KORITO’S GALA DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1935, Page 5

KORITO’S GALA DAY

NEW SCHOOL AND HALL CELEBRATION OF THE JUBILEE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY SOME EARLY PUPILS ATTEND

Korito was en fete yesterday, for most of the residents, together with many former residents, assembled at the school grounds for a quadruple purpose, any one of which would itself have been an important occasion for the district. The gathering marked the opening of the new school, the opening of the new hall, the jubilee of the school and the celebration of the King’s silver jubilee. It was fitting that the Albert Road school' children should have been associated in the festivities, as when the original Korito school was opened 55 years ago it was opened as a half-time school with Albert Road. The new school, which has been built on a new site in the old grounds, is a modern structure in keeping with the policy of the Taranaki Education Board and its architect. It is of neat bungalow style, about 20 feet long by 18 feet wide, and with a 12 feet stud.. The light and ventilation are all that can be desired. The interior is very pleasing, the walls being lined dado height with rimu and above that is painted green and panelled ‘ with rimu battens. The ceiling is bis-cuit-coloured, also panelled with rimu battens. Heat is distributed from a fuel air heater. Entrance to the school room is obtained through a well-equipped cloak room, which comprises an annex at i the end of the room. Porcelain basins are provided alongside the cloakroom. The old school room, which has done duty for over 55 years, has been given a new and equally important sphere as the social centre of the district, being handed over by the Education Board to the residents of the district. The residents have as the result of working bees removed -the building bodily some distance to a corner of the section fronting Kent Road, and by enlarging and renovating it have provided a long-felt want in the shape of a hall. The old school room had a floor space of 26 feet by 16 feet 6 inches. The residents moved one end put a further 20 feet, and with timber from the old Inglewood school have added that extra 20 feet, giving an excellent hall. There is now a floor space of 46 feet by 16 feet 6 inches, and as the old design has been adhered to the identity of the old school still remains. The lean-to portion, which comprised the cloak rooms, has also been extended, providing dressing rooms for both women and men, as well as a wellequipped kitchen. The interior design has also been maintained, the walls hav- ' \ ing been painted dark green dado height and thence cream, which is the colour also of the ceiling and the principals. The old building was originally erected by Mr. Mat. Andrews, and such was the quality of the timber that not a sign of borer is to be seen. OLD RESIDENTS ATTEND. Among those present yesterday were Messrs. W. J. Polson, M.P., J. T. Griffin, F. A. Lee (members of the Taranaki Education Board), H. Wi Insull (secretary of the board) and Nelson Moore, of the building executive staff. of the district and old .pupils were present, among-.the latter' being four who attended on ,the opening day—Messrs. E. Ansford‘(Omata), M. Crean (Durham Road), Mesdames W. Shoemark (Millie Jane .Gaylard, New Plymouth) and J.: Keegan (Annie Herbert, Inglewood) as well as Mr. R. Batten, the first boy born on Kent Road. Other old identities included Mr. W. Allen, of Vogeltown, and Mr. John Armstrong. The first pupils were Corney, Charles, James and Edward Ansford, Charlotte Bettridge, Prindival, Charles and George Bleasel, Patrick, Thomas, Edward, Michael and Isabella Crean, William, Walter, Rose and Rachel Earl, Millie Jane, Rosetta, Elizabeth A. and William Gaylard, George, William, Charlotte and Annie Herbert, Edward, Joseph, Lewis, Annie and John Houlahan, Thomas and Eliza- , beth Molloy, Arthur,. Rose and Mabel QuarreH. The first teacher was Mr. R. A. N. Earl. The roll number the first day was 34, though a few of the pupils only attended for a few days as they were too young. The roll is now, 32, the teacher being Miss C. Lewis, who has had charge of the school for three years. During the afternoon those present gathered on the lawn in front of the school and the chairman called on Mr. J. T. Griffin to officially open the new building. Mr. Griffin apologised for the absence of the chairman, Mr. J. A. Valentine, who. was on his way back from Sydney, for the deputy-chairman, Mr. W. H. Jones, who was unable to be present. Mr. Griffin said that his whole life, had been spent among children, and he did not think, it could be spent in a better way. He recalled his first visit io. Korito school as an inspector 13 years ago on a cold day in July, when they could not light the fire owing to the smoky chimney. He vowed then that future visits to Korito school would be made in the warm weather. It was certainly time that the district had a new school, and judging by appearances it . was a school that would serve the district for many years. It was well lighted and well ventilated, and the children would certainly be much happier in the new building than 1 in the old. . The first mention .in the board’s records of the necessity for a school - in the Korito district . was on July 7, 1878, when Mr. Charles Ansford and five other residents petitioned the - board to erect a school. In November, 1879, the old school was built and it was opened in January, . 1880, as a half-time school in conjunction with the Albert Road school. In April, 1931, the board applied to the department for a grant to replace the old school, and the work had since been kept high upon the board’s. list of projected works in'order of urgency. The methods of the Government were slow but, as Mr. Polson could perhaps tell them, sure, and a grant was approved in July of last year, and the new school room completed early this year. The results were:— Nail driving: Women, Mrs. M. Balsom and Mrs. L. Herbert equal; men, J. Shute; boys, 14 years and under, W. Woodward; nine years and under, Tom Herb°rt. Married women’s race: Mrs. M. Balsom 1, Mrs. V. Hine 2. Hop, step and jump: G. Burwell 1, A. Miller 2. Single women’s race: Miss D. Chard 1, Miss P. Keast 2. Single men’s race: J. Weston 1, E. Jordan 2. Thread the needle race: A. Miller and Mrs. M. Balsam 1, G. Snell and partner 2. Married men’s race: G. Barwell 1, A. Miller 2. Stepping the distance:' Women, Mrs. E. ; Keast 1, Miss W. Snell 2; men, A. Miller ■ 1, T. C. Thomason 2. Slow cycle race: W. Ashman 1, J. Ashman 2. ; Putting the shot: A. Peters 1, G. Bur- , well 2. High jump: G. Burwell 1, J. Weston 2. ; Throwing-the cricket ball: J. Seabright i 1, G. Burwell 2. The shooting gallery, in charge of 1 Messrs. C. Baker and F. Smith, did good j business. Winners of the two shoots

