WEST END SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 173, 25 August 1909, Page 4

WEST END SCHOOL.

PRESENTATION OF SWIMMING CERTIFICATES.

Outs o[ the most popular subjects taught to the pupils of the West End school is swimming, mid the new instruction given is of u most practical nature. The swimming classes are held at the municipal saltwater baths, and Mr. F. (J. Morris, the caretaker, is the instructor. Every year, for four years, the Swimming Association, has issued to the pupils certificates setting forth their achievements, and these arc becoming highly valued. The certificate is to the effect that the recipient lias Mvurn a distance of iiti yards, 440 yards, half-mile, and so on, and the batch presented yesterday afternoon at the school gymnasium included the varying distances from a furlong to a mile and a half. The presentation of the certificates was in the hands of Mr. Tisch, Mayor of Sew Plymouth,- and the retiring member of the Education Board in the west ward. There were also present with him Messrs 11. J. Cilhert (chairman of West End school committee), J. Young (member of the Kilucalion Boaril), W. Newman, and A. C .Maxwell (president and secretary respectively of the J\ew Plymouth Amateur Swimming Club). In calling upon Mr. Tisch to present the certificates .Mr. (Jilbert announced that once again the girls had secured the bulk of the honors.

Mr. Tisch congratulated the pupils .n their success, and said it gave him the greatest of pleasure to see that interest in the swimming classes was being fully maintained. He explained that these classes were required as li'i'liniral education classes, and capitation was granted by the Education Department. His Worship enlarged upon the value of instruction in swimming, both from the point of view of ",ftc health of Ihe pupil and as a probable factor in tlie saving of life at some time In the future. In his opinion swimming should lie a compulsory subject in 'he schools, particularly in a town like New Plymouth, where the municipality owned up-to-date baths and where capable instruction was obtainable. He then proceeded to present the certificates a3 follows:

One and a half miles—Elsie White and Doris Ciilbei't.

One mile,—Winnie Morison, Efl'ic, anl Willie Crone.

Half-mile— Hilda Jury, Hilda Roiio, Jessie Mi-Isaac, Mvra Ilea, Annie Billiard. Mabel Mills,' Nellie White, Willie Fordyce, Harold Johnston. Quarter-mile.—lrene Parker, Joyce Wilson. Silencer Newsam, Harry Patterson, Harry Bailey, Erie Lepiue, Harry (lilliert, Harry Hooker, Ken Stohr, Richard Oliver,' Alfred Hardy, Charlie llneou. Iliorus Mander, Edmund Clarke, Roy Meliivcn, Charlie Crone, D'Arcy Newel 1.

220 yards.—Madge Jury, Lottie Hamilton. Lawrence Kitzpatrick. Ray Lepinc,

Mr. Tiseli warmly congratulated the children upon their success, and referred to tile fact that there was now a possibility of securing school swimming competitions, Stratford having crceN'd baths and Inglcwood following suit. So he would offer for competition a challenge shield for school swimming and life-saving events. lie thanked Mrs. Dowling and the other members of the teaching staff for their interest in he classes, anil Messrs Newsam and Maxwell for their assistance. He also ncntioned the excellent work of Mr. and Mrs. Morris, and claimed that the New surroundings were equal to anything in the Dominion. In a little while the swimming season would nguin he here, and he hoped to see the school largely represented there. He intended furnishing some prizes for the school swimming sports. Mr. Young, who was introduced *■■ the scholars as his successor on I':. Education Hoard, briefly addressed the scholars, stating his desire to do his lies* for the furtherance of education.

Mr. Gilbert, in thanking the visitors for their attendance, said that the majoritv of the swimming pupils endeavored t» secure certificates, and adjured the boys to try and beat the girls' performances in the coming year.

Cheers were given for the Mayor, the swimming authorities, and the instructor; and then the children filed back io their ordinary school work.