A CADET CORPS FOR WAIMATE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 26, 19 November 1898, Page 5

A CADET CORPS FOR WAIMATE.

A meeting of the "Waimate High School Board and School Committee was held in -the courthouse on Wednesday evening, to discuss steps to take in regard to forming a cadet corps" in connection with the District High School. Prosent MessrsColtman, Gibson, Cameron., Mann, Bitchener, G. Manchester, Nicol, Petit and Dr Barclay. The Headmaster was also present. Apologies were read from Messrs Sinclair and HcnvelL Mr Coltman was voted to the chair and explained the object of the meeting — to •discuss ways and means for starting a «adet corps in connection with the school. A letter from Mr Johnson, headmaster Timaru Main, stated that the formation cf iuch a corps there had had a good effect on the boys. Uniforms cost £1 7s 6&. The chairman said the minimum number was 40. Side arms and a few rifles ior practising were provided by Government. In reply to a question Mr Pitcaithley said there were 46 available boys in school. Mr Gibson asked if a boy who had left the school but not the town could join and it was decided to obtain further information on the subject. Mr Petit said he had not Imown of the meeting till Monday evening and would have been better pleased if the School Committee had met before going on with the matter. Mr Coltman , said they were just discussing whether they had the material to work on.

Mr Pitcaithley expressed himself very much in favour of the plan, as were the other teachers. The drill would affect the bearing of the boys in and out of school. There were enough bdys to form an excellent corps, but the chief difficulty was finding the money. Mr Bitchener said it would have been Better if the headmaster had asked the boys how many would join. Mr Pitcaithley had asked the boys in a general way, and the look on their faces was enough. He did not think more than 10 or 15 boys would leave this year, and by February more would have reached 13, the requisite age. Dr Barclay said the question was whether they were justified in going further into the matter if there was any doubt. It was stated that the boys were being well drilled at present by Col.-Sergt. Sanders. Mr Mann asked what they expected to gain in that case. Was the mere wearing of a, uniform sufficient ? The boys were getting plenty of physical exercises and the same drill aa they would get if in uniform. Mr Gibson thought it right that this meeting should give an opinion for or against. He was strongly in favour of the movement, and firmly believed there was nothing that tended to more fully develop the character of the lads. To test the feeling of the meeting, he would move, " That it is desirable that a cadet corps be formed." Carried unanimously Mr Barclay said the only thing in regard to an amendment would be to-post-pone the matter until they had th« names of the boys who would join. One had to approach these matters from a practical side, and not raise the money for no permanent good ? He presumed the School Committee would do something in the matter of funds, but as a member of the Board he would faveur a sum being spent. Mr Bitchener said the School Committee could not do much in the way of funds. He was not speaking for the committee. He did not oppose the movement except on the score of finances. Mr Coltman said Mr Bitchener was wide of the proposal. They would not discuss finances till the motion was carried. In reply to Dr Barclay, he did not think they need postpone'the matter because even if it were decided at once a long time would elapse before the corps could be started.^ Mr Gibson thought it would be inadvisable to postpone. In any ease, the motion would not bind them to anything. , It was suggested that some of the parents might provide uniforms, but the" idea ynn scouted.

Mr Gibson said 20 boys would be provided for by the High School Board, and he thought there 10 householders in. the district "who would provide a uniform each. He would be very pleased to provide one. Mr Nicol made a similar offer. Proposed by Dr Barclay, seconded by Mr Petit, and carried, " That this combined meeting respectfully suggests to the High School Board of Governors to vote the sum of JG3S towards the formation of a cadet corps, and also offer to assist the School Committee in raising the balance of J630 should the .formation be ultimately determined upon." Mr Gibson moved, and Mr Cameron seconded as an amendment, " That this meeting pledges itself to endeavour to raise £B0 towards the expenses of getting a cadet corps, provided the High School Board can see its wt,y to grant a similar sum." Mr Bitchener moved, and Mr Man 11 seconded, as a further amendment, " Tha* the matter stand over till the High School Board and the School Committee have discussed the question." Mr Gibson thought that the School Committee had hud. sufficient notice of the meeting. The meeting was not taking such great responsibility upon itself. Mr Biichener said some of the members of the committee had not known about this meeting. He himself had only heard* that night. This was one of the reasonswhy he wanted time. There were always expenses not thought of at first. Mr Coltman said the chairman of the school committee had promised to have a meeting to discuss the question. If he had not it was no fault of the Board's. Both amendments were put and lost, and the motion was carried. It was decided to send a «opy of both resolutions to the chairmen of both bodies. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.

" Swans, one guinea," was one of the items in the bill of a guest at an hotel near Richmond. " But I haven't had any swans," protested the astonished guest. " It's the view from the open window, sir," explained the waiter, pointing with a fork towards the Thames. '" We don't charge for swans in a back room."