HASTINGS NEW SCHOOL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 188, 11 August 1931, Page 8

HASTINGS NEW SCHOOL

THE OPENING CEREMONY AN ALL-WOODEN STRUCTURE (Special to “Chronicle”) HASTINGS, Aug. 10. The new Hastings West. School, a fine wooden building erected to replace the brick building destroyed by the earthquake, was opened by the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, on Saturday afternoon. There was a large and interested gathering of the public and the district’s education authorities also were fully represented. The new building is all wood throughout and is so built as to give an assurance of absolute safety against earthquake and fire. More than one of the speakers on Saturday described it as one of the finest school buildings in New Zealand. Mr G. A. Aladdison, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board, said that the Minister had been unfailing in his attention to the rehabilitation of the district’s educational facilities. He had come to the district on the day after the earthquake and by the studies that he had made of earthquake matters he had been able to make a most important, pronoun-'ment to the effect that wood was the only safe and suitable material for schools in this country. “I and the members of my board concur in that view for two main reasons,” added Mr Maddison. “Firstly because of safety and secondly because of economy.” Speaking of the new building Mr Maddison described it as a fresh air wooden building which was unsurpassed in New Zealand, and the district was indebted to the Minister for giving such a fine and handsome school. Up to date, £26,000 had been spent on the restoration of the dis-, trict’s educational facilities, and it' would require £3200 to complete the work. The earthquake disaster, said the Mayor, Mr G. F. Roach, had taught the lessons of safety and economy, and looking back one must become convinced that the Minister had followed the right lines in building a school which would give an assurance of safety. What would have happened if the children had been in the schools on the day of the earthquake. No one would care to think about, it and the Minister had made a right move in adopting a policy of safety first. The parents would bo satisfied and the children would be protected, and he hoped that in time the dreadful effects . of February 3 would be forgotten. Many Great Advantages It was a great pleasure to be present on such an occasion, said JNTr H. M. Campbell, M.P., and to take part in such a notable function. He had had something to do with the opening of the first school at Hastings West and also with the building of it. That was in 19.13, and in those days there were only 80 children attending it. The new building was a most excellent school. He would like to add his congratulations to the Minister on the way in which he had gone about providing the new premises. It was safe, perfect in ventilation, open to the sun and the fresh air. It, would not be the school’s fault, if its pupils did not learn and thrive in such a place. Five minutes after the earthquake on February 3, Mr McKee said, he was on his way to the Hastings West school and on the way he saw one of the most extraordinary things that had ever happened in his life. Everywhere he looked and everywhere he went he saw little children sweeping and wailing most distressingly. In the new building, however, the children would feel safe and their parents would not feel anxious about them. A great responsibility rested on the teachers, and they too would feel free and happy to carry out their duties in safety. The, parents had every reason to praise both the Minister and the Bon rd.