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Picturesque Dunedin: or Dunedin and its neighbourhood in 1890

Mb. Stuarthawthorne, M.A

Mb. Stuarthawthorne, M.A.

The Education Board invited applications for the vacant rector ship from candidates in New Zealand and the neighbouring colonies, and the choice fell upon Mr. Stuart Hawthorne, M.A., of Sydney University, and Head-master of the Ipswich Grammar School, Queens land. He entered on his duties in February, 1869, when only 56 names were enrolled. The average attendance for the whole of 1869 was 70; in 1871 it had risen to 126.In the beginning of 1871 Mr. Hawthorne removed from the residence inthe south wing of the High School building to make room for the Girls' High School, which the Board had resolved, after Much consideration, to place under the same roof with the Boys' School.Witha view to provide suitable board and residence for boys from a distance attending the school, the Education Board erected the boarding institution known as the Rectory on a site adjoining the Town Belt, near the place where the present Boys' High School now stands.Mr. Hawthorne entered on the occupation of the Rectory in 1871, and in a short time a number of pupil boarders were placed with him. About the same time the teaching staff gained a valuable accession by the appointment of Mr. George M. Thomson, (now E.L.S.) who has since rendered good service to the school in several capacities, more especially as Science Master, and, for a number of years, as head of the Boys' Boarding Institution in conjunction with Mrs. Thomson.

In 1872-73 the school showed a falling off as regards attendance and the standard of work reached. In May, 1873, the Superintendent, in accordance with a resolution of the Provincial Council, appointed a Commission "to inquire into and report upon the present condition of the Boys' High School, and to make such general suggestions as to the advancement of the higher education of the Province, as may commend themselves to their consideration." The Commission consisted of the late Sir John Richardson, Professor Shand, Sir Robert Stout, and Dr. Hislop. In the course of his examination by the Commission, Mr. Hawthorne attributed the falling off in the attendance and the lower standard of study to a variety of causes page 160enumerated by Lira, over which, he could not possibly exercise-any control. In its report the Commission expressed the opinion that "the various circumstances referred to by the rector must have combined to exercise a Most dispiriting influence upon both masters and pupils, to keep back intending scholar's, and to injure the status of the school." In accordance with one of the-recommendations made by the Commission, the Government, in July, 1874, appointed Sir John Richardson, Sir Robert Stout, the Rev. Dr. Stuart, Professors Shand and Macgregor, and Messrs. E. B. Cargill and: James Fulton "to be a Board of Advice for-the High School, to recommend to the Education Board such measures in connection with the organisation and management of the school as might be deemed advisable." The result of a conference between the Board of Advice and the Education Board was the adoption by the latter of a number of Regulations-based almost wholly upon the recommendations made by the High School Commission of 1873. It is very much in accordance with these regulations that the school is now organised.

Mr. Hawthorne was of a gentle and sensitive nature, and the public criticism, usually of an adverse character, to which his administration of the High School was subjected for some length of time, at last produced the results that might have been expected. His health began to fail; he completely lost heart; and in September, 1874, he resigned his appointment as rector, intending to carry on the work until the end of the year. But his illness proved of so serious a character that he was compelled to retire from active duty some time before the close of the session. Mr. Hawthorne's health was never again completely re-established, and he died at his residence in the neighbourhood of Dunedin on June 8, 1875. He was a gentleman of high principle and of an amiable disposition, and his loss was much regretted by a large circle of friends. It is known to the writer that a number of generous acts, sometimes involving pecuniary outlay, were performed by him in cases that came under his notice in connection with his official work. The duties of acting rector of the school, from the date of Mr. Hawthorne's retirement until the arrival of his successor, were successfully performed by Mr. Brent. Mr. Petrie, Inspector of Schools, also-rendered good service as master of the classical department page 161About this time the staff of the school received a valuable accession to its strength by the appointment as English master, of Mr. Ales. "Wilson, M.A., now Principal of the Girls' High School.