NEW ASSEMBLY HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19274, 12 March 1926, Page 13

NEW ASSEMBLY HALL.

MOUNT ALBERT GRAMMAR. " SIMPLE,, BUT BEAUTIFUL." THE OPENING CEREMONY HELD. The new assembly hall at the Mount Albert/ Grammar School was opened yesterday afternoon by the Minister of Education, Sir James Parr. There was a large gathering of pupils and parents, Professor A. P. W. Thomas, chairman of the Board of Governors, presiding. Prefacing his remarks with the statement that the assembly hall was _ long overdue, the chairman said the school had been originally built to accommodate 350 pupils. The attendance was now 510, but in spite of that handicap results were more than satisfactory. Describing the design of the new hall as sin:pie, but beautiful, Professor Thomas said it had been built to give the utmost utility in illation to its size. Before declaring he hall opened, Sir James. Parr said he did not know of a better building of its kind from North Auckland to the Bluff. It was a very excellent design—plain, pleasant and dignified. When he thought of the pleasant times the boys would have in such a fine meeting place he envied them their luck. Nothing made for the right spirit—the community spirit—in a school as did an assembly hall, where every day the pupils gathered together as one happy family to receive the advice of their headmaster. The cost of the new building, the Minister said, was £7225, or some £BOO less than the estimate. The Government had been prepared to grant. £BOOO. At the close of his address, Sir James unveiled a mural tablet recording tbo ceremony.