TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19720, 10 December 1926, Page 2

TAIHAPE

PLUNKET SOCIETY. (From the 4 4 Chronicle’s” Special Correspondent). The Taihape branch of the Plunket Society held its monthly meeting on Friday afternoon, there being present: Mesdames Mac Diarmid (chair), G. E. Hamill, Illingworth, Henricks, Beale, Maclean and Dymoek. Apologies were received from Mesdames Conder, Fenton, Munro, Vernqn, Ongley and McCormick. It was reported that at a meeting held on November 25 the committee decided to accept the offer of the Borough Council in the matter of the Public Rest and Plunket Rooms. ~A welcome was extended to five members of the Mangaweka Sub-branch, Mesdames Sweet (president), Guthrie (hon. secretary), J. Guthrie, Rowley and Thompson. Those present expressed their regret that none of the Hunterville committee were able to attend as well. An interesting /liscussion took place concerning the sub-branches’ annual contribution to the main branch, and circulars dealing with the subject were read. Correspondence from the Central Council relating to the Lady Truby King Fellowship funds was read, and it was decided to forward the total sum collected to the Dunedin head office not later than December 15.

The visiting committee appointed for the month consisted of Mesdames Hamill and Beale. The Plunket Nurse reported that there were ten new cases, making a total of 227—Taihape 163, Hunterville 30. Mangaweka 34. Visitors to the offices were:—Taihape: Adults 69, children 67. Hunterville: Adults 32, children 38. Mangaweka: Adults 20, children 22. Visits paid to the homes totalled 89. The health of the children had generally been good, except for a widespread epidemic of whooping cough. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Taihape District High School Committee was held on Wednesday evening, when there wore present: Rev. E. Bandy (chair), Messrs Loader. Read,'".Tames Smart, McCormick. A. Leighton and W. E. Hird (headmaster). Some discussion took place when accounts were under discussion with regard to an account dating back to 1922, amounting to £l3, for repairing roofs and basins in the school buildings. The secretary stated that this account should be paid by the Education Board. The committee was continually appropriating money from funds created by concerts and balls to <lo repair and other work that should be done by the Education Board, and the position was most unsatisfactory. The capitation of £l2O was altogether inadequate when it was considered that school cleaning absorbed £lOB of this, and firewood £39. Discussion disclosed the opinion that the allocation was most unfair, as in Taihape with a cold winter the firewood bill totalled £.“.9, while in schools in other places up north, where fires were required for only a short period, the capitation was on the same basis. A member stated that the Education Board were not treating the committee fairly. They had a good committee now. but would have difficulty in finding a. committee to act if this treatment was continued. The account for school repairs was held over till next meeting, and further representations are to be made to the Board. It was decided to hold the breakingup ceremony on December 17. when the certificates will be presented, and addresses delivered by public men. Mr Hird stated that the dividing fence between the Recreation Ground and the school required attention as sheep were getting through and there was a risk of damage being done to the gardens.—lt was decided to apply to the Education Board to have the fences made sheep-proof. Mr Hird reported that the number of pupils on the roll was £l2O, the attendance being seriously affected by sickness. There were as many as 80 or 90 children away on the date of the meeting.

The committee endorsed the arrangements made between the Plunket Societv and Borough Council with regard to rest rooms and dental clinic. Mr Bandy said that as the present meeting was the final one of the year and the last meeting Mr Hird would attend before taking his holiday trip to America and Canada, be wishej_him a prosperous and enjoyable time and hoped he would come back refreshed in body and mind to carry on the good work in the school. (Applause.)

Mr Hird thanked the members for their good wishes, stating that he was going away for health primarily, but he had letters of introduction to all the great educational institutions in the States and Canada, and he intended to study educational methods there at first hand. He felt sure his trip would be of great benefit to him in his work when he returned to New Zealand. He wished the members of the committee a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Applause).

GENERAL NEWS. At the meeting of the Utiku School Committee on Monday night, it was decided to hold the breaking-up ceremony on December 15 and the vacation concert on December 17, when the presentation of prizes and certificates will be made. It was also decided to hold the annual picnic on New Year’s Day. Mr Raynor has placed his ground, on the banks of the Rangitikei River, at the disposal of the committee. Rev. J. Reid left on Wednesday on a health recruiting trip to Wellington. It is expected that he will be away six weeks. Advantage is being taken of the fine weather to push forward shearing operations, and already considerable quantities of wool arc being brought in to town. The roads in some parts of the country are thronged with sheep going to and from the shearing sheds. The sum of £57 was the nett result of the sale of work and Christmas tree held in St. David’s Hall on Saturday in aid of the Presbyterian Manse improvement fund. THE KING’S THEATRE. t{ Memory Lane” is the story of an old boyhood lover who pretends 1o be something that he isn’t in order to prevent his former sweetheart from falling in love with him. Eleanor Boardman, Conrad Nagel and William Haines appear in the east of this picture, which is to be screened at the King’s to-night.