SUMMER SCHOOL

Southland Times, Issue 19157, 29 January 1924, Page 2

SUMMER SCHOOL

WELCOME TO RIVERTON. TEACHERS ENTERTAINED. At the Empire Theatre, Riverton, on Friday evening last, the Riverton Progressive League extended a welcome to the professors and teachers attending the Summer School at Riverton. Mr W. S. Hunter, one of the vice-presi-dents of the Riverton and District Progressive League, expressed the League’s appreciation of the visit of the teachers. He said that there had devolved upon him not the task, but the pleasure*of welcoming to Riverton the members of the first Summer School. He did not propose to lecture to them as he always understood that professors and teachers preferred to do the lecturing themselves. Nor did he propose to extend to them a welcome in the ordinary terms, as too often conventional terms were purely lip service. The keynotes of the district’s welcome to the school were sincerity and cordiality, and he just wished to say that “we are jolly glad to have you with us.” It was a great pleasure to the people of the district to have such an important function held in their midst, and they were desirious of playing the part of eager and willing hosts. As an earnest of the pleasure felt by the district at the coming of the School, he wished to state that every sports body and association had thrown open its doors for the amusement and edification- of the visitors. The Aparima and Riverton Bowling Club welcomed the visitors and would supply them with bowls and equipment. The Croquet Club were going to have an afternoon tea and invited the ladies to the use of their lawn and mallets. They were personae gratae with the Tennis Club and the courts were open early and late to them and racquets and materials would be supplied. An excursion had been planned by the citizens for Sunday when the visitors would be taken by care to the Pourakino River and the beauties of the forest portion viewed from launches. Even the fishermen had volunteered to put their launches at the disposal of the visitors for deep-sea fishing and this, coming from the poorest and most humble members of the community, spoke volumes for the enthusiam of the district. He claimed to have said enough to show that the welcome was not purely lip service but came directly from the hearts of the people. Referring to the scenic resorts, and taking the river first, Mr Hunter pointed out that launch parties would provide a maximum of delightful amusement, and trout-fishing galore in both the Aparima and Pourakino rivers was to be had. Every second man in Riverton was a fisherman and would only be too pleased to inform them where to fish and how to fish. Beauteous walks in plenty abounded. The Tihaka Beach and Colac Bay were within easy walking distance, through glorious bush scenery, and, when the goal was c reached, first class seacape was provided as well as a charming view of Stewart Island. Foveaux Strait afforded deep-sea fishing unexcelled anywhere in the Dominion. The Athenaeum provided the latest newspapers and also was replete with magazines and periodicals, being open to the visitors. Multifarious and picturesque motoring tours were available from Riverton as a centre, the most ambitious of these being the trip to Monowai which was enthralling. The beaches provided bathing and swimming facilities of the most desirable kind. All the sports greens and courts were open to them and what more could they want? Mr Hunter concluded his remarks with the words, “We greet you, we are charmed at your coming, use us.”

The visitors showed a keen appreciation of the efforts that had been made by the Riverton Progressive League to welcome them and entertain them. The Summer School had a pleasant outing on Sunday when some twenty private cars conveyed the teachers to the suspension bridge and they were then taken by motor launches to the upper reaches of the Pourakino River.