SCHOOL FLORAL FETE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 934, 22 December 1910, Page 3

SCHOOL FLORAL FETE

AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES.

A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION,

Owing to the destruction of the local Public Hall by fire, the annual school concert, which was in course of preparation, and which had for its object the providing of funds to assist the School Committee to carry on necessary repairs and improvements to the school, had to be abandoned. With characteristic enterprise, and at short notice, the teaching st: decided to assist the Committee out of an awkward financial fix by organising and carrying out a floral fete, exhibition of school work, and sale ot goods. Parents and scholars lent their hearty cooperation to the movement, and all worked like trojans for the success of the affair. It was decided to ask the Chairman of the Board, Mr Pirani, to open the fete and distribute the prize.. The weather was just to order fo ' such a gathering, and parenc> were present in good numbers at the school grounds yesterday afternoon and evening. The stalls and exhibition of school work were arranged in the old school. The gaily decorated ponies, push carts and children, to say nothing of the incongruous collection of animals for the menagerie race, lent an attractive appearance to the grounds, and every one appeared in holiday mood.

Several of the competitions were decidedly novel and picturesque, but the most mirth-pro-voking was the menagerie race, for which a calf, pig, cat, rooster and seagull were entered. The cat broke away from its owner and sought shelter beneath the school building, and no amount of coaxing from its disappointed pilot would entice it to again mix with the maddening crowd. The notorious chicken-gulping seagull had to be “scratched ’’ by Master Alex. Gray, who had previously confided to his companions that he guessed he had “ a walk-over.” Prior to the race the obstinate and strong-billed bird argued with beak and claw to good effect, and Master Alex, disconsolately had to abandon the ungovernable bird. The race simply beggars description, and yells of “ the calf,” “ the pig,” “ the rooster,” rent the air as each contestant broke away to every point of the compass. Anyhow, Master Lionel Burston (calf) was adjudged the winner, L. Lambess (pig) second, and R. Coley (rooster) third. The lads deserve special mention for the able and patient way in which they steered their charges—to say nothing of the means adopted to promote locomotion.

The prize giving ceremony took place in the spacious quadrangle, syhich was crowded. In introducing Mr Pirani, Mr Hornblow, chairman of Committee, said be knew of no man in the Dominion who was so devoted, or who made so great a sacrifice lor the cause of our splendid system of education than Mr Pirani. The speaker then dealt with the work that had been carried out in improving the school grounds by the Committee, and the great assistance rendered in this direction by the Board. He urged parents to co-operate with the Committee and teaching staff in making the Foxton State School not only the best in appearance but in other respects, under the jurisdiction of the Wanganui Board. He specially thanked the headteacher, Mr Jackson, and his assistant, Mr Gabites, and the rest of the teaching staff, for their splendid effort on the present occasion. He also referred to the improvements to the grounds that the Committee had in view.

Mr Pirani, on rising to speak, said he had some hesitation in making a speech at all knowing, as he did, that under the most favourable conditions speeches were not usually enjoyed and in the present case people having to stand and in the heat of the day, would not make it any more enjoyable. However, if they tired of his speaking he would take the hint and cut it short if they talker among themselves and moved about. He said that as Mr Hornblow had mentioned, it was some little trouble for him to get down on account of Foxton’s isolated position and the inconvenient train service. In order to be in attendance he had cycled from Feilding to Sanson—a distance of 10 miles and there caught the “Foxtou-Sanson Express.” This inconvenience, however, was nothing to the pleasure he felt at being able to perform the opening ceremony in connection with the Floral Fete and to present the prizes won during the year. He was always only too pleased to do anything he could in educational matters which he supposed was a hobby of his. Mr Pirani said that some of the duties that had to be performed by those taking a leading part in matters educational — and in fact in almost everything else—were far from pleasant, but he had always endeavoured to do his duty whether it was a pleasant one or not. He congratulated the committee and teaching staff upon the pleasant appearance of the school gardens and surroundings, and said the people of Foxton should be rightly proud of their school. They were particularly fortunate in having a first-class teaching staff with a good man at the head of it. He knew Mr Jackson was a first-class teacher, otherwise, he said, he would never hive been sent to Foxton. He said it should be the aim of parents to have the Foxton School converted into a District High School. High Schools were established at Bulls, Patea and other places smaller than Foxton and it only

required parents to do their duty and Foxton would get its High School. Parents did not pay sufficient attention to school work—they should go and see the instruction being given and they would then understand the great amount of trouble that is taken by teachers to impart knowledge to the scholars. Everyone, he said, would recognise the advantages to be derived from having a District High School established in their midst, and he therefore wished to impress on parents the necessity tor loyally supporting their own school and thus giving their children the full benefit of the State system of education. It was a mistake to think that the State system of education was free, for although there was nothing paid directly, everyone had to pay for it indirectly by taxation of one kind or another, and as they had to pay lor it, parents should take advantage of it. He had been informed that there was to be opened in Foxton a rival school, and he wished to take the present opportunity of asking parents to reflect on the injuries likely to be inflicted on their own school by withdrawing any of their children. According to the present average attendance, the Foxton school would be raised a grade, which would mean that the teaching staff would be increased by one. If any number of children were withdrawn from the school it would mean that the school would fall one, and perhaps two grades, and although this would not make any appreciable difference to the headmaster, it would mean that one or two of the teachers would have to seek transfers in order to get similar positions to which they at present held. This would be a great pity, as the present teaching staff was doing excellent work. He felt certain that to a great extent the anticipated loss in attendance would not take place, as he was sure the Foxton people would show their interest in their own school in a far better way than by withdrawing their children. He concluded by expressing the hope that there would never be a change in the Foxton school that would be for the bad.

