WANQANUI NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 490, 24 April 1909, Page 6

WANQANUI NOTES.

The annual'report of the Wanganui School' Committee, to be presented at the annual meeting of householders on Monday nest, oon-: tains some interesting matter.. One. of the topics which are expected to evoke keen dis> cussion is that of universal military training, . and a mass meeting of Wanganui citizens wlil ' > be convened shortly after, for the purpose of , threshing out the subject. In the report referred to special emphasis'ie laid on the no- . cessity of providing for tho training of youths ■ for three years after leaving school, > in the Defence Cadets! the Government. to' offer inducements, in the shape of railway passes; to encourage these cadets to go forward into the volunteer force. "If-things go on as at present," states the report, r 'the splendid training obtained,at school is simply . thrown away." 'The'report goes, on to say that . "there is a marked tendenoy, in our young, colonials, towards eelfieh pleasure, and it is . desirable that they should more be reminded of their duty to their country. The State has provided 1 them' with froo education', and has every right-to expect them to give some of their time and energies to pro- ; ' pare them to stand in; the front ranks for the defence of their ■country." : During the year tho School Committees Aβ- ' sociation moved in the matter of securing by Government engagement the services of Mr. R. H. W. Bligb, ,of the White Cross League, for periodical visits to" the,schools of the Dominion, , and; placed/ the suggestion before. $e Minister.'for Education. It is hoped that the'Minis^r c wyi',fayonrably; j posal. : .'.''V'..'","-.",-\ : '-'•'■■■!":■.■' ' , : -■ ■,■'■' '■ Bible lessons in the Wangantu schools appear to be finding . favour. Instruction,, classes have been held' regularly' from 9 to 9.16 a.m. once a. week, and are, reported, to, 7 ; havei beenwell supported. . :, , V' ' Swimming lessons are evidently a feature., of school instruction in.' Wanganui, judging from tho results etated in the School .Committee's report. At the' Queen's Park School,. 43 boys and 48 girls (all beginners) yearnt the art this season, and.were awarded certifi* cates, tho average age. of. those taught being 11 years and 2 months. Four hoys received the N.Z.A.S.A. Bilver medal for life-saving. The Wanganui District High School's honours list for the'year is as ■ follows:—Proficiency certificates (S. VI.), 38 ;■ junior national scholarships, ■4 j senior national scholarships, 2;, junior Civil Somoe, 10; .. latdon, 4. .. ../... ' :•■ ■■ ■'•'_J/ :: ''. : -■ ■■'■■;'•■■■ •