SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 76, 30 August 1915, Page 2

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.

Official Opening.

Another step in the advancement of the district was celebrated on Thursday last, when the official opening of the new wing at the Public School took place.

The Auckland Education Bjard representatives, viz., Mcsrs G. J. Garland (chairman), C. I. Barriball, J. D. McKenize, and G. W. Murray, with Mr P. K. Ray, assistant secretary, and Mr J. Farrell, architect ti the Board, arrived by the s.s. Waiuku at noon and were met at the wharf snd taken to Me Morrison's Kentish Hotel by the following members of the School Commit ee, viz , Messrs A. M. Bairibal, W. L. Henton, S. T. Kossiter, V. J. Williams, and the secretary, Mr C. H. Greenhead. At the sc'.ool the children were liced up in charge of their respective teacheis. ffce business rlaces of the township being shut for the usual weekly half-toiiday end the weather beisg line, a good number of householders and frien s were in attendance and witnessed th 3 proceedings.

Afternoon tea provided by the wives of the School Committr.e followed the official ceremony. Mr C. T. Barriball, chairman of the School Committee, in welcoming the Board, stated t lat it was not Mr Garland's first visit to the district It was in 1861 when Waiuku was considered to te in the backblocks that he paid it Lis first visit. Messrs Wortnington, Kitchie, Healey, Bradshaw, Moore and others conducted tha echoal in those dxys in a building which was now out of existence. The present schiol was erected iu 1879. As cbarman of the committee he wai proud of the loyal sjpport members hat given him. It was a committee's , own fault if they failed to get what they required from th; Board. The Waiuku Conmittee had never been refused once during 40 years. In th l . course of a short speech Mr S. T. Ro : siter made mention of a High School f r Waiuku, and hoped that the time was not far distant when it wouid be an asset of the district. Mr A. M. Barriball referred to ' the days when he was a pupil of . Mr Kitchie't h the first school . erected in Waiuku, when pare its were required to pay one suiting per week for the tuition of their : chilJren. Mr W. J. Harris, schoolmaster, spoke of the number of pupils who pnßsed through Standard VI. everv year, and estimated the total from 40 to 60. He cl lmed that if there was a high school in the district the children wojld attend it for at least one or t'o years instad of I leaving for the towns as they were ' doing at present. Mr Murray j cularly remarked on the primitive method that prevailed in the early days, of paying Mr Worthmstoa's salary with two or three tags of potat.es. Mr McKenzie said that on that, his first visit to the district, he marvelled at the signs of advancement that had coma under his notice. He hoped that when (hey got a high School in the district that it would be for the benefit of the children who were going tj live on tha land. He made the suggestion that they should enquire into the workings of a Technical High School, an institution which he claimed was better than a Huh School. The attendance for a High School was put down at 60 whereas only 40 was required fir a Techincal High Schojl. Mr C. T. Barriball, in outlining his career on the Education Board, mentioned that he had sat on the Board under three different chairmen, and found Mr Garland to have no superior. Mr Garland was alive to the educational interests of the Dominion. Mr Garland returned thanks on behalf uf himself and bis colleagues for the welcome given them, and said that it was their pleasure to be there on such an auspicious occasion. The acreage of the school ground allowed ample room for a Technical School site. He advised them to look into the Act re such an establishment, and if there were any knotty probelms they could not solve the Board would be pleased to assist them. He was of the opinion that the time was not far distant when, a Technical High School would be erected in the district. He pictured the time when Waiuku was visited by one cutter, and remarked that it was slightly different when compared with the present regular daily steamer service. There was now a regular motor car service and railway engines would be puffing in and out of the district within twelve months' time. He referred to Mr C. T. Barriball's value to the Board, and hoped that one day he would be elected ti the chair. Reference was also made to the late Mr Worthlngton, who, he said, had left his mark in Waiuku and Auckland. He was head and shoulders above the men of his day and compared favourably with present day teachers. Men who were now holding some of the best positions in Australasia bad been his pupils. The Waiuku school had sent away many industrious men and women. Miss Mona Donht, a niece of Mr A. M. Barriball, performed the opening ceremony by unlocking the main door leading to the new wing, and Mr Garland delcared it open. The Board members stayed in Waiuku over night, and on Friday visited Ulenbrook in connection with the proposed addition to the horse accommodation paddock at ' the school.