NEW SCHOOL AT MANAIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1921, Page 8

NEW SCHOOL AT MANAIA.

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. A HANDSOME BUILDING. There was a very large and representative gathering at Manaia yesterday, when the new school, a handsome concrete structure, which has been erected to replace the old wooden building destroyed by tire some 18 months ago, was officially opened. The ceremony took place in the school grounds, the children being assembled in front of the new building. Mr. T. A. Budge (chairman of the Manaia School Committee) presided, and there were also present Messrs. G. Craig (chairman of the Manaia Town Board), O. Hawken, M.P., E. Dixon, M.P., P. J. H. White (chairman of the Taranaki Education Board), H. Trimble, S. G. Smith, M.P., R. Masters, M.P., A. Lees, 11. J. Eaves and R. J. Dears (members of the board), H. J. Thornton (secretary), C. 11. Moore (architect), R, Dunn (president of the Taranaki Farmers’ Union), J. W. Deem, J. Glasson and D. J. Hughes, and a very large gathering of residents of the district. The chairman apologised for the absence of J. S. McKay, one of the oldest pupils of the school. David Hewlett, head prefect, of the school, then read an address of welcome to the board members. "•

The chairman first expressed appreciation of the act of the committee in asking him to continue as chairman this year, so as to have the honor of presiding at the opening of the new school. He briefly traced the progress of the district since the days when the old school was built till the present day, with its tarred roads, motor cars, etc., and remarked that the school was in keeping with that progress which he hoped would continue. During the past twenty months excellent work had been done, even under the disability of having the school held in three different places—a tribute to the headmaster and staff. With the assistance of settlers in the district, the committee hoped to beautify the grounds in keeping with the school, and a start had been made, as they would see, by the handsome gateway, towards which the committee would have to contribute £3O. Already they had received one subscription of £5 from Mr. Bennett. He then spoke a few words of inspiration and encouragement to the children.

Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., said that the opening of such a fine school was undoubtedly an important event in the district. A tremendous lot of money was being spent on education in the Dominion, which was the first to start free compulsory education, and sometimes he was inclined to* think that, because it was free it was not valued as greatly as it should be.

Mr. Dixon, M.P., urged the children to take a lesson from their motto, “I press towards the mark”. Mr. G. Craig, chairman of the Town Board, said the school was one befitting the finest district in Taranaki for farming. He congratulated the board on having erected such a modern structure. Mr. H. J. Eaves, member of the South Ward of the Education Board, congratulated the district on having such a fine school, and paid a tribute to Mr. C. H. Moore, the architect, for the fine workmanship and expeditious manner in which it Lad been carried out.

Mr. A. Lees said that during the five years the district had been under the Taranaki Board the Taranaki Board had looked after them well, and he did not think the change had been detrimental to the district. This was the fifth concrete school that had been built in South Taranaki in the last two and a half years. This, he said, was possible mainly owing to the fact that, the board had its own staff and workshop, and undertook the erection of the schools itself. He paid a tribute to the work of the architect, and urged the people to assist in making the grounds attractive, as had been done in various other districts, pointing out. that the board had numerous applications for subsidies on mounts varying from £1 5s to £220 for nrious purposes. Mr. A. Gray (principal of the Hawera finical School) said his head boy was ; upil of the school, and was also the boxer. Sornt* of. the best members ? athletic teams were also old boys. White was then called upon to form.en the school, being presented with suitably inscribed. Mr. White Rated the district on the fine vhich was the result of team work, there of the board supported Mr. Achairman in his efforts to obtain Asecure for the district the type which it. should have. Plans 'drawn by the architect, to ncy he paid a tribute. The succeed just in so far as together for the good of the • . . e asked them to give the ■ h < <e of which they could be - access depended on the ini collective efforts of the rosi- ■ the committee. Peri • lid not favor centralisation, as •in the incentive given by local ; . opening the school he reit was the most modern y school in the Dominion, and he the work done there would redound ,e credit of the pupils and parents of district. He then officially declared it n, and asked the ch airman to declare holiday the next day. The children rhen entered the .building ud gave a short musical programme. The

•ssays “On the School", for which medals were donated by Mr. P. S. Ham inoncU (secretary) were also read, the winners being: Standards V and VI, Shelliah Lewin; standards 3 and 4, E. Hammond The building, which is of concrete finished in rough-east, has a very pleasing appearance, and was greatly admired. It has a floor space of 2540 square feet, sufficient to accommodate 212 children. There are four class rooms, one .30 feet by 24 feet tvzp 26 feet by 24 feet, and one 24 feet by 24 feet, with a hall and also a masters’ room, assistant’s room and cloak morns. Special attention is given to lighting and ventilation, the latter being all direct to the outside air. In each room there is a Unique stove for heating. The visitors were entertained to afternoon tea dispensed by the ladies. Prior to leaving, Mr. T. A. Budge thanked the visitors for their attendance, Mr. R. Masters, M.P., briefly acknowledging.

Subsequently the chairman and Mr. IT. E. Hundett, 8.A., addressed the old boys, the latter paying a tribute to the work done by bis predecessors, Messrs. Wilkes, J. K. I Jaw and Bur don. He referred also to the part taken by the school in the war, when an ambulance outfit presented by the children at the school had done good service at the front, landing at Gallipoli. He also touched on the number of old boys who had made the supreme sacrifice, and expressed the hope that lhe old pupil.-- of rhe school would see I bat a brass tablet, to their memory was placed in the school hall. Mr. D. J. Hughes, who helped to clear tb” original school site in 1881, gave some ii (cresting reminiscences of the early days of the school. Subsequently oak trees were planted to commemorate the event by the senior prefects, Julia Hill and p. Hewlett. Sports, including a seven-a-side tournament, skipping and hockey, ended an eventful day for the children. A gentleman, who desires his name to be anonymous, presented £1 for skipping contests, 10s to the girl under

10 and Jos to the girl under 14, and, also promised to donate £2 for each of the next five years for similar contests, to be held about July 19.