DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 186, 24 December 1912, Page 6

DISTRICT NEWS.

HILLSBOROUGH. The annual school concert took place on Thursday evening, December 12, and a vry large and enthusiastic audience had (lie pleasure of seeing the children go through their varied programme of songs, readings, recitations, solos and dialogues. 'ihe itt:ms were all exceedingly well rendered, and judging from the remarks overheard the visitors were well pleased with the children's efforts, which reflected great credit oi. the head teacher, Miss Stewart. One very noticeable feature was the complete absence of timidity or nervousness so often | shown before a large audience.

During the interval the chairman (Mr. J. R. Hill) announced that as Miss Stewart had obtained leave of absence for twelve months to visit England, it was thought that it was an opportune time to make her a small presentation from the children as a token of esteem. Miss Sutton, the assistant teacher, made a few appropriate remarks. Misses Daisy and Myrtle Sampson and Master D'Arcy Bishop then handed Miss Stewart a jewel case and an autograph album. After the applause, Miss Stewart feelingly responded, saying that it came as a great surprise to her. Ho did not think she had done anything in the short time (a little over a year) to warrant any presentation, but she would like to say now that she bad been treated in a very kindly way by everyone in the district, the School Committee, parents and children, and wished to return to Hillsborough to resume her duties on her return from England. The ladies supplied bounteous refreshments. The sum of £lO was taken at the door.

A runaway, fortunately unattended with very serious results, occurred recently. The owner took the blinkers off a horse in a gig containing three little children to change them for another pair, when the horse started off on its mad career, bolting down the road until' it turned in at Mr. J. R. Hill's place on the top of the hill above the creamery. The gig collided with the gatepost, overturned the gig and the impact freed the 'horse. It is miraculous that the occupants were not seriously injured. If the horse had continued its course down the hill the consequences would have been serious indeed. Another, rather unusual occurrence took place in the district the same day. A settler was taking his milk to the creamery when a neighbor, who was riding alongside, found himself in rather a strange predicament. His horse kicked out and got its leg jambed between the spokes of the vehicle, and it was not without some difficulty that the leg was extracted.

We are living in hopes of the telephone being established! at the creamery early in 1913. The money has been subscribed by the settlers for this purpose, and the Department have notified that the construction will soon be proceeded with. Although not lessening the mileage from New Plymouth, this will make us more up-to-date. General satisfaction is - expressed at the way the County Council is putting down new metal. As one man remarked the other day, "road-making nowadays is a science." The surfacemen (the Messrs Holmes) know how to spread metal and can spread it quickly. Mr. Holmes, senr., I believe, has been in the County Council's employ since 1876, started at five shillings per day. It is seldom that any local body has an employee engaged continuously for 36 years that has served so faithfully as he ha* done.

OMATA. On Thursday the C-mata Hall was filled to witness the distribution of prizes to the school children. Mr. E. C. Meredith (chairman of the School Committee) presided, and opened the proceedings in a. commendably brief speech. The first part of the evening's entertainment consisted of prize-giving, interspersed with songs and recitations by the school children. The second part was a farce, entitled, "Deaf as a post," which was well staged, well acted and well received, Mrs. Meyenberg, as "Sally, the waitress," particularly distinguishing herself. Mr. Meyenberg and Miss Wells, who had worked hard to make the entertainment a success, are to be congratulated on the result, and the best thanks of all are due to those ladies and gentlemen who sc ably assisted them. Your columns just now are so full of accounts of similar functions or I would like farther to particularise. -She night's amusement concluded with the usual dance. The proceeds of the entertainment were dovoted to the hall fund. The following were the prize-winners:■ Full attendances-Primer classes: It. Bovctt, P. Mathews, E. Ncilson. Standard L: R. Bayly. F. Bovett, J. Crockett. Standard II.: L. Johnson, V. Kendall. Standard 10.: G. George, H. Jury, G. Riimsbottom. Standard IV.: B. Pease. Standard V.: If. Mathews. Standard VI.: B. Crockett.

Certificates for not having missed more tlian five half-dim —M. Loveridge, L. Seamark. E. Kendall, 11. Bayly. Full attendance since June 30— E. Seamark, N. Mevenberg, E. Kendall, P. Johnston, P. Mathews, R. Hart, A. Kendall, K Seamark, 0. Huso, V. Pease, A. Husc.

Most popular boy (by vote)—B. Crock, ett; girl, 0. Pen warden.

