WAIMAIRI SCHOOL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18480, 7 September 1925, Page 5

WAIMAIRI SCHOOL.

FOUNDATION STONE LAID. Three new classrooms, a teachers r room, cloak-room and corridors are at present in course of erection at the Waimairi School. On Saturday afternoon the foundation stone of this new* section of the building was laid by Mr G. Witty, M.F. There was but a fair attendance to witness the ceremony, which was marred by the 'wretched weather. The chairman of the t-'ehool Committee, Mr T. Holmes, in the course of a l>rief address, expressed disappointment at the poor attendance, and stated that that afternoon was proving a red letter day for him. He had been a men: her of the Wairna-iri School Cmnmittee since its inception, he said, and during the past eleven years had watched the growth of the institution witji interest. He remarked that the school had been first set up eleven years ago as a side school, but live years jigro, through the endeavours of the residents of the district it had become a main school, and its frrou;r,h since then had justified the confidence which had been -placed in. it. In a short time they would be asking the Education Department for c%vo or three more new classrooms. He appealed to residents of the district to assist in raising funds for the badly required asphalting of the playground. Mf E. H. Andrews, who was present on behalf of the Canterbury Mutation Board, stated that he had always been interested in the Waimairi School, because when he had been first elected to the Board he had strenuously opposed the procuration of the present site.. He had contended that the school should have been situated nearer the St;, x district, and he was not altogether sure* even now, as to whether he had 1 not been right: However, the present site had certainly not militated against the school's growth, and he was glad to see them getting an up-to-date and permanent school. The Board, he said, was building permanent fresh-air schools and personally he was a strong believer in tliem. Last Appearance. Mr Witty then proceeded to lay the foundation stone, on which is the following inscription:—This stone was laid by Mr G. Witty, M.P., September sth, 1925. Thos. B.A.. chairman of the Canterbury Education Board, T. Holmes, chairman of the School Committee, G. Penlington, P.1.A.N.Z., architect. The name of the headmaster, Mr D. Shirlow, will also be added. In the course of his address, Mr Witty stated that he felt it an honour to be able to lay the foundation stone of the now portion ofj the school. That would probftbly be the last time he would be present at such a function in the capacity of a Member of Parliament, and he was pleased to note that the school was going to be one of the most up-to-date in the Dominion. The speaker went on to ,trace the history of the school, and stated that alogether about £IO,OOO had been spent on it. The Government had expended a good deal of money on education, but it was possible, he thought, to over-educate and have too many young people going in for inside employment, forgetting that there was outeide work to be done. He considered that agricultural education was being somewhat neglected And urged the necessity for more scholarships for this class of instruction.

Mr Witty was presented with a solid silver trowel by the committee in honour of the occasion.