GALA DAY AT PiO PIO

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 464, 11 May 1912, Page 5

GALA DAY AT PiO PIO

OPENING NEW SCHOOL AND HALL.

Thursday last was a gala day at Pio

Pio, and settlers from far and near at the township to celebrate the open ; ng of the new school and the public hall, and incidentally to attend the meeting called for the purpose of considering ways and means of improving the roads of the district. Pio Pio has made giant strides in the march of progress dur-

ing the past year. New buildings have sprung into existence all round and the enterprise of the settlers is evidenced by the presence of an up-to-date dairy factory, school building and public hall, besides the usual private business establishments. The chief drawback to a much more pronounced degree of progress is undoubtedly the state of the roads giving access to the township, and it was felt that the opportunity should not be lost to consider the question and if possible to evolve a scheme of betterment. OPENING THE SCHOOL.

The first function to engage the attention of the settlers was the official opening of the new school building which has just been completed by the Board of Education. Preceeded by the Maori band the school children were marshalled and formed a procession from the centre of the township to the school which is nicely situated on a knoll overlooking the main road. Upon arriving at the building children and parents, who had assembled in large numbers, were addressed by Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P. Mr Wilson expressed pleasure at being present at such an important ceremony as the opening uf the new school, which had not been provided before it was needed. from his knowledge of the district it ■would not be long before the building would require to be enlarged. He expressed the opinion that country scholars should have the same chances afforded them as town children. This was not possible unless proper facilities were provided. He had every confidence in the future of the district and he was quite prepared to see the scholars from Pio Pio school turn out equal to the finest in the Dominion. (Applause). Mr G. Elliott, chairman of the School Committee, expressed gratification at the accomplishment of an object for which they had striven for the past four years. He detailed the history of the school movement from the time the first school was opened in the Maori hall andreferrred to the experience undergone by the pupib in receiving instruction under these had of the hawthorn trees and subsequently in the tent. However, they had now reached a stage of permanency -which was cause for satisfaction. Mr Elliott said an invitation had been sent to Mr Parr, Mayor of Auckland, to be present at the opening of the school. Mr Parr had been chairman of the Auckland Board of Education during the time the settlers were agitating for the scool and had paid a visit to the district in connection therewith. He had then promised to attend the opening ceremony. However, in reply to the invitation Mr Parr expressed regret that his engagements prevented him from attending and he wished the school every success.

Mr Elliott having declared the school open, the children were marshalled for the purpose of saluting the flag, with which the ceremony ended.