PALMERSTON NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 758, 5 March 1910, Page 10

PALMERSTON NEWS.

OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS. (From Our Special Correspondent.) , Palmcrston, March 4. The newly-organised Brass Band held its first practice last, night under the new conductor, Mr. Conway, and very good progress was made. The wholo of the instruments available have, been allotted, and from present indications it seems as if the band will settle down. An effort is to be made to inaugurate, a junior brass band, and subscriptions are being collected to purchase instruments. Seven or eight names of young bandsmen willing to join have .already been given in, and it is . anticipated "there will bo 110 difficulty; in securing enough to form a very'good combination. • Tho. monthly meeting, of the College Street School Committee was'' held . last evening, Mr. T. R. Hodder in tho chair. The report.of tho headmaster, Mr. D. W. Low, showed that there were 487 names on the roll, with an average attendance of 408. He called attention to the'very congested state of the infant room, which was" originally intended to accommodate 80 pupils, but how had over 150 crowded into it, making the conditions very disagreeable and unhealthy, Several parents, he .'added, were keeping-their chil-. dren away from school for this : reason. Ho also referred to constant changes in the' staff, which was' anything but conducive to' the continuous "educational pro-gress-:"o'f the scholars. Two new pupil, teachers had been appointed.: The committee, decided-to. write to-the-Education Board iii strong terms on. the question of accommodation: Correspondence was read to tho effect that the i.Government was prepared to supply , a Now Zealand ensign for each ■ school in tho Dominion, and it was decided to apply, for one. It was resolved to make a vigorous protest against tho proposal-of the- Education Depaßtment to stop the capitation of 9d. per head on" each child. A number of local shots have gone to Trentham to take part in the. rifle-meet-, ing there. . Tho. following are the names of those ■ representing this districtPalmcrston Guards:' Sergt.- Dalziel, Private Gilshn'an. \v-Palmprston -Hides: Sergts. Stock and Ncedham; Corporal Kelts, Privates Cook- and Mugridge. -. Linton Rifle Club : Messrs. :W. Itandell,. A. Turner,'J. Barr,. G. Craw, J. Kyle, and J. Perrinl The usual meeting of . tho Manawatu Lodge of Oddfellows was held , last night, Bro. J. Neville, N.G., in the chair. One new candidate for membership was proposed, and after the routine business was transacted a second round of the cuchre tournament was played. v At the monthly meeting of the Manawatu- Land . Drainage. Board yesterday tljere were present: ' Messrs. S. Sanson (chairman), D.'Prouse, C. Collis, C. Voss, A. E. Clausen,' A.. Guy,. P. Garrity, and E. J. Armstrong (engineer).. The chairman reported that with the .exception of only iii. all.the funds for the new drainage scheme on.the Aorangi Road woro in hand." The engineer "was' instructed " to' draw plans, and the work is to he carried out at . once, the chairman and Messrs. Clausen and Voss being appointed to call .for and accept tenders. It Was decided also tu call for tenders for a number of other drain works M Accounts amounting to £,111 were passed for payment. ; . '