In October and November 1879, the Wanganui Endowed School Bill Committee heard evidence about the Trust that had been tasked with running a school "for the education and industrial training of children of poor and destitute persons of all races" in Wanganui.
The evidence included several mentions of a windmill at the school:
You are acquainted with the terms of the grant? - Yes.
It provides for industrial training? - Yes
Is any industrial training given now in the school? - In the first instance the Natives received industrial training, but they were persuaded that they were being ill-used and enslaved by the master, because they were employed growing grain and vegetables for the school consumption, building fences, and erecting a small windmill to grind the corn.
That applies to the Natives? Yes.
That is some years ago, is it not? - That was at the outset.
What year might that have been? - 1854 or 1855, or thereabouts.
And there has been no industrial training since then? - Not since the Maori pupils left, so far as I know.
Have there been any attempts made to give industrial education? - Not that I know of, except that in the early days pupils were taught to grow crops, &c.
Did they do farm work? - They were taught to do farm work.
But nothing in connection with trade? - They used to assist in fencing, and in putting up a windmill.
Was that many years ago? - Yes; but I do not know that any wish has since then been expressed by people sending children there to have them taught industrial matters.
This refers to a mill at the site of the Technical School, on the Avenue: Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19157, 13 November 1924, Page 9
EARLY WHANGANUIThis also ties a windmill in with educational buildings on the Avenue: Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18982, 5 April 1924, Page 17 (Supplement)
A very good description of Wanganui in 1856 is given by the late Mr. A. D. Willis. ... Along the Avenue on the south side from the colonel's house, to the sandhill, where the Wesleyan Church stood, were a few straggling cottages. From the sandhill, looking beyond, St. John's Bush was still a thing in reality and a profusion of nice trees and native shrubs. The Great North-western Road had not been then made or formed. The only buildings visible between this sandhill and the bush were the late Thomas Scrivener's little farmhouse, and the parsonage, and school of the Industrial School Estate, then occupied by the Rev. C. H. Nicholls, principal of the school. A little windmill stood where now is the Technical School. Crossing over to the other side of the Avenue and coming back to the river one first passed the common Grammar School, an institution of provincial origin and of which the people were very proud in those days as offering education free to every child in the place.
Old Wanganui was a picturesque settlement with a cosmopolitan population and native life in all its picturesqueness predominating. A reminder of unsettled times were the stockades on the hills near the present sites of the museum and the fire tower. On the river bank was a nondescript tent settlement. with dozens of canoes moored nearby. Where the Post Office now stands Mr Davis kept a store, school and library. A little further up the Avenue were a few habitations, and a windmill where the Education Board's office is to-day was practically the last outpost of township life. Where Paul and Co's premises are to-day was a little house occupied by Mr Stokes, surrounded by a high hawthorn hedge. He was the first proprietor of "The Chronicle." Taupo Quay was the only business street of importance, and a river ferry served right up to the time that the town bridge was opened in 1870.This was reprinted a few years later, with just a few details changed (including dropping the specific mention of the Avenue): Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 262, 5 November 1928, Page 19 (Supplement)
THE RIVER CITY
A PICTURESQUE SETTLEMENT.
Old Wanganui was a picturesque settlement with a cosmopolitan population and native life in all its picturesqueness predominating. A reminder of unsettled times were the stockades on the hills near the present sites of the museum and the fire tower. On the river bank was a nondescript tent settlement, with dozens of canoes moored nearby. A windmill, where the Education Board's office is to-day, was practically the last outpost of township life. Where Paul and Co.'s premises are to-day was a little house occupied bv Mr. Stokes surrounded by a high hawthorn hedge. He was the first proprietor of "The Chronicle." Taupo Quay was the only business street of importance, and a river ferry served right up to the time that the town bridge was opened in 1870.
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