ROSENEATH SCHOOL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 139, 9 December 1929, Page 4

ROSENEATH SCHOOL

NEW GATES OPENED

A PLEASANT FUNCTION

There was a very pleasant function at the Roscneath School on Saturday afternoon, when Mr. R. Semple, M.P., declared open the new. and handsome gates which have.just.been, erected at the school entrance. -.The..wort donel-by the scholars, during the year was on show in the class--1001ns"," and the occasion also marked the opening for use of the new women teachers' room which .the Department has recently had added to the school. 'Xhe pupils greeted Mr. and .Mrs. Semple and Mr. T. Forsyth with- a haka of welcome, aud under the direction of Mr. W. Binet Brown, headmaster, they also sang a" sons into which a Maori refrain was pleasingly introduced. The Island Bay School Boys' Pipe. Band was in attendance, aud played the official party through the gates. Posies., of flowers were presented to Mrs bemple and Mrs. Batten.

Mr. H. -V. Batten, chairman of the school committee, explained that the committee had been working for some time now in or.der to erect gates worthy of the school. Messrs. Clere and Clere had designed the gates without cost to the school—(applause)—and all would admit they were of very.nice design. Others v.-no had helped considerably were Messrs \V. A. J. Dutch, Foglia and Coup c' Perry arid F. Tarrant, and they now had a fitting entrance to ths Roseneath School which was the best, school in Wellington 011 the best school site in New Zealand (Laughter and applause:) Mr. Batten then called on.Mr. lorsyth to speak, remarking that the relations of-the Roseneath School Committee with the" Education Board had always been more than amicable. Mr. Forsyth said that the board liked to see people. supporting their own school, and the people of Roseneath, and particulary the committeemen, had spared no effort to make their school what it ought to be U was the local interest that was wanted it education was to be all that it ought to be. Centralisation and political control such as they had had receut evidence of were to be deplored; the school committees were the best possible means of maintaining interest in the public schools of the Dominion. The board had always endeavoured to help those who helped themselves, and the Roseneath School Committee had done excellent work. The transformation at the school during the last few years was remarkable. Neither had the school ever had a better headmaster or staff than it had to-day. (Applause.) Congratulations on the possession of the new gates were offered by Mr. Semple Surroundings undoubtedly helped the eh Id m its work, and.the Roseneath School was one of the brightest schools he had inspected in New Zealand. The site was a beautiful one, and the surroundings very pleasant indeed, while the pupils were a fW.y> Pleasant, smiling group of children. A ehoius of "Thanks", from the children greeted Mr. Semple's good wishes to them tor Christmas-and the New Year and he was heartily cheered as he turned the key in the lock and formally declared the gates

Inside the school stalls were run to increase the general funds of the school and m particular, to pay off the remaining expense of putting up hurricane netting lound the tennis courts. Members of the school committee, ladies' committee, and the Roseneath Tennis Club assisted on the stalls and m the tea rooms, and there were other popular attractions rech as an Aunt Sally and mock court.