Mr RD Duxfield - 1892 to 1895
Mr RD Duxfield – 1892 to 1895
In November 1889 a number of parents were anxious for the High School to be reopened.
However nothing further was done until Mr R. D. Mr Duxfield began making inquiries in March 1891.
Unlike the previous appointments to the Headmaster, Mr Duxfield was employed outside the Board's meeting.
Mr R. D Duxfield, M.A., came from Trinity College, Dublin. He had considerable experience in large boarding schools at home and was for some time a resident master at the Wanganui College School, which at the time was the largest boarding school in New Zealand.
In May 1891 the school opened with three pupils, and so began the first year of Mr Duxfield's four-year period of rebellious association with the school.
By the end of 1891 the school roll had reached eighteen and there was every indication that in the New Year it would increase even more.
In June 1892 Mr Duxfield and the Board were in conflict because some pupils were not eligible to be at High School. Such disputes were common at the time. Also at this time the parents petition the Board to provide a proper school building.
Mr Duxfield offered two rooms of his house and the land in front of it. But before this could take place he was again in dispute with the Board and resigned. But by September that year he was reinstated and again offered the use of his property.
The Board decided it was not going to deepen its involvement with Mr Duxfield and took up Rev. Cubitt’s suggestion that land be purchased and a building put up. In 1895 School started in the new building - however Mr Duxfield is again off side with parents and Board.
Mr Duxfield's volatile nature had him at cross-purposes with both parents and the Board on several occasions during these years. Finally, in an obvious ruse to get rid of him, the Board nominated a new member, Mr H. Percival to be the examiner and held an examination of the school pupils in December 1895.
After considering the examiner's report they then decided on a course of action that left Mr Duxfield no alternative but to resign.
Eagerly the Board accepted his resignation (to take effect at the expiration of six days), gave him his final pay and a testimonial and opened their arms to Roger Lupton who had literally been standing in the wings.
Mr Duxfield passed away 26 April 1938, as a well-known Shorthorn cattle breeder in Horotiu, Waikato District. His funeral was attended by a large and representative gathering of the farming and business communities from the area and he was laid to rest in the Ngaruawahia cemetery.