OPUNAKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1921, Page 6

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The school holidays have commenced. On Thursday and* Friday the usual ceremonies were held at the Road, Arawhata Road and Te Kiri. The concerts were held in the school rooms and public halls, the children taking the principal parts. It is always an interesting time in the life of the scholars, the teachers and parents doing their best to make it a red letter day. At the Opunake Convent the Rev. Father Doolaghty addressed the scholars, wishing them an, enjoyable time during the festive season. Prizes were distributed to the winners in each class for special merit in Christian doctrine. The Opunake public school concert on Friday evening wa-s especially good. The item ' The Burlesque Band,” was a typical boys’ song and they put a good deal of enthusiasm into the singing dnd actions. “Twinkle Little Stars,” by the junior girls, was a pretty musical 'item. The programme given was as follows: Pianoforte duet, Mrs. H. J. and Miss Newman; “Men of Harlech,” senior pupils; recitation, “Pansy and Daffodils,” by seven little girls; “Hush-a-bye” lullaby, Standards 1 and 2; foursome reel, by four lasses (D. Clouston, B. Ross, V. Langton.. J. Kirk) ; recitation, “I would not be a Boy,” infant class; song, “When the Evening Falls,” Standards 4, 5 and 6, a good item, the voices being ranged to represent the sound of a tolling bell: sword dance. Willie Watt; recitation, “A Boy’s Pocket” (full of oddities); pianoforte solo, Miss D. Sinclair; song. “Dreamy Alabama,” by Standards ] and 6: recitation, “Three. Bears,” by infant classes; Highland Fling. Mrs. D. Clouston; soldiers’ song, by infant class; recitation. “Six Little Maids,” Standards 1 and 3; double sword dance, Bonnie Ross and Jean Kirk; wand drill, senior girls, a very pretty item; bagpipe march. Mr. W. McLeod; “Barefoot Trail.” standards 1 and 6. The chairman of the committee, Mr. T. P. Hughson, thanked the audience for their attendance and the children for the -quality of the pr - —amme rendered, and all those who assisted to make the concert a success. The teachers were complimented on the past year’s success of the school, including the late head teacher (Mrs. \V. J. Wright).' The ' committee had •done a good deal of improvements to the 'ground and intended to continue the improvements during the recess, such as laying down tennis courts and croquet greens. The attendance had shown an increase, the average being 120. If this is maintained for one year the school would be entitled to another teacher. He urged parents to maintain, or, better still, increase this average. The head teacher (Mr. Crow) had offered to in- ; H ■ ’e a standard 7 syllabus, and if suffiaup;i> attend it means raising the i standard of the school to that of a high ■ school. The committee had something j like £l5O in hand, which would be spent jin improvements, and to-carry out the proposals indicated it would probably mean coming back to the public for fur ther assistance. The concert would realise about £l4. Everyone seems busy in the district. Teamsters are daily carting in firewood for factories, dairymen with their milking plants are bringing in the “golden harvest,” and on all sides the pc- ’? seem desirous to “push ahead” before the Christmas holidays.