Family History 1.113

Gaze History: NSG Memoir

More Education

By this time his sister was at Grammar School, and her success would have led to expectations of similar academic prowess for Noel.  He did not disappoint those expectations.  Both Julia and Fred had sharp minds and backgrounds with a good number of educated people in their families. Julia’s ancestors on one side had been among the few literate people in the town of Kettering; Robert’s mother’s father, also Robert, had been asked in 1837 to deliver a lecture to the Historical Association about the history of land tenure in the area. (The manuscript draft is still in existence)  

Fred, who had been forced to leave school in his early teens to go to work, had continued to educate himself all through his life and encouraged his family to take an interest in words, world affairs, mental arithmetic, history and above all the study of the Bible. While Noel was a pupil at Mt Eden School, Fred left his employment with McG and Gower, which had recently been re-structured as John Court Ltd, and set up his own wool retailing and manufacturing business in Karangahape Road.  His colleagues presented him with a silver planter and the inscription gives the date as 23 June 1910. 

In 1916 Noel began his secondary education at the brand-new Auckland Grammar School in Mountain Road.  He continued to do well, although prizes were not to come his way. In 1918 he passed the matriculation examination and stayed on for a sixth form year in 1919.  Schoolboys in those days were more severely disciplined than they are now, but they still got up to some mischief, according to Noel’s later memories.  On more than one occasion the boys in his class all trooped back into school after lunch carrying cicadas and held them to make them sing – all at the same time – much to the annoyance of the teacher.  On another occasion the same teacher arrived at the classroom to find a pile of schoolbags (Gladstone bags in those days) in front of the door and not a boy in sight.  The boys were hiding around the corner and eventually appeared, and picked up their bags to let the teacher into his room.

In 1918, Noel lost his grandfather Charles at 86 years of age.

 

1918-19 was also the period of the Influenza Epidemic.  All around people were dying.  The whole family was ill, but managed to pull through.

In 1920, Noel began his studies at the University College.  His ambition for some time had been to study architecture, or, as some authorities have it, surveying.  However Fred pointed out that many architects found it hard to make a living in those days, and that it would be more practical to pursue a mainstream profession like law.  Noel agreed in the end and entered the Law School.  He worked hard to complete his degree in a short time, and at the same time worked for a legal firm.  After six months working for the first firm for ten shillings a week, he shifted to another one for a rise of five shillings. He graduated Bachelor of Laws in 1923.

 Charles Gaze obituary

 The obituary in the Herald describes him:  “Tall, with silvery white hair and beard, Mr Gaze was a well-known figure at the Tabernacle, being a most regular attendant notwithstanding his advanced years. In fact his attendance only ceased last Sunday and he was spared a lengthy sickness.” He had 22 grandchildren, of whom 5 were on active service at his death, and 20 great-grandchildren.