were E. Walsham and J. Waterson. The points prize was won' by E. Walsham, with E. Bretherton runner-up.

Junior girls: Eva May 1, Jean Herbert 2, Connie Herbert 3.

Intermediate girls: Betty Baker 1, Pat Miller 2, Elsie Jordan 3. Senior girls: Maud Schrider 1, Betty Weston 4 Jean Hinej3. « Primer boys: Geo. Swan 1, Robbie Molloy 2.

Junior boys: Vem Swan 1, Jim Herbert 2i Tom Herbert 3. \ •Intermediate boys: Hilton Clough 1, Hugh Peters 2, Vern Schrider 3. ■- Senior boys: Les Jordan 1, N. Jordan 2, Bernie Monk 3. ‘ Junior girls’ skipping: Eva May 1, Jean Herbert 2, Ray Miller 3.

Intermediate girls’ skipping: Pat Miller 1, Rene Smith 2, Ray Hine 3. Senior girls’ skipping: Betty Weston 1, Jean Hine 2, Iris Herbert 3.

Junior boys’ sack race: Vem Swan 1, Jim Herbert 2, Tom Herbert 3.

Intermediate boys’ sack-race: Dan Woodward 1, Hugh Peters 2. Senior boys’ sack race: Bruce Smith 1, Wilfred Woodward 2.

Intermediate girls’ sack race: Pat Miller 1, Ray Hine 2. Senior girls’ sack race: Betty Weston I, Myra Smith 2.

Intermediate boys’ three-legged: Vem Schrider and Hilton Clough 1, Vernon Swan and David Hine 2. . Senior boys’ three-legged: Hugh Peters and Wilfred Woodward 1, Bruce Smith and Dan Woodward 2. ‘ Intermediate girls’ three-legged: Betty Baker and Pat Miller 1, Elsie Jordan and Maud Schrider 2.

Senior girls’ three-legged: Betty Wes-

ton and Jean Hine 1, Massie May and Myra Smith 2. Junior boys’ obstacle: Vernon Swan 1, Jim Hine 2. •

Intermediate boys’ obstacle: Hilton Clough 1,. Dan Woodward 2. . Senior boys’ obstacle: Wilfred Woodward 1, Les Jordan .2. Intermediate girls’ obstacle: Rene Smith 1, Pat Miller 2. Senior girls’ obstacle: Betty Weston 1; Myra Smith 2. Junior boys’ wheelbarrow: Vem Schrider and Hilton Clough 1, Vem Swan and Jim Herbert 2.

Senior boys’ wheelbarrow: Les and Ray Jordan 1, Wilfred Woodward and Hugh Peters 2. Junior boys’ tyre: . Vem Swan 1, Martin Molloy 2. Intermediate boys’ tyre: Hilton Clough 1, Vem Schrider 2. Junior boys’ high jump: .Geof Hall 1, Tom Herbert 2.

Intermediate boys’ high jump: Hilton Clough 1, Vern Schrider 2. Senior boys’ high jump: Les Jordan 1, Reg Jordan 2. Intermediate girls’ high jump: Pat Miller 1, Elsie Jordan 2. Senior girls’ high jump: Betty Weston 1, Maud Schrider 2. Girls’ goal throwing: Myra Smith 1, Iris Herbert 2.

Senior girls’ walking: Betty Weston 1, Pat Miller 2, Iris Herbert 3. Consolation events resulted as follows: Ray Miller 1, Cath Jordan 2; Doreen May 1, Ray Hine 2; Peggy Baker 1, Iris Herb 2; Mai Benton 1, Harold Neilson 2; Martin Molloy 1, David Hine 2; Horace Smith 1, Wilfred Woodward 2, O. Smith 3.

The school committee responsible for the’ organisation of the opening ceremony comprised Messrs. H. E. Herbert (chairman), V. Hine, K. H. Peters, A. Miller, C. Weston and Miss C. Lewis (hon. secretary), while the hall arrangements were in charge of a committee representative of the district, with Mr. W. H. Reader as chairman and Miss C. Lewis as hon. secretary, the latter also being secretary of the women’s committee. The sports were held on Mr. J. H. Shute’s property.