STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 309, 22 May 1913, Page 3

STRATFORD NEWS.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE The monthly meeting of the Stratford High School Committee was held on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs. P. Skoglund (chairman), T. C'. Fookes, E. W. Hancock, J. McMillan, J. W. Jones, S. Clark, E. Jackson, and J. Staples. HEADMASTER'S REPORT. The headmaster, Mr. F. Tyrcr, reported: The average attendance at .the school for the current quarter up to February last was 513 in the pramary and 125 in the secondary department—--638 for the whole school. This attendance was 85 per. cent, of the number •on.'the registers, and' was as high as should reasonably be expected during such weather as had been experienced during the last four weeks. A few cases of prolonged irregular attendance were being dealt with by the truant officer. The term holidays were to be taken next week from the 20th May to the '22 nd June, and' the school would re-open on the latter date, closing again on the '3rd June for the King's Birthday. , i V 'l must again refer to the fyct," continued Mr. 'fryer, "that tnlr phiygrouMs are too small. In line weather the I girls' 'ho«key and the boys' football games take most of the senior girls and bovs over to the Victoria Park during the recess, and the schoolgrounds are left to the smaller children. On Hvet days, however, all the scholars are confined to the school premises. Play J then becomes practically impossible, and however careful the bigger children are, and however well their games are supervised, little ones get hurt. The last few weeks' rough weather has strongly I emphasised the necessity of providing us with more room."

For the first time for many years the school was working with full staffs in both school departments, and the work of the whole school was proceeding in a satisfactory manner. In one or two divisions of the primary school, the work being done was of a very high standard. In the secondary department, owing to the appointment at the beginning of the year of an additional teacher, they had been able to re-arrange the whole work, so that greater attention could be given to special subjects, and more time devoted to the studies of the advanced pupils. The floor of the porch in the infant room needed attention during the winter holidays. H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND.

A special jneeting of the committee will be convened a few days before the visit of H.M.S. New Zealand to New Plymouth to make final arrangements for the excursion. THOSE STOVES.

The chairman reported on the result of his representations to the Board concerning the stoves installed in the new brick building. He' said that both the chairman ami Mr. Kennedy had promised to visit the school on the in st cold day, in order to see for themselves to what extent the stoves were of use or otherwise.

Members wondered to what depth the 1 mercury must fall before a cold (i»y, in the opinion of the projected visitors, was recorded. One member wondered whether it would become necessary to doie the school in order to enforce the protest against the present utterly inadequate so-called heating arrangements.-. 'We can't keep the children there if they are to freeze," he added. THE PLAYGROUND. Discussing Mr. Tryer's report, the chairman pointed out that the vliole position had been laid before the Prime Minister and the Hon. Minister r.f Public Works recently, and those Ministers had promised that the whole matter would be looked into. They had informed the .Ministers of the steps taken to have the playground <uhhd to, end lie only reply received had been to' tie effect that the committee's suggestion to pay £3O a year for a new horse paddock was impracticable. But that was i.ever mention 7 " l v the committee, uvt he (Mr. Skogland), did not knew tow the Education Department hixd got nold of such an idea. Tt was decided to write direct to (he Minister of Education on the mattsr, mentioning that lias colleagues were fully seized of the facts, and forwarding an extract from the head-master's report.

GENERAL. It was decided to afix liars to the windows of the shelter shed, inside and outside, to minimise the cost of school football. The Kgmont Coach and' Carriage Co.'s price for the work was accepted. The visiting' committee reported that, as had been anticipated by the Board, the '■unique' stove in tilts infant school smoked badly during southerly weather, and on some days this had been so bad as to cause the fire to be extinguished. Southerly weather being the cold weather, application hud been made to the Board two or three times to have the defect remedied, but nothing had Lccn done. In the prospect of a further supply of cold southerlies, the committee decided to have the chimney lengthened at once and to ask the Board to bear the expense.

