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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

[Swannanoa]

The Swannanoa district is devoted almost entirely to sheep farming. It is served by a flag station on the Eyreton-Bennett's branch line, twenty-four miles from Christchurch, and standing 195 feet above sea level. The public school of the district goes by the name of Mandeville Plains school. Swannanoa is in the Eyreton riding of the Ashley county, and at the census of 1901 it had a population of 100 souls.

The Public School at Mandeville Plains is situated on the Tramway Road, Swannanoa. The first school was built about 1870, when a considerable portion of the coat was subscribed by the local settlers. This old building still remains, and is used as a shelter shed. The new building, which contains one class room and a porch, has accommodation for sixty children. There are twenty on the roll, and the average attendance is fourteen. A school residence of six rooms is erected on the section, which is ten acres in extent.

Miss Jane Brennan, Mistress in charge of Mandeville Plains Public School, was born in Invercargill, and served her pupil-teachership in Marlborough. She became a teacher in 1898, and was appointed to her present position in March, 1902.

The Wesleyan Church at Swannanoa is built of wood and iron, and has sects for 100 worshippers. It was erected at a cost of £250. There is a small Sunday school, with ten children and one teacher, and one acre of land surrounds the church, and is used as a cemetery.