RUNANGA NEWS

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1947, Page 2

RUNANGA NEWS

SCHOOL COMMITTEE. (Our Own Correspondent). Mr. R. J. Armstrong, presided at the usual meeting of the Runanga School Committee. Present were: Mrs. R. Barker, Messrs C. Kennedy, F. Oakley, R. Thompson, Rev. W. S. Brcttell, I. Cairney (secretary) and the headmaster, Mr. E. M. Todd. Reporting on the activities of the school for the monthly period ended March 14, the headmaster stated that the school roll stood at 225, and although this had fluctuated somewhat during the month it was still higher than for the correspondingperiod last year. Attendances had been consistently good and higher than at any time during the previous three years. Mr. Murley had received notice of promotion to the Cobden School. Good entries were received for the school swimming sports held during the month. Competition was keen and there was a •good attendance of parents and friends. At the inter schools, swimming sports held in Greymouth a fortnight ago, pupils of the school had acquitted themselves well by winning a considerable number of events, among them two relay races. Forty pupils of the school qualified last week for distance certificates awarded by the New Zealand Swimming Association as follows.—Beginners’ Certificates, 8; Learners’ 10; Proficiency 12; and merit certificates 10. Among those who qualified for merit certificates were five who swam one mile or more—the best distance being 2,100 yards. Next Friday the school will be represented by a team which will compete at the inter school athletic sports to be hold in Greymouth. The grounds are far from pleasant and long grass and blackberries considerably add to their untidyness. A working-bee would bring about an appreciable change and thus enable sections to be prepared for garden plots next spring. Cine of the basketball courts is rapidly approaching the position that if something is not done immediately it will need to be uprooted. The bulk of school supplies were now to hand. Moving the adoption of the report, the chairman extended compliments to the headmaster, teachers and pupils on the way the latter acquitted themselves in the swimming events. The Canterbury Education Board advised that the board’s foreman had been instructed to inspect the school grounds and to confer with the board’s West Coast representative, Mr. F. L. Turley, relative to necessary improvements. Mr. Cairney tendered his resignation as secretary. The resignation was received with regret, members paying a fitting tribute to the services Mr. Cairney had rendered to the committee. SCHOOL OF MINES. ANNUAL MEETING. Mr. J. Anderson presided at the annual meeting of the Runanga School of Mines. There was a good attendance of members present. The election of officers resulted. — President: Mr. J. Anderson; vicepresident: Mr. M. Devlin; secretary: Mr, T. Adamson; auditor: Mr. W. Wick; committee: Messrs P. Hassan, N. Forsyth, C. Wright and S. Kennedy; Messrs W. Wick (mathematics, mechanics and geology), H. Hutchison (surveying), J. Johnson (electricity) and F. Lockington (mining) will continue with lectures during the current year. Classes will commence on April 14. It was decided that the policy of recent years be continued, and that a party of students visit the Otago University School of Mines and the Southland coal-fields early in the year. It was announced that two medals had been donated by the chairman (Mr. J. Anderson) and Mr. .P. Hassan for the best student in the senior and junior classes. It was decided to form a working bee to repaint the school building. An intensive campaign is to be conducted to recruit new students. It. was pointed out that attendances, particularly in the junior classes were small and that the majority of the students attending the school come from Greymouth. Arrangements were in progress to discuss the matter with the committee of the State Miners’ Union and it was hoped to finalise arrangements for instructional courses for young men entering the mines, a policy that had met with great success in England. The future of the school would be full of promise if young men could be recruited to study and receive practical training for mining careers.