NEW SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22848, 23 October 1939, Page 3

NEW SCHOOL

REUNION OF GRANITY L . PUPILS WEEK-END OF CELEBRATIONS Saturday was one of the greatest days in the history of Granity, when the official opening of the new school was the main event of a week-end of celebrations by old pupils of the Granity schools through the years, who held a reunion. Visitors from all parts of New Zealand attended the reunion, for which arrangements had been made on an elaborate scale. On Friday the school was thrown open for inspection, visitors being impressed with the fine building, the most modern in the Buller district. Built on the Granity Domain site, the school has seven class-rooms, a well-fitted laboratory, three cloakrooms, shelter, and bicycle sheds, and an administration block, which includes the headmaster’s office, staff rooms, a well-equipped dental clinic, and a boiler-room, from which central heating is generated. The heating system extends to every room, including the cloak-room, where special facilities are given for drying clothes. The school faces north, stretching in one line almost the’ whole length of the domain. Along the front there is a spacious veranda, on to which every room opens, and ventilation is provided through sliding doors on the northern side and windows on the southern side of the building. The architect was Mr A. H. Leaper (Nelson), and the contractor was Mr J. Judge (Westport). The ball on Friday night, which opened the reunion, was one of the most successful held at Granity. Procession of Pupils A feature of the reunion celebrations on Saturday afternoon was the procession of past and present pupils from 1880-90 to the present day. Pioneers in the procession were Messrs H. Carey and J. Watson, and Mcsdames W. Hennessy, J. D. Simpson, W. Martin, and A. Tressider, representing the Watson and Carey families. The Granity Band led the procession, in which 600 persons marched, and a halt was made at the cenotaph to place a wreath in remembrance of pupils who have died. More than 1300 persons saw a striking drill display by all the presentday pupils. . c „ The official opening of the new school was performed by the chairman of the Nelson Education Board (the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre), who apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) and the member for the district. the Hon. P. C. Webb. Mr McIntyre said that Mr Fraser was the best Minister for Education New Zealand had ever had. He said the school was one of the best in New Zealand, one capable of housing 250 pupils. He complimented the schoolrcommittee on the success of the reunion. Other speakers were' Messrs D. J. Archer (chairman of the Buller County Council), A. Nightingale (headmaster), and A. Gear (chairman of the Granity School Committee), all of whom joined in complimenting the contractor on an excellent job. They thanked the Nelson Education Board for assistance in having the school erected, and the Minister for assistance also. Mr Mclntyre was presented with a golden key as a memento of the occasian by Mr Gear. Visitors Entertained After the official opening visitors w’ere entertained at afternoon tea at the Anglican Hall’ by the Granity School Committee, Mr H. Gear presiding. The children were entertained at the pictures at the same time, and at 8 p.m. all visiting old scholars were the guests of the Old Pupils’ Committee at a picture evening. On Sunday a combined commemoration service was held by the Minister’s Fraternal, and the reunion will coaclude to-day with a picnic at Ngakawau and an old-time social and dance at night at Hector. The first school in the NgakawauGranity district was opened at Ngakawau in April, 1889, when the Nelson Education Board granted Mr W. McNarn a subsidy on his providing a building. The first teacher was Miss N. Falla, and among the first pupils were members of the Watson, Kerr, McNarn. and Carey pioneering families of the district. In 1883 the school was shifted to Granity, and was known as the Granity Creek School. With the opening of the Millerton colliery and the population of Granity increasing, the school was transferred to a more central position in 1895. and was gradually extended eventually to incorporate a high school in 1925. This section has at the present 70 students.

OBITUARY

MR JAMES QUINN A resident of Reefton for 40 years and a native of Kumara, Mr James Quinn, aged 73, died at the Iriangahua Hospital. Rdefton, some two hours after he collapsed in the street. Mr Quinn, who had resided on the West Coast all' his life, was in his youth a good musician. He was a single man and a member of the New Zealand Contingent which fought in the Boer War. There are no relatives.

SHIPPING

PORT OF GREYMOUTH [THE PRESS Special Servlce.l G’RE'mOOTW. Ottotowc TV, The Huanui sailed yesterday with coal for Foxton. The Gael arrived last night from Wellington and Nelson, with cargo. On Tuesday she will sail to Hokitika if the bar there Is workable. The Titoki is loading for New Plymouth and Nelson and is expected to sail today. ' The Kakapo is still bar-bound at Greymouth, but may sail to-night. The Tees- is loading timber for Wellington and is expected to sail to-night. The Kiwitea is expected to-night from Westport to complete loading on Tuesday for Napier and Gisborne. The Totara is expected to leave New Plymouth to-night for Greymouth, and will load here on Tuesday with coal for Wellington. The Kartigi is expected about Thursday from Wellington to load for Miramar and Wellington in place of the Kakapo. The Puriri is due on Thursday from Tarakohe to load coal for Tarakohe and Nelson. The Korowai is due on October 28 from Wellington to load for Auckland and Portland.. PORT OF WESTPORT WESTPORT. October 21. The Korowai sailed to-day for Wellington. The Kaimai is due to-morrow from Auckland and will load for Auckland. The Kiwitea sailed to-day for Greymouth. The Titoki is due on Thursday from Nelson and will load for New Plymouth.