OPENING OF NEW SCHOOLHOUSE, ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 69, 5 June 1869, Page 3

OPENING OF NEW SCHOOLHOUSE, ROXBURGH.

On Eriday evening, May 28th, the new schoolhouse, Roxburgh, was opened by a soiree, the room being crowded. The tables were liberally provided by the ladies, Mesdames James Beighton, James Maokay, Bidgood, and the Misses Gordon, who supplied abundance of good things, to which ample justice was jdone by the company. The tables occupied the full length of the room. Aft:r the removal of the cloth, Mr. John Beighton was called to the chair. He stated that he had received a letter of apology for the absence of the Rev. Mr. Telfer. He then made a few remarks on the present prospects of the school. The liabilities were about £100; but he was certain, by the interest manifested by the large attendance, that the amount would soon decrease.

Mr. Ireland was then called upon. He did not anticipate being called upon, but he wished to make a few remarks, congratulating them upon the successful completion of the building, which he considered Mr. Henry Norton had passed out of his hands in a most creditable manner. He dwelt upon the fact at considerable length of the steady progress of the school, not only in numbers, but also in general advancements He also hoped that that" substantial and commodious building would be used for the purpose of the establishment of entertainments of a literary nature similar to those conducted with such success in other places. He considered there

was ample talent of the description required lying dormant in- the district to ensure their complete success.- _ Mr. Humphrey G-ower, at the spe^ cial request of the chairman, addressed a few words upon the advantages- derived from education. His address occupied a considerable time, and the subject would not admit of curtailment.

Mr. Shepherd, on being called upon, stated , that although engaged in a public capacity, as a schoolmaster, he had not for many years appeared to address an audience publicly, but upon that occasion he would endeavour to make a few brief remarks upon his past career in the cause of education. For the past thirty years he had been engaged in public schools, and had, he hoped, been upon the whole successful as a teacher. He was gratified to find how energetic the Teviot School Committee had been in doing their duty, and stated that he had examined a good many school buildings in the province, and ho felt convinced that he had not seen one room so well adapted for the purposes of a school as the one they occupied— not even in the High School of Dunedin itself.

After a few remarks from Mr. Fitzgerald and others, votes of thanks were proposed to the ladies who had so kindly assisted on the occasion, to Mr. Norton, contractor, and to the chairman for the able manner in which he had conducted the business of the evening, all of which were duly responded to in a suitable manner. The younger portion of the company devoted the remainder of the evening to dancing, which was k *pt up with great spirit till a late hour, Mr. Smith acting as pianist. The entertainment realised the handsome sum of £35 towards the school funds.