STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 289, 29 April 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER,

Telephone No. 113,

STRATFORD SCHOOL COMMITTEE

ANNUAL MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

No great interest was taken in the ennual meeting of householders at Stratford, and even at twenty minutes past seven o'clock the attendance was only twenty, or less than half the previous year's. Probably the big surplus indicative of a very successful year financially, and the excellent scholastic results left nothing for criticism, and without something wrong in the school or its management there was nothing: to divert the picture-goers. |

Mr. T. C. Fookes was voted to the chair, in the absence of Mr. R. Masters. The report stated:—The Committee held 14 meetings, attendances being as follows: Boon 9 meetings, Skogliind 13, Clark 13, Fookes 12. Hancock 14, Jones 12, McMillan 10, Smart 14, Stewart 12. The Committee's year of office had been •uneventful, but the school had continued to increase in numbers and had not fallen away in any respect from the. -high; standartl of efficiency that had marked its past, In -falcti ■ educationally;. the school stbbd higher than ever, as evidenced by the success mentioned later on. The new school building had proved commodious and convenient, but in one important respect had fallen short of expectations, in that the heating of the class-rooms is quite inadequate. The Education Board had the matter under consideration. The playing grounds had been much improved during the year by grading and gravelling. They were, however, far too limited in extent, but the efforts of the Committee to secure enlargement had not yet borne fruit. The shelter-shed had been much improved by the tarring and sanding of the floor, the fencing of the Cloton street frontage had been the trees that were ob- j structing the light of the infant school I had been converted into firewood (accounting for the small cost of fuel for the year), the water supply bad been extended to the glass-house and to the front of the school, and improvements had been carried out at the swimming, baths. The income from the baths had ] ! increased, justifying the action of the [Committee in raising the charge for' season tickets. The annual cntertain- > merit held prior to the Christmas holidays was very successful, as was the seaside picnic, held on January 30 at Fitzroy. "Ttie statement of receipts and expenditure showed an excellent financial position awaiting the new Committee, as, in addition to the cash balance of £73 lis 7d, there was due a Government subsidy of about £2O. The average attendance at the school for the year 1912 was: Primary department 519, sec-, ondary department 112, total 628. The average number on the rolls of boljh., department lor,the year was 714; 'Oh' March 31 of the current year there were on the school registers the names of 726 children, and the average attendance up to that date was 655. During the year the school was twice visited by the. in/, spectors of the Education Board, and repoHs subsequently received by the Committee from these gentlemen showed that good work was being done in all departments. The Government Inspector of High Schools also recently visited the school, but the report of his visit was not yet available, The regulations of the Education Department stipulated that before the staff of a school was added to, an increased attendance sufficient to entitle the school to the additional teacher must, have been mairir ! tained at the school for a year. The continuous increase in attendance-, year by year at our school, had been such that, for the last ten years, before one additional teacher was appointed, the school attendance had risen to the number for a second one. Now, however, the attendance seemed to be remaining stationary, and the school wad having its first experience of working with a full staff. "One of the few schools of the Dominion," continued the report, "in. which every pupil who has been two years in the secondary, department must sit for some public examination; and the number of children from the school who, last year, were successful in passing the examinations set for Senior Free Places, Civil Service or Matriculation, is a very pleasing proof of the general quality of our High School pupils' work. In competitive examinations the pupils of the school were as successful as in past years —winning four junior and five senior scholarships. Besides these, one boy won the Bayly Memorial Scholarship, and another secured the proud distinction of being the first boy in a Taranaki school to win a University Scholarship in addition to securing third place in New Zealand at the junior civil service examination." The Committee wished to place on record its thorough appreciation of the ability and industry displayed by the school staff, and congratulated the headmaster and his colleagues on the excellent and encouraging results. Upon the annual report and balancesheet being presented and proposed for adoption, Mr. Skoglund, the retiring chairman, complained of the paucity of j attendance. It was the least that could be done for householders to turn up' to receive the report, when it was of I such a satisfactory nature.

Several speakers congratulated the committee on their excellent work, and said that the lack of criticism was a testimonial of satisfaction.

The report and balance-sheet were then unanimously adopted, and a new committee was elected as follows: Messrs. P. Skoghmd, S. Clarke, J. \V. B. Jones. E. H. Hancock, T. C. Fookes, J. W. McMillan, 0. Smart (all re-elected), E. Jackson and J. J. Staples. Messrs. H. J. Hopkins. J. B. Campbell, T. Lawson, H. T. Twiss, 0. Smart and A. Stewart were nominated, but declined for various reasons.

