STORM AFTERMATH

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 138, 6 March 1936, Page 6

STORM AFTERMATH

Council Employees Still Busy NOTES FROM MANAWATU Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, March 5. Thou"h it is expected that the work will be completed in a week or so, fortythree men uro iit present employed in the Palmerston North city parks and reserves cleaning up the damage caused by the hurricane at the beginning of last month. The number employed on this work by the council has not been less than 40 since the storm, and they are working under a scheme subsidised by tlie Labour Department, all being drawn from the ranks of the unemployed. All requests from citizens for tile removal of fallen trees, debris, and unwanted material from private sections have now been complied with, and in addition the streets have been attended to. The attention of the chairman of the reserves committee (Cr. G. Tremaine), the curator (Mr. P. Black), and the engineer (Mr. J. It. Hughes) as a special committee is being directed toward the rebuilding of the stand at the sportsground, which will have to be totally rebuilt. The matter of providing a larger stand is being kept in view. The small stand on the tar side of the outer aiea, which was blown away, will also be reeoTheU camp site at the Esplanade is also to be remodelled, consequent upon so many of the large trees having been blown over. It is now proposed to erect rustic work along the bank on the Manawiitu River side of the camp and to plant creepers along it. In, this manner, initial shelter will be provided and a belt ot shrubs in the same locality, it is hoped, will restore to the camp some of its former restful charm.

Boys’ High School Gala. Organised by th Parents’ Association in co-operation with members of the staff, a successful gala was conducted yesterday by the Palmerston North Boys IIi"h School. The chairman of the board of governors (Mr. J. A. Nash) officially opened the gala, and Mr. A. A. Langley, chairman of the Parents’ Association, was also introduced to the gathering by the rector (Mr. J. Murray). Stalls and competitions, a programme of boxing in the gymnasium, and a dance at night all helped to swell the funds, and the receipts for the day reached the excellent total of £lOB.

Leap Year Babies. Palmerston North has at least two leap year babies. Botlj were born at the Maternity Home, a girl to the wife ot Mr. W. Collins, of College Street, and a boy to the wife of Mr. T. H. Ward, of Miro Avenue. Both are bonny healthy babies. Mr. Collins’s infant weighs 71b. Ooz., has blue eyes and dark hair, and will probably be called Elizabeth. Bryan Henry Thomas Ward weighs 81b. Boz., has dark curly hair and deep blue eyes.

West End School. At the monthly meeting ot the West End School Committee, al which Mr. G. Tremaine presided, the headmaster, Mr. H W. Jackson, reported that the roll number stood at 376, with an average attendance for the term of 349.6. The grade of the school was to be determined this year by taking 95 per cent, of the roll number at March 31, and it would be observed that a slight rise in the roll number would sei’ve to plucc the school in Grade VI. Such a rise would, be thought, be only temporary, as the present standard VI was an unusually large one, and when the children in that class finished their school-course at the end of the present year, the number on the roll would be considerably reduced. The repairs to the two rooms damaged by the storm had now been completed. Seventy-seven names bad been sent to the dental roll for this year.—The report was adopted.

Titania’s Palace. During the two and a halt weeks it was exhibited in Palmerston 10,016 people visited Titanias Paiaee. In the first week, 1563 adults and 1340 children attended; in the second week there were 2175 adults and 1687 children, and for the remaining four days 2220 adults and 1031 children. Ihis equals’an average hourly attendance throughout the 16 days of 73 persons. The total takings amounted to 1400. anti the Manawatu branch of the Crippled Children Society will benefit by the net returns.

More Classrooms Wanted. The need for additionaj classroom accommodation was stressed by the headmaster, Mr. F. C. Campbell, in his report to a meeting of the Ilussell Street school Committee. Mr. J. A. Grant presided. Tlie present rpll was 2uo, Mr. Campbell said, putting the school within striking distance of Grade V. Attendances last week were 234, 237, 233, <-oJ. find 236, and the four-weekly averages were 224.1, 237.9, 231.1, and 234.8.. Application had been made for a relieving teacher to act as a)i additional assistant. Three rooms were fully taxed for accommodation, the infant room having 79 pupils; standards 1 and 11, 59; Standards 111 and IV. 08. Dental clinic enrolments totalled 33. Matters requiring early atlentmn were the provision of extra classroom, cloak, bicycle and shelter-slied accommodation. Urgent application had been made for extra tables and chairs.—The report was adopted. The secretary, Mr. J. 1. McDevitt, read a letter from the M angauui Education Board agreeing to apply to the department for a grant for one additional classroom and additional shelter-sheds to be erected.

SCHOOL SWIMMING

Levin Primary Pupils Levin, Marell 4. The primary department of the Levin District High School held very successful annual swimming sports in the Leym baths this afternoon. The girl champion proved to be Mary Mackenzie. 20 points, while the boys’ title was annexed by R. Jacob, 17* points. The runners-up were M Meddi'ngs, lIS, for the boys, and P. Heremala for the girls. Results were as follow:— . „ Boys, beginners: Easton, 1: Bignal, 2, Treen 3. Girls, beginners: Vesta Pratt. 1; Joan Clark. 2. Boys, two widths: J. Ross, 1; B. Easton, 2. Girls, two widths: T. Heremala. 1; A. Fletcher, 2: E. Higgs, 3. Bovs under 10. 25yds.: E. Wrigley, 1; P. Denton. 2. Girls under 10, 25yds.: Haral McDonald, 1; Norceu Hodges, 2. Boys under 11, 25yds.: E. Wrigley, 1: Fox, 2; B. Vallance. 3. Girls under 11. 25yds.: Alison Fletcher and Rae Hinchman, equal, 1: Tint Hereniaia, 3. Bovs* championship breaststroke. 25yds.: R Jacob and M. Meddings. equal, 1; C. Bishop, 3. Girls' 25yds. breaststroke championship: Mary Mackenzie, 1; Plri Hereniaia, 2; D. Smaill, 3. Girls under 12, 25yds.: G. France, 1; A. Clark, 2. Boys’ 25yds. backstroke championship; R. jacob, 1; R. Meddings, 2; N. Robertson, 3. Girls’ championship dive: M. Mackenzie, 1: P. Heremala. 2; D. Stnuill, 3 Boys under 1.3, 50yds.: Childs, 1; Roydhoiise, 2. Girls under 13, 50yds.: D. Smaill, 1: P. Heremala, 2; G. Eyes, 3. Boys’ championship dive: R. Jacob, 1; M. Meddings, 2; .1. Hughes. 3. Girls’ championship 25yds. hackstroke; M. Mackenzie, 1; P. Heremala, Boys’ 100yds. championship, free style: Jacob, 1: M. Meddings, 2. Girls' 50yds. free-style championship: M, Mackenzie, 1; D. Smaill, 2: P. Heremala, 3. Dual relay: R. Jacob and M. Mackenzie, 1; N. Robertson and G. France, 2. Corfu dive: D. Clark, 1 Medley: M. Mackenzie, 1; R. Jacob, 2; C. Wilis, 3. Class relay, boys: Form 11, 1: Form I; 2: Standard 4. 3. Class relay, girls: Form 11, 1; Form In, 2; Form lb, 3. Robertson Shield, relay teams of four: Levin A, 1; Ohau, 2: Levin B. 3. Invitation race: Kandy (Ohuu), 1; Childs (Levin),

Advice has been received by Mr. 0. A. McKinney, headmaster of the Danuevirke North School, that his appointment to the headmastership of the Newton West School, Auckland, has been confirmed. Mr. McKinney will be leaving Daunevirke for Auckland on April 1.