SCHOOL GARDENS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19960, 21 June 1930, Page 3

SCHOOL GARDENS.

NEW COMPETITION. PUPILS TO HAVE THEM AT HOME To stimulate interest in gardening among pupils of schools where there is no room for individual plots, a home garden competition has been instituted by the Canterbury Education Board. Advocating the adoption' of the scheme at yesterday's Board meeting, Mr W-. A. Banks stressed its importance. alluding also to the outstanding success of the Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs Circulars explaining the competition aro to be scut to the teachers and committees of the schools concerned, also to the parents The report of the chief agricultural instructor (Mr J. Brown), showed that home garden competitions were to be established among pupils of Citjr and suburban schools when insufficient space was available for satisfactory garden work In these cases the home gardens provided the necessary practical work required by the school course, and in addition the.v aroused the interest of parents in this phase of the children's education, and brought the home more directly into touch with the school. The competition would include flower gardens and vegetable gardens. For these there would be separate competitions and children might enter for one or both. They might have assistance in draining and digging, but all other work must be done by them. Systematic reoords would be kept by the children, and these must be produced for inspection whenever the garden was visited. Preliminary judging would be done by the teachers, and the final judging by the Education Hoard's instructors. The following prizes would be awarded: First, £1 10b ; second. £1; third, 10s. The report suggested that the Canterbury Horticultural Society might be induced to provide a cup to be awarded annually. Record for New Zealand. Mr W A. Banks said the report wa-> one of the most important which had ever come from the Agricultural and Manual and Technical Committee. Great success had attended the Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs. For the garden competition, eight hundred entries had been received from pupils in schools in the Board's district north of the Rakiiia. This was easily a record for New Zealand Now Mr Brown had gone a step further to establish the home garden competition. The report, with minor alterations, was adopted. IQLLINCHY. The annual ball organised by the Benedicts of the district was held on Thursday evening in the Killinchy Hall, when there was a good attendance, including visitors from Leeston and DunsandeL The hall was decorated with a variety of streamers in light blue, primrose, and cameo pink, the effect being pleasing. Bryson's orchestra supplied the dance music. The prizes for a Monte Carlo waltz were won by Mr Alex. Allen and Miss Ellen Allen, and competition prizes went to Mrs Burt, Miss Hogg, and Messrs S. Mann and E. Maindonald. The members of the committee were Mesdames J. E. Millar, W. Millar, R. Bruce, A. E. Rathgen, O. lies, H. R. Boal, and Gilbert Bray, and Messrs R. Bruce, 0. Hes, G. Bray, W. Miller, A. E. Bathgen, and J. E. Millar. Mr R. Brqce was chairman of the committee, and . Mrs J. E. Millar and Mr lies performed the secretarial duties, in addition to which Mr lies was M.C.

SOUTHBRIDGE. The thirty-second annual 1 meeting of the Southbridge Horticultural Society waß held on Wednesday evening, the president, Mr J. H. McMillan, being in the chair. The secretary, Mr A. J. Inwood, presented a report, which referred to the death of Miss Cryer, a foundation member and the only lady patron. The last Bhow had been held in the school, the Town Hall having been de- ' molished. The attendance had been better than for several years, and 'the total prize-money paid out the second largest on record. For the seventh year in succession, there was nothing outstanding in subscriptions, special prizes or. entry fees. The balance-sheet showed a credit of £73 lis 9d, representing a profit of £6 15s-Bd. The assets totalled £llß lis 9d, and there were no liabilities. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. It was decided to dispose of one of the tents. Miss A. Russell, Mrs J. Connell, and Mr J. D. McClure were enrolled as members. The following officers were elected:— Patrons, Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, K.8.E., M.L.C., Mr D. Jones, M.P., and Mr W. Scott; president, Mr J. H. McMillan; vice-presidents, Mesdames A. Tong, A. J. Inwood, and J. S. Chapman, Mr R. 0. Shearer, and the Rev. W. G. Hannah; secretary, Mr A. J. Inwood; auditor, Mr A. McPherson; general committee, Mesdames G. E. Benny, R. G. Bishop, J, Williamson, D. Tong, W. 0. Beamsley, J. Ballagh, A. McCartin, and W. J. Kemp, Misses H. Lewis, L Lewton, G. McCartin, and G. Greenall, Messrs D. Tong, A. McPherson, J. S. Chapman, H. Schnelle, J. Hannah, A. Tong, H. J. Greenwood, R. J. Parkin, W. C. Eggelton, T. H. Bennett, and W. J. Bishop. It was mentioned that at the first committee meeting the schedule for the next show would be revised, and members were asked to "bring forward for discussion any proposals to improve the show. The secretary said it wjould be necessary to have a number of new miniature silver shields attached to the past presidents' shield. Votea of thanks were passed to the officers, stewards, and donors of prizes.

LEESTON. The following were the results of the competition matches played on Thursday under the control of the Ellesniere School Sports Association: — Football—Southbridge' 16 v. Irwell-Brookside-Doyleston, 0; Leeston 26 v. Sedgemere-Lakeside, 0. Basketball—Leeston 11 v. LakesideSedgemere 4; Dunsaxidel 1 ▼. Killinchy 0; Irwell 22 v. Brookside 1. Southbridge is leading in the football competition, and Leeston in the basketball competition.