Our Stratford Page

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 249, 20 April 1912, Page 3

Our Stratford Page

j STRATFORD DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. * OPENING THE NEW BUILDING. For years past the Stratford District High School committee has enjoyed a reputation for excellent organisation of the working of the school and 'of the various functions which have from time to time been arranged in connection therewith. The life of the committee, as at present constituted, is drawing fast to its close, but its members can retire upon their laurels as the result of the really remarkable success which attended all the arrangements for the opening of the new wing of the school buildings on Thursday night This new portion '" the school, built in brick, spleud- designed and finished, replac ,ne wooden class-rooms which w destroyed by fire. The function \ , called a "conversazione," and a big crowd attended in one of the new classrooms to take part. After a pianoforte overture by Mr. J. 11. Thompson, short, pitliv speeches, as reported below, followed in rapid succession, their march being punctuated with songs by Mrs. Massey and Mr. D. Twohill, a violin solo • by Miss Rogers, and a euphonium solo :by Mr. T. Marshall. This part of the programme over, there was a. general dispersal, the majority finding their way to the ball-room, whilst in another room an enjoyable progressive euchre party was entered upon. The prizes fell to Mrs. J. H. Robson and Mr. G. Sangster. The dancing 'hall was crowded. Mr. G. Smart was M.C., and the music was supplied by Mrs. Bianclii and Mr. S. Berj nard, whilst Miss McDonald played for several extras. The teachers, members I of the committee, and numbers of willing assistants served 'out an excellent supper. SOME OF THE SPEECHES. The chairman,.Mr. C. D. Sole, was commendably brief in extending a hearty welcome to the visitors, some of whom had come from long distances to assist in the official opening of the new district high school. The school was a credit to' the Education Board and to the whole district, the only fault being that it was not big enough." The new committee, he 1 hoped, would impress on the board the i necessity for providing accommodation for the 735 children attending the | school, as even now they had accom- j modation for only about 650. I Mr. Masters, Mayor of Stratford, men- j tioned that the new brick building was I due to the destruction of the old 'one by fire. A fire was not always a bad j thing, but this one was put out too j quickly. Referring to the prowess of i the school, Mr. Masters said children at- J tended it from north, south, east and ] west, because there they became fitted i for almost any walk in after life. It I would be surprising if this were not so, considering the excellent material—the I stroncr, healthy, robust children of Tara-j nafci. and considering that they had a; headmaster like Mr. Tyrer, who was! there not for the purpose of drawing his j salary, but who felt it his duty to turn j out the boys and girls to the very best > of his ability. (Applause.) The school] liad also been fortunate- in - the members j of the teaching staff, and extremely for-] tunate in its go-ahead school committee, but above all in possessing the most enthusiastic chairman a school committee could possess. If the householders would take the speaker's advice, they would never put Mr Sole out of the chair, for they would never get another, man to work a® he did. ' ' Mr. J. B. Hine, M.P., congratulated i the committee on the erection of a fine building. He said that his sympathy was witli every progressive movement in the town of Stratford. lie was glad to say that the education system of the country, and educational matters generally, were looked upon in Parliament without party feeling. The free- secondary and compulsory system of education was one of which they were all proud, and one on which they looked with safety, and, as far as • the -House was concerned, the portfolio of education was loked upon as a rosy billet, being free ivom party attack, but it was not so ro'v. ho understood, in dealing with the education boards.. | The Stratford school was still in its infancy. In a few years there would be a high.sejiool (the chairman.: 1 hope not), not merely a district high school. They would have an agricultural school or college in Stratford, or a college devoting special attention to agricutture, as was necessary in an agricultural district.- Mr. Hine told 'the young folk that if they wanted to get to the top, they must studv hard, and „-w.in some .of those scholarships with which the Dominion was so bountifully provided. He hoped that Stratford would maintain its scholarship reputation. He appealed to the householders to attend largely at the annual meeting, so as to give that encouragement to the chairman and

* From Our Resident Reporter, * ❖ . ♦ .} Broadway Nortli., next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. <(> * *** ** * ******* *

