ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 19 November 1924, Page 4

ASHBURTON.

PERSONAL. I _ i At yesterday 's meeting of the Ashburton High School Board Miss Hettie X. Porter, M.A., was unanimously appointed to the position of assistant mistress at the school. Miss Porter received her primary' education at the East Ashburtcn School and Ashburton High School, where she -was dux in 1915. She then went to the Christchurch Training College and Canterburr College, and is now on the staff of the Feilding Agricultural College. General. In his monthly report, to be presented to the Board, the director of the Technical School, Mr E. J. Thompson, states: —During the month, the health of the students has beerf excellent. Only one student is absent with measles, though several contacts have been forced to stay at home till danger of infection is passed. The roll number this month has suffered considerably through the large number who have left the day classes to take up positions. Quite an extraordinary •demand for junior clerks and mechanics has had to be satisfied during the month, and though the successful students continue to attend the evening classes, this is, at best, a poor substitute for tho full day-time education. V/Mle it is gratifying to noto that there is a very keen demand for the services of our pupils, it does seem a pity that they cannot remain at school sufficiently long to get a deeper grounding in general knowledge. At least three years is required for tho students to obtain that depth ,of knowledge necessary for their future.

High School Board. At tho monthly meeting of the High School Board of Governors, held yesterday morning, thero were present: Messrs J. W. Bowden (chairman), E. Bell, R, Kennedy, W. T. Lill, J. Brown and C. Reid. Tho headmaster reported that the school roll was 191, with an average attendance of 172, or 90 per cent, of the roll number. Tho various public examinations would begin on the 19th instant, and would continue until about December 14th. Ho recommended that the date for the breaking up be December 17th, and that the Board invite applications for a teacher of class singing for 1923. It was decided to close the school on December 17th, and to invite applications for a part-time teacher in classsinging.

The secretaries of the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition forwarded a programme of educational activities. It was resolved that the school be represented if possible, the headmaster to tako steps to decide what subjects could be represented.

The Ashburton County Council advised that Mr A. J. Magaon, of Rakaia, had been appointed the' Council's representative on the Experimental Farm Committee, The financial statement showed a debit balance on the loan account of £SOOO, and a credit of £l3O lis in the general account.

Inquest. An inquest into the death of Thomas Stewart, aged 64 years, of Rakaia, who was recently admitted to the County Hospital as a result of injuries suffered through being gored by a bull, wa3 formally opened and adjourned sine die yesterday afternoon before the District Coroner, Mr J. Cow. Constable O'Grady represented the police. Charles Mitchell Stewart, of Christchurch, said his father had been employed on the Langley Estate, and in the presence of the matron, witness, and his sister, he informed him that when crossing the yard after milking in the morning he was approached by the bull, and attempted to defend himself with a stick which he kept for the purpose. The stick broke with tho first blow, and he was knocked down and gored. The animal had always been regarded as dangerous.

Borough School Committee. ,

At the meeting of the Borough School Committee, held last evening, there were present: Messrs J. Watson (chairman), J. S. Laing, E. Coker, J. W. Bowden, W. H. Wood, A. Bushell, the headmaster (Mr W. Boyee), and the secretary (Mr E. Loftus). The headmaster reported that since last meeting the work of the school had been interrupted by an epidemic of measles. As over 50 per cent, of the children in the infant school had been affected, it was deemed advisable to close that portion for a few days. Application ivould be made for the elimination of the quarter's attendance when computing the average for the year. It was decided to the school on December 19th, and the concert and swimming sports arrangements were left in the hands of the headmaster, who was asked to report on the present division of the infant school. Mr Bowden said he was perfectly satisfied that they had not proper representation on the Education Board; the present representative was not taking sufficient interest in the school. The Education Board advised that it had been instructed to prepare an amended application for the shifting and re-modelling of the infant school. It was decided to hold the annual picnie at Timaru on February 4th. Miss C. Menzics tendered her resignation as infant mistress of the school as from January 31st, 1925. It was decided to place on record appreciation of her services, and a subcommittee was set up for the purpose of arranging a suitable presentation. Messrs K. W. Marsden and W. H. Woods were appointed visitors for the month.

Mail Notices. MaiU close to-day: For Korthern Ports, at 2.45 p.m.; lata fee letters, 3.10 p.m.; guard's van, 3.30 p.m. The Christmas despatch of mails for Great Britain, Ireland, and North America will close at Ashburton on November 22nd, at 5.15 p.m. Dae in London on December 2-lth. Mails for United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, Central America, British, French and Dutch Guis.ua. Venezuela, Republic of ■Columbia, snd Ecuador, via Panama. (Specially addiessed correspondence only). Parcels at noon. Will cl-ase ?t Ashburton on Kovwnber 2Sth, at 2.45 p.m. Mails for Australian States, South Africa, and the East, per Maheso, from Auckland, cloJ© at Ashburton on Wednesday, Kovember 13th, at 2.45 p.m.