Page 210 - Volume 1

On May 2nd 1967 the public were informed of the fate
of the grand old classroom in a Waikato Times article: Library work was becoming an important
The historic Kimihia School may be moved from its subject, Mr Cockerill said, as library work of all
present site to be used for a library at Melville School. kinds was becoming more a part of modern
“Although we much applaud the Huntly Jaycees’ school procedure. The board agreed that
desire to convert the building into a monument or Kimihia school would not be put up for auction, as
museum to the Kimihia district, the education of our is the normal procedure.
children must take precedence.” Mr K. C. M. Cockerill, “The board is wholeheartedly behind the
general manager of the South Auckland Education move,” he said.
Board, Hamilton, told The Times. “The project will be completed at no cost to the
“For some years now, no libraries have been built at taxpayer, and the board will continue to
primary schools. The board has been trying to get the maintain the building on completion of the
Government to change its policy on this for some work.”
time, but without success. Mr P.Leather, a Huntly Jaycee, said he had
“So in the meantime we are using any room not suitable hoped the old school would become a local
as a classroom for this purpose. We were delighted to see at monument and museum.
Broadlands School near Rotorua where the old school block
of 350-400 sq. ft was shifted and fitted with shelves and “It was built in 1897 at a cost of £190, and
other library fittings by the local P.T.A. Now the board is four generations of the earlier families have
maintaining the building. passed through it,” he said. “Since the time
“The same thing is possible at Melville. Mr Dickie, the when Kimihia was a coalmining town with
headmaster, noticed the old Kimihia building, and realised farming as one of the sidelines, the school has
that it would be ideal for this purpose. been used as a centre for district affairs in the
“The P.T.A. has been asked to meet the cost of carrying absence of a local hall. It has now been vacant
the building and setting it up as a library. It will be ideal, since the beginning of the year, when the new
as it is too small for use as an ordinary classroom.” school was occupied.”

Standard 3 to Form 2, 1966 - Teacher Mick Mather

Rear: Ross Carroll, Murray Jones, Peter Hiki, Brian White, Stuart White, Ivan White.
3rd Row: John Quigley, Ian Bogie, Clive Ashby, Ross Grut, Bill Giles, (1)_________, Norman Giles, Peter Hart,
Bill Jones.
2nd Row: Robert Thompson, Susan Giles, Sheryl Grut, Sharon Castle, Carolyn Thompson, Rangi Pere,
Yvonne Dixon, Russell Quigley.
Front: Joanne Rakels, Fay Giles, Paula Thompson, Rona Tauroa, Polly Pere.