DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 289, 1 May 1911, Page 7

DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondents.) TAItURUTANGT. The first of a series of euchre parties was held in the hall on Thursday evening, the 27th inst., but on account of the wet weather the attendance was not very great. The ladies' prizes were won by Miss Nellie Street (first) and Miss Ada Thomson (second), and the gents.' prizes by Mr. W. Stanley (firstJ and Mr. Clydo GreenaWay (second). Owing to inclement weather, the. annual meeting of householders lapsed for want of a quorum, MIDHIRST. About a dozen or so householders faced the drenching rain to attend the householders' meeting held in the Midhirst School on Monday. If the evening hail been at all fine, a large number would have turned out to record their votes, but the roughness of the weather kept them at home. Mr. W. Brown was voted to the chair. The retiring chairman (Mr. W. Mountford) gave a comprehensive report on the past year's worKing. The balance-sheet showed that the credit balance was £7 16s, an increase on that of last year. The cnairman pointed out the disadvantages under which the school was working owing to the constant changes of the personnel of the pupils attending. Since the present headmaster took charge seven years ago, the school roll has changed 45 per cent, per year, and this year's constitutes a record, as 50.9 per cent, of new pupils have entered and 58.2 per cent, have left. Under such conditions it is impossible to get the best results from the children. The coming into force of the new compulsory clauses in the Education Act has already had a marked effect. While speaking on the balance-sheet and repd'rt, the chairman said he would like to mention the good report received from Mr. Whitcombe, the Board's auditor. The books and accounts were returned with a tag stating them to be some of the best, if not the best, he * had yet ■Auflited. He thought this was very satisfactory, and -should be good reading to the committee and householders.

'"Nine persons were nominated for the seven positions on the committee. A "ballot was taken, and the following were elected:—Messrs W. Mountford, J. Sliotter, W. Hamblyn, D. Brown, E, Jones, F. Carter and C. E. Seabright. Mr. MountfoM -was re-elected chairman and Mr. Seabright secretary. A vote of thanks 'to the chair terminated the meeting. : ;r ' 6n, IVe'Jh'Aday'Wferiitig'ifist, 1 a large dumber of the members of the Midhirst Wesleyan Church and their friends''gathered, together at a social to bid farewell to Messrs F. 'J 1 . and C. Vosper' and their families. So.ngs were rendered during! the' evening, th£ performers being; Mrs.! 'Mail (two 1 sons), Mrs. Perrott (two iMgs)',' 'fyfiss' sSywell (a Song) Messrs. %Wick Taiid !ji Jories, (a song eitch), Mr.] 'lSuir (ft heading)', Rev.' Bowie (a I 7|Bitat|bn).- ; 'fief?fehKent were handed! ..Vtttind, and caftic the speech- 1 '&alnjT& Wright, 1 Botfiej Height- j 'Tef, Brown, "bfesides severili others, spoke; 'V»f tlie'ipss/th'at Mjidhirst Avas sustaining* iHosing' siiclrvtlliiea settlers,- a,nd also of the loss. ~M<!sMß' : Vosper stfpkq fefelipgly'm 1 reply,''heing sdrry toj leave. "but extended a heart'yi jVijc'dme jfresfent to visit them at yMatamata i (4 i hefii''they haV6 taken 'lip j&ij); oii 'cittidUioiythat they-didn't all; ■]s>' tip at ofle'e!'' i Mr. and Mrs. W. Brown, of' Fukekohe, ( ',VufKl<ind, ire at' present on a visit' to tt'elr frifends' abcMlr here.; • ! 1 ' " jjMr. David Jones;'m Stanley road, is at " priebent on'it 'vUft'tfl OhristPlmrch:- ; 1 'kr'. and Mrs. W. Keenan knd family, "of 'Huntervfllfe, «rfe J it prfesent .staying with friends, on tlie Salisburv road-. I ', » . ' r ;'')llrs,:W. , Sitl,'W(y) 'ind Sr. u iiavß left 'for' a 'few weeks' holiday to Wilson'." 01 f, " 11 : "' J '-' u I ' late' df.a?a'riki, -Ms! lif. M<;Malion. . •" s ■iocv/' :

»-\! Ml '. 1 'i> ' LtM tDe.elose r pt' tho school -on; Friday *a< mumper. of p^reiitsfof.t'tye .ifiulidlars might, linye been seen wendijig tlje building, they havUeeTiji®vitjcd., by, .Mr; Meyenberg, lithe i headmaster, ,£o' be'present to bid ifaiewell to, Jffisfl Q'Brieiv, who is leaving .(Qmatdi.'to 'tfke up, thp ,d)»t}efv of a.?sis(;aflt mistress at the Wepfc- Bird School.. .XjMj fifjlildren •-rejaescpibled in' the schools JVpQjn .tyeje joiripd: by the visitors, when hfttx- 3£».: ji, chairman of the com-/tfiittf#-,;pwjSeji,te<l >liss Q'Brien, on bef half of, the scholars, w]itfl> silver-backed irhaif brush and sHve^Ahot- pip. In doing dM% he' spoke* highly'il}lMtoss'o®rißß!'s Work while ; ,iijiiQm.atai. :i (nearly three !!jieaTß') r --of esteem and airection felt afoPjher by rtlie rfijiilcir-eii, and oMhe- gent :icraj! regret l ,at/.hor departure, although, i&8l it) nwt <p.Tamotion for hor, it' would be selfish- ta <wjsh : her to- remain. In -conclusion' he wished- her, from himself, -the committee, and'the children, health, "happiness aml si}epes%,in her new sphere 'Of labor. ■ .:Miss 'O'Brien, who received -the present 'with -Qvidept pleasure, d;e■jired ■ Jlr. i Mqypiiherg to, express her utbanlfs for tire' f handsome and useful gift. This he did in a very happy littjle . Speech, ..and, , when he ended, 'gne -of' the ,called' for i'hreeifeheers forijMiss o'jßMen,i whieh ware most lustily given. ; A sumptuous afternoon tea was then handed romjd and thoroughly enjoyed. This over, Mr. Meyenberg dismissed the youngsters • for a game in the playground, first calling- for three cheers for Miss O'Brien. '

Miss Melsaacs is appointed to fill Miss O'Brien's place, and' we tender a very hearty welcome to the young lady. Owing to the rain, the householders' meeting to appoint a school committee, called for Monday, 24th inst., lapsed for want of a quorum, 1 1 and will not be ■held till further notice is received from the l Education Board. 1 While writing on school matters, thfe following circular has been sent out by the Teachers' Institute for discussion at the householders' meeting, viz., "That this meeting of householders considers that in the best interests of education a Dominion scheme for promotion of teachers is urgently required, and that this resolution he forwarded to the Minister of Education, Wellington." There is no doubi; that the present mode of promotion is an unfair one to the teachers of the Dominion. No matter how good teachers may be, under the present system there is no hope of their obtaining teh highest position should they graduate in an education district where the highest positions are not attainable. It is to be hoped that the householders will pass the resolution unanimously, and forward it to the Minister for his favorable consideration.

On two evenings this week after dark a threshing machine has been travelling on the road here, and this is a practice that should not be allowed, or sooner or later there will be an accident to chronicle. The quietest horse is timid of the machine in daylight, but when met at night the noise and light is sufficient to cause any horse to bolt. The derrick formerly standing on Mr. Were's property is being removed to Gisborne.