FEILDING TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9093, 12 March 1908, Page 5

FEILDING TECHNICAL SCHOOL.

THE BUILDING,

This beautiful building, erected at a cost of nearly £3OOO, is after the Post Office, the finest in the town. It is unfortunate, however, that it has been erected with frontage to narrow streets where its dimensions cannot be seen to the best advantage. The front to Fergusson street presents a neat appearance, with the red brick and white,tucking, and cement ornamentation. There are eight rooms in the two stories, in addition to the lavatories, etc. , all with fiftteen feet walls and well lit. The principal rooms are tho cooking room, 40 feet by 30, the director’s room 13 feet by 11, the science 40 feet by 25, and a large class 'room with patent folding slide division. A broad eight feet wide gives communication to the second storey. The coiling and walls are of pulp plaster and the ceilings in the upper storey of conej design. The whole is well finished and reflects credit on the architect, Mr

James, and the builder, Mr W. Wilkinson. At the rear of the main building is a one-storey structure, which contains a woodwork and plumbers’ room. THE MINISTER’S SPEECH.

Speaking at; the opening ceremony yesterday, Mr Fowlds said, he was very pleased to be present, and Lad enjoyed his visit to Feilding immensely. for the people had been kindness itself. Since he arrived the previous day he had travelled a good many miles around by motor car u and had been impressed by the immense possibilities of the district. It had led him to the conclusion that the Technical School should be filled with students and good and sufficient results obtained for the expenditure incurred. The State had been spending large sums of money for education during the last few years, oven to causing grave alarm, and expenditure on the technical education branch had been largely on the increase, but it had been more strongly recognised, in all civilised countries of late years, that the progress and development of the people depended upon education and particularly on that branch for the better equipment of the people in their various occupations. AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. The success in the now classes for agricultural instruction had b P on phenomena'. Ho understood lhat the capitation for such classes was insufficient. It was necessary for the Department to .have experience of the working of those classes before making alteration in the capitation and ho had no hesitation in saying that when the results of these classes woro ascertained all over the colony, and it was found the capitation was not sufficient to enable them to bo carried on to the fullest extent, additional financial provision would be made. If they could get scientific training extended to the great bulk of those who _ were taking up agricultuarl pursuits it could not fail to make the occupation of farming more profitable and also more interesting to the farmer himself. MORE FUNDS WANTED. In connection with the Redding building the Government had contributed SHOO towards the cost and equipment. Ho understood that immediately a fresh appeal would be made to the people of the district to make the school complete. “The Departmeut only found tlio money for the braiding and for such equipments as were absolutely necessary. THE NEED FOR PUPILS.

Thoro was one thin" bo wished to impress upon them ami that was that they might have a hue building and! one well equipped, and still obtain but comparatively poor results, for success depended upon other factors th:ra_ building and equipments. He believed they had appointed a good director in Mr Fossev, of whom it would be impossible for him to speak in too high terms ; and bo had no hesitation in saying if tho work was not made successful in Feikling it would not bo due to any failing of tho director. Tho director must have tho scholars, and it depended upon the old and tho young in both town and country to provide them. Ho hoped that the parents would take a deep interest in the school and impress upon the young tho great privilege they enjoyed in being able to attend classes in such a building, and further equip themselves for the battle of life, make themselves good citizens and enable them to give a good [account of themselves in whatever walk of life they might follow. OTHER SPEECHES.

Mr Lethbridge. M.P., said he would like to impress upon the young people their duty to make the best use of the splendid building provided, to be enthusiastic in their education and turn up during the evenings after they had done their work, and spend a pleasant hour or two in improving their education. Mr Lethbridge concluded by welcoming Mr Fowlds to the district. Mr F. Pirani, chairman of the Education Board, said the Technical School about to be opened, had been built on faith. The plans were drawn on the faitli that the Government would approve of them, and tenders were invited on the faith that the Government would provide the money, and. the site had been utilised on the faith that the Railway Department would give the land on which it had been erected. It was a magnificent building and it had been erected on the faith that the young folk of the town and district would utilise it to obtain that instruction to better fit them for their work. Mr Pirani thanked Mr E. Short, in the name of the committee, for the loan of his splendid motor car, which'had been used to show Mr Fowlds the district. He concluded by reminding the people that there was still £250 to be raised locally in order to equip the school fully. Tiie Mayor, in a short address, reminded the Minister that as he had seen something of the district be could speak in favour of the establishment of the Dairy School at Feilding. He also drew his attention to the poor building that had to serve as a Courthouse. He called for three cheers for tho Minister, which were heartily given, the cadets in waiting presented arms, the baud played and the Minister then opened the door with his silver kev. A COUNTRY TOUR.

Yesterday morning Mr Fowlds, Minister of Education, accompanied by Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, Mr S. J. Carman, Mr Braik, Mr Crow, and Mr Pirani, visited the Bambolton School, where. ou behalf , of the pupils, ha presented a pipe and tobacco pouch to Mr L. E. Jackson,

in recognition of the hitter’s work in aid of the school. The Minister visited the school garden, and then received a deputation,.at the school, who asked that pmney he allowed for an enlargement of the schoolhouse. After lunching at Mr Ashbury’s the party returned to Cheltenham, where the Minister’s attention was directed to tho poor, residence of tho head teacher. The next stop was made at the residence of Mr E. Short, where the parry were received hospitably by Mrs Short. The Minister visited the Dunolly School and was waited on by Mr Price for the committee with a request for a grant for a building. He was informed that there were 53 children of school age in tiie locality.