STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1921, Page 6

STRATFORD.

STRATFORD AGENCY. Advertisements and items of news for publication in tte Taranaki Daily News should be left at the office of our local representatives, Wilson Bros., Broadway, Stratford. Or decs for papers may also be left with them. ST. MARY’S SCHOOL. SPEECH DAY CEREMONY. November 19. The annua] speech day ceremony in connection with the St. Mary’s School, Stratford, was held on Saturday on the lawn in front of the school in beautiful weather. The function was to have been postponed on account of the illness of the principal, Miss Stanford, but at her wish it was decided to hold it. There was a large attendance of parents and friends and the function was most successful in every way. Mr. W. H. H. Young, who introduced the various speakers, expressed the pleasure that was felt at the presence of His Lordship, Bishop Averill, and of Archdeacon Eyans. He apologised on behalf of the Rev. Castle and Messrs. Porritt and Budge for their absence, and thanked the clergy and those present for their support. They had had a very successful year from a teaching point of view and had managed to make ends meet financially. He was sorry that Miss Stanford was not able to be present. She was the central star around which their success was evolved, and she had been ably backed up by her sister, Miss Constance Stanford. The other members of the staff—Misses Rhodes, Bates and Dudham—had also done excellent work and they regretted that the latter lady was retiring from the teaching profession. The Board of Governors had done its best to further the interests of the school.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT. ''The Rev. C. W. Howard read Miss Stanford’s report, which stated: “This is the seventh year of St. Mary’s School and, I suppose, the sixth speech day, and it is satisfactory to be able to state that this term, in spite of the general depression, our numbers have x reached their highest, and our boarding accommodation is quite full. The work and scholarship throughout the year has been quite satisfactory, and mistresses and girls have done keen, good work The result of various examinations we shall not know until near Christmas, but in the St. John’s first aid class, which Dr .Will Gordon, was kind enough to instruct, ten St. Mary's girls obtained the'ir certificates and Doreen Oldham obtained the highest marks in the town. In the musical examinations all the St. Mary’s girls were successful For the Trinity College two girls sat for the senior grade. Both passed, and one. Anita Riera, obtained honors and the medal for the highest marks for the Stratford centre. Six girls sat for the various grades of the Royal Academy, and all were successful. Miss Rhodes. 8.A., joined the staff at the beginning of the year and has proved an efficient teacher. I regret to say that we are to lose the services of Miss Dudham at the end of the year. Her excellent discipline, successful teaching and delightful personality will leave a great - blank in the school. I think I have secured the services of a lady as junior mistress for next year who holds her kindergarten diplomas, so wc shall bo able to take quite young children. I would like particularly to thank Miss Bates for the many hours she has unselfishly given up from her nominal off duty time to the games and other interests of the girls. It is mainly due to her kindly help that the girls have so keenly enjoyed the'ir basket-ball matches. ’ They have beaten New Plymouth High Schoo! A team, Stratford High School A and B teams, and Eltham A team, and ended up the season by winning a hard fought match against the Bathers.” This year the old girls of the school have generously donated a silver rose bowl for the senior championship at the annual sports and it was won last year by Alice Webster. Tae boarders have taken great interest in their gardens this year. Almost every girl had had her own plot of ground in which fihe grows flowers and vegetables promiscuously, and we hope to have a chrysanthemum show in April.

GIRLS AND THE HOME. •‘Last year I spoke, to the girls on home life and the high privilege they should consider it at the end of their school davs if they were able to spend at least a year at ’home helping their mothers before taking up any outside work. The girls of New Zealand are particularly important just now. They will be the home-makers of the future, and it is in their power to do much for the future of their own country. To the parents J make my annual plea to leave me your girls as long as you possibly can. As a result of the war the social problems are very terrible just now and a girl leaving school at 14, 15 or 16 has no I real stability of character and a quite i natural keen desire * for pleasure, for ; which she usually looks outside her own I home. I feel sure that if a girl, eith r ' day scholar or boarder, were allowed to remain longer at school their characters would be more fully, formed and they : would be more able to withstand the temptations that assail them. Mr. Valentine, the senior inspector, visited St. Mary’s a short time ago. He gives a satisfactory report of the school, and concluded by saying “The training of character imparled by the school is of the best and the general conditions of life are Such as to exercise a fine influence for good on the girls affected by them. The discipline of the school is excellent and a very fine tone prevails in every class.” The Rev. Howard also mentioned that the girls were taking a great interest in missionary work in the island of Tonga, and a. native school which was being starte<l in Tonga was named St. Mary’s, after the Stratford institution. Mr. T. ( . Fookes, on behalf of the parents of the pupils, expressed the regret at The absence of Miss Stanford. They all appreciated the services of the staff that was associated with Miss Stanford and the school was a splendid one in every way. The conduct of the "iris was remarkable and the wonderful appreciation and devotion they showed at the church services was eloquent of splendid discipline, and a great credit to the pupils. , . n a Archdeacon Evans briefly addressed tne children. Bishop Averill said that he was very sorry Miss Stanford was away. He claimed to have a little to do with gettin" Miss Stanford to take over St. Mary’s. He. had suggested that she should leave her school at New Plymouth to go to- Stratford. He con<rratulated the Board of Governors on acquisition of a further portion of

land. It was extremely statesmanlike of them. They had looked into the future and seen that the St. Mary’s School was going to be one of the great public schools of this Dominion, and therefore it was most important that sufficient land should be obtained. During Show Week you should not miss the opportunity of getting some of those splendid shilling writing pads from Wilson Bros., Stationers, Stratford The cabinets of notepaper and envelopes at 1/6 and 1/9 will probably interest you too. Ask to see them. Don’t forget the address—opposite P.A.C. Auction Mart.