Technical School Holds Gala Day

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 66, 19 March 1936, Page 11

Technical School Holds Gala Day

GOOD SUPPORT BY PUBLIC There -was a good attendance of the public at the annual gala day of the Palmerston North Technical School yesterday. The proceedings opened in the afternoon in beautifully fine weather, and terminated at night with a dance. Before calling on Mr J. A. Nash, chairman of the Board of Governors, to declare the function open, Mr G. G. Hancox, director, paid a tributo to what he and Mrs Nash had done for the school. Mr Nash' said it was a pleasure to see the continuous interest that was being taken in the welfare of the Technical School. When one looked at the boys and girls, of the secondary schools of Palmerston North one could not help but be struck with admiration, because in no part of the world could one find better young people than ours. The Technical. School had shown its worth through its students for many years past. In the last five years no less than £6OO Had been raised by the children themselves. The Board of Governors was desirous of providing

all the facilities it could, but it had limits and could not, exceed the amount granted by the Government. Mr Nash urged the children, after leaving school, not to lose their interest in the institution, but to’ link up with the Old Pupils’ Association and to make use of the assembly hall. A great want in connection with the assembly hall was a kitchenette, and he was glad to be able to announce that the board, at its meeting on Tuesday night, had decided to call for tenders and have the work put in hand right away. It had been through the efforts of the students themselves, headed by the director and the stall, that the money had been raised for this purpose. He appealed to the children to help their teachers as the latter helped them, and asked them to remember that the school had traditions, which he hoped the boys and girls would fittingly uphold. Concluding, he expressed confidence that the gala day would be a success.

Stalls were arranged in the assembly hall, and there were numerous attractions, including caricatures und- a “chamber of horrors.” A display of physical drill was given by' the boys, under Mr 0. S. Steverson, while the girls went through physical culture exercises under Miss R. Benstead. Stall-holders and those in charge of the various competitions were as follow:—Produce: Mesdames G. G. Ifaneox, C, Waters, W. Peters and Mr A.

J. Newman. Cakes: Mesdames A. N. Beattie and P. Griffin. Sweets: Misses C. Mardon and D. Morgan. Ice-cream: .Mrs J. Barsanti and Miss E. Revere. Work: Miss J. Young. Flowers: Miss J. ‘A. Young.’ Cooked foods: Mesdames Warner and L. Christian. Surprise packets: Messrs W. L. Macpherson and W. L. Birnie. Putting and darts: Messrs W. F. Goddard and T. it. Iloddcr. Caricatures: Mr N. A. Fry. Hoop-la: Mr Bragg. Weightguessing: Mr J, Walker. Coconut shy: Mrs S. J. Bennett. Bran stall: Miss D. Smyth. Graphic work: Mr 11. L. Richardson. Chamber of horrors; Misses J. Rennie and T. E. Berry. The steward for the baby show was Mrs A. M. Essex, the judge being Sister V. Kelly, while the inter-club copper trail was controlled by Messrs D. M. Scott and D. E. Dredge. Afternoon tea and supper arrangements were in the hands of Misses J. I. Morgan and C. W. Vautier.

During the afternoon .Mr llancox announced that the badge-selling competition conducted during the past fortnight had resulted as follows: Rangitaue club, IS points; Arawa, Id; Tainui and Ngapuhi, equal, 10. In the evening the displays of physical exercises were repeated by the boys and '"girls, while there .was an in-ter-club ‘‘kazoo” competition, judged by Mr Nash. The assembly hall was then given over to dancing, the Old Students’ Association being in charge.