BLACKBALL NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1931, Page 7

BLACKBALL NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent./ ■ The “gold seekers’’ arc still busy ij! this vicinity, but with the possible exception cf the Blackmun party, none of them seems to be doing much good. \ There must still be plenty of alluvial gold to be won hi tllis district, but up-to-date methods w uld have to be ' ciup oyed to recover it. Mechanical I apparatus will be required and this ■jviills for substantial capital. The day 'of the winni-ig of gold from the allu- ( vial deposits of- thi s district by hard j lab* ur would appear to be well past. Only small quantities are being won, aiid do not pa c v for the labour entailed. •j.‘. -Mr R. .Hutchison is at present on a ' visit t° Mr and Mrs G. Guthrie, of j Edwin Street. Mr Hutchison, who was until lately the secretary of the Ge ieral Labourers 1 Union at Tiroroa, .esigned his position. He intends re--1 turning to Scotland in the near future. Blackball presents the appearance ‘of pre-coal days, in that the inhabit- : ant< have practically al’* gone back to ‘wood fires. The crosscut saw is busy lia many quarters of the tewn, while the ring of the axe can be heard at all hours. One thing to be said in ! favour of the reversion to timber is ' that me is- met with more aromatic 1 smells in the surrounding atmosphere. The usual sulphur fumes from the coal fires are ini'-sing. A party of Blackball enthusiasts -eft by car for Nelson last Wednesday for the purpose of al tending the races there. Tire party included Messrs J. Gon:lay. J. Douglas. G. Bransfield. W. Am.ler.svn and J. Neilson. It is their intention to make the return trip on Sunday. Mr and Mrs McGregor also left by car for Nelson on Wednesday. A few of lhe quoiting fans left on Friday morning t«.- be present at the cha’lenge quoiting match between A\ ■ Meikle. of Blackball,’ and R. Somerville, of Taylorville, for £lO a side, all the money. \ believe, having been put up in Tavlorvil e. An attempt was unde t<> have the match postponed. . i wing to its clashing with the local Aiav Dav demonstration, but as all arrangements had been made some time ago? it was found impossible to alter the date. The Blackball folks are looking forward to “Bid bringing back the “sugar.” After the departure of Mrs P hurst, it was the consensus of opinion that the CoaT Diggers’ Concert Party wouhl automatically go out of existmre. However, at a meeting of the partv belli in Mr W. Oliver's home in t'lifford street, nn Saturday night, v.hwli v.;>- well attended by the members of the troupe, it was agreed to carry mi. The party will low be under the management of Mr I’. K<’gers. ;nd is going i n for a more versatile prog anime. the abandoned trip t n the mining camps ai the Bu ler end of the Coast may yet eventuate if |.revision can be made to billet the company. Wc understand that Miss A'nia wi'.J lake lhe lead. Th” [-‘resident ami Secretary of the Miners I iiion al’ended th*’ meeting vonvened by the Miners' National Secretary, ai the “ Argil F’ Ollice last Satiirdav. in furtherance of th? No Wages I b?d ml io a campaig i. when it was a'-ret’d i<> leave the matter of pro cu iu ■ suitably inscribed banners for use in Hip pr/wc-sion of 12th May. in Hi' hand's of lhe Blackball delegates. Th<"-e banners are now well under way. pud relb-'-t e’eat credit on the artists who have the job in hand. 1 am pleased to be able to report that lhe infant child of Mr ami Mrs 1 Mountford. Main Road. is now progrcri’ing \ erv favourably at lhe Grey ’ Hospital, at which institution it has 1 Iweii an inmate Io? some time past. 'Dio annual meeting of householders • for the i u’pose of elerti ig a schom t. committee for the ensuing year, took place at the • chool room last Monday 5 night, and was fairly well attended. Tl?e Secretary. Mr Philip Rogers, was ’ voted to the chair and conducted the . | roceedings. The relieving chairman. Mr Geo. Nuttall, read the annual repo t. which was as fol ows: “The committee heli! thirteen meetings duri’-ig tin- year. They wish to thank the staff and pupils, especially the Headmaster, j for the whole-hearted devotion they have givejj us af all times i 1( the interests of the school. Although not having a” vet been granted all our . needs bv the authorities, we have had a fair measure o f success in having • our :iew school hurt. which will be finished in a few weeks. Our propti ial for a district high school, for the ; establishment of which we have all jv'.veu much time and labour, has not yet mate’iaiispd, owing in a measure : to the state of depression in this country. We would suggest to the incoming committee to keep this in mind J and when times are more opportune to again