TOKOMAIRIRO HIGH SCHOOL.

Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue XII, 18 November 1879, Page 3

TOKOMAIRIRO HIGH SCHOOL.

-~m LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE. It being a standing rule with the contractors for this building (Messrs Bateman and Stait) to obaerve the time-honored custom of laying the corner stone of every structure, the walls of which are exclusively erected by masons, those gentlemen, through their foreman Mr Thomas Campbell, bad fixed upon Friday afternoon, the 14th instant, for that interesting ceremony. As the affair was to be kept strictly private, only very few parties were in the secret ; three or four gentlemen who accidentally visited the ground to see how the building was getting on, happened to be witnesses on the occasion. The honor of performing the ceremony had been delegated to an old lady resident, Mrs Goodall, who arrived at about half-past four, and the workmen were at once called off their work for the day, to join the party, which comprised about 40, all told. The following residents were present :— Messrs W. Malcolm (Rector), Francis Grant, Henry White, Peter FarrelJ, W. Taylor, Menzies, Black, and the representative of the Bhvck Hekald. A bottle containing copies of the two Milton newspapers, and specimens of the current coins of the realm, having been deposited in the cavity prepared for it, Mrs Goodall spread the mortar; the stone was then laid down and adjusted, and declared to be well and truly laid. The following address was theu read by Mrs Goodall :— Gentlemen, may this stone be the foundation of a building which will be an ornament to the rising town of Milton, not only by its beautiful symmetry and structure, but also by containing within its walls thafc splendid intellectual teaching for our youths, which is comprised in the great principles of moral worth and real usefulness. The teaching which alone can make them, and the country they live in, truly grand, and which will cause them toahine in every land to the bliss of mankind, compared with which riches and titles of rank, with all their lore, are far behind. May many a fond mother in after years, when hearing of her son's fame and usefulness in the world, or when looking at or talking of this building, say with pleasure : my son was taught in the Milton High School. And may many parents say the same when their daughters have grown up to be good and useful housewives and kind mothers. May this event of laying the foundation stone of the Tokomairiro High School live long in our memories, and may the building be a credit and an honor to the British Colonies. The address ended, three hearty cheers were given for Mrs Goodall, and Ler health was drank in champagne. The workmen were also regaled with sundry refreshments, and the assemblage dispersed, well pleased with the proceedings.