FEATHERSTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 9

FEATHERSTON

BOY SCOUTS GROUP COMMITTEE MEETING. (“Times-Age’’ Special.) At the annual meeting of the Featherston Group Committee of the Boy Scout Association held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Mr Cook presided over a good attendance. The chairman commented upon the. excellent work done by the officers of the Group. They were to be congratulated upon the progress made during the past year. The following committee was elected for the ensuing year: —Chairman, Mr A. T. Cook; hon. secretary, Miss G. McTaggart; executive committee, chairman, secretary, Mrs Saunders and Mr H. Clark; delegates to the district meetings, chairman, secretary and Mr Harkness; general committee (elected subject, to their approval), Mesdames E. Saunders, J. Halpin, A. W. Edwards, White, H. Clark, Houston, C. Wenden, W. Hodder, J. W. Fellingham, Sturgess, Messrs A. C. Pearce, D. C. Collins, K. McKenzie, H. Clark, W. Hodder, J. W. Fellingham, Hayes, J. Hunter, the Rev. R. S. Keenan and the Rev. J. T. Holland; ex-officio, Scouters; hon. auditor, Mr G. M. Browne. ’ It was decided that the chairman, Mr Co?k, and the Group Scoutmaster, Mr J. Halpin, should wait upon the next meeting of the Featherston Borough Council with a view to obtaining a reduction in the rent of the Gymnasium Hall. A special committee was elected to control and co-ordinate the Jamboree Fund. The following were elected to the committee with power to add, Mesdames Houston, Clark, Halpin and Saunders. It was agreed that a “Bring and Buy” evening be held in the Scout Den on August 21 to augment Group finances. A vote of thanks was passed to the members of the Racing Club for the use of their room for meetings, to the hon. auditor, Mr G. M. Browne, for his services, and to the Press for the publicity extended to the movement. SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUSINESS AT MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Featherston School Committee prior to the commencement of business a vote of sympathy was passed with the widow and relatives of the late Mr G. Houghton,. who was caretaker of the school for close on forty years. The Wellington Education Board advised that all moral instruction given by ministers of religion in the school must be given in conformity with the regulations of the board. The chairman of the Head Teachers’ Association. Masterton, wrote thanking the pupils of forms 1 and 2 for allowing him to present Mrs J. Robertson with a scarf woven by them and exhibited at the handwork display in Masterton. The secretary was instructed to write to the Postmaster asking him for the gift of six obsolete telephones for use in the school. • On the motion of Mr C. Buck it was decided to write to Mr Ben Roberts, M.P., asking him to call on the Wellington Education Board and endeavour to get the matter of the new school expedited, as the need was very urgent. The headmaster reported that the primary roll stood at 267 and the secondary at 72. The display of arts and crafts made by the scholars and exhibited in the Town Hall was inspected by a large number of parents and friends. OBITUARY MR G. H. HOUGHTON. The death occurred in the Greytown Hospital on Tuesday of Mr George Henry Houghton. The late Mr Houghton was born in Featherston, where he spent the whole of his life, having been engaged in farming, metal carting. and for many years, in moving slock in trucks at the local station as they were loaded at the trucking yards. In recognition of his long services the Railway Department, on the termination of his services, granted him and his wife a free pass for one month over the railways of the North Island. The late Mr Houghton and Mrs Houghton had also an exceptionally long service as caretakers of the Featherton School, and on their retirement were made a presentation at a public meeting. The late Mr Houghton is survived by his widow and two brothers, Mr Charles Houghton (Feathertson), and Mr Ernest Houghton (Masterton).