Foxton State School.

Manawatu Herald, 19 June 1894, Page 2

Foxton State School.

#- In the brief notice in our last issue of the closing of the Foxton State School for tho mid-winter holidays no mention was made of a little ceremony which has now become as regular as the end of the quarter, and is looked forward to with keen j interest by many of the children. IBy request, wo now supply the j omission. It is sufficiently well j known that Mr Stewart has spared i no pains to make the classrooms as | iittractivo as possible to the children. j A lar^e number of pictures neatly i framed, and of more or less educational value, numerous brackets, Hower-stands, and such like, relieve the monotonous dinginess of the walls, and the general effect is really pleasing. In order to still further brighten the appearance of the rooms, as well as to cultivate the aesthetic tastes of the children, a quarterly exhibition of pot-plan is, ferns, &c, was instituted about a year ago, and suitable prizes have been awarded to the successful competitors. Mr Redmond (of the Family Hotel) in spirited fashion led off with two prizes for the first competition (pot* plants, flowering or otherwise.) Then the chairman of the School Committee followed with three prizes for the next competition (ferns), and was so pleased with the exhibits and the general idea, that he offered three more prizes for another competition on the same lines. On Saturday laat the competition came off. and it waa without mistake very successful. Owing to the unavoidable absence (through illness) of Mr Thynne, Chairman of the School Committee, Mr Richard Gray, gardener, acted as judge. Mr Gray expressed himself as greatly pleased with the excellence of many of the exhibits, and found indeed some dif ficulty in placing them in order of merit, having to take into consideration rareness and orderly arrangement, as well as care and attention on the part of the exhibitors. There were 29 exhibits, many of them very good, and 7 prizes. The following were the prize-takers : — 1, Lizzie Easton ; 2, Charlotte Easton ; 8, Walter Edwards ; 4, Edith Coley ; 5, Annie Collins; 6, May Dunckley ; 7, Nellie King. Six of the prizes were given by the headmaster, and Mr Gray asked to be j permitted to give ono more. This privilege was readily accorded, and also a hearty vote of thanks for his courtesy and good nature in acting as judge. Wo understand that the i next competition is to be once mors I in ferns, and that the prizes will be provided by individual members of the School Committee.