![]() Elizabeth Pelvin was b: 1st Nov 1872 in Timaru and d: 17 Jun 1961 in Timaru Public Hospital and was bur: Monday 19 Jun 1961 Timaru lawn Cemetery. Her headstone reads: "In Loving memory of Charles beloved husband of Elizabeth Harrison Timaru 1863 - 1953, also Elizabeth Harrison" The Pelvins were living at
Claremont and the children first attended a private school conducted by
Mrs Radford of Pages Road, Gleniti. Because of the number of
settlers now in the district the residents recognised the urgent
need for a school and met with the South Canterbury Education
Board in 1877. Building commenced and the Claremont
School was opened on 16th Jul 1878 with a roll of 22 and father
Richard Pelvin enrolled Elizabeth and brothers Fred and
Arthur.(School notes - Elizabeth passed Std 2 in Sep
1881)
Richard Pelvin bought his first land in the
Redcliff district (the area became known later as Ikawai) in the
mid-1870's and 30th May 1881 householders met at the house of
Robert Stewart and with others Richard was delegated to request
a school to be built at Redcliff.
The school opened in July 5th 1882
with 34 first day pupils among them Arthur, Fred and Elizabeth - father
Richard Pelvin served on the school committee. The
school was the social centre of the district community -
dances and balls were held - fund raising ventures were well
supported to raise funds for the school. The first teacher popular Robert
Agnew was forced to resign after 9 months when the Education department
found a discrepancy in his certification and replacements applicants were
sought. Teacher Alex McClintock was selected July 1883. He blotted
his copybook when he allowed religion to be tutored and the
pupils to be examined without the consent of the
committee. In Jan. 1884 was Richard was elected
chairman - he supported the teacher and wrote to the board
stating the committee had closed the school to a minister of religion.
Richard resigned in April and now the committee
wanted the teacher replaced stating
unsatisfactory exam results. A feud raged and the end of year
prizegiving was not held until the beginning of 1885. Richard
Pelvin's daughter, Elizabeth was McClintock's staunchest
supporter and after receiving her prize from a committee member, threw it
out of the window - an action viewed by the committee as contemptuous
and disobedient but it went unchecked by the teacher... There existed
continuing bitterness between committee and teacher -
he remained until his contract ended in April and the pupil
attendance then dropped to 7. A temporary replacement was made and
after the winter holidays in July Barclay was appointed and harmony was
regained. Elizabeth left Redcliff on 18 Dec 1885
now 13 yrs and was enrolled 14th
June 1886 at the Claremont School where her last day off
education was on 16 September 1887 - her destination home. After her
father Richard's death, a dutiful daughter, she cared for her mother until
she passed away in 1914.
A sports man his speciality was cycling and he is recorded winning both the 3 mile and five mile amateur Bicycle race at the St Andrews Caledonuan Society meet in 1889 He was an enthusiastic member of the Timaru Municipal Band and played the "BFlat" Bass - he was known as "Muncher" Charles and Elizabeth Harrison, known as Dolly, lived at 131 Church St, Timaru where he was by trade a carpenter and builder. |