members of the committee which was their due. They should all help the committee, and help the Taranaki Education Board in the cause of education, :t and assist in making Stratford an edua cational centre and the site of a big it agricultural college e A PIONEER'S UTTERANCES. n The Hon T. Kelly, M.L.C., a former i chairman of the Taranaki Education ' Board, in a_ very interesting speech, re- ° ferrcd to his first experience of Strat- , ford, when the site of the town was covered with bush. He traced the proe gress of the settlement, and the developj ment of the liberal education system of v \ New Zealand. Then, touching on the ob- . ; ject of the evening's assembly, the hon. > gentleman said this was-one of the best schools he had seen for years, and, he x said laughingly, he was afraid it would , make New Plymouth very jealous. It ? was worthy of the district and worthy e of the people. He was glad to be able | to say that they had a mass of teachers ; | competent to carry out the fine educai tion system of the country, and pleaded J for the teachers liberty' to train the } | children individually. Every child born 3 into this country was entitled to receive } free such education as it was': possible j for the child to assimilate, and equal r opportunities were given to the children of rich and poor alike, which was as it should he. J DEBATERS WANTED. j Mr. W. Rogers, one of the east ward . members of the board, spoke briefly, ex- . tending his congratulations, and suggest- . ing to the head teacher that a debating • class should be established among the 5 pupils, to enable them to put their°ideas i . and their learning into words, the nerve ; to do which so many well educated people lacked. The school occupied a 1 unique position, being a model school, . and having a splendid reputation p throughout the Dominion. l A RESTRICTED PLAYGROUND. ; Mr. Robt. Masters, who was intro- i ; ] duced as the youngest member of the I i board, advocated the enlargement of the ! school playground, holding that at the j i present time this was of greater im- j i portance than the suggested further en-1 ! largement of the school. He pointed out] that there were 735 children on the - roll [ : of the school, and an average attendance'' of 670. There was only half an acre for all those children to play in, which I meant that it would be rather a difficult I matter to pack them all in the' playground at one time. The children were ■ j absolutely dependent on the streets and I i the domain for room to play. Such a , state of affairs should not be'allowed to I continue. _ He advocated the remova! of 1 j the principal's residence to another site l , j | and throwing the grounds into the school ; | playing area. I MR. TRIMBLE LOOKS AHEAD. j ! Before officially declaring the selroe' j j open, in congratulating the district o ; I j the possession of such a splendid school,! t Mr. Trimble said that they must look) | forward to a separation of the second- j J ary from the primary department in I j Stratford. It w r as certain to come. Not | only was Stratford the most central I town in Taranaki, but it was one of the | most .important, destined perhaps to be-; come the most important town in the j province, but its climate made it an | excellent place for a boarding-school. He I was certain that the climate in Stratford' was better in which to bring up children: than in the towns near the coast, and! ■ he was likewise convinced that before' . long Stratford would have a school with boarding establishment. He urged the householders to attend in large numbers at the annual meeting on Monday, and to put the best men on the committee for the coming year. Service on school eommitt(je& was not looked upon by all as important work, but it was important, ' and very interesting, too. A school committee the medium between . the parents and the teachers, and the only body which could bring the educational requirements.of-a district before the edu> cation board -or the Education Dopart-! ment. ' A. BOMBSHELL. Mr. Sole, in extending the thanks of ' the committee to each and every-one of ' those who 'had assisted, returned his ' personal thanks to'the householders for 3 having elected him for so many years, 1 and announced-that he did not intend 1 to _ stand again for the committee. (Cries of "-Nonsense," and dissent generally.) t \ ' MAGISTRATE'S COURT £ The weekly sitting of the Magistrate's Court was hfcld" this 1 morning, Mr. W-. G. Kenrick, S.M., presiding. " 1 ' 1 ' Charles Lovett was fined £2 and costs for breach of a prohibition order. DEBT CASES. B. Ilarkness (Mr. Wright) obtained judgment by default aaginst A. Gilbert for £l2 lis 3d, and costs. V. Smith j (Mr Wright)- proceeded against Wm. Hay ward on a judgment summons, and obtained an order for payment of £ll 4s 7d by monthly instalments of £l. Frank Rhodes (Mr. Stanford) obtained ' an order, in the absence of the debts, against R. C. Neale for payment of £ls ( 3s 5d forthwith, in default 14 days' K imprisonment. In W. Winmill (Mr. 1 Stanford) v. J. Harvey, judgment summons case, the debtor failed to appear, 1 and was ordered to pay the debt of £ 15 Go 9d forthwith, in default 14 days' imprisonment. A TANGLED SKEIN. Lily O'Keefe proceeded against her J husband, Michael Joseph O'Keefe, for adequate maintenance of herself and her elglrt' children. v ' .Mr Spence, outlining the ease, said that the parties were separated on the application df the wife in April, lilOi), ( on the grounds of cruelty, but at that time no application was' made to the court for maintenance. Mr. R. Spence appeared for the complainant, and Mr T. 0. Fookes for the defendant. Joseph McCluggage gave evidence that , on his guarantee £I2OO had been ad- J vanred the complainant, which had been spent in purchasing the lease of a proP Ol acres at Whangamomona. After legal expenses, etc., had been paid there was a balance remaining of t'2 t or .C.'S. During the three years that she ' farmed the land she went' .£230 to the bad. Her debt to his firm was CIS2 for groceries, meat, and bread, which ' meant that she had fed (his lai" r e family on C 4 a month. Nothing had been paid 1 off the amount. Her position he attributed to the number of mouth-; she had to feed, and the heavy interest she hud f" pav Tie paid a. tribute to ih« manner in which she and her ehiMrcn had worked. [f ( . had seen the girls ; n their ' bare feet cutting scrub. ' ■ ; Tn remarkincr upon the fact that the wilness hud allowed the complainant to run up such a large bill, ami had not pressed For payment. Mr. Fookes said, "It speaks very much for your larsre- I

