SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 3

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TEMUEA. The District Higli Sehool Committee meeting was attended by Messrs E. B. Cooper (chairman), A. E; Foote (lion, secretary), P. Sanders, 1.-. G. | Scrimshaw, J. R. Longson, A. E. j Smith, and G. Hancox, and Mrs Til-. | brook. Correspondence was received from the Canterbury Education Board | advising that £30," the Board's contribution to the cost of improving the i school grounds, also £9 subsidy on voluntary contributions, and £3O incidentals, had been, paid to the credit ot" the committee: from the same, re the_ multifarious appeals for monetary j assistance made through the school children, the Board recommending that in future, except in very special cases, all such appeals be declined; from the same advising that tko resignation of an assistant teacher, now in Canada, Miss J. Morrison, had been accepted. The Board had forwarded notice that the Government bad reduced the grant (•to the Board by 10 per cent., with the result that the Board would be compelled to hold over many necessary 1 works; the Board had protested to the j Minister of Education against the rei ductiou. The committee resolved to forward a letter of protest. The committee and the headmaster, Mr R. Malcolm, expressed warm appreciation of the excellent services rendered by Mr E. S. Craven, and of his intereat in the scholars' sports. It was resolved to grant a holiday for the Annual Show of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association/ on March 22nd. A letter was received from several parents, who protested against the alteration in the time of opening the school from 9.20 to 9 a.m. The headmaster recommended the earlier hour of opening, in order that scholars might leavo school for their homes at 3 p.m., and he depreciated the employment of children at farm, work before school hours. After a lengthy discussion, it was resolved to defer the question to the annual meeting of householders. The headmaster's report showed that the average attendance for February had been very good —roll number, Primary School 394, High School 50; total 444. Average attendance: Primary 367, High School 48; total 415. The headmaster drew attention to the very small percentage of' primary department children who could swim, and reported that he had arranged for swimming sports for the scholars at the Domain baths. The I committee heartily approved of the headmaster's action. Mr Scrimshaw was thanked for his kindness in framing a large picture of the school. Accounts for £55 were passed for payment. Mr Norman M. Grant, who served in the, war, and who has been for a number of years on the staff of the Temuka- Post Office, has been transferred to' Culverden. Mr Grant has been a very efficient officer, and has been a valuable member of the football and other sports clubs in Temuka. Before his departure the members of the. Post Office staff made Mr Grant a useful presentation in token of their esteem. Before Ms departure from Temuka to the Otago University, Mr B. Cook, son of -Commandant Cook, of the Salvation : Army,, was entertained by his many friends at the Young People's Hall.' At the Magistrate's Court.on Tuesday, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., delivered his reserved judgment in the case of William Cross (Mr F. J. Smith) v. Charles Aker (Mr W. G. Aspinall); Plaintiff, who had been riding a motorbicycle with side-chair, claimed £IOO damages for personal injuries sustain-' ed in a collision with horse and gig. Defendant counter-claimed, for .£22, ~for idamages to horse and' gig. The Magistrate ruled that the injuries, both to plaintiff and to defendant's horse and gig, wero the result of an accident not caused, by negligence on either side. Judgment .would be for the defendant on the claim, and for plaintiff on the counterclaim, with costs to defendant and solicitor's fees.

TIMARU NOTES. Timaru Gas Company. . The annual meeting of shareholders in the Timaru Gas Company was held on Tuesday night. The annual report stated that the company had had a good year, and it was proposed to pay a 10 per cent, dividend, as usual. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Messrs G. Bowker, E. J. LeCren, and W. Evans were elected to the directorate. The directors have under consideration a proposal to reduce the prico of.gas. Alternating Current. Timaru is now ready to receive Coleridge power. At the Timaru Municipal Power House one day this week an official ceremony took place, when the Mayor (Mr F. J. Rolleston) set in motion the rotary converter by which direct current will be converted to alternating Current, and distributed over the outlying districts. The Mayor said that the event they were celebrating that day marked an important epoch-in the electrical development of the town. Ho was about to set in motion the machinery which would distribute alternating current throughout the borough. Hitherto they had had only direct current, but in future they would have alternating current, and would thus be prepared to take hydro power. They had ' not yet reached that happy stage when the town would have hydro power} but it was coming, and whether it came from Coleridge, Tekapo, or Waipori, they must be ready for it. He trusted that the j change over from direct to alternating i current would mark a new era in the electrical development, of the borough, and that the electrical works would become one of the best assets Timaru possessed. Cr. Shirtcliff said the Council and the town should be proud of the progress that had been made; he was satisfied that their electrical installation was now well on the road to success. Eighteen months ago the ratepayers had sanctioned a loan of & 50,000 for changing over to alternating current, but he was glad to say that the work was only going to cost £20,000. If Coleridge power were delivered in Timaru to-morrow they would be ready to receive it, and. as soon as it did arrive it would be possible to close down the Power House. High Schools' Board. . At the annual meeting of the Timaru High Schools' Board of Governors this week, Mr J. Bitchener, M.P., was reelected chairman, and Mr W. D. Campbell vice-chairman.