NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20185, 1 March 1940, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Intermediate School The Taranaki Education Board does not now favour the erection of an intermediate school at either New Plymouth, Stratford or Hawera. For some time the board has been considering the building of such a school in the district at an estimated cost of £50,000, but the conditions now pertaining have resulted in a decision to only place before the Education Board a list of the more urgent works at existing schools and school housesFlood Damage Restoration In an effort to complete the flood damage restoration work on the East Coast, tenders have been called for the construction of steel piling walls and crib block walls at the Mangahawini Stream, Tokomam Bay. The district engineer, Mr. O. G. Thornton, explained to-day that much of the work had been done by Public Works Department employees and that the contract was to be let to complete the job. Tenders had been called also for the widening of the highway through the Hangaroa Gorge, on the GisborneNapier, via Hangaroa, State highway. The road would be built out instead of cuts being made on the faces of the bluffs.

Awapuni School Meeting There was a full attendance of members at ihe first meeting of the year of .the Awapuni School Committee, the chairman, Mr., E. File presiding. The headmaster, Mr. C. Rigby, reported that the schbol year had started with a roll of 137 pupils. The buildings had been thoroughly renovated and cleaned during the summer recess and members expressed satisfaction with the work of the caretaker. The resignation of Miss N. Paltridge was recei/od with regre't, as she had proved to be an efficient and popular teacher. Arrangements for a school pinic to have been held last Saturday were completed and the postponed fixture will take place on March 9. Accounts amounting to £l3 10s were passed for payment.

Maori Leadership “In these days when there is so much of what amounts almost to an automatic reaction of criticism towards the Government, it is right that credit should be given to it, and in particular to the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, for its policy of encouraging Maori youth to make full use of the educational facilities that New Zealand offers,” said a member of the annual conference in Dunedin of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, when Maori mission work was being discussed. Real native leadership had to come from the ranks of the Maoris themselves, he said, and it was highly encouraging that young Maoris were equipping themselves for the responsibilities of leadership alongside the Europeans.

High Cost of Winter The great inconvenience and trouble caused through the heavy snowfall last winter was recalled at a meeting of the Taieri County Council, when the inspector recommended the purchase of two snow ploughs for attachment to the council’s graders. A member said that the clearance of snow from roads in the Taieri County last winter cost £3OOO, of which the council’s share was £625, and it would have cost the council considerably more had it not been for the utilisation of unemployed labour. After a discussion on the value of snow ploughs, the ability of the council’s finances to stand the cost, and the possibility of Otago experiencing snowstorms in the future, it Was decided to purchase one plough,