ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 150, 12 January 1872, Page 6

ST. BATHANS.

- Jan. 7, 1872. The last month of the old year was remarkable for great drought, a d heavy winds such as were never before experienced here. There were very few intervals of calm weather during the whole month, and the consequence is that the oat crop, which a few weeks since gave promise of being the best ever grown in this locality, is forced into premature ear when only a few inches biy;h. From the same causes, the prospects of a good potato crop are equally ciscouraging. There fell a few showers of rain last week, giving a momentary impulse to vegetation, but that is all. Vegetation is almost dried up, and what little crops exist bear a sickly appearance. The water supply is also threatened. The Manuherikia Liver and the Dunstan Creek were never known to be so low as at present, and though the race supply has n-.«tyet fallen off very much, it must do so in a very few days if we do not soon have a fall of rain.

Such considerations as the foregoing, however, failed to keep us from enjoying the holidays to the fullest extent, and it is only now that we are finding the way back to work. Do not infer from this that there was any intoxication. The contrary was the fact. The New Tear was ushered in in quite & joyous way. The bells from the. Catholic Chapel and the schoolhouse pealed forth the first glad notes of mariiing that 1872 had made its advent

Kettles, fifes, and horns followed suit* and if a constant wishing for each other health and happiness be any guarantee of prosperity in the future, the people of St, Batl ans will be amongst the happiest and most prosperous people alive. So be it.—A. B.C.

P.S.—You have made a slight misprint in the name of the gentleman who collected the funds for the Hospital Kace here. Instead of Messrs. Gibson and Gtlniore, it should have read Mr. Gibson P. Gilmore.

CALEDONIAN SPORTS AT ST. BATHANS. The following are the results of the Caledonian games which took place at St Bathans on New Year'si Day. Mr. Wm. Pyle acted as hon. secretary and treasurer: — . three entries. Won by Patk Hanrahan. Wrestling (Cornish style) ; prize. £1; three entries. Won by Patk Barron. Putting the stone (22lbs) ; prize, £l J three entries. Won by John M'Lean. Quoits (IS yds) ; prize, £1 ; eight entries. Won by llanrahan and Stewart. Sack Race (70 yds) - r prize,. meerschaum pipe; three entries. Won by P Fitzpatrick. ~ Hop, step, and jump; prize, £l. Won by Patk Hanrahari. an... > Egg and spoon race (50 yds) ; prize, £1; three entries. Won by Jas Gil- | hooley. Quoits (15 yds) ; prize, meerschaum pipe; four entries. Won by Dickie and Hanrahan. Three-legged race (60 yds) ; prize, a new hat; six entries. Won ; by; Webb ; and Morgan. •

Throwing the heavy hammer ; prize, los ; four entries. "Won by James S^wart.

'Boys' rare (100 yds) ; five entries. As each of the b-jys got prizes:, even to the last, the only advaatage gained by the foremost was the honor of being first. Wheeler, 1; Potter, 2. Foot race (200 yds); prize, £1; three entries. Won by Peter Millar. Putting the stone (40ibs); prize, £l; four entries Won by James Haliy. Boys' three-legged race ; prize, 5s ; six entries. Won by Wheeler and Richardson,

A novel feature of the day's sports was that of four games, which can hardly be classed as Caledonian—viz., four billiard matches, to be piayed on the several tables in town. The prize in each case was £l. The first and second games, played on Hanrahan's table, were won, the first by Thos Webb and Thos Hanrahan, the second by Peacock and Fitzpatrick. The third game (on Kenny's table) was won by Messrs Smith and Woods. The fourth (on Hanger's table) was won by Messrs Smart and Pierce.

This wound up the sports, and I mu t say that everyone seemed to enjoy them. Mr Holland generously contributed the sum of £3 towards the prizes. The following are the events which came off on the racecourse on the 28th of December last:— Kunning high leap; Ist prize, £1; second do, 10s; three entries. Thos Lefevre, 1 ; Patk Connor, 2. Throwing the hammer; prize, £l. Won by Thos Lefevre. Quoits (18 yds) ; Lst prize, £L ; 2nd do, 10s. Wm Dickie, 1 : ; H. Stewart, 2. Foot race (150 yds) ; Ist prize, £1; 2nd do, 10s. T Lefevre, 1; P Connor, 2. Boys* race (80 yds) ; lst prize, 7s t ! d ; 2nd, s*; 3rd, 2s Cd; eight entries. Smith, 1; Wheeler, 2 ; Potter, 3.

