LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There is a probability that one of the teachers from Canada, who are being sent to New Zealand for twelve months in exchange with teachers from New Zealand, will be appointed to a New Plymouth school.

There will be no breaking-up ceremony in connection with the Fitzroy school this year, but the chairman of the school committee (Rev. J. F. Martin) states that the annual prize-dis-tribution will take place on the reassembly of the school in February, When it is also proposed to hold a picnic at Ngaere Gardens. The school closes down for the year at the end of this week.

A plot of lucerne for demonstration purposes has just been sown at Oakura under tlie supervision of Mr. Glasson, of the Agricultural Department. The plot, which consists of an acre and a half, is on the property of Mr. G. H. Ben, alongside the main road, and will be in full view of farmers travelling to and from town. No doubt, in view of its importance as a fodder, and the success achieved in South Taranaki, its growth will be watched with great inI terest. P>ogandra Cures Corns Quickly. 1/6. ( Barraclough’s Nervine stops Tooth129

The price of butter has been reduced 2d in Auckland, and first grade is now 1/10. —Press Assn.

The Education Board has been advised that owing to the present, unfavorable conditions it has been decided not to extend the compulsory school age to 15 during the year 1922. ’ The Education Board yesterday granted permission to Miss S. Paterson to have a collection taken up in the schools of New Plymouth and its environs in aid of the save the children fund.

A good record for school attendance has been put up by a boy named Walter Thomas Taylor, who has attended the Matiere School for six years without a break. The board decided to send him a certificate- recording the fact. Probably-, with a view to economy, the Education Department has decided that instead of having candidates for appointment as pupil teachers examined by local doctors these pupil teachers shall be examined by the board’s own medical officers. Male applicants in the Taranaki, Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay districts are to be examined by Dr. Henderson, of Hamilton,, and as there will probably be at most half a dozen applicants, it looks like proving false economy. In reply to a letter from the Taranaki Education Board asking that every endeavor would be made to continue the payment of subsidies on voluntary contributions as heretofore, a communication was received from the Director of Education stating that the Minister was very anxious that the policy of payment of subsidies should not be altered in principle, but the position he had taken up had been forced upon him by the existing financial conditions. The ease of Ripene v. Rangitaniwha, a wages claim for £496 which was to be heard at the present sessions of the Supreme Court, in New Plymouth, is to be settled by arbitration, according to a statement by counsel yesterday morninf7-. A settlement was also announced in the divorce petition, Arthur Cradock v. Jane E. Cradock. The jury cases will be disposed of with the hearing of the claim for £llBl 13s 2d by Jesse Simmons v. Ernest A. ard and Eliza A. Ward. The case will be commenced this morning.

The Patea freezing works is now in full working order, putting through from a thousand to eleven hundred sheep and lambs per day. So far mostly lambs are being killed on owners’ account, and judging from those the writer had an opportunity of examining recently, some very fine carcases will go forward to the English markets. A good many of the wethers were pn the heavy side, but owners must get rid of this stock and take the risk of overweight.—Star.

At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, Mr. A. Lees drew attention to the very fine effort made by the Ilawera and Tawhiti school committees in raising a sum of over £l5OO to carry out improvements to the school grounds, as outlined to the board some time ago. The matter had been very enthusiastically 'taken up, and the result of the activity would mean a considerable saving to the Government or Education Department. On his motion, seconded by Mr. Eaves, it was resolved to congratulate the committees on the very successful result of the recent eai - nival, whereby the sum of approximately *.1400 had been raised for improvements in connection with their school grounds. The chairman remarked that this great effort, as well as efforts made by other schools, showed the great interest taken by .people generally in educational matters.

In connection with the Education Board’s protest regarding the proposed reduction of organising teachers, the chief inspector of primary schools wrote that the department was fully cognisant, of the great value the services of the organising teachers are to the schools in the remote parts of the country, and would be glad to be in the position to increase rather than reduce the staff. At the present time it was imperative a reduction mujst be effected. At some future date the department would be o-lad to consider any representations the board might have to make regarding an increase, and in the meantime the reduction of the staff from four to two should be effected as speedily as possible.

speaking at the Education Board meeting yesterday, the chairman (Mr. p. J. H. White) considered that some of the economies being effected were likely to seriously curtail primary e( l u ’ cation, and on his motion, seconded by Mr. Trimble, it was resolved that the board is of opinion that during this time of financial stringency, when curtailment of expediture is seriously affecting progress in many branches o education is taking place, it is necessary that a minimum standard should be established below which no reduction should be made which will interfere with efficiency, and we suggest to the Minister that such minimum standard should be a competency -ass for stanuard six or tuition until the pupil has reached, the age of fifteen years.

