OPENING OF NEW SCHOOL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22516, 26 September 1938, Page 9

OPENING OF NEW SCHOOL

CEREMONY AT BURWOOD

MODERN BUILDING FOR DISTRICT

The official opening of the new school at Burwood was held on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large number of parents, friends, pupils, former pupils, and visitors, including Mr C. Morgan Williams, M.P., and Mrs Williams, Messrs J. J. Hurley and S. Baird (Canterbury Education Board), J. Bigg (architect to the Education Board), D. Goode (chairman of the Marshland School Committee), Southward (headmaster), J. N. Clarke (Deputy-Mayor of New Brighton), J. Liggins (Waimairi County Council), the Hon. F. E. O'Flynn, M.L.C., and Mr Alfred Selfe, one of the first pupils of the school.

Mr H. Rowse (chairman of the School Committee) presided. He said the school was opened in 1872, and was then known as the New Brighton School. The district was later altered and it became the Burwood School. Mr Rowse spoke of the foresight of the pioneers of the district in their work for the progress of the district. He detailed the efforts by the committee for many years for the erection of an up-to-date school,, and paid a tribute to the present Government for its progressive policy in modernising the schools. He emphasised the importance of providing the best for the school life of the children, and the importance of the work of school committees.

Mr Morgan Williams, in declaring the school open, said that there were, I not only in Canterbury, but throughout New Zealand, many schools not up to standard. The best results could not be gained unless the children were given the most up-to-date buildings. The Government was getting on us quickly as it could with modern buildings, providing the fullest amount of fresh air and sunshine. Messrs J. J. Hurley, J. Liggins, J. N. Clarke, D. Goode, T. Southward, J. Bigg, and the Hon. F. E. O'Flynn also spoke. The guests were entertained to afternoon tea by the committee.

The committee in the evening entertained guests at a community sing and dance in the Burwood Parish Hall. Messrs J. Southward and F. Reaby conducted the singing and Mrs W. B. Willoughby played the music for singing and for the dance.