of the parents were shopkeepers, clerks, agents, merchants, or skilled tradesmen, who appear to have been working largely on their own account, with or without employees. This is further evidenced in the occupations their sons followed when they left school, as shown later, in Table 4.
The 1887 prospectus claimed that the school was by no means confined to the sons of Church of England parents, indeed:
"among its former and present pupils were to be found
the sons of Church of England, Presbyterian, Wesleyan
and Lutheran clergy".