Parents and friends of the Central School. New Plymouth, are invited to attend the hreaking-up ceremony to-day, at Courtenay Street at 10.30 a.m., and at the Central School at 2.30 p.m. The annual concert of the Technical Collem- pupils to-night should prove a distinct success, and there is every indication of a crowded house at. the Workers’ Social Hall. The programme is a most varied one, and should not tail to please everyone. The opening number is a scene from “As lou Like It, and the actresses in appropriate costume do justice to their parts. The remainder' of the programme includes some lively massed choruses, several solo neml boys’ and girls’ drill, and some artistic dances. A great deal of work has been put into these, and they are carried through in a highly freditable manner. A special feature will be the various colored dresses used in the songs and dances. Orchestral music is being provided by ■ members of the stall and school We feel sure, that coneert-goeis will appreciate the entertainment being put on for them by the school. The breaking-up ceremony -is to be held, in the afternoon at 3 o clock .and an ex hibition of work at 2. Afternoon tea is being provided by the girls of the school.

During the next few days residents of Inglewood will have an opportunr y of viewing the wonderful model of the famous Strasburg clock in the I tins i Hall The clock model is a marvellous piece of machinery. The exhibition is open every afternoon from 2 till 5, and evening from 7 till 10 p.m. It is not claimed that “Fairy Wonder washing powder is a miracle worker 'rhe contention, however, that it na> abolished the old-time drudgery and cut the cost and labor of wash-day in hair is conceded by every fair-minded housewife. Also it preserves the softness ot the hands and is e-tremely pleasant to use. Ask for “Fairy.' Stocked every-

“Nearly 100,000 people were killed last year by accidents in America. If the rate continues to increase, maybe after a while we \yon’t have to have any wars,” says Life. In view of the house shortage at Christiania, it is proposed to place the town churches at the disposal of famine’s. The fishing season at Lake Taupo is evidently going to be a wonderful one from the sportman’s point of view, as the fish already caught this season are of a very large size and in splendid condition. Ten burglaries took place in the suburbs of Sydney one day recently and one in the city. In one case a thief stole a perambulator left outside a shop while its owner was buying goods. The Waikato Times is informed that so far the registered peak load from the Hora Hora works is 5100 horsepower. The capacity of the works is 6300 horse-power. It is expected that with the coupling up of the dried milk factories and other big consumers at the beginning of the new year, the Hora Hora works will be working to their full capacity.

“The house is one of six rooms, and there is ample room for us all,” said a defendant in a possession case heard at Lower Hutt Court the other day. “The plaintiff, his wife, and two children occupy two rooms, his brother another, and rayself, yvife and five children whose ages range from 18 years downwards, two of the rooms, with the use of the kitchen. The premises are kept clean and in a sanitary condition, and I do not see any reason, why 1 should leave.” The defendant was given fourteen days in which to find other premises for his wife and family. Primary school committees, remarked Mr. Lees at the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, were under some misapprehension regarding donations to the school sports. They could not understand why the bbard could make donations to technical school sports funds while any donation to primary school sports had to be subscribed by the people themselves. He pointed out that the regulations had permitted the board to make donations to sports funds of technical schools, but not to primary schools. However, during the financial stringency this had been cut out, bringing technical schools into line wiizii primary schools. The chairman pointed out that the Education Board was practically the governing body as regarded the technical school.

The Taranaki Education Board yesterday decided that the terms for the New Plymouth Technical College, Stratford Technical High School and Hawera Technical High School' next year should be from February 7 to May 5, May 30 to August 25, and September 19 to December 15.

A good day’s outing is promised those who attend the picnic and sports to be held at the Frankleigh Domain on Saturday. All sorts of amusements are being provided, including a baby show. Afternoon tea will be obtainable, whilst picknikers should note that hot water will be provided free. For the benefit of townspeople, motor lorries will leave the Daily News corner at intervals throughout the day for the domain.

At the Haymarket on Friday morning next, Newton King, Ltd., will sell 4000/ 5000 feet of good timber, in convenient lots.