; SCHOOL COMMITTEE. ~. The annual statutory public meeting of the householders and others resident at Naseby took place in the on Monday evening last. The attendance was very much poorer than was desirable. Mi*. G. F, Bowlatt being called to the chair, made a few prefatory remarks, and called upon the Secretary, Mr.B.Boss, to read the report of the retiring Committee for the past year:—

ANNUAL' BEPOBT OF THE SCHOOL !' COMMITTEE; v' :i The members of the „above Committee, upbn the expiration of their term ofbjfiee, have the pleasure to submit the annexed report for general information '. In receiving the transfer,of the books, : papers, &e., from -their predecessors -$n office, the Committee,; fovmd a balance Of £3 2s. 6d. standing; to their debits which was shortly after duly discharged....- t Finding the accommodation, provided inadequate, and the number of children in the district largely on the increase, (as shown by the census returns of 1870, your Committee made an urgent appeal to the Education Board in the beginning of April last, for money: to the extent of £2OO, for. the purpose of removing and enlarging the school building, as the present, site is con-, sidered ineligible for school purposes. The Committee were informed that their application was referred to the Provincial Grbvernment; ;at the same time) an intimation was given that no funds could be granted for the object applied for,: until formally sanctioned by the Provincial Council. :

The matter was in due time entertained by the Council, the vote formally passed, but the money was not forthcoming. Your Committee, however, have much pleasure in stating that a letter, dated 28th ultimo, was received from the Secretary to the Education Board, as follows : Education Office 1 ,- • Dunedin, December 28, 1871 ; . Sir, —T have the honor to inform you that the G-pjeernment has authorised the expenditure'"of £IOO on the increasing of the accommodation at . aseby Schoolhouse. It is very probable that the settlers may have to supplement this grant to enable the Committee to do all that may be required.. The £IOO will be paid on the certificate of the Warden, or some other officer of Government, to the effect that this sum, at least, has been satisfactorily expended by the Committee. Do the Committee think a better site should be found for the school ? I, have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (Signed). John Hislop,- ■ Sec. of Education Board. Mr. Ross, Clerk of .School Committee, Naseby.

Your Committee also made several applications to the Education Board for a schoolmistress and also for a sewing-mis-tress, and received a communication, dated August.sth,-1871, stating, that the sum of £SO per annum was granted towards the payment of a schoolmistress's salary. The Committee ( at once resolved to advertise, for a schoolmistress, and subsequently elected Mrs. G-. Clarke to fill the position! The appointment was duly confirmed by the Education Board.

Your Committee,, have to intimate that an examination of the scholars was held on June 30th, 1871, the results of which were satisfactory. A. great number, of prizes were distributed, and a week's holiday granted. Financially, your Committee are in a satisfactory condition, there being only a balance to their debit of 195., to meet which there are assets amounting to £1 19s. lOd.

Iu conclusion, your : Committee would recommend that no time-be.lost,in,at once appropriating, the £IOO grant for the purpose intended. ' ; "

Mr. H. Wilson proposed, and MrJohn Dixon seconded,—"Thattherepor* as readrbe.adopted;"-!-Carried; : • Mr. Hat said that he regarded the Report just read and adopted as meagre in the extreme. The report should, in his opinion, hare taken notice of the. great exertions used by the out-going Committee in the performance of their duties. He then alluded to the large number of extra meetings held by the, Committee, and. to the active and energetic measures taken by them to secure the services of a ; schoolmistress, and additional accommodation for the scholars,—measures which, he was proud to say, gave promise of almost im. mediate success. The claims made by the Committee had been admitted, and the putting them into active operation Was a

mere matter of time. He thought that the Committee had done well, and deserved well cf the public. ■:/:?.,■ •, ~\ ■'■■ After discussion it was resolved that the election of the members, of the new Committee be by show-of hands, in lieu of the ballot,, and that the Committee to be,so elected consist of nine members. The following , gentlemen ■ were accordingly elected as members of the School— Committee for the year . 1872 :—MeWs •Kobinson, Stratford,; Eowlatt, Grumitt, 1 Teague, Dickson,, Wilson, ~Hay, and, , Stewart. A' vote of thanks to the Chairman terI minated the proceedings. ' :""";' ■'"