Mr Maude then rose and slid, ladies and gentlemen — 1 thank you for the apportunity you have given me ef addressing yo* on this occasion. I did not know that I should staud m this privileged position uutil I came on to the school grounds this afternoon. I am sorry I was not aware before that I was to address you, had I been so aware I mis<ht havo had something more interesting to say than I have. lam very glad to see the suc cessful work which the district has performed through your committee, m accomplishing the building of such a handsome school as the one opened to-day. It shows that the I people _ of Timaru are m earnest lin their desire to obtain the very best educational appliances they can m the shape of a building iv which to educate the boys and girls of the district. Ido not know w hether I am expected to be addressing you m my character as Seer ta y for Public Works, or as member of tUo Board o'Elu

cation. .As .Secretary for Public Works, I an inclined to say that I entirely approve of the JiUilrling, and as a member of the Board j I may say that I utter the opinions of my colleagues when I say that the Board have very great pleasure m offering assistance to those who have shown themselves so ready to enter on such a work as this building. Tho Board is always willing to help those who help themselves. A few remarks have been addressed to you by previous speakers 011 primary /education, and also on high classical education. I believe that you are aiming at imparting, not only a «ojd primary education m this achoo.', but also the higher class of education. Those are very laudable ambitions, and I can ouly repeat the warnings given you this evening, that before entering upon the attempt to reach the higher education here, it is necessary to make your ground-work thoroughly secure. (Hear, hear.) I do not think that you would have erected the building we are m to-day, unless you had been perfectly sure that the foundation was Becure, as a foundation m a building needsto be solid and of the best description, so also must be the foundation of education if it is to be successful. 