A CITY OF CULTURE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 71, 17 December 1917, Page 20

A CITY OF CULTURE

THREE HAVELOCK COLLEGES. Hastings threatens to' become known' as a citv of culture. Already the suburb —Havelock North—boasts three schools of a class that have won iecognition throughout the whole of the southern half.of,the North Island, and pupils from near and far come to Hastings each year to absorb that culture which means so much to boys and girls in after life. The three schools—apart from tho very excellent State primary and secondary schools —are tho Heretaunga School (for boys), Woodford House, and lona College (for girls). The Heretaunga. School is the development of one originally conducted by Mr. W. Gray (the present principal) in Hastings, and which has been in existence for over fifteen years. A new school, however, has been provided at Havelock North,' and conforms in every regard to what a rrnod boys' boarding school should be. Tho school, which is situated on rising ground, is surrounded by 15 acres of tennis, cricket, and football grounds, nrd paddocks of. apparently endless extent, whilst the view from the front of the school is one of the fairest cev.Hrysidc sprinkled with pretty homes, H>t in the I centre of lovely orchard grounds that promise astonishing crops in the golden autumn-time. Apart from the ordinary pleasure grounds, there is a large concrete swimming-pool, whose tuvquoise waters gleam cool and refreshing in the centre of a paddock within 100. yards of the school. Within the school the classrooms and dormitories arc large'and airy; a shady d!:iing-rooni, cooled by drawn blinds and open windows, showed a pleasant extent of shining glass and white napery. The lavatories and bathrooms '.re conveniently arranged, and rplewlidly adequate. Upstairs is the boys' clothingroom, with tlie maids busy netting the boys' things together for holiday howegoing. A nurse is kept on the premises, and two sick bays are set well apart for boys who are ailing, which, fortunately, is not often in this school. Heretaunga School is. a credit to Hastings and the whole district The voung ladies of the district'are especially we'l catered for. Woodford House and ,lona College stand only a stone's throw apart at Haiv!o->k North, both on those breezy foothills of the bold Havelock Hills.which form the southern horizon in these parts. Icna College has the best outlook, and its gleaming white' stucco front takes full advantage of the sun's course. It has a stately entranco to the grounds and a beautiful drive up to the glazed portico which, shelters the main doors, and within the snacious classrooms and well-lit, commodious, airy dormitories —all spccklessly clean—speak -of careful arrangement, and ceaseless energy. The "rounds of both lona ind Woodford House are of extreme beauty, and here girls may grow up in the piesence nf and close association 'vith all that is good and beautiful, sweet and true. It will not be for want of training, and the conditions under which such training is undergone, if tlv; girls schooled in such institutions do not grow to fnirest womanhood. The District Histh School is also a fine building, and the State schools of the district reflect the cliarac'cr of the district to a nicety.

Mr. W. H. Jfuitland. iriiipuppr of I Tliomi'.s Rortliwiol; and Co.'s Pakipafci j meat works, who as one of the .Seeond • Division was called 1111 in the last, J ballot, lias been passed by Liie Medical Board as fit for active service.