"OUR DAY."

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1917, Page 6

"OUR DAY."

.WEST END SCHOOL CHILDREN'S EFFORT. AT ICAWAROA 'PARK. The threatening weather yesterday morning kept many away from the West End School fete, in aid of the Red Cross Funds, at Kawaroa Park, but as the day brightened up about noon, parents and friends of the school rolled up well, and the afternoon's attendance was quite satisfactory. Needless to say, the school children were undeterred by black clouds, and were at the park in full strength. The day's program'me was well organised, and events and displays were all got off to time, with the result that the fete was kept alive and bright from the first race in the morning till the finals of the ball competitions and displays late in the afternoon. Tlie staff of the school deserve high praise for their hard work in drilling the youngsters up to display standard, and their successful organisation of the fete as a whole.

From 11 to 1.30 children's races were run off under the supervision of tho school committee. Big fields and enthusiasm were the rulings in every race, and most of the events had to be run off in two or three heats.

The four stalls did very good business, and well before closing time, had sold out. The fancy stall, in the charge of Mrs. Smart and Miss Mynott, assisted by Misses Miles and Janiieson, was well stocked with fancy and useful sew. ing nick-nacks, etc.. and was an attractive display. Mesdames Honeyfield and Pellew had a busy day at the sweets stall, where a big stock of home-made sweets and plain and fancy cakes was quickly disposed of. The small boy has never yet willingly passed by the soft drinks stall, and the latter, under the supervision of Messrs T. Petty and Gaylard, was very popular all day. Th( senior boys of the school ran the produce stall, which they had organised themselves, and did good business in disposing of all sorts of vegetables, seedlings, and produce, in big and little parcels.

The laoies' committee of the Kawaroa Foreshore Society, under Mrs. Oliver, was kept very busy dispensing aiternoon tea and refreshments in the Bungalow. Hot water was supplied free to those who brought their own supplies. Competitions run by the various stall holders brought in a good sum, and resulted as follows: Cot and doll, donated by Mr. T. 'Petty, Mr. G. Simmonils; iced cake, donated by Mr. .Tefferies, Mr. D. Begg; iced cake, donated by Mr. Angus, Mrs. W. Marr; pup. donated by Will Syme, Mrs. Cock; basket of sweets, do l nated by Miss Anthony, Miss I. Anthony; camisole top, donated by Mrs. Peacli. Mr. C. Russell; Mr. J. G. Russell. DRILL DISPLAYS.

The hard work put in by the children's instructors was well rewarded by the highly creditable displays made by the pupils in the afternoon. The squads under Mr. 0. J. Howarth made an especially fine showing, the children being thoroughly conversant with their work, and the displays very spectacular. An elaborate flag march was carried out by standards 4 and 5, and later in the afternoon the same squad gave an effective display of flag drill. Each child was provided with a flag, and the changing grouping of colore, as different formations were taken up, was decidedly picturesque. Mr. Howarth also had charge of standards V and VI. when the boys gave a creditable exhibition of pyramid building. The pupils of standard 11. Under Miss Bullard, went through some intricate maze running quite successfully, and the girls of standard 111, instructed by Miss Anthony, came in for well-deserved applause for their wand drill. The overhead and underhand bail games, umpired by Mr. E. Bary, were keenly contested. These are two of the organised competitive games provided for in the physical drill syllabus for the public schools. The girls' competition was won by the team captained by Rita Jensen, and the squad under L. Sturmey led for the boys. In the play-off the girls proved too good for their opponents, and won by a narrow margin. The underhand game, standards 4, 5 and 8 boys, was won by John Robinson's team, fairly easily. Mrs. Moverley's orchestra played throughout the afternoon, and helped very materially in brightening up the fete.

A (lance in the Bungalow in the evenin? was a pleasant ending to a successful day's work. About 40 coirples were on the floor, and dancing was kept up till an early hour, the music being supplied by Misses Rita Sole and I. Hurst. The day's takings amounted to £SO, and this amount will be handed to the Red Cross committee, to swell the "Our Day" funds. COLLECTIONS IN THE EMPIEE. Anstralian-N.Z. Cable Association. London, Oct. 21. Exclusive of street collections £706.000 was received by the Red Cross for "Our Day" collections, including £509 from the Dominions and Egypt. Mr. A, B. Gibson, secretary ol the local Red Cross branch, has received a cheque for £SO, the amount collected at Rahotu towards the "Our Day" funds.