NEW PLYMOUTH TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8165, 26 July 1906, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH TECHNICAL SCHOOL

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE. The informal and somewhat hastily arranged ceremony un St. Michael's Square on Wednesday afternoon may rightly he said to have marked an important stage in the advancement of education in Tatanak, and is another milestone in the somewhat tardy process of bringing New I'lymoulh right into line with the more progressive centres of the colon\ : , where technical schools have flourished for years. Some years ago an attempt was made to establish such an institution here, the idea then being that the education oliices, municipal library, and reading room, and the museum should be housed under one roof, or at least in adjoining buildings. The idea never materialised, because the interests were thought to be too confiding. Just four yars ago to-day, on July 26th, 1902, a very representative meeting was held in the education office at New Plymouth, and a committee set up to consider in all details the matter of securing for Taranaki a building for technical and manual instruction. From that committee came renewed proposals, to secure St. Michael's Square for primary and secondary education purposes, and the necessary exchange was authorised by law, so that the borough became possessed of Western Park and the School Commissioners of St . Michael's Square, or, as it is more familiarly known, Poverty Flat. Then the School Commissioners handed over the "Flat" to the Education Board ?.s a site for primary and technical education. From that time the matter has been kept "steadily in view." But the rest of the story was told by the speakers at Wednesday's function.

The Board decided late on Tuesday night to lay the stone next afternoon, and to incur no expense, preferring to economise and give the school the benefit. Despite the short notice, there was a fairly large gathering. Amongst those present were: —Mr J. Wade (Chairman of the Education Board), Mrs Dougherty, Messrs Adlam, Maunder, Trimble, Monkhouse, McDonald, Faull and Morton (members of the Education Board), Mr W. E. Spencer (Chief Inspector and Director of Technical Education), Mr P. S. Whitcombe (secretary Education Board), Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., and Mrs Smith, Mr E. Dockrili (Mayor of New Plymouth), Mr N. K. MacDiarmid (Chairman New Plymouth High School Board), Mr Dempsey (Headmaster), and the teachers and children of the Central School, Revs. Woolley and Osborne, Messrs Collis, Grant, Frethey, White and Catran (members Central School Committee), Messrs C. T. Mills and A. Weiler (secretaries Central and Fitzroy Committees respectively), Mr G. Tisch (Chairman Hospital Board,

Mr- Wade called on Mr Henry Faull, as the oldest sitting member of the Education Board, to lay the stone.

Having declared the block of Oamaru stone to be "well and truly laid," and given it a final adjusting tap with a small silver trowel, Mr Faull mounted the temporary platform, and addressed the gathering of citizens and school children. After referring to the great value and necessity of technical education, Mr taull referred to the many obstacles that had been surmounted before the building reached its present stage. How, owing to the strenuous efforts of those in authority, there was being erected a building whose value would be appreciated by coming generations. The plans as originally submitted had been for a wooden building to cost £ISOO or £I6OO, but the Education Department decided on a brick building, and offered a grant of £3500. This was accepted, but was some ,£270 short of the contract price, even after modifying the plans.

Mr Dockrill was the next speaker. He congratulated one and all upon the commencement of the work of erecting the Technical School, and trusted the efforts made in the cause of education would be fully appreciated. Technical instruction was now an absolute necessity, and was supplanting some portions of the classics in the most conservative universities. lie trusted that the school would be a credit to the town and the envy of the whole colony; and that the New Plymouth Borough Council would not only find means of assisting towards the cost of the building, but from time to time to subsidise the classes.

Mr Wade hoped that the grounds would be made to suit the building, and that in this matter the people would bestir themselves instead of waiting for the Department to provide the funds. The children now and in the future would reap incalculable benefits, he hoped, from the school.

Mr E. M. Smith, referred to the part lie had played in securing the site for the school, and hoped for great tilings from it in the future. The difficulty that had arisen with regard to the lit rough Council s contiibutiun could easily he settled by Parliament. Mr Smith advised the Education Board to keep on applying for more money untii the Government gave thtm enough to make this one of the best schools in Xctt- Zealand, and one of the greatest educational advantages the greatest educational advantages ever conferred on the district. The gathering then dispersed.