PIRONGIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17976, 22 March 1930, Page 5

PIRONGIA.

Junior High School. Judging by the repeated expressions of opinion of those interested in the proposed Junior High School at Te Awamutu, this district is not at all satisfied with the drift of events. For instance, the venue of the school, although open to country and town, has been decided without ever having been discussed by the committee set up to consider this and other matters of like importance. It was generally agreed that the school should have a strong agricultural bias and that this might be assisted by a purely country venue for the school. Folk at this end fail to see how this is to be accomplished under existing conditions, and feel, that a "sop” was simply offered them by the promoters when agriculture was mentioned. The suggestion that consolidation of primary classes at one school and of the standards up to Standard V. at another so as to assist the transportation scheme, is looked upon very unfavourably here. The Farm. There are many in this district in very close agreement with the reported opinion of Mr Broadfoot regarding the potentialities of our northern King Country open land for grass-farming, and especially dairying. Lund that can he made to carry a good

pasture of English grasses in a few months at a cost of not more than £4 per acre should not be growing fern and tutu. One hundred acres of this country produced 10,0001 b of butterfat from nothing but the grass. No roots of any kind, either for winter or summer, were grown. The average purchasing price of this land (uncultivated) is less than £1 per acre, and there is well over 100,000 acres of this land in close proximity to Pirongia. Small wonder Mr Broadfoot has rebelled! The Weather. The suggested transference of the children’s summer vacation to Febru-ary-March would have been well chosen this year, for the weather for a holiday-making point of view has for some time been ideal. It is not quite so suitable to those farmers who have sown their grass. There is still a little haymaking going on, however. A remarkable feature in connection with the sowing of grass in this district this season is the absence of small birds. With the exception of a few ground larks there are no small birds, not even the übiquitous sparrow, to be seen. If this absence continues there should be a noticeable difference in the “take” of clovers, as most farmers allow for the birds when making their mixture. Personal. Miss Robson has returned from a fortnight’s visit to the north of Auckland. Dangerous or Safe? At the invitation of the headmaster of the local school several members of the School Committee paid a visit to the swimming place used by the children to learn the art of swimming under the instruction of their headmaster and his assistant to judge for themselves whether the s place was suitable or dangerous as had been feared by a number of parents. After a thorough inspection the committeemen were of opinion that the spot was suitable and certainly not dangerous while the river is at its present height. On the recommendation of the master it was decided to erect a movable wire before the commencement of next swimming season to provide a safety line for beginners.