The Public Schools.

Manawatu Herald, 7 April 1904, Page 3

The Public Schools.

INTERESTING ATHLETIC DISPLAY.

The first sports’ gathering held under the auspices of the Manawatu Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association was held on the Palmerston Show ground last Thursday under favourable conditions. As this was the inaugural meeting of the Association, reference to leading to its formation Last year the public school teachers of this district, realising the value of athletics as a training to the mind and body of the scholar, came to the conclusion that the establishment of a controlling authority for school athletics should be the first step towards attaining the desired object. At a meeting of the Teachers’ Institute a committee consisting of Messrs Foote, Lyall and Furrie, was appointed to report on the Their report being favourable a committee of management, with Mr T. l Stagpoole as secretary, was appointed to bring matters to a head. At the first meeting two of their members, Messrs C. H. Warden and Jj y J. Furrie, were deputed to proceed to Christchurch to enquire into the methods and work'ng of a similar association which had been formed there. The result of the report submitted by these gentlemen was the formation of the Manawatu Public Schools Amateur Athletic Association, having control of school athle- ( tics in the Manawatu. Its objects are the improvement of the physical conditions of the scholars, the inculcation of a love for manly sports and discipline. In the furtherance of these objects arrangements were made for a monster sports gathering and display on March 31st. Instruction sheets for the wand, dumbbell, club and drill exercises and programmes were issued by the Association, and teachers set to work in real earnest to get their charges ready. The Education Board showed their sympathy with the movement by granting a holiday to all competing schools. The entries, totalling over 1000, exclusive of those taking part in the massed displays, exceeded all expectations. Scholars and spectators began to arrive at the •grounds at ten o’clock, and by noon the grounds presented quite an animated appearance. Mr W. Forster, headmaster of the Mitchelltown School/ Wellington, acted as referee, Messrs Foote and Warden were supervisors, and Mr T. Stagpoole secretary. They were assisted by a host of judges, starters, timekeepers, clerks of course, recorders and stewards, drawn from the ranks of the teachers of the dis* The first hour, from 10.80 to 11.30 a.m., was occupied with the military drill for which eight teams entered. The two teams representing Feild*Jmg withdrew. Sergt.-Major Deadlock, of the Government Staff, acted as judge. The movements included rifle exercise, proving squads and marching. The judge expressed himself as very pleased with the creditable manner in which the cadets carried out their movements. The following are the points gained by the squads Palmerston North High School 113, College street 112, Campbell street 109, Foxton 104, Qtftki 98, Ashurst 92,

Immediately on the conclusion of , the drill the athletic events were started, As there were 25 races for ! the boys and about 20 for the girls, and each had several heats, it will be seen that there, was not much time to be lost. Both sections were i run simultaneously, the boys on one ! part of the ground and the girls on ! another. Owing to pressure gof space we only give the result of the . interest locally :—■ j 75yds, boys under 10. —I). Laing : (Foxton), 1. j 75yds, boys under 11. Mexted | 1, McNabb 2, D. Laing (Foxton), 3. j 100yds, boys under 14. McLeod 1, H. Adin (Foxton), 2. 75yds, hoop race, girls under 13. —M. Crump 1, K. Spelraan (Foxton) 2, M. Doyle 3. 75yds skipping, girls under 13. - V, Boisen 1, L. Laing (Foxton) 2. 75yds, girls under 12. Y. Maunder 1, L, Laing (Foxton) 2. 75yds, girls under 13. E. Alzdorf (Foxton) 1. 100yds, girls under 14. - S. Sheridan 1, F. Edwards (Foxton) 2. 100yds hoop race, girls (open). W. Watson 1, M. Robinson (Foxton) 2. After the athletic events the massed wands, clubs and dumbbells’ display was given. Some hundreds of children, gay with their respective colours, were drawn up, and to the music of the “ Vida ! Waltz,” played by the Palmerston j North Band, w,ent through their performances, which was a sight ; worth going a long way to see. The concluding item of the day was the march past of cadets and physical . squads, to the accompaniment of a ' march played by the Palmerston band. 1