RUGBY. WAIWHETU DOINGS.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 12, 15 August 1929, Page 2

WAIWHETU DOINGS.

(Oontributed)

A successful "Poddy's Market" was held recently in the Waiwhetu School on the wettest day we think we ever "saw, but the parents and friends rolled up in goodly numbers. In addition to the usualjumible stall there were produce, cakes, new goods, etc. A fat hen was given =by one parent, ajid a young rooster fox the pen by another, both of which sold readily. Young flowering plants ready for planting out also were given and quickly sold out. The funds are needed for t-ie improvement of the school grounds, which have an area of over five acres, every foot of which needs* money spent on it. Months of voluntary labouT have been put into it by the past and present committees, a conservative estimate cf the amount of shingle and other material shifted by the volunteers on a recent-Saturday being 55 tons, which great task was made possible by the

generous loan of horses aiid dry by Mr, S. Hunter.

Somewhere near £150 ox more -ias been raised by the School Committeeand Parents' Association since the opening" of the school two -years ago, but there are so-many needs at a new school, that all cannot toe devoted to the grounds, that is however, now cur big. objective. We did not reach^the hoped for sum "by the "Paddy's Market, " but a donation of two guineas by Mr. Oottrell helped us to almost hit the target aimed at. Friends giving money, or goods wMch can be sold for money, to a Primary School, have Ih.e satisfaction of knowing that their donation is at least of double the value they give, as such straight out gifts can be subsidised £ for £ by the .Education Board when used for ground jm-

provements and many other objects, in instance of 'the'quick grpwtii of money can be given.' A.-friend gave us 5/artieles and inateTials were purchased with it, and sold for 16/-, this will carry an equal subsidy, so that our friend, of the 5/- will have the pleasure .of knowing it was not. a buried '' tai'ent,V but is now equivalent to .32/-. To those- parents w;ho haye had to continue sending their ciiildf e;n to .distant schools, which are already full, we would" like to say that with the separation about to take place, when the children from MoeTa will be able to attend their own school, there will be room in the Waiwhetu School, as the natural proceeding will be for the mo-

tliers of little tots from Moera to fiend them to the Bandwick Kioad School," instead of over the two ramps, or across, the risky-railway .lines.'. We shall he sorry to part with our children, but these things are inevitable in a new and growing district. Our present roll number is 605, and we are at present accommodated in two churches as auxili aries, as well as the main school of nine rooms. The churches will of course be given up, and all accommodated in the main school. Three years ' ago" one could-.-go out around the vicinity of Woiburn and White's Line and i know almost every child one met, but with over a t&ousand children the place is no longer a "Sleepy Hollow, " and the school necessary^ for the district is proud of being Grade VTEi We wish to thank all those friends' and helpers of. Waiwhetu, Moera, Lower Hutt and Wellington, who gave us the "ingredients" of the Paddy's Market, both in money an dkind, and to the helpers at the stalls/and collecting. The bigger children gave, a concert in conjunction with the scheme, and raised over £3,