ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1674, 17 December 1887, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

GEBALDINE. Yesterday was beautifully fine* though the weather looked a littlf threatening in the morning, arid a few drops of rain fell. ....Several picnic parties from Timaru, in conveyances of all kinds, took advantage of the holiday to pay a visit to Geraldine, and the Busn Parks were enlivened at various points by people, both young and old, on pleasure bent. The tows itself sent forth pleasure seekers to the Parks, Pleasant Yallejr, and some went to the sports' at Winchester.

TEMTTKA.

Yesterday being the Anniversary of the Province of Canterbury (th« thirty-seventh) was as usual observed as a holiday. In the early part of the day the weather wis very threatening, and fears were entertained that it would be wet. About 9 o'clock, however, a breeze sprang up, and the heavy clouds Boon rolled away, the remainder of the day being all that could be desired by holiday makers; For a» hour or so in the morning, while the picnic parties were assembling and starting, and for about the same period in the evening, when the picknickers were returning and others were making their way to and returning from the Catholic School concert; the streets; bad a very animated appearance. During the remainder of the daytho town was very quiet, the resident! with hardly «n exception haying given themselves up to holiday making. ; ' •

PIONIQS.

The annual picnics in connection, with the various churches in Teantk* were held, yesterday, and passed oft with great success.

St. SmoTJß's Church. At 9.30 a.in. the children attending St. Saviour's Church Sunday School assembled at the church, mrhere ashort service, at which the Rev. T. A. * Hamilton officiated, was held, and at 10 o'clock they started, accompanied by some adults, for the Arowhenua Bush, where, by the kind permission of Mr A. M. Clark, they held their annual picnic. They (went on their jourpy in two large, four-horse > waggons, piloted by Messrs Benbow, and "Walker, and there were beside*. eight smaller traps of various kinds. Shortly after their arrival at the bush, a sumptuous repast was provided, and after full justice, had been done to ifc. all sorts of sports and games were indulged in, while many of the boyi amused themselves by swimming in the crystal waters of the Opihi. During the afternoon people continued to pour in from Waitohi and all the surrounding'districts, with the result • that the number present became very large. At 5 o'clock tea was served out, and after this had been discussed the proceedings came to a close, and all returned home highly elated with : the day's outing* The .promoters of the treat wish to • express their gratitude to Mr and Mrs Clark for the kind and generous manner in which they received them. Miicn praise it due also to the Rev. Mr Hamilton,' who worked very hard to, secure success, and alro to the teachers, who were indefatigable in their efforts to please the children.: The party reached home at 7 p.m., without an. accident of any kind occurring.

PbESBYTEEIJIN CHTJiCH. The Sunday School children belong- , ing to this church, together with a ] contingent from Waitohi, met at the church at 10 o'clock* and after singing a hymn and being briefly addressed by the Rev. Mr Dickson, they proceeded to the Victoria Park by the Railway Terrace. Qames and sports l of all kinds were indulged in up to 12 o'clock, when a lunch of a very substantial character was partaken of. This over, the games were renewed, and races for prizes and all sorts of games were kept up until 5 when tea was served out, aser whiehi more races were held upto. to 6.30;

