GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2586, 25 November 1893, Page 3

GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the Geraldine School Committee was held on Thursday evening. Preieut Messrs W. H. Walton (chairman), Gore, Dean, Bowkett, and C. E. Sherralt. HEAD MASTER’S REPORT. The head master reported : “ The attendance for the quarter up to week ending Friday last is: Boys 94.3, girls 102.9, total 197.2. Average weekly roll, 237 ; highest attendance, 2Z2. Durthe last two days, owing to the rain, the attendance has been small and will reduce the average considerably. We have received notice that the inspector’s examination takes place on Wednesday and Thursday next, when I trust there will be no absentees. As we have several candidates for scholarships I think the breaking up of the school should be delayed until the Thursday proceeding Christmas. The scholarship examination begins on the January 3rd, and I propose, as usual, to devote myself to the scholarship candidates during the intervening holidays. It will be necessary for the committee to provide for the prize fund. By direction of the chairman I have already purchased some books, but we shall want a few more, as attendance prizes have been promised. 1 shall be glad to know as early as possible what special prizes are being offered or are likely to be offered. The front doors, as well as some others, still require attention, as do some of the blinds. Wo require two more desks and forms for Standand I and Standard 11. T. Cheyke Faux ie, “ Head master.” Resolved—“ That the school close on December 21st and re-open on January 29th.” correspondence. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : From the Board of Education, informing committee that £9 2s 6d, for quarter’s incidentals, had been paid to their credit. From same, asking committee to nominate some one as a candidate to fill the vacany on the board caused by the resignation of Mr G. H. Rhodes. —Committee decided not to nominate anyone. From Rev. George Barclay offering to stand for election to board. —Read. VISITORS. The visiting committee reported certain repairs required attending to.—Repairs left to Mr Bowkett to see to. Messrs Walton and Dean were appointed visitors for ensuing mouth. Sundry accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated.

The first caravan of bullock waggons with goods from Sydney arrived at Armidale on October 27, the goods being delivered at £2 19s 7d per ton less than by rail. There is a good deal of distress in Tasmania. There are over 600 men awaiting employment in Hobart. More than half that number are married, with families. The Trades and Labor Council is formulating an employment scheme. A Curiosity.— At the rooms of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association is to be seen a peculiar bone. It is from tbe hind leg of a bullock, and is encircled with a piece of common fencing wire wound round six times. The bad evidently lived for a long time ’' /earin ‘l. this extraordinary anklet, fo- t| ' l , f not only worn by the w-; kjn ‘ but is covered one enc i to the other with ossified growth. The bone 'vas found in a swamp together with me remainder of the skeleton of the beast, and was handed to Mr Murphy by Mr F. A. Archer.—Press. Bteam-Esgine Rage. The American people (says the Daily Chronicle), would seem to have gone crazy over international sporting contests. An international rail-way-engine race is now being arranged. Four locomotive engines are expected to compete—the English engine Empress, with a record of over 95 miles an hour; the New York Central engine 999, with a record of 102 miles ; the New Jersey Central’s No 385, record 98 miles; and the Pennsylvania Railway Company’s engine Columbia, record speed of 95 miles an hour. These engines are all the work of different builders, and each is considered the best of its class in existence. The race, it is expected, will take place on the tracks of the New York Central Company, because on this line there are four parallel roadways, and it is therefore possible to give a straightway course for the distance required—lo miles —when the four engines can speed away neck and neck. The purse is to be £2OO, and so Die phenomenal records are confidently predicted.