I heartedness, Mr. McCluggage." To which •' l Mr. Spenee rejoined, "I don't think that j I need be mentioned, your Worship. It j (is a very well-known fact throughout I | the district." / The witness further stated that about , two years ago, at Pohokura, the defendant told him that he had £SO, and { would give it to his wife if she would come and live with him. This statement was loudly denied by the defendant from the body of the court. Mr. McCluggage further stated that the defendant was in regular work, and had two horses and drays engaged on the co-operative works. His earnings would probably surprise counsel if lie obtained details. The complainant gave evidence that since the separation she had received no maintenance from her husband, but he had_ given one of the children £ls (which was spent on clothes for the little ones), and he had bought one of the boys a "rig-out." Mr. Fookes, in continuing his crossexamination on the lines of his instructions. distressed the witness. • Mr Spenee was able to show him that the suspicious charges were unfounded, exhibiting one of defendant's letters to the complainant. Mr. Fookea expressed his regret at the occurrence, but said he was only acting on his instructions. In the circumstances he asked an ad journment j to allow him to consult his client as to J his position in the matter, and to confer | with Mr. Spenee. An adjournment was granted accordingly. Mr. Fookes, on the court resuming, * amnounced that he had conferred with his client and Mr. Spenee, and had strongly urged on him to make a settlement. But the defendant said his earnings were only from £0 to £8 a month,] and the best offer he could make was £2 a month. The defendant stated that his earnings were £6 9s a month since January ] j last. The horses and dray he was drivtng belonged to Calgher, and he (witI ness) drove it for him. He himself drew j the hire for the horses, at the rate of 5s J a day for each horse, and he paid all . of these earnings to Calgher, deducting nothing. I Then followed a long cross-examina-; I tion of the defendant as to his earnings and dealings with horses. Out of °a maze of contradictions Mr. Spenee found that he had one of the horses on a I lease with right to purchase, and the ) other he had bought from Newton King, ) being assisted by Calgher. Calgher paid for the shoeing. The defendant said it was not a fact that "all this rigmarole" about the horses was made up since he liffd been asked for maintenance for his wife and family. The position became more and more befogged, but the Magistrate said the man would have to support his wife and 1 family, and eventually ordered him to | pay 2s Od a week for each child, i j THE MAYORALTY The_ following ratepayers signed Mr. McAllister's nomination 'for the mayoralty: Messrs. S. H. James, N. J. Kin" J. McCluggage, T. 11. Penn, Geo. Burgess, and A. W. Reid. Committees on behalf of the two candidates' are organising hard, and there will probably be a big poll. TARANAKI FIRE BRIGADES. A meeting of delegates of Taranaki , fire brigades was held here on Thursday Superintendent Fred Bell ringer, of New Plymouth, presiding. Waitara, Fitzroy. Eltham, Manaia, Inglewood, Hawera, arid Stratford were also represented. It was decided to form a Taranaki Fire Brigades Association, and to hold a demonstration early in December next, the programme being the same as at the recent Dannevirke tourney. Invitations 'from brigades to have the first demonJ stration held in their respective towns ' u b L, reCeived U P to Tuesday, 28th 1 May. The officers are: President, Supermtendent Bellringer (New Plymouth) ■ vice-presidents, Captains T. G. Grubb j (Stratford) and Rolston (Inglewood) • • secretary and treasurer, Foreman Cham'I P icm (Hawera). I ) BERNARD'S PICTURES Captain Brand's Wife" is a marvellously good dramatic production. It is an American story, the scenes pitched in the Far West during the days when pioneering was dangerous and adventurous. The film is notable in regard to the remarkable feats of horsemanship introduced, and for the selection of the country m which the wonderful series of pictures is taken. "Rhododendron Culture is a. colored film of great interest and beauty, and is worth seeing not only as an illustration of the marvels ot Mature, but as a pretty piece of unnva Hed photographic success. I here are numerous 'other good pictures, including some side-splittin" comic stones told by the cinematograph 0 On Monday "The Bells" will be screened klil elTt h 1 ° ne ?'? hl ' ar the theatre ' ofSnJt )e v CroWded ' Thl ' reputation, of the picture has preceded it, and creat interest is being aroused. g GENERAL NEWS oJ, h 5 e , was an innovation, as far as otidtiord is concerned, at the GymH\ an , a , on Thursday. The music was Jroei'nt n' V ! Stratford Orchestral Society, the brass and the big drum bavinbeen superseded. The instrumentation 1 was good, and the music throughout was j ha of a well-balanced combinationof of Mr rf the conductorship A f°?, ers ' Xt would have been bet-! ter had the 'orchestral marquee been I placed at the southern end of the stand foi then more people would have enThe St/t7 P erform ance. has decided Municipal Brass Band -i?» I to i Crect a hand-room at a C irt s T? n n re . et ', at the to Cui tis Lane. It ls hoped to have the ""*<*■ •« PERSONAL Mrs Digby Cardale, until recently a resident of Stratford, has been phLt with the Ferryside Croquet Club at Wefn ton, and succeeded in carrying off tlic cap singles. Captain and Mrs. Cardale ill take up their residence in Hawera ni the course of a week or so.