SCHOOL GALA DAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 33, 18 December 1945, Page 5

SCHOOL GALA DAY

LARGE CROWD ATTRACTED END OF YEAR PROGRAMME! Easily the best effort of its type yet staged by the school the Gala Day, held by the Whakatane District High which took phice Thursday afternoon attracted a very large crowd of parents, friends and others interested. Some idea of the number which attended may be guaged from the fact that the cars parked on both sides of the. road, stretched from Simp'kins Street corner to the Domain entrance. The fair itself was laid out with'in the school grounds. Numerous tents ami tent llys formed stalls where brisk trade in all kinds of wares was carried school kiddies behind the counters served customers as fast a.s possible; boys in charge of games and competitions, called in professional side-show manner, attracting many to their booths to try their skill at darts * 'P .skittles or nail driving. And pervading the whole was that indelin,able air of gaiety and . briskness ever associated with fairs. The produce stalls were typically well-laden. Judging by the number of housewives who constantly crowded about them they were offering, many bargains for the dinner table. Prominent on one such stall was a box of 3 r oung selling singly and in pairs and more, for fattening.. The, book stall also' received the attention it warranted by reason of the literary which it offered. The fortune-tellers tent was ever popular, and the seer worked overtime in order to meet the demand for her mystic wares. Each of the four houses in the school —Matanga, Orakau and Hau Hau ran a stall or and naturally the tense internal competition for business between the houses, reflected, in their sep r arate endeavours to attract custom. Small boys seemed to find their way inevitabty to the shooting gallery. where, contestants tried (mostly unsuccessfully) to 'knock over small pieces of wood on a railing. Inside, the High School were displays of work of the various classes and pupils. These were., of a high standard, apd the authors must be warmly congratulated. The drill display staged at the opening of the gala attracted all comers. Exhibitions were given by separate groups consisting of the Infant School, Primary School boys, :Primary School girls, High School boys and High School girls. Groups gave individual and each received the applause it- deserved. The Baby Show was one of the main features of the afternoon. A large] number of mothers entered their] young ones in the competition, and the baliies themselves all certainly seemed to enjoy the experience. A home cooked afternoon tea served to complete the afternoon for the majprity of patrons. This was served in two of the school rooms the sliding doors dividing these being opened to make one large room. The tea itself was delicious, and the girls waiting on the tables, did so in a surprisingly professional manner. Altogether the afternoon was an unqualified-success, ant! the teachers and who organised the gala, must be very warmly congratulated on their fine effort. The funds rais ed will be set asid!& to aid in purchasing new library books, sports gear, school equipment etc.