ecclesiastical and educational arrangements, clearly states there were four pupils in the senior department of the Grammar School. 7 Seven days later an advertisement in the same newspaper details the course of instruction, school hours, holidays and states that “Boys will be received from the age of 7 to 15. It will be necessary that they should at least be able to read with ease previous to their admission”. 8 Who were these four pupils? The partial answer to this appears in the Canterbury Association School Reports which lists the following five boys in the Grammar School on 10 March 1851; Edward Puckle, Summers Puckle, Dugald Macfarlane, Benjamin Dudley and Edward Earle. 9 The discrepancy is simply accounted for, as Jacobs recounted “ …the numbers were very small and fluctuating, as family after family moved to the plains, and fresh shiploads of colonists arrived from England.” 10 Where were these boys taught? The best account again comes from Jacobs when he describes the Grammar School as having a white -washed room in the immigration barracks that was slightly larger than the twelve feet square allocated to the Upper Department, with a small table and a few wooden stools. 11 Tangible evidence for the College comes from the purchase of furniture, books and scientific equipment for transport on the Canterbury Association ships 12 and a copy of The Daily Services of the United Church of England Ireland , printed in 1849. Obviously bound and impressed with the words “College” and “Lyttelton” before sailing, it would have found a home with the College either in Port Lyttelton or the township of Lyttelton – the planned name for Christchurch. Now to return to the initial question –is Christ’s College celebrating its 165th or 166th year in 2016? Christ’s College has always claimed
Cressy landing at Lyttelton, 1851 - Mary Townsend sketch, Canterbury Pilgrims and Early Settlers Association Collection, Canterbury Museum. 1949.148.202. The Immigration barracks can be seen in the centre of the sketch.
The Daily Services of the United Church of England and Ireland 1849 Oxford and London. John Henry Parker. Christ’s College Archives 1999/129.
that it was part of the Canterbury Association dream. This then confirms that 21 May 2015 was the 165th anniversary. However to celebrate 165 years of College teaching on land, then 27 January 2016 is the date.
• 3. Jacobs, H. 1877 Introduction in The School List of Christ’s College Grammar School 1852- 1877. Christchurch. G Tombs & Co. p4 • 4. Christ’s College Register , April 1901 p7. Hewland, JR ms Jacobs papers, Christ’s College Archives. • 5. Lyttelton Times , 25 January 1851 p 8 • 6. Lyttelton Parish Minute Book. Christchurch Anglican Diocesan Archives. PAR039/6/1
• 7. Lyttelton Times 1 March 1851 p5 • 8. Lyttelton Times 8 March 1851 p1
- Jane Teal, Archivist
• 9. Canterbury Association – Schools-school reports- Christchurch Commercial, Infant School, Grammar School, Akaroa, Kaiapoi, Girls School Lyttelton c1851-c1853 CH290/173,7/9, Folder B, Item 8. Archives New Zealand/ Te Rua Mahara o te Kawanatanga Christchurch Regional Office • 10. Jacobs, H ibid p4 • 11. Jacobs, H ibid p4 • 12. Ecclesiastical and Education Fund Accounts. Christchurch Anglican Diocesan Archives
Sources: • 1. Flower. AE 1950 The School List of Christ’s College 1850-1950 (6th ed). Christchurch. Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd. pp 29-31 • 2. Attendance and Behaviour Book, Christ’s College Archives. Lyttelton Times 7 February 1852 p 5
53
College Issue 30 2016
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs