WITH GOLDEN TROWEL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 441, 5 December 1930, Page 5

WITH GOLDEN TROWEL

HOSTEL STONE LAID FINE COLLEGE BUILDING MINISTER PERFORMS THE CEREMONY. ‘ ‘ 1 declare this stone wcL and truly laid and 1 dedicate it to the boys and girls of this school and to the service they will render after passing its portals.” With the spread of a golden trowel the Minister of Education (Hon. Harry Atmore) laid the founcation stone of the new hostel for boys of the Wanganui Technical College yesterday in the presence of a large gathering of the public, staff and pupils. Air W. Al: Luxford, chairman of the College Board of Afanagers presided and there were on the platform, in addition to the Afinister, the Afayor of Wanganui (Mr W. .J. Rogers) and Airs Rogers, the Hon. W. A. Veitch and Airs and Miss Veitch, Air W. A. Collins, chairman of tho Wanganui Education Board. Air J. T. Hogan, ALP. for Rangitikei. and Airs Hogan, Air W. Bruce, Air Andrew Fletcher (representing the con tractors), Air I. E. Newton, principa' i of the College, and Air T. Alakitanara, ALP. for Southern Afaoii. The Alinister was accompanied by his sister (Airs T. B. Allan), and Afiss Allan. Airs Rogers and Mrs Veitch were presented with bouquets from girls of the College. Mr Luxforcl’s Address. ‘‘We have met to-day to see laid the stone of a building which I think will do credit to Wanganui,’’ said Air Luxford. “We have to thank Air Atmore for the architecture which will be a credit to him and to the contractors who are putting faithful work into it. We have not arrived at this stage with-

out a great deal of trouble, ana I would like to say here that Air Coates has treated us most generously in the matter of the grant in as ~±uch as we got what we asked for although it was not. nearly as much as we would have liked. We submitted a plan ourselves, one which I thought would have done credit to Wanganui, though it was not nearly as good as the present one. That building was to cost £26,000. We were told by the Minister to cut it down. The grant authorised was for £16,000, and I say that all credit is due to Air Coates for the way he met us in this matter. ”

Air Luxford then explained how Air Atmore had had the plans for lhe £16,000 building changed and a much more pretentious building erected. “In 1912 the college opened with a roll number of 160 and year by year that number has grown until to-day it stands at 656,” said Air Lux ford. “It has been fortunate in its directors and staff right from its inception. Alcssrs Armour, Park, and Newton all did excellent work. Air Armour was principal for two years. Air Park replaced him and stayed seven years, and Air Newton has held the reins of office for the last eight years. “When Mr Newton took charge the roll number was 398; to-day it is 656. There are 28 full time teachers at the college. Several students leave the college with portion of the B.A. B.S.c. or B.Com degree. Of 9 students holding engineering bursaries at Canterbury College five are from this school. Thus the standard aimed at is very high. Inspectors continue to speak of the excellent tone of the school, and the efficient work done by the pupils and staff. “As a result of the earthquake in June 1929 the Minister ordered the immediate removal of the top floor of the college building. While the work was being done the classes were held in various parts of the city. For the whole of the third term of last year the work of the college was carried on under most trying conditions. At the beginning of the present year, the main building was again occupied, with several temporary class rooms, built on the sports field. The present conditions under which the college is carried on are far from satisfactory. They arc unworthy of a school carrying on such valuable work and it is hoped that the Alinister will authorise the building of a new college on the hostel site as early as possible. “The Wanganui Technical College is the peoples’ college and we all have every reason to be proud or it. We feel proud of it because of Its high standing as an educational institution. We feel proud of it because of continued excellent reports by inspectors. We feel proud of it because of its historic records and we feel proud of its list of successes both scholastic and athletic and its distinctive school atmosphere. “We consider our college well able to cater for the educational requirements of Wanganui and trust that the Alinister will safeguard it against any of the findings of the Recess Committee which may be put into force.” Credit to Whom it is Due. Air W. Bruce, vice-chairman of the Board of Alanagers, said that credit should be given to whom it was due, and the people of Wanganui greatly appreciated what the present Alinister of Education had given them. The hostel did not interest people about the city only, but there was even more interest concerning it in a wide country district. Voice of the Principal “At this important ceremony it is fitting that reference should be made to the early history of the Boys’ Hostel,” said Air Newton. “This was established as a private venture at the beginning of 1916 by Mr G. J. Park, the principal at the time, and opened with 13 boarders, the number increasing to 18 by the end of the year. Each year saw an increase Tn numbers, so that in recent years the number has been in the neighbourhood of 50. After four or five, years Mr I’ark asked to be relieved of the financial responsibility and the boarding establishment was taken over by the Education Board, and later by the newly constituted Board of Alanagers. Soon after the old boarding-house abandoned by the Wanganui Collegiate School was leased for £.60 per annum and for the past nine years it has been the home of the boarders. “The battle for the new hostel began some twelve years ago. Nine years ago the Government recognised that a hostel was needed and lease four acres of land from the City Council at a rental of £lOO per annum. Before leaving for England, Sir James Parr promised a grant for a new hostel, and the area was increased subsequently to 8J acres. The building designed by the previous Government was condemned by the present Government, so that wc have now have the magnificent building at present in course of construction. The long delay in getting the hostel has been a blessing in disguise, since, if it had been built some four or five years ago, it would have been placed un a congested site and probably eventually surrounded by dwellings on small sections. “For the nature and design of the present building wc are indebted to the Afinister of Education, who has ideas about school buildings not usually possessed by those who are in authority. Air Atmore believes that State buildings should set a standard for the whole land and should be buildings that the community should be proud of. He has the courage and the force to carry his ideas into actual practice. ’The thanks of the college arc flue to the Hon. Air Atmore, and to the Mayor and councillors of Wanganui for making the acquisition of the site so easy; also to the Hon. Air Veitch, who has assisted to forward the project on every occasion. We must not forget, too, that the project was begun by the previous Government in all sincerity, and that we have much to be thankful for in that. It is to Air Atmore’s lasting credit that he should be able to improve so vastly on his predecessor’s scheme. ’ ’ The Mayor’s Address Mr Rogers said that the laying of the stone marked a forward step in the educational life of the city. He felt proud of the part his Council had played in obtaining the site and knew that their action had the approval of the citizens. Ho paid a tribute to the energy and persistency which had marked the efforts of Air Luxford and his Board to have the hostel erected. For the Education Board Air Collins reminded the gathering that the old hostel had done its duty and had led up to the larger building. He congratulated the Board of Alanagers on the fine hostel they were getting. It would be of great value to the young people and to the citizens generally. Master Satyanand, head boy of the hostel, presented the Afinister with a