Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 280, 23 May 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

From our Resident Reporter. 'Broadway North, next Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. " THE SCOTCH CONCERT. The Turanaki Provincial Scottish Society will hold a grand social and dance in the Stratford Town Ilall on Friday night. Nothing has been spared to make this entertainment a memorable one in the long list of winter attractions. Everything, from the weather to the "mixtures," will 'he Scotch, and it is the intention of the committee to convince all those present that Mount Eginont and the Pacific Ocean are thousands of miles away, and that the nearest mountain is Ben Lomond, and the nearest water the Firth of Tay. The performers will be legion, and included in the list are Madame Groome, the well-known Scotch soprano, of Wellington, and Miss McXab, who is equally famous in the northern metropolis. Mr. K. Sargent, of Haweni, will also -contribute to the programme, as will the leading local talent, including the' Stratford male quar- i tette. For the dance which will follow nothing has been omitted to ensure the enjoyment of those who delight in dancing. The fact that Ceosley's Orchestra has been engaged is a guarantee that the music will be of the best, and special preparations have also been made for the catering by a large ladies' committee. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The School Committee met on Tuesday evening. Mr. P. Skoglund was in the chair, and other members present were Messrs. T. C. Fookes, E. W. Hancock, J. W. Boon, S. Clark and G. Smart.

Discussing a letter from the Borough Council to the effect that the Minister of Public Works had been approached regarding a subway in Fenton street, the majority of the committee held that owing to the decided negative answer of the Minister of Railways the matter should be dropped. According to Mr. Clark, however, the only way to get anything done was to keep "drumming it in." He had seen many narrow escapes at the crossing. He suggested that the committee should again approach the Borough Council regarding the erection of a bridge at Orlando street.—Eventually it was decided to approach the Railway Department, with a view to having automatic closing gates in Fenton street.—The suggestion was put forward that an overhead bridge at the railway station would get over the difficulty. It was also suggested that danger could he avoided liy opening the school at 9.30 a.m.. and closing it at 3.30 p.m. Owing to the resignation of the Advisory Board to the Technical School the Education Board notified that in future the School Committee would discharge its duties. Attention was drawn by the Education Board to the necessity for keeping spouting clean, many schools depending on tank water for drinking purposes, and for not allowing grass to grow around the bottoms of buildings, thus causing the wood to deeav.

The following communication was received from the secretary of the Education Board: "The Government wishes Empire Day to be observed in conjunction with the King's Birthday, Monday, June 3, and requests that the occasion should be used to draw the attention of the school children to their privileges and responsibilities as citizens of the Empire. It is suggested that this lesson should be taken on Friday, as Monday, being a holiday, the children will not be likely to be in attendance at the school. The chairman also directs me to inform you that you have permission to close your school on Friday, June 7, to enable any of the children who wish to attend the New Plymouth Winter Show. The schools will close for the mid-winter holidays on Friday, August 23, and re-open on Monday, August SI, and will close for the mid-summer holidays on Friday. December 20, 1012. reopening on Monday, February 3, 1013.'' —The meeting resolved that the portion of the circular which related to Empire Day be brought under the headmaster's notice.

The Education Board intimated that it saw no reason to re-open the question of the staffing of the school; (2) that it intended to apply for a new headmaster's residence; and (3) offering to pay up to £3O for improvements to the horse paddock fences.

HEADMASTER'S REPORT. In his monthly report the headmaster stated that, owing to a mild epidemic of chicken-pox, the school attendance during the past month fell off considerably. The malady is, however, now almost gone, and the attendance is becoming normal again. He added: "The standard of matriculation is now definitely set at a four years' course of secondary instruction. We shall, therefore, be able to present but few candidates for that examination this year. For the Civil Service junior examination dairy science is to be an optional subject this year. Our rural students will now be abie to take as examination subjects both agriculture and dairy science, the subjects to which they devote most time."

GENERAL NEWS At the parade of II Company, to be held on Friday evening, matters in connection with the Garrison Sports and Pastimes League will be gone into. There has recently been formed in connection with the Territorials a Taranaki Group Garrison Sports and Pastimes League, with local bra" hes in all garrison centres, Color-Sei- nf Rabone being temporary secretary of f... Stratford body. It is hoped bv next .season to have senior and junior football and cricket teams in the field. Field sports will be held at a big picnic for the group, to be held early in March every year. The second Parish Hall social on Tuesday evening was a pronounced success. Songs were sung bv '.Miss Ivrnwav. Miss Butler and Mr. Twohill. I'll e dance music was played by Miss O'lx-ar.v. Miss Mac Donald. Miss King. Miss lilack, and Mrs. and Mr. Pcnii. Mr. A. P. Staples acted as MC. Dancing was maintained till after midnight on an excellent lioor.

The Stratford TI Company, lltli Regiment, will parade as usual on Friday night.

At its last meeting the School 'Comtnittee decided to approach the Education Department as to what it was prepared to do as regards subsidising a kcliool library. The chairman said there Was a room at the school very suitable ■for a library, and that a good library could be formed if each child donated one of its books to the school.

A suggestion that a school savings bank should be instituted was thrown out at the. last meeting of the committee by Mr. Clark. He suggested that the headmaster should collect from the 'children sums? from a penny upwards, to bo placed in a Post Office Savings Rank, The chairman pointed out that the Government was doing a good deal in the direction indicated. However, he saw no reason why the idea of thrift should not be impressed on the children. The success of the scheme depended largely on the teachers. Mr. Fookes .thought the scheme was good, but that the work would he rather hard on the tcachm-

| Finally it was decided to approach the i teachers oil the question. BERNARD'S PICTURES. There "was a crowded house at Bernard's Pictures 011 the occasion of the complimentary benefit in aid. of the Catholic Convent dormitory, and the delightfully varied programme was immensely enjoyed by the large audience. To-night there will be the usual change of programme, "vvhem a particularly wellvaried programme of pictures will be shown. The star film will be "The New Superintendent," a particularly strong dramatic picture, dealing with the oilfields of America, but not to tie confounded with those of Moturoa. Supporting this will l>e "The Rival Engine-drivers," '"Fate's Turning," "The Humors of Animal Life," "Crocodile Farming," and "Icebergs off the Coast of America."