Mr. Twiss suggested an alteration in the school hours to permit of a longer dinner time, which was necessary in the case of children living some distance away from the school. Speaking for himself and otheTs so circumstanced, he moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to have the niitf-day recess lengthened. Mr. E. Jackson opposed this, contending that extending the dinner hour would make it too late for the children getting home, and prevent those travelling by train from catching the three o'clock trains.

Mr. Skoglnnd also referred to the matter of the large attendance of country children at the school from distances of three miles and upwards. The recommendation was lost. At a subsequent meeting Mr. Skoglund was re-elected chairman. POLITICAL EARLY ELECTION CANARD. The stories of the selection of a Liberal candidate are becoming more circumstantial. The other day it was reported that preliminary steps .were already being taken to select a candidate.-to. opposy Mr. J. B. Hine, M.T., at the next

Office and Job Printing Works: Next N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co., Broadway.

general election. The story, like good wine, improves with age. Yesterday it was related that at a recent meeting of Liberals the names of three candidates were selected, and that on a date to be fixed the Liberals of the district would be called upon to make their choice. The funny part of it all is that none of the leading Liberals, or any other Liberals for that matter, know anything about it.

STRAY PARAGRAPHS | Mr. Harry j. Gilbert, who has been for some months in charge of Messrs. W. H. H. Young & Co.'s seed, produce and fertiliser business, has for many years been an enthusiastic worker in the cause of education. Last Friday night he was one of the guests at a social evening tendered by Mrs. Dowling, headmistress of the West End School, who entertained the teachers, committeemen and their wives in the West End gymnasium. Mr. Gilbert was rather I taken aback when Mr. "Ike" Morrison, | one of his colleagues on the committee, tob§ and/made a speech, in eulogy, of Mr*. •>work>as,< chmftt&fr evajr since the West "End School district was formed ten years and four months ago, and presented him with a handsome chiming, clqck, a present; from admirers of his energy and enthusiasm. The school has an enviable record. In' its short life, with the same chairman, the same headmistress, and the same infant mistress (two of the very best) year after year,-it has grown rapidly. The school owns its piano, organ, sewing machine, gymnasium and apparatus, and a 15-guinea microscope, due to the untiring energy of the Committee and staff, and in no small measure to their pulltogether methods. For it is related that in all these years there has never been a "row" between teacher and parent, or between teacher and committee. Mr. Gilbert' has now resigned the chairmanship of the,committee, which is a distinct loss to the school district.

I Mr. Lionel Harvie (not "Hawie," as printed in Monday's issue) is the as-sistant-clergyman in the Holy Trinity | parish. A Stratford man tells a story of a | friend of his who bought a blasting outfit recently. There were a hundred detonators in the outfit, and the parcel con-' taming these got damp. He put the parcel on the kitchen stove to dry. There was a roaring fire, but the family's lucky star was in the ascendant. These detonators, had they exploded, would have exerted a pressure of 60001b to the square inch. Wasn't he in luck? Mr. J. D. Healy, president of-the Stratford A. and P. Association, told the Daily News reporter at Stratford yesterday that he had given instructions that the result of the dairy farm competition, inust not J>e,divulged, until,, opened; [aijd considered by the committee. The next meeting of the .executive, is fixed for. Friday, but a special meeting may be called if necessary to deal with this matter.

" the electors!" That|s what a Borough Council candidate said when asked yesterday if he intended addressing the electors through the News col-' umns. Judging from the replies received from sundry others, one might be excused for stating that few, if any, of them are really anxious to secure a seat at the Council table. In future it might be as well Sot the Mayor to call a meeting of' burgesses, as Mayor Browne did in New Plymouth, with a view of arousing interest in municipal matters generally. Miss '• Ella -Sangster, one of the best young amateur vocalists in Taranaki, the ..possessor of an unusually rich contralto voice, has gone to Wellington for tuition in singing. For years the word "Pollock's" was well known right through Taranaki to' men who knew and required good vehicles. The old-established business conducted under that name was about a year ago purchased by the Egmont Coach and Carriage Company, of which Mr. Chas. Martin is the manager. The reputation for good work is even brighter to-day. There can be no doubt that Mr. Martin has in charge of the various;-de-partments men who know most that is to be known about their business, and proof of this can always be found by a visit to the firm's factory in Page street. The latest product of the works is a stylish butterfly-wing gig, finished in the natural wood, and fitted with all that is most up-to-date for the comfort of the occupants. Added to this the word "reliability" can be seen in the workmanship throughout.