FORTROSE SCHOOL.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 6, Issue 305, 13 November 1883, Page 5

FORTROSE SCHOOL.

• : «. On Friday evening, the 2nd ins 1 -., th \ completion of the new school building at Fortrose was celebrated by a soii'«« and ball. The new building, which has been under the care of Mr G. Weeks for some time, is a highly commodious structure, 30ft x 20ft in dimensions, and furnished with ali the most recently invented appliances for. the comfort of both teacher an<\ \n\AU; It is not qui 1 "*! fin : -h«d yvt, but, the contractor expects that it will Wp, in lrss than a week from dite. Ih« formal installation into the vt j w building was in-te-ided to luve tak^u the fjrm of a sat, concert, i ut a variety of circunintances pr.-vi-uled this, so that the gathering the other evening partook of the naliire morp of a friendly chance party . thrin of a more imposing " set" affair. . Proceedings were initiated a li tl»; I af.(.T 8 p.m. by a hearty tea in th« jihw schooi building. A goodly nuinlipr enjoyed this, and duly expressed h-ir «rratifica(ion with the efforKs of j th ij . ladies who hud kindly supplied tli3 | tnHferi'ils for the comfort of the " in--w rda " of their, numerous guests. Tho folio wing ladies were conspicuous Jby their attentious : — Mesdames K. j M'Kenzie, Dawson, Riddell, M'Tntosh, Gregory ; and also Messrs Chisholui and Wassell (teacher). After the tea and etceteras had been discussed, an adjournment was made to the old schoolroom, which had for the nonce been fitted up as a ballroom. There were about 40 couples here " eager for the fray," and to the excellent music of Messrs G-erbes and Shiriey employed the dying hours of the night till the dawn warned them that another day was at hand, and that the sterner duties of life had to be resumed. There was an interval, however, for refreshments at about 2 a.m., which renewed the vigor of the " flying feet." During the evening Mr Weeks was assiduously canvassing for small subscriptions for the purpose of organising a pionic for the children on the following Monday. "We are glad to put on record that his efforts met with the highest success, and that his- labors most decidedly met with the approbation of the juniors. During the course of the ball, songs and recitations were delivered by Messrs. Giirr, Templeton, Scoullai', and othei>, and the harn^oßy of the evening was thus much contributed to. It should be mentioned that the' old school is being fitted up as a residence for the master (Mr Wassell.) Tfc would not be out of pluce if a shciter-sheu* was erected foe the puvposo of aflbrdisj^ a ptaying-plucts for tho now rapidly increasing number of children att& "ing the school. There in no doubt :bat the Fortrose school will now, wish the attend int facilities afforded, become one of the rn.qst im.pqrt;aftt school 1 in the Southland district. We can ourselves say th.ifc we never met a tnore enjoyable col ection of young ladies and gentlomen than on the above mentioned, occasion,