DURIE HILL SCHOOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20128, 16 July 1914, Page 4

DURIE HILL SCHOOL

A PLEASING CEREMONY

A very pleasant ceremony took place at the Duri© jlill School yesterday afternoon, when fae large room recently added to the building to provide lot the increased._attendance was formally opened. Mr. J* Ball, Cliairman of the Committee, presided, and the opening ceremony was performed by the Acting Chairman of the Board (Mr. Fred Purnell), who was accompanied by Messrs. Bennett. Dixon, and Harris (members of the Board), Mr. Braik (Director of Education),~and Mr. Swanger (Secretary to the Board). The chairman, in welcoming OVIr. Purnell and his colleagues, expressed the Committee's warm appreciation of their courtesy and consideration in attending, which, he said, was typical of the Board's action towards the- Committee. He said the new room had not been asked for before it was needed, and lie ventured to predict that further and more extensive additions to tho building would be required in the ! not distant future. He expressed the I Committee's sincere regret at the mishap by wbielT the chairman of ths "Qoard had ben laid aside, and also m Iho Hlncss 01 Mr. F. M. Spmdlo, whoso ' kindly interest in the welfare of the school wus thorouglily appreciated. It was -I'ieir earnest hope- that both 'Mr. Pi"ani ;.!)('• •"*■>"'•. would V pciniitloi to enjoy a speedy and complete ri'Cin cry. My. i<\ Purnell, in ihe course of a brief but 'appropriate, speech, thanked the Committee for the invitation that had Feen extended to his colleagues and himself. He had been commissioned by both Mr. Pirani and M*r. Spurdle to express their disappointment at being unable to attend, and their good wishes for tbu continued prosperity of the school. He assured those present, that the Board recognised the good work I that, was being done by the Dime Hill Committee, it was often said that school committees had nothing to do, but the Durie Hill Committee had de- | monstrated the fallacy of that statement ' by pursuing a live and progressive pol- , icy directed towards the improvement ! and beautificatiori of the school grounds and the promotion of the welfare of the children. The Committee, by its en- . ergy and enthusiasm, set- an example which might with advantage be folio »v-, ed by a good many other committees. ' Mr. Purnell then briefly sketched the history of the school, and concluded by formally declaring the new portion open for school work, at the same time complimenting the architect (Mr. Hood) and the contractor (Mr. Wilkie) on the satisfactory manner in which they had carried out their work. Before resuming his seat, Mr. Purnell, on be-half of Mr. John Morgan, presented the school with r. beautiful pen and mk picture, a really charming piece of work executed by Mr. Morgan when seventy-six years of age. Mr. Morgan, who is now in his ! eighty-second year, was among those present. j After the formal ceremony, a number of the girls presented a pretty little rocal play based on the ever-green fairy i stories and at its conclusion Mr. Dixon brought the proceedings to a close by i proposing a vote of thanks to the com- ; mittee and the youthful performers, tho 1 children dispersing witli the happy asrurance, given by Mr. Purnell, with the approval of the headmaster (Mr. Nairn) : that they were to enjoy a half-holiday ' on the following da.y. The members of j tho Board and Committee, the staff, and j the parents who attended the ceremony, ! then adjourned to "Newhaven." the re- ! sidence of Mr. and Mrs. J. Ball, wheit j they were entertained at afternoon tea. S Song.s and recitations were given by i Mrs. -Sedgewick, Miss Hayhow, and Mr. j Bennett, the latter, in moving a vote of thanks to the host and hostess, taking the opportunity to pay a special tribute to the Committee's lion, secretly, Mr. J. H. Hayhow, who, lie said, was one of the most energetic, enthusiastic, nnd successful voluntary secretaries ho had ever met.