AKAROA HIGH SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16492, 6 March 1914, Page 2

AKAROA HIGH SCHOOL.

OPENING-OF NEW BUILDING

SPEECH BY HON JAMES ALLEN : [From Our Correspondent.]

AKAROA, Alarch 5,

The now Akaroa District High .School was opened to-day, Mr H. Boyd (acting-chairman of the Board of Education), Mr G. Rennie (chairman of the Building Committee), Mr E. H. Andrews (chairman of the Appointments Committee), Air J. Jamiesoii and Air C. H. Opie came to Akaroa and were met on arrival by Air J. R. Newton (chairpian of the Akaroa School Committee), and some members of the committee. After lunch the party proceeded to the new school, a handsome brick building with large rooms capable of containing 156 children. The building has all the latest improvements, and has wide corridors which can be utilised for ■overflow classes,

..After an inspection of the building and the grounds (five acres), and conferring with. the committee on the laying out of the grounds, .afternoon tea was served. By this time there was a largo attendance of' householders with their wives and families. The school children .having been marshalled at the old.school marched with their teachers up to the new school. At 4 p.m. the Hon James Allen, Minister ..of Education, arrived, by motor-car, with Air W. H. Alontgomery-, of Little River, and was met and welcomed by the • chairman of- the school committee, the, Mayor (Mr G. Armstrong), and the chairman of the County Council (Mr J. D. Bruce). . The chairman introduced Air Allen and asked him. to open the building. • Air Allen explained why the Hon R. H. Rhodes had telegraphed his regret, at hot being able to be present. The speaker’ said that lie himself, as Minister of Defence, should have been at Trentham, but arranged with Mr Rhodes to take liis place there, so that he could come to' Akaroa. It was‘his first visit to this charming locality, and he was delighted. He congratulated both the Board and the local committee on the handsome building' and expansive grounds, and the magnificent site overlooking the harbour. • One of the mistakes 'made in' other places was that the area was not sufficient. District,' high schools were evidence of the progress of the dominion. Owing to the great demand for- new school buildings the Department was not always *able to finance all requirements, and many places had to wait. As Minister of Education he would like to spend money if possible to meet all [.requirements. He impressed the local committee with its .responsibilities in keeping the splendid new school in good condition, instancing a Alaori school .near AYanganui which the Natives kept spotlessly clean. He paid a high tribute to the teaching staffs of the dominion and said he hoped to improve their conditions. Last year salaries were raised, and in the coming session their position would again be considered as lie was of opinion that there was no more noble work in the dominion than training the young. - Air H. Boyd,'Mr, Armstrong and'Air Brufeo also spoke, after which _ the Minister opened 'the school with a silver key and was escorted through the building. Mr Allen then received a. deputation from, the Akaroa High School Board, consisting of Messrs Bruce (chairman), Armstrong and Thomas, asking, that the Board should be allowed to expend the surplus, £SOO, m .erecting . a-- new building for the secondary at “present was carried on in the Technical School. The Alinister in reply said the question had been considered and the Department had suggested that the money should he expended in bursaries to enable scholars. to proceed to other centres. However, the matter would he fully dealt with on his return to Wellincton. , . ■ - Air Allen then left for Little River.