when they started for home. During the afternoon a large number of people itrolled into the park, and the attendance wai very large. Wiser** Ohubch. Th» Wesleyan Church Sunday School children started from the church at 10 o'clock in three ex. presses, and in due course arrived ia a paddock belonging to Mr Hedlev. ot Seadown, who kindly gave permission to held the picnic there. A substanfc'al repast was served out shortly afterwards, and the remainder ofthe day was given up to racing, swinging, cricket, and other games up to 5 o'clock, when tea was partaken of. Shortly afterwards a start was made for home, where all arrived safe at 7 o'clock. Messrs Harrison, Miles, and Holwell, and Mtsdames Harrison and Holwell and the Misses Brown were most indefatigable in their effort* during the day in administering to the pleasures and comforts or the children. ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL CONCEBT. The annual entertainment by the children attending the school conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph inTemuka took place last evening, and, as in past years, was a great ■nccess. The attendance was very large, the hall being crammed, and a long programme was gone through in a most creditable manner. The children knew their parts thoroughly, and gave the musical I ■elections, songs, and little dramas in \ a manner that would have done i credit to much older and more prac, tised performers. A detailed report will appear in our next issue. WINCHESTER. Athletic sports were held .on the cricket ground, "Winchester. The day was fine, but the attendance was not large. The Mowing are the results: 100 Xaeda BoxsV Bica—First prize, Pair of Leggings j second, Pair of. Spurs. W. Jameson ... ... 1 W. Blissett ... ... 2 3Pour competed.' Eos A2TD Bioov Bam—First prize, 10a; second, ss. W. Brinkman 1 E. Griffiths ... ... 2 Eight competed. One Milb "Walking Hawdioai— First prize, £2; second, £l. W. Brinkman (190yds) 1 J. Austin (75yds) ... 2 Four started, but none from the scratch, as O'Connor was not present. 2()b Yabdb Boys' BAd-First prize, 15s; second, ss. M. Lynch ... ... 1 G. Blissett ... ... 2 Only three started. 120 Yabds. Handicap (over 8 flights of hurdles)-First prize, £1 10s; second; 10s. J. Blissett (scratch) ... 1 H. James] 2 •"■.'. - Pour started. ' Buiranro Xon<j prize,; £l\ second, 7s 6d. ' J. Clinch''(l9ft Oim) ... 1 j J. Murphy (18ft 6in) ... 2 ! J. McAuliffe (18ft 2iin) 3 | Four competed. j 880 Yajkds Handicap Back—First - prize, £2; second, £l. W. F. Oliver (60yd)s... 1 J. Bryan (GOjds) ... 2 Seven competed. 100 Yjads MABtiian Men's Bace (over 40 years)-First prize, Box of Tea; second, Bag of Flour. T. Wheeler 1 J. Gimpson ... ... 2 Two others competed. 200 Yahds Handicap—First prize, £110s; second, 10s. J. C. Taylor (Byds) ... 1 "W. Copping (12yds) ... 2 Six competed. 100 Yards Wheelbabeow Eace (for men, blindfolded) First prize, £1; second, 10s. J. Murphy 1 J. Blissett ... ... 2 Six competed. 130 Yabds Consolation Baoe lirstprize,£l; second, 7s 6d. A.Shallard 1 J, Wilks 2 Three ran. The sports were over about 5.30. S.C. BOARD OF'EDUCATION. A special meeting of the S.C. Board of Education was held on Thursday evening to consider a circular received from the Education Department, "Wellington, in connection with the proposed deduction in the Education vote. Present—Messrs Goldsmith (Chair-' man), Gray, Howell, Talbot, and the Eevs. G. Barclay and T. J. Smythe. The T following resalutiona were carried: — Proposed by Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Barclay—" That the Board do not approve of any interference with the school age as defined by the Act for the following among other reasons: (a) That the age of five is not too young in the case of the majority of children for toe. purpose of early training and discipline; (b) that raising the school age will materially affect the average attendance of many schools, necessitating their closing; (e) that the raising of jthe school age will be of great detriment to the revenue of the Board. Proposed by the Rev. Mr Barclay, seconded by the Bev. Mr Bmyth—- ■" That if retrenchment in Educational matters is necessary the Board would consent to the following (1) the re-

trenchment of the capitation grant to the statutory sum of £3lss per head. (2) That powers be giventothe Boards or Committees to raise in a just and equitable way whatever sums the? may deem themselves deficient in from time to time."

Proposed by Mr Talbot, seconded by the Bev. Mr Barclay—" That the suggestion to charge fees for the higher standards does not commend itself to the Board, as being desirable, on the contrary they are of opinion that it would prove injurious to the present system of education by drawing a number of children at too early a stage from the schools." During the discussion which took place, th© Secretary, replying to questions, stated that there were 66 over the sixth standard, and 921 children over 5 years and under 7, attending school. The strict average attendance was 3245, and the working average would be about 3023. The Bev. Mr Barclay said there were nine Education Boards in the Island, and about 107,000 children on the rolls, with an average attendance of 68,000. By dropping the extra 6s the Board would lose about £9OO, raising the school age £I4OO, and fees lost for those over sixth standard about £3OO. Circular letters were read from the Education Department re the stoppage of the 4s capitation after this month. Also that it was intended to pay on the working average instead of the strict average. Mr Talbot moved and Mr Smythe seconded—" That the Board regret that the decision arrived at by the Governmenttopay the capitation on the strict average instead of the working average, on the ground that it will press very hardly and unfairly on the country schools, where the population is sparse and widely scattered." A circular was also read re the abolition of the grant for training schools. The Bev. Mr Barclay proposed and the Bev. Jasper Smythe seconded—" That the Board hear with regret the proposal of the Government to abolish Normal training schools inasmuch as the absence of regular training will be a disadvantage to teachers educated in New Zealand in comparison with those coming from training institutions in England, Victoria, and elsewhere."—Carried. A circular letter was read from the Education Department, "Wellington, requesting the Board that when they send in their returns to set down a list of works proposed to be carried out, the order in which it is proposed to carry out such works, and also the cost of same.—-Mr Talbot moved, and Mr Howell seconded—" That the following be appointed a Committee to take into consideration the circular from the Government re estimates for building purposes and report to the Board at its next meeting: Messrs Gray, Barclay, the Chairman, and the mover; Mr Barclay to be convenor." —Carried.

.. An order-in-Council intimating that in future there would be no Government grant for children under Bix years old, or for any who had passed the Sixth Standard, except for any who may have been on the roll this quarter. Resolved on the motion ofthe Bev. Mr Barclay seconded by Mr Talbot—" That the Board strongly dissent from the action ef the Government in notifying the expulsion from the schools of all children under the age of 6 years of age contrary to the definition of school age in clause 83 of Education Act and before such Act—in the matter under consideration—has been repealed; that the Board on the same grounds object to the expulsion of all children over 6th standard irrespective of age."