' Best conduct—Standard VI.: Evelyn Williamson. Standard V.: Ken. Mathews. Standard IV.: Ernest Crockett. Standard III.: Arthur Williamson. Standard ll' Ronald Ramsbottom. Standard I: Leo Morris. Primer 3: Alice Smith. Primer 2: Marjorie Bayly. Primer 1: Irene Williamson.

Neatest work by girl in primer classes (by Mrs. Mathews)—Jessie Clemow. Greatst industry by boy in primer classes (by Mrs. Mathews)—Lewis Seamark.

Greatest diligence (by Air. Meyenberg) —Standard VI.: Arthur Huse. Standard V.: ivy Smith. Standard IV.: Christina Huse. Standard III.: Ered. Seamark. (By Miss Wells)— Standard If.: C. Williamson. Standard I.: L. Morris. Primer 3: Eileen Jfeilson. Primer 2: M. Bayly. Primer 1: W. Revel!.

Sewing—Standard VL: E. Williamson. Standard V.: IT. Viekers. Standard IV.: B. Prase. Standard ITL: C. Hnsc. Standard II.: V. Weldon. Standard L: S. Biggin. Place prizes—Standard Vl'.; First and Dux, A. Jluse; second, B. Crockett; third, E. Williamson. Standard V.: First. T. Smith; second,, 11. Viekers; third, H. Williamson. Standard IV.: First, O. Huse; second. E. Crockett; third, B. Pease. Standard III.: First, W. Clomow; second. G. George; third, C. Huso. Standard IX: First," C. Williamson; second, V. Williamson; third, L. Johnston. Standard T.: First, L. Morris; second, C Vickers; third, R. Hart. In the primer classes each ehildr received a gift. Full attendance —The following pupils have made full attendances for the quarter ending December 19: —Primer classes: N. Meyenberg, E. Seamark, P. Johnston, R. Bovett, P. Mathews, G. Pease, L. Seamark, E. Kendall. E. Neilson. Standard I: R. Bavlv, F. Bovett, J. Crockett, E. Williamson, R. Hart. Standard II.: L. Johnson, V. Kendall. Standard III.: G. George, H. Jury, A. Kendall, R. Pease, F. Seamark, C. Iluse, K. Neilson. G. Ramsbottom, R. Ramsbottom. Standard IV.: 0. Huse, B. Pease. Standard V.: K. Mathews, V. Pease. Standard VI.: B. Crockett, A. Huse. Percea'a;-;.' o'J attendances for

quarter: Boys, 91.6; girls, 84.2; average, 87.9.

HURFORD ROAD. \ The annual distribution of prizes to the school children- took place in the local schoolroom on Friday night. The large numbers present hud the satisfaction of enjoying a pleasant evening. The children went through ap rogramme of songs, etc., in a very pleasing manner, reflecting great credit on the teacher, Mr, Fenton. The programme was as follows:—Pianoforte solo, Misses Don's and Alice Loveridge; song ."Our Xayv," school children; a round, school children; recitation, Helen Smith; part song, school children; duet, Misses Alice and Violet Loveridge. Mr, Fenton also sang in his usual pleasing manner. At intervals throughout the programme Mr. A. Smith, chairman of the school committee, presented all the scholars with suitable books as prizes. Special prizes were awarded as follows:—Dux, Dulcie Orudis; good conduct, Leslie Loveridge; full attendance, Vera Smith, Margaret Spence, Dulcie Orudis, Herbert Orudis, Edna Loveridge, Elsie Spenco. Those not missing more than five half-days: Helen Smith, Clarence Smith, Edwin Spence.

Certificates were also awarded to the following children:—C. Smith, Anna Myers, Margaret Spence, Alice Loveridge and C. Spence.

At the conclusion of the concert, the chairman, on behalf of the settlers, presented Mr. Fenton With a writing case in token of their appreciation of the way in which he lias taught the children. Mr. Fenton while teaching had got the children on splendidly and all the reports received were marked good, and several excellent. Mr. Fenton is leaving to take up a position in the High School. In thanking the people for their kindness, Mr. Fenton said it had been his aim in teaching the children to teach them that they would not always be children, but one day men and women, and would then have to take their place in the world.

■Supper was then handed round, and the floor having been cleared, children and adults alike indulged in a couple of hours' dancing and games. This wound up a very enjoyable evening, the last to be spent in the old year. With best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy New YcaT all round, all repaired to their homes.