OPENING NEW SCHOOLHOUSE, WAIORONGOMAI.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 48, 3 May 1884, Page 2

OPENING NEW SCHOOLHOUSE, WAIORONGOMAI.

As stated in our last issue, the above building was handed over to the School L-ommittee last week. It was anaugeil that it should be formally opened by providing a treat for the children, and tiiis event came off ypsterday afternoon. The school children from both townships were granted a holiday for the occasion, and coaches were provided for the conveyance of the Aroha contingent (numbering about 100) who availed of the invitation, to and fro. Altogether there was about 200 children present. Outdoor games were in lulged in previous to 2 o'clock, at which time a most liberal and excellent " spread " Was done justice to, a large supply of the favourite "lollies" were provided at tne close to the evident satisfaction of the little ones. After this wa* all over, everybody assemble! in tne. now school iion«?o For the purpose of Having tne building formally opened for t>chool purposes. Upou Mr

Cuff, as chairtnnn of f.ha v School Committee, this duty devolved, nni|' in a-l-d rising tho«e present, Mr Cuff s^i'l : " They were met to cnlebrnte the opening of the building they were, now in, for the purpose for which it was erected. Only a short time a^o, when he visited Wniovongomni for the first tin»e, thete were no houses n(»r inlmbitnnts, but now, notwithstanding many difficulties, the district was becoming populous. He; asked the children to help the teachers in their arduous duties by trying to learn when in school, and when at play let the eMer ones protect the younger, to be manly in what they did r and above all, to be at all times truthful. He hoped the boys and girls would do their duty, and be manly and womanly in all their actions. At the conclusion of his address, the chairman declared the sehoolhonse open. Mr 3?nrdie, the head teacher afc Waiorongomni Schoo', next addressed the meeting in suitable terms, and whilst endorsing what had been said by the previous speaker, added that the children under his charge were mnnly and womanly in their conduct, anil he hoped they would always be so. At the conclusion of his address, three hearty cheers were given by the children, who then returned to play out of doors, those from Te Aroha returning at 4 o'clock. The new building was much admired, tho day fine, and everything passed off most) pleasantly. In the evening a conceit and dance took place. At the upper end of the room a raided platform was constructed and most artistically decorated, in the centre was a banner bearing the words in large gold letters, "Advance Waiorongomai." The c ncert commenced at 8, the house being well tilled, and the programme submitted was excellent. In our next issue we will give full particulars, suffice it now to sny that everybody seemed much pleased with the enjoyable evening spent. Dancing commenced about 11, and was kept up with vigour till the small hours, the music being provided by the Te Aroha Band. •