Abstract:
The scope of this thesis has been limited to those educational institutions which were supported by grants from revenue by the Hawke's Bay Provincial Government 1858-76. In effect this practically restricts the investigation to those schools mentioned in the reports of the Inspectors of Schools.
Another Government supported educational institution was the Napier Atheneum and Mechanics' Institute which made a worthy effort to promote intelligent discussions and debates among its members, and organized lectures on scientific and historical topics as well as providing opportunities for wide reading in cultural, scientific and other fields. While Mechanics' Institutes were set up at Havelock North and Wairoa, there is only evidence that the Provincial Council gave financial support to the Napier establishment.
With regard to private schools, it was the Provincial Government's policy to aid only those schools which provided satisfactory instruction, with the result that very few private schools received such aid in the period under review. Napier Girls' School, Miss Caldwell, received aid, 1867. The Napier Grammar School was a private school established in 1864, but which first received aid from the Provincial Government for the quarter ending 31st June,1867. Inspector's Report, 2 July 1867, Votes and Proceedings, H.B., Session XII, 1867.
