LANSDOWNE SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10615, 23 April 1912, Page 6

LANSDOWNE SCHOOL.

ANNUAL REPORT

The following report was presentee at tin; mooting of householders at Lansdowno las', evening:—'To preventing you to-night with the third annual report of the Lansdawne School your Committee have much pleasure iu stating that excellent progress ha; been made during the last twelve months. At tho meeting held in April, ]i)ll r there were on the schoo! roll 17:) pupils. This number has beer increased during the past year to 203 showing an increase of 30. Tho residents of Lansdoune and district arc to he congratulated on tho fact thai tho school has <a>i excellent and efficient staff in Mr JR. C. Drum mom'. and the seven teachers under him, They one and all have-the interest o: their pupils at 'heart. This is ampij Ironic oat hy the Inspector' latest report, whbh is highly satisfactory. Your Committee are pleased to be able to state- that considerable im-ivovemr-'its have been affected in anc ■about the school and grounds. The uaianc-c-s-iietv. ..vaoivs -a, credit of approximately £IG, which, considerm tho extraordinary expenditure irieurr. J.ed during the year, is very satisfactory. A school library has been open, eel with a well-selected stock at a cjsl of over £lO, a line book has been installed, a Hazard target purchased, flagstaff erected, and various improvements done to the 'grounds, md a tender has been accepted for light-in;: tho school by gas. Aided by Klio untiring efforts of Messrs Hogg and Vile 1 members of the Education Board, yom Committee acquired from tho late •School Commissioners, the extra laud adjoining tho school grounds, ivhich has been fenced in securely, and gives ample room for the boys to indulge hi athletic pursuits such as cricket, football, etc. Excellent results have been obtained during the past .season by the scholars, under the instruction of Mi Drummond, in tho experimental garden plots. Your Committee are picased to bo able to say that at the last Maistei'ton Agricultural and Pastoral and Horticultural Shows the 'bansdowne School secured several first prizes both in. vegetables and flowers iin open competition with othei schools. During tho season, keor competition existed between the scholars who had garden, plots u:;d?i their cairo owing to the fact that. t!uv< gold medals had been donated by Mi A. J. Cooper, one of the Committeemen, to be awarded to the best kepi plot. Mr Da vies, .the Board'.? Agricultural Instructor, was asked tc aiward the prize, which was won bj No. 2 plot. The annual picnic writ held tin tho School grounds, the threatening weather preventing ibo Committee from carrying out their usual outing to Willow Park. The thanks of the Committee are due to the enthusiastic committee- of Indies who worked so hard to make the gathering a pleasant one, and to the public fon - the liberal mariner i>i which they sufcoribed towards the entertainment 'and prize fund for tho childrens' sports during the day. The annual breaking up entertainment was held in December, and proved a decided success in every way. Great credit is duo to Mr Drummond and the School staff for the care and attention given to the children in training them for their various parts. Nearly 100 performers were on the stage, and they carried out their respective parts in. an extremely creditable manner. In, connection with the children's singing, it is pleasing to note that an excellent report has been received from the Board. The report states: "The school was visited last year, whore an afternoon was spent. The children appeared to take delight in their work, and their singing gave much pleasure, tho voices being true and sweet, and the enunciation excellent." At the Masterton-'Musical and Elocutionary Competitions, the school received first and second pri/.es in the school competitions, this being an extremely creditable performance. During the year the members of the Trust "Lands Trust were invited to give an address sit the school. Most of the members were in attendance and gave an interesting address to an appreciative audience on Trust matters. Tho thanks of the Committee are eke to the Trust for the generous supoort. given the school, which has enabled them to extend their operations in a manner whicli it would otherwise bo impossible to do with the fund? received from the Board. The Committee held twelve ordinary and three special meetings during the year, at which the .attendance was as follows.—• Messrs A. J. Cooper'ls, E. Hale 15. A. Jackson 12. J. E. Perry 11, D. A. Pickering 7, E. Welch 13, and If. P. Welch 11. ■