LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Mails which left Wellington on May 31, per s.s. Tahiti, via San Francisco, arrived at London on July 5.

A Press message from Auckland states that the Ruahine’s immigrants are a good type of assisted settlers, mainly for Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury. They include 39 domestics. The southerners leave by train to-night.

The Education Department has circularised the various boards stating that time spent by school children in receiving dental treatment may be counted as attendance at school, subject to tile necessary authority being produced by the pupil. Intimation to this effect was given by the Senior Inspector (Mr. J. A. Valentine) at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Education Board. The Taranaki Education Board at yesterday’s meeting instructed the architect to furnish estimates of the cost of remodelling the Central School. In moving a resolution to this effect, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., stressed the necessity for some relief being afforded at the school. Possibly the architect would be able to suggest a remedy, but in any case it would be agreed that it was not desirable the existing state of affairs should continue.

Buyers of drapery are having a feast at the Melbourne’s great Midwinter Sale. For instance: 40-inch nurse cloth, 1/11; 16-dnch linen towelling, 1/3; white silk, 3/9 yard; Hollins’ famous 36-inch calico, pure and strong, 1/6 yard; tenquarter mareella quilts, 19/6; elevenquarter size in better quality, 27/6; lovely, white damwek, 4/6 yapA

Arising out of the demand for extra accommodation at Fitzroy School, the Taranaki Education Board at yesterday's meeting instructed the architect to prepare plans for lining and heating the gymnasium to make it habitable as a class-room. Application is to be made to the department for a grant to cover the cost. When the matter was brought before the Minister of Education on his visit to New Plymouth, he indicated that he could not approve of expenditure for additions at present, but would be prepared to grant a sum for the conversion of the gymnasium to a temporary classroom.

A communication from the Education Department was read at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Boat'd asking that the fullest publicity be given to the section in the Education Act relating to deaf children in public schools:— ‘’Every parent, teacher of a school (either public or private), constable or officer of a charitable or kindred institution who is aware of the place of residence (either temporary or permanent) of a blind, deaf, feeble-minded or epileptic child, and the householder in whose house any such child resides, shall send, notification of the fact to the Minister giving the name, age and address of the child; and if any such person neglects or fails to comply with this provision such person shall on conviction thereof be liable to a fine, not exceeding one pound, or in the case of a second, or subsequent offence, whether relating to the same or another child, not exceeding five pounds.” The board decided to circularise committees and teachers on the question.

A report was received by the Taranaki Education Board at yesterday’s meeting to the effect that the Hawera Technical High School building way now completed, the installation of special fittings and furniture only remaining to be done. The work was done by the board’s staff, under the direction of The architect (Mr. C. H. Moore), at a cost which represents nearly £3OOO less than the original lowest tender received, and this feature was the subject of some complimentary remarks by members of the board. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., said the position was very satisfactory, and it showed that the boaras system was economical, and also an expeditious one, as the Stratford School, which was commenced almoat as soon, was still in coruse of construction. He said the board and the department were saved a considerable sum of money, and the children of the Hawera district would be enabled to get into their new school within a short time now.

The position of private schools was dealt with by the senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Valentine) in the course of a report to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. He stated: “The board’s attendance officer having asked my opinion as to the attendance of children at certain private schools in New Plymouth, I have to report to the bo_rd, in accordance with advice from the department, that I have learned that there are in New Plymouth certain private schools that are unregistered. It is now the board’s duty to take steps to ascertain from the controlling authority of each of these schools whether it is intended to have the school registered. If re-

gistration is desired proper application should be made to the department by the teacher or controlling authority. If (hose in charge of the schools do not seek to have thorn registered, it remains for the board to exercise the powers conferred upon it by the clauses of the Education Act, 1914, which refer to compulsory attendance.”

“The first event which seems to call for notice,’ slated the annual report of the Maori Mission Committee to the Wellington Diocesan Synod, “is the resignation of the Rev. A. Cji. Williams, who for 36 years superintended the work, for the first part of the time in the Taranaki-Wanganui-Rangitikei and Wairarapa districts, and for the past 17 years in the whole diocese. When, the late superintendent began his work, the mission was still suffering from what seemed like the death-blow of the Maori wars. In the whole district lying between Palmerston and New Plymouth there were only four places where the natives would tolerate a Christian service; and it was not too much to say that the fact that for the past 20 or 25 years regular services have been maintained, and the Lords Supper administered to companies of confirmed communicants in the thirty different settlements lying between Patea. and Palmerston, is mainly the result of his work.”

Comment on the progress of medical inspection of school children was made by Dr. Elizabeth Gunn in the course of some remarks before the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. Dr. Gunn, who is the medical officer for the Wanganui and Taranaki districts, waited on the board seeking their co-operation, and in. cidentally remarked that the opposition of some of the parents to have their children examined had not yet been overcome. She thanked the board for the interest taken in the work up to the present, and stated that the results of the institution of tooth-brush drill had absolutely astonished her. In reply to a question, Dr. Gunn said that a big percentage of the schools had taken up this drill and much of the success hart been due to the co-operation of teachers. Tiie chairman of the board (Mr. P. J.. H. White), in, reply, thanked Dr. Gunn for her review of the work being carried out and said the board were pleased to associate themselves with the movement.

U'renui residents will notice in this issue that the returned soldiers’ ball takes place on Thursday, July 21, in the Town Hall.

The people of the Omata district are still taking a keen interest in memorial matters. A site for a permanent memorial has been selected at the corner of the Omata Church, at the junction of the Main South Road and Waireke Road. The historic old church and Waireka associations make this a very appropriate site for a soldiers’ memorial. The, total cost will be in the vicinity of £2OO, and at a recent meeting held in the hall over £4O was promised. A grand social and dance will be held to-night to further this object, which is worthy of the support of the whole district.

The adjourned meeting of shareholders of the Blenheim Oil Company will be held at Mr. Vai. Duff's office at 4. p.m. this afternoon.

Ladies, don’t waste time experimenting with inferior washing compounds. If you want satisfaction plus economy, and saving of labor, ask your grocer for a packet of “Fairy Wonder,” and see that you get it. All reputable grocers stock “Fairy.” A preliminary of Messrs. Gilbert Bro©.’ sale appears in our auction columns. This sale should attract particular attention, as the vendors have always farmed on thorough lines, and kept only the best of everything. Full particulars of the sale will appear in. later icuiMAa.