Crayne Street

The name of Masterton’s first schoolmaster is recalled in a street in Kuripuni. Holmes Crayne was the first master at the school held in a multi-purpose building in Queen Street, a building which served as schoolhouse, church and social hall. He was also the local registrar of births, deaths and marriages. A well-educated man, he served the town in a number of community posts.

Crayne Street was originally given two names – the western part of the street was known as Cannon Street (for reasons unknown as it is unlikely to have housed an armoury) but the name was gradually dropped. His nephew, Daniel Walton, took over from his uncle as registrar.

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