Mr Jackson, on behalf of the staff, thanked Mr Pirani for his kindly remarks. He said, that leaving himself out of the question he was satisfied that the Foxton School had a first-class staff of teachers, whose one aim it was to do all in their power in the interests of the pupils. As an instance of the work that was being done by the teachers, he pointed out that the number on the roll at present was something over 360, and the school was staffed on an attendance of 250.

Mr Pirani then presented the prizes won during the year. In presenting the prizes for first aid he said Foxton was particularly fortunate in being afforded the opportunity of having their children instructed in first aid, and the people of Foxton owed Dr. Mandl a debt of gratitude for his kindness in this connection. On his call three hearty cheers were given for Dr. Mandl. Cheers were also given for the school committee, , teaching staff and Mr Pirani. The prizes in the different classes were won as under : Standard VI., Ellen Skellen 1 and dux. Ethel Spring 2, Neville Pearson 3; Standard V., Edgar McEwan 1, Jeannie McKnight 2, Henry Berthold 3; Standard IV., Chrissie Lett 1, Hazel Pearson 2, Kathleen Barber 3; Standard 111., Marion Levett x, Madge Desmond 2, Clifford Walker 3; Standard 11,, Edward Peterson 1, William Johnson 2, Harry Taylor 3; Standard 1., Cecil Lawton 1, Stanley Collins 2, Eva de Ridder 3; Primer 111., Ella Patterson 1, Agnes Skellen 2, Maggie Reid 3. For regular attendance the following pupils, having attended every time the school was open, received prizes and first-class certificates :—Reginald Barber, Albert Wyeth, Eric Mackie, Basil Walls, Kathleen Levett, Ellen Skellen, Ethel Spring, Edgar Me Ewan, Jeannie McKnight. Mary Collins, Arthur Brewer, Ernest Hazlett, Chrissie Lett, Kathleen Barber, Nellie McDonald, James Walton, George Jones, Madge Desmond, Olive Nye, George Rough, Charles Wallbuuou, Willie McSaveny, Gladys Me Saveny, Stella Barber, Callaway Robinson, Roy Riramer, Dorothy Hazlett, William McKnight, Henry Morgan, Philip Bright, Walter Jones, John Reid, Claude Cunninghame and Reg. McEwen.

The prizes donated by Mr and Mrs Fraser for the most regular attendance of pupils in Standards IV., V., and VI., were won by Reginald Barber and Ethel Spring. Mrs Hussey’s prize given on the same conditions lor pupils in the lower was wou by Stella Barber.

The following pupils who had not been absent lor more than five half days during the year received second class certificates :—Reginald Riddle, Elsie Rimmer, Henry Berthold, Nellie Robinson, Stanley Barber, Freda de Ridder, Fred Pearce, W. Wallbuttou, H. Perreau, lan Ross, Irene Easton, Tim Lsnihan, Mona McEweu, Hope Mackie, Harry Bradley, Violet Pearce, Gordon McSaveuy, Hetty Skellen, Jack Baylis, Maud Reid and Irene Baylis. The prizes for first aid, donated by Mrs Mandl, were won by Fred Pearce and Hope Mackie. head teacher’s prizes for the best exercise books in Standards V. and VI. were won by Neville Pearson, Standard VI., and Grace Lett, Standard V. The first prizes for proficiency in each Standard were donated by the head teacher, Vernon Robinson (forward) and Garnet Fraser (back) won the

medals given by the headteacher and Mr Gabites for the best forward and back in the school football team.

The following are the results of the different competitions :—Decorated table, M. Levett i, E. Chalmers 2, A. Stiles 3; centre piece, F. de Ridder 1 ; side vase, L. Rand 1, M. Levett 2 ; bridal shower bouquet, M. Levett : ; bridesmaid’s basket, H. Newth 1, M. Levett 2; buttonholes, M. Levett 1, S. Barber 2, M. Bradley 3 ; decorated bicycle, G. Gavey 1, G. Robinson 2, L. Woodroofe 3 ; decorated go-cart, L. Rand 1, K. Howe 2, S. Robinson 3 ; decorated pony and rider, H. Bradley 1, R. Coley 2, P. Feek 3 ; fancy-dressed rider on bicycle, M. Mandl 1, C. Coley 2, W. Walker 3 ; four-in-hand, Stanley Collins’ team of J. Walton, J. Owen, H. Read and J. Walton ; model garden, Mary Collins 1, Gordon Peek 2 ; sack race, T. Lenihan 1, R. McEweu2, P. Weller 3; menagerie race, L. Burston (calf) 1, L. Lambess (pig) 2, R. Coley (rooster) 3 ; best collection of flowers from the school garden, E. Spring x, D. Small 2, G. Gavey 3. The gross takings in connection with the Fete amounted to something over £55, made up as follows Tea rooms £3 5s Bd, sweet stall £g 3s jumble stall £lO 3s qd, Christmas Tree £5 2s, sheep-weight guessing £1 is, auction sale £3 9s, produce stall £2 Bs, sale of tickets (approx.) £7 7s, gate receipt (approx.) £s, and donations £1 19s. The expenses will run into something like £7 so that the net result will be about This is a most satisfactory return and is far in excess of that anticipated by those in charge of the function. The teaching staff are deserving of special mention for the bard work they put in in order to bring the affair to such a successful issue, particularly the chairman (Mr P. G. Jackson) and secretary (Mr H. F. Gabites) who spared no time or trouble in order to have everything right up to the mark. The stall holders were as follows Tearoom, Misses Speirs and M. Cooke ; sweet stall, Misses Slattery and Bartlett and Mrs F. Woods; jumble stall, Misses Wanklyn (3); Christmas Tree, Miss Flavell and Stan Austin; produce stall, Messrs G. Davey and A. Cowie.