The caret\ker aske.l for the installation of electric light in some of the rooms, to enable the sweeping and cleaning to be properly done. At present, he said, the school was dark before he could get the work through. Referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs. McMillan and Smart, to investigate pml with power to act . The same committee will deal with the matter of the guttering, whose overflow had flooded one of the lavatories.

THE MOUNTAIN HOUSE j The east Egmont mountain house came in for more condemnation yesterday at the Stratford. County Council meeting. The matter cropped lip quite accidentally. Members were being asked if there were any pressing new road requirements in their respective ridings for inclusion in the schedule that the engineer was preparing, with a view of applying for Government grants. •'Now, then. (,'r. llogers," said a fellow member, ''now's your chance. Don't you want a grant for the road to the mountain house?" Another member ejaculated: "Yes. Tourists. You can get a road for tourists." A pause. ''Tourists!" ejaculated another. '"You'll have to have a lire up there before you can get tourists along. The place has gone back. You can't tell whether the table's red pine, black pine, dirty pine or what. The surroundings' are disgraceful. They talk about a gate—it would take two men to open it." Quoth another: "Cr. Kogers is our representative.' Ami another: "The worst of it is that he's got a dead-and-alive member to work with." Then the principal speaker went on: "They charged me Uvo bob to go up. I don't know what .or. I wouldn't mirnl paying money if there was anv decent accommodation for it." The reference to Mr. Bogers' colleague was not called for, nor was it just. Mr. K. McK. Morrison is the only representative on the committee who seems to take any active interest in the affairs of the house. There is little won-

FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTER. Office""and Job Printing Works: Next N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co., Broadway. Telephone No. 113.

idor if lio is becoming disheartened by the frequent criticisms and infrequent offers to help. j STRAY PARAGRAPHS ; At yesterday's meeting of the Strat- ( ford County Council, Mr. Clias. Penn, the I County Clerk, was granted his annual [ leave as frojn Saturday next, and' the I chairman expressed the hope that Mr. | Penn would have an enjoyable holiday. | The tempestuous weather failed to keep members away from Tuesday night's meeting of the school committee, only one failing to answer to his name. But the effect of the stormy climatic conditions on the discussions vas marked. The' committee was emphatic on the need for better heating arrangements in the brick scliool and 1 better draught for the stove in the infant department, and when a steamer excursion from Moturoa to H.M.S. New Zealand somewhere in New Plymouth roadstead was mentioned, the committeemen speculated' on the chances of "our gift" being successfully tendered. Anyhow, final arrangements for the. trip will no.t -be made jet; awMe: f Thb choir of the Holy Trinity Chu'Tch almost i drew a blank in the matter of 'weather for the social on Tuesday night, but still the attendance was good. Dane-, Ing'-effectually settled the climate for the nonce, Mr. Richardson (with Mrs. Mariscll and Miss King for "extras") being the pianist, and Mr. E. H. Kivcll, M.C. Miss Prentia' and Master E. Blade won the first and booby prizes respectively in the progressive euchre tournament. Miss Gladys Black's song was excellently received. Mr. Johnston, the station'master at Te Wera, has been promoted to Waverler. The'demilnd'for good printing is still good, aid the "Daily News" printing of-' fice is doing its best to satisfy .the demand. Repeat orders prove the satisfaction of the clients of the branch. j

Footballers are talking about the "rent win tlie Senior fifteen scored on Thursday last, and wondering about their chances in the next match, but the greatest wonder is the value that is to be had in overcoats at Mullen and Marshall's. They are showing coats to. keep you warm and coats to keep you drv, in the latest styles and colors.' Mr. S. Sharp, who 'managed Mr. C. E. James' halrdressing and shaving saloon throughout the whole of its successful career, has bought the business and moved the whole of the up-to-date fittings of the saloon to convenient premises almost immediately opposite, where he will be pleased to welcome old customers and new. Complete fresh stock of smokers' sundries.*