HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 171, 13 April 1908, Page 9

HUTT AND PETONE NEWS.

laying a foundation-stone. PETONE TECHNICAL COLLEGE. His Excellency tlio Governor laid the foun-dation-r.tono ol the Technical College in course of erection .at Buick Street, Petono, on. Saturday afternoon. His Excellency arrived by train, in tho early afternoon, and was .-welcomed at tho railway station by .the Mayor, Mr. J. C. M'Ewan, 'after which the party drove through Jackson Street, which was decorated with flags for the occasion, to tlio building, which also boro flag' decorations. T!io Petono Hand was in attendance, as also were the Petono High School and Public \Sehool Cadets, under Captains Lynskey and 'Bediligficld respectively, and the Hntt Public School' Cadets, under Captain Ballachy. \ Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. I'. M, Wilford, A, W. Hogg, M.P.'s, and U. L. Stowart. ! Mr. A. Thompson, 011 behalf of the Boardof \ Managers, expressed appreciation . of Ifi.\ Excellency's kindness in consenting to eonjo out and lay the foundation-stone their new Technical College. No doubt His Excellency had laid the foundation-stones of mora costly and more pretentious buildings, but no thought no more important building couldibe erected in an industrial community. Peton(< was tho place where for the first time was heard/tho so"und of, the'axe, saw,-and hamniir of. the early settlors, and it was now recogniscd as tho industrial suburb of Wellington. Mr. Thompson then handed the mallet, previously, described, to His Excellency'lfor laying the stone. His Excellency, addressing tho children in particular, said he hoped that they would appreciate fully their opportunities when they a little older. The importance of' 'fechnioal education was not, ho thought,- m-operly understood ■in New Zealand up tola short time ago at- its true value, and the ticmcndou3 struggle going on for commcrcialtaipremacy in tlio older countries' had hardly! touched New Zealand, but tho value of secondary education,-without which tho battle could not- bo fought, , was now being recognised iii the Dominion. ■; In the larger centres very work was being done, and lie referred briefly to Auckland and Wellington, where- qonsiderablp difficulties in tho way of lack of accommodation and scattered buildings hadi.to bo coped with. It was only that morning 'iliat ho. received, quito apart from thf ceremony, a communication from the -Director of the Technical College, . Christchurch,..^iviiifx'' high, figures of attendance' and n favourable report of tho progress .In othel-parts of New Zealand also,>. technical schools and colleges had come, to stay, and our tipys and girls, by attending technical classes, Would ensure, for themselves a better chance in the battle of life. Ho f-elt very interested in tho mattor, and in Petono ho realised that I.tho fathers and mothers had dene their-caity better than most; ho was. himself tho.'father of a largo family, and be could appreciate what they had done. Ho did not knon|. exactly what particular subjects, it was intended to take, but ho hoped that cookorr. and dressmaking would not be omitted.- Ik that connection, ho,, related the story of, tlio lady who, in trying to manage her husband, was recommended to "feed the beast," And there was something in that, and many quarrels wero caused by the qualities of unbailed beef. Ilis Excelcellency continued;to-say that he'was greatly interested in hearing that tho railway workers in-Petono took a deep interest in tho matter o."d were! doing tboir best to cn- ■. courage it. He was'n believer in ,heredity — that a. grandson of ii person at mechanical work would, in nino|ciisoß out of ten. pick up that 'work very puickly, and lie hoped that this .would eventuate in Petono. , He thanked them for tlio' : invitation, and ho would liavo nntcl( pleasure in discharging his duties'. (Applause.) I'. - ' - The formal nart of Jtho ceremony was then, proceeded with, after which three cheers wero given for the Governor. An adjournment, was then mado to • tho Normal Fohool.' whorl l , refreshments wore' served, after which the Governor and party .returned'to tho eitv. j Tho building. whicl\ should be opon in a few month.',- is simplh- in-design. - Air.;F. Clere was the architect-, arid' Messrs. Parkins and -Setts -tho contractors. '' j