NEW SCHOOL OPENED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 165, 27 May 1940, Page 5

NEW SCHOOL OPENED

AMENITY FOR OTAKIRI DISTRICT LAIUJK CHOW!) ATTENDS Marking another step in the progress of the Otakiri district the new school, recently completed, was opened on Friday afternoon by Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P., Member for Tauranga, before a large attendance of residents of the district. Otakiri, in common with other districts, has suffered for some time through lack of school accommodation and the modern building, of four class-rooms and two cloak-lobbies, will be appreciated by parents and residents as meeting the educational requirements of the district. I The Chairman of the School Committee, Mr R. Barton, presided and introduced the first speaker, Mr George Murray, a -former member of the committee and its secretary for many years. Mr Murray said he was pleased to have the opportunity of attending. Otakiri now had Something to be proud of, he said, the new school filling a long felt want. In a brief outline of the district's development, Mr Murray said that when he arrived at Otakiri 34 years ago there was no school—in fact there was not a building in sight. A lot of the country was under water and he remembered well the occasion when his horse was bogged on the present school site. 1 - District Goes Ahead. The district went ahead after being cut up and loads had been formed. A small- cheese factory, previously situated at Tarawera and shifted to Otakiri, assisted in the development. In 1917 Otakiri had a small shelter shed school and six children attended. The district then did not possess a hall and when residents had a meeting it was in the cooling room of the factory. A hall was built in 1920 and has since been added to and reconstructed. In that year a teacher was sent down after representations had been made to the Auckland Education Board and school was held in the hall. A small school was established in 1921 and a School Committee formeel with Mr W. G. Cartwright a s Chairman. Things were then set on a sufficient footing to meet the requirements of that time. Mr Murray concluded with the observation that he felt himself a stranger in the district now. It was a revelation, he said, to look at the present school building and see Row things have. progressed. He congratulated the district on the school. Rapid Progress. ! Mr Barton said he remembered when the Otakiri School started. He had been associated with the school for nine or ten years and in that, time the roll had grown from a comparative few to 130. Some years ago the need for more adequate school accommodation was felt and after considerable delay the one room had another added. So great had been the delay, however, that by the time the grant was made , available it was found that two rooms would not suffice. "At that rate the present building should serve the needs of the district for a year—or perhaps two" said Mr Barton, amid laughter. Concluding, Mr Barton complimented the builder on the workmanship. .M.P.'s Observations. Mr Doidge said it was a pleasure to be able to visit the district. Looking at the 130 children, he said, made him think that Otakiri also should be glad. "I wonder whether, at their age, I was as good as these bright boys," said Mr Doidge. The speaker said he had been greatly interested in Mr Murray's account of the district's development. "If it keeps up," he observed, "I will again be approaching the Minister of Education." Mr Doidge spoke of the war situation, appealing to the gathering to take a cue from the Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill, and not panic. "I wish that the Prime Minister could have been here," said Mr Doidge. "He took a great interest in the Otakiri School. There is nd doubt that Mr Fraser has made a fine job as Minister of Education." In formally declaring the school open, Mr Doidge said he hoped that the standard would be maintained. Mr M. F. Kedgeley, headmaster, said it was a red-letter day for the school and for the district. He (Continued at foot of next column)