MATERNITY HOME FOR HAWERA.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1926, Page 2

MATERNITY HOME FOR HAWERA.

HOSPITAL BOARD’S PROPOSAL. UTILISING THE OLD BUILDING. “I do not thing there will be anything done much before the January meeting of the board, but it is the board’s intention to go on with the scheme as soon as possible,” said Mr. A. L. Campbell, chairman of the Hawera Hospital Board, when questioned about the proposal made at the last meeting of the board to utilise part of the old hospital building as a maternity home. Mr. Campbell said the change over to the new hospital would take place about the middle of January, and it would then be the board’s business to go into the question of the old building. It had been decided that the inmates of the Old People's Home would occupy the present men’s ward at the old hospital, and it might be necessary to partition the ward off into small cubicles or rooms for this purpose. The old hospital building would probably be divided into two sections, said Mr. Campbell. The suggestion was that two wards situated at the north-east end of the building should be used as a maternity home, controlled and operated by the Hospital Board and tinder the supervision of the medical superintendent. In the event of the women’s and children’s wards being utilised as a maternity home, there would be comparatively few alterations to be carried out and the whole scheme could be put into effect at a very small cost. At present this section of the hospital has accommodation for about 25 patients. It is pleasingly situated and is in excellent repair, and is more or less permanent, being constructed of brick and concrete. Mr. Campbell stated yesterday that the question would probably be definitely decided by the board at its meeting in January.

ENCOURAGING SCHOOL SPORTS. NOVEL SYSTEM ADOPTED. In order to encourage the children, especially the girls, attending the Hawera Main School to take an active interest in sports as a means of developing them physically and mentally, Mr. F. A. Bates lias adopted the novel and effective idea of dividing the children, both boys and girls, into “elans” or groups on the “house” system adopted at many colleges. At present the school is divided into four clans, the Tui, Weka, Kiwi and Moa clans, and this system has created a healthy rivalry on the playing fields. Throughout the past three months during which the scheme has been in operation, all matches played count for points for the clans, and, at intervals, matches are arranged between the clans. In the hall at the school is a chart showing the position of each clan to which a special colour Is allotted, and as a elan wins points so that clan’s colour appearing on the chart is moved along the wall. The elan system, stated Mr. Bates, meant that each child was given several /matches in which to compete each week, whereas previously many children did riot get the opportunity of encouraging not get the opportunity of engaging in matches. Each clan also had as captains a boy and a girl and. the clan captains were taking great interest in encouraging those- under them. Mr. Bates explained that the scheme was as yet only in its preliminary stages, but it had been a great success. It had really been inaugurated to encourage the girls in different classes of sports, since they had previously not been taking much interest in sports. They were now even keener than the boys. The elan system was also followed in s imming. The school was entering four teams in the Dixon Banner contests. A special sports meeting was organised and held on Wednesday and yesterday at the school, when a large number of events was held and the programme was divided into junior and senior events. No handicaps were given. The teachers acted as officials and the sports were very successful. ATHLETIC CLUB INTERESTS. There is a possibility of the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club holding a big road cycle race either in February or March. At the monthly meeting on I Wednesday night Mr. Leo. Marter made the suggestion and the matter is to be considered at the next meeting of the committee. To meet the requirement of the West Coast Centre with regard to the club’s representation at the Caledonian sports on January 2'6, (he president, Mr. W. A. Spxagg, was appointed to represent the centre. The meeting handled a good deal of routine business, and the recent show’ night sports meeting was reviewed, members making suggestions for preventing the obstruction of the view of the spectators and for preventing anyone from getting in the way of the judges. A good deal of discussion ensued on the question of lending the club's gear. Tlie committee was not wholly opposed to lending, but it was pointed out that frequently when gear was lent it was not returned to the shed, and in some cases the gear was damaged. An executive eotmnittee was set up, comprising Messrs. Dahl (club captain), Spragg (president) and Weir (secretary) to deal with such matters and with any urgent business which might arise.

CHARGE OF FORGERY. The clerk of the Hawera Court had to brush the dust off his old files yesterday in order to find an information laid against William Mcßride, alias William Patrick Brophy, alias Loftus, previously of Kapuni. It was alleged that he forged the name of Patrick Murphy on April 14, 1923, at Hawera, to a cheque for £32 on the Bank of New Zealand at Hawera, and further that lie uttered the cheque to Mary Cramp at Hawera on April 14, 1923. The accused appeared before the Auckland Court recently and was remanded to Hawera. He appeared before Mr. G. 11. Euekeridgc, J.P., at the Haw-

era Court yesterday anil on the application of Sergeant Henry was remanded to appear on December II). SWIMMING CLUB MATTERS. A meeting of the committee of the Hawera Swimming Club was held on Tuesday, Mr. J. D. McQuin presiding. It was decided to postpone the club’s swimming carnival set down for December 15 on account of the recent bad weather, which had interfered with all swimming activities. The secretary, Mr. J. H. Davenport, received advice from the Taranaki Centre yesterday, of the proposed visit of the Maranui Surf and Life-Saving Chib to New Plymouth in the second week in February to defend the Nelson Shield life-saving championship. The letter stated that the visitors would compete in Hawera on the previous Friday. ON THE BOWLING GREENS. The Hawera A Wednesday ■ players met the Hawera B Saturday players on the Hawera Club's green on Wednesday in the South Taranaki shield bowling competitions, and after a well-contested game the B team won by a margin of 9 points. One only of the A rinks was successful in defeating a B rink, the margin being four points. In the following results the Wednesday A players are mentioned first:— Champion, Arthur, Wills, Robertson (s) 29; v. Hobbs, Barrow, Maslin, Bull (s) 25. T. Tait, Keys, R. Tait, Corkill (s) 25; v. Joll, Dillon, Potter, M. J. Squire (s) 30. Herbert, Goodchap, Tidswell, Robb (s') 18; v. F. Old, Janson, Winks, R. Hicks (s) 23. J. Tait, Saunders, Westaway, Brandon Haughton (s) 22: v. McDonald, Familton, Shaw, Foy (s) 30. Totals: A 94, B 103. PLAYERS FOR SATURDAY. The Hawera B Saturday rinks to meet Patea at Hawera to-morrow are: F. Old, Watts, Winks, Hicks (s); Joll, Dillon, Potter, M. J. Squire (s); McDonald, Stannard, Shaw, Foy (s); Maslin, Morpeth, J. Squire, Bull (s). Emeigeneies: Hobbs, Cummings, Familton, E. j. Squire. GENERAL ITEMS. “The eye has got to be fed,” said Mr. L. O. Hooker, quoting from Shakespeare at a combined meeting of the Park bowling and tennis clubs on Wednesday, held for the purpose of organising a fete in February. Mr. Hooker said that goods well shown were half sold. In regard to arranging the stalls at the fete, Mr. [looker pointed out that someone should be appointed to erect the stalls and care should be exercised in the selection of tlie sites in order to present the beet possible effect.