make strenu 1 us efforts to obtain thi s school. As yu arc aware, there was a public meeting called, with a view t 0 establishing a dental clinic for , the schoolfi when. owing to the unsettled stat? of the district, we were forced t<- abandon the scheme for the time being. Given rhe absence of industrial 1. ouble during the next term, we may be aide to reap more fully the benefits of the labours of last year, and devote more attenti'n to the welfare of the children. Looking back i on the past year, you will find we had a very hard time tinancia-ly. as the Board’s grant to carry on the work of the school was totally inadequate, the worst feature being out inability to keep up the fuel supp'.y, thereby entailing hardship on the staff and pupils. We wish t<- convey our best thanks to our representative on the Board. Mr Bignell. for the help he has given us during the past year, also to lhe Canterbury School Committees’ A' social ion, who at all times gave us their utmost support. - ' The Headmaster, Mr A. M. Laing, gave (he following report: “Since niy appointment to the school S 6 new pupi's have been admitted. There have, of cour e. been a number c.f withdrawals, which included those who gained proficiency certificates. The present roll number is 222. a'id the attendance to-day was a record —217. ’ Unfortunately, owing to sickness during la* t winter, the average attendance for the yea)’ ending August ■“• I, 1930. was less than 201. a-hl although it is usual for the Education Board to make alowance for epidemics, we have one. teacher less on the staff this year. Also, probably for financial reason'’. no probationer was appointed this year. The attendance has averaged about 207 since August, and . I should over 201 bp maintained till the y end of that term this year, we should , I get another teacher. Air H. F. North. , | Assistant Master, was appointed to , j the Te Ore School, at the Chatham Islands, during the holidays. Air A. E. I Stirling was sent relieving in his place jand now Air G. H. Crossman has been 'appointed permanently to the position. :Aliss GJassoii is probationer teacher for I this year. AH teachers on the staff

. .arc doing their best in their respective classes. some <>f which are a good; ■ deal too large. One teacher has 58 children ip standards 1 and 11. and I' i am teaching 51 in Standards V and VI. j ;'Ai the annua! examinations 17 child-j . 1 ren obtained proficiency certificates, I Jone competency and one failed. In: • tin* other classes al the children ex- ' cept two wer? promoted. Thi. ty-four I children obtained swimming certificates last year, seven girls getting 880 ; yards certificates. This year twelve more have qualified fo r cerificates. The girls’ relay team competed at Grey- | mouth and were successful in winning I the Tennent Cup. The basketball A I team was entered hi the R Grade competition. and won the cup for that • grade. This year it is hoped to enter I a team in the A Grade, as schools in I this grade and higher may not now I enter a B team unless the v a-so enter lUp A team. The senior boys’ football [ team played hi the Soccer competitions. and succeeded in winning the I Kent Cup. Several boys played in the ; West Coast junior team in f’hrst I church, and one boy played in the ■ South Island junior team at Wellington. This year, owing to the boys be- ’ ing smaller, it is intended to play a ' junior Soccer team, and also to play some friendly Rugby games if they can ' be arranged. The profits from the j ‘annua] children’s ball amounted to £l2 10/-, which has been evenly divided I and spent on books for the different I classes. In conclusion, I wish to thank the par.'ll is and the Committee for , their hearty co-operation and support throughout the year, and hope that with the benefit of the new school. • which is nearly ready for occupation. : tlie coming year will be one of further .progress.” The above reports were receive* I as satisfactory. The balance sheet was read and approved. For the , Committee, eight nominations were received, the following seven being elected: Messrs T. Doeherty, T. Heywnid. J Buchanan, I’. Rogers R- Tishman. \V. Robinson and W. McGilchrisi. A heart v vote of thanks was accorded j the outgoing committee for their ef- ; forts during the year. At a su’>seI quent meeting of the committee. Air . Buchanan was elected chairman, and Air Roger.< secretary. Mr Buchanan thanked the t'ornmTI tee for the honour they had conferred j upon him. assuring them that. with I their co-operation. he would give of ( I is best towards the furtherance of < school interests. He also paid a tri i but«« to the outgoing chairman. Air G. Nuttall. The committee meetings Mere arranged for the first Monday of ’ | every month.