Walton.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1441, 13 July 1933, Page 5

Walton.

SCHOOL SPORTS GROUND

Official Opening Ceremony.

By Education Board Chairman

The new Walton school playground of over three acres was officially opened on Wednesday afternoon by Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, in the presence of everyone, old and young, in the Walton district. After addresses by the chairman of the school committee, Mr. J. B. Nicholls, and' by Mr. Burns, three trees were planted on the bank and the western side of the sports ground, one by Mr. George Given, Who is still very active at the age of 94, and besides being Walton’s oldest settler, was responsible for getting a school established 33 years ago; another by Mr. H. R. J. Southee, who donated threequarters of an acre of land to enable a fullsized football field to be constructed at the school; and the third tree by

.Mr. Burns. Then followed the first football match to be played on the new ground—a keen contest in which Walton defeated the Te Aroha Nomads club by 18 points to 6. Prior to the ceremony: the Walton and Ngarua ladies’ basketball teams played a “ curtain-raiser,” Walton winning by 8 goals to 6. The appearance of A. E. (Bert) Cooke, the former New Zealand Rugby and League representative, in the Te Aroha team gave a special interest to the football match.

Huge Task Accomplished. In constructing a football field out <of a swamp between two hills, the Walton School Committee and householders have not been daunted by difficulties. Altogether 7000 cubic yards of spoil was shifted, the deepest filling being 7ft, and the highest cutting 12|ft. To drain the area 23 chains of piping was laid through the swamp before the filling was commenced. The pipes alone cost £6O. There is now an area of over three acres of grass, with room for a full-sized football field and a basketball court, and a tennis court. When the scheme was launched Mr. H. R. J. Southee generously gave threequarters of an acre of his land at the back of the school proporty, so that a full-sized football ground could be made.

Of the total cost of the ground in money, £370 was found by the Unemployment Board and expended in wages for relief labour, and £9B was provided by the settlers as a result of a sale of work and stock drive. Work started on the first day the No. 5 scheme was put into operation in 1931, and the unemployed close at hand have been engaged from time to time, jTo complete the ground in time for sowing down last spring a working bee of settlers was held. While everyone in the Walton district has lent a hand, much credit is due to Mr. C. Given, the energetic secretary of the Walton School Committee, who had acted as intermediary between the committee and the board in the early stages, and devoted much time to supervising the work. Much valuable assistance was also rendered by the headmaster, Mr. R. E. Jamieson, who is a qualified engineer.

Mr. Nicholls’ Remarks.

. Addressing the large gathering of residents, Mr. Nicholls said it was pleasing to see such a large attendance to help in the official opening of the '' ground. In inviting Mr. ■''' Bums to open the ground the committee wished to show its appreciation of the help given by the board. Mr. Burns was a stranger to the Walton district, but this introduction would enable him to understand in the future what was happening in Walton. The Education Board and the Piako County Council had given ■considerable assistance, which had enabled w r ork to be done which the Unemployment Board could not help with.

Board Chairman’s Address.

Mr. Burns congratulated the ■ people of Walton and the school 1 committee on the generosity they j had shown in carrying through the 1 project of providing the school with a playground for all sports. It was just as necessary to educate the children physically as mentally, for good health was the first essential. “ I am pleased to see you are catering for the girls as well as the boys,” added Mr. Burns in referring to the basketball and tennis courts. “When I was young, if a girl playe<T games she was considered a tomboy, but now it is not considered

right if she does not.” During the last war many young men had to be rejected because they were physically unfit, but if the school committees did their work well by providing good playing fields the rising generation would be fitter than the present generation.

Planting the Trees. The planting of the three trees to commemorate the occasion was next performed. Mr. George Given planted a tree of maple-like growth known as liquidambar, Mr. Southee planted a plane tree, and Mr. Burns planted an oak.

THE FOOTBALL MATCH.

Walton 18, Nomads 6.

These teams took the field as follows :

Walton. D. Dixon; Shepherd, Osborne, Groube; P. Dixon, Wallace; Manning; Pahl, Hurst, Harris, McLean, Robinson, Franklin, Mohn, Murphy. Nomads. Leece; Willis, Dufty, Pilkington; Cooke, Hines; Firkin; Goldsbury, Clayton, Needham, Goodwin, Cleave, Haddon, Phillips, Watson. Referee: Mr. W. Kuhtz.

After even play early in the game Cooke gave the crowd a thrill when he cut through unsupported and was tackled near the Walton line. Towards the end of the first half Cooke snapped up a return pass from the sideline and dashed over to score wide out. Soon afterwards Osborne made a good opening for P. Dixon to score in a good position. McLean converted, making the halftime scores: Walton 5, Nomads 3. Early in the second half Osborne got past Cooke to score a try which was not converted. Walton had the better of play and McLean kicked two penalty goals in quick succession . Walton 14, Nomads 3. Walton pressed again and from a scrum just in front of the Nomads posts Osborne drop-kicked a goal. Walton 18, Nomads 3. A good rush by Nomads ended in a free kick against Walton and Dufty goaled, making the final scores: Walton 18, Nomads 6.