FARM WORK IN SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 December 1924, Page 7

FARM WORK IN SCHOOLS.

CALF REARING COMPETITIONS

GREAT ENTHUSIASM SHOWN

EXCELLENT v SHOW OF .STOCK

The judging at all the schools in South Taranaki and in the groups, with the exception of the group near Hawera, has now been completed and the. awards of points have been made. The judges for the competitions were much impressed with the quality, especially in some of the centres. They state that the quality of the exhibits at the group judging' at Stratford was really excellent, and was as good as they could wish to see anywhere. The selection of winners necessitated careful consideration. It looks likely that they shall include the champion. Huinga is a new school, and competition was very keen. Messrs. W. AlcL’Dowie, L. S. Barraclough (for condition), F. Hoskin, H. Wren, T. Jenkins (for dairy type) have been associated in the various centres. Much enthusiasm has been shown by the young competitors in every centre, and they have been well supported generally by committees and parents, especially in some centres. The value of the work done has been markedly of value and is certain to lead to even better results in the future.

Points scored in the calf-rearing competitions and the awards for dairy type were a® follow :

ißawbitiroa.. —Jersey-Ayrshire : Ei. Major and L. Gernhoefer 173, tie for Ist; I>. McDonald. 172 i. 3. Type : P. Wood 1. E. Major 2, L. Gemhoefer 3. Yearlings: E. Majo'r 1, M. Major 2. Two-year-olds: E. Major 1, M. Major 2. Friesian-Shorthorn •. M. Major, 172’-. and Ist on type. Yearlings: L. McDonald 1.

Finnerty Road.—Jersey-Avrshire: F. Christian 171, C. Gray 136, E. Babington 122-). Dairy type: C. Gray I. F. Christianson 2. E. Babington 3. Friesian-Shorthorn: W. Jones 173, D. Ogle 1534, B. Ogle 117). Type same order as v above.

Ngaere.—Jersey-Ayrshire: G. Taylor 176. n. Taylor 159, E. McKee 146. Dairy type: G. Taylor 1, E’. McKee 2, R. Taylor 3. 1 Yearling®: G. Tla.ylor 1* B- Taylor 2. Friesian-Shorthorn: J. Schumacher, 158, and first oil type. Awatuna.—Jersey-Ayrshire: D. Corbett 181. Friesian r ShorthornJ. Street 166?. N Auroa. —Jersey-Ayrshire: C. Lyndon 164 J, J. Davidson 16H, G. Kirk 158. Friesian-Shorthorn : - H. Davidson 172, B Bradford 150, A. Davidson 1404. Dairy type—Jersey-Ayrshire: M. Buxton 1, C. Lyndon 2. J. Davidson 3. Friesian-Shorthorn: H. Davidson 1, A. Davidson 2. B. Bradford 3. Yearlings (Jerseys) 4 : H. Davidson 1. Oeo.—Jersey-Ayrshire : J. Francis 1/61, N. Evans 1511, P. Simpson 125. Dairy type: J. F'rancis 1, F. Simpson 2. Is. Evans 3. : Yearlings: F. Simpson 1, T. Evans 2, J. Hiarrop 3. Otakeho. —Jersey-Avrshire: J. Walker 172, L. Walker 160, A. Nicholls 132-i-. Dairy type:, J, Walker 1, L. Walker 2, A. Nicholls 3. Yearlings: J. Walker 1, W. Todd 2, L. Walker

Jersey-Ayrshire : L. White 170. and Ist on type. Toko.—Jersey-Ayrshire: P. Wakelin 1801, F. Harris 174, B. Claridge 1651. Dairv type: F. Harris 1, M Nickel 2. B. Claridge 3. Yearlings: O. Claridge 1, P. Wakelin 2 (last year’s champion .calf), P. Claridge 3. Huinga.—Jersey-Ayrshire: E. Putt 1821, N. Wisnewski 1784. T. Putt 166 Dairy tvpe: N. Wisnewski 1, E. Putt 2, G. Bose 3. GROUP JUDGING. - Group II. —Okaiawa, Manaia and Matapu. At Okaiawa.—Jersey-Ayrshire : E. Walker (Okaiawa) 180, N. Walker (Okaiawa) 175, G. • Rothery (Manaia) 171. Shorthoru-Friesian: B. Seed (Matapu) 1851, A. Seed (Matapu) 162. Group Hl.—Auroa, Awatuna, Oeo, Otakeho. At Auroa.—Jersey-Ayrshire : D. Corbett (Awatuna) 169, J. Walker (Otakeho) 167. L: Walker (Otakeho) 165. Friesian-Shorthorn : H. Davidson (Auroa) 172, J. Street (Awatuna) 1611. B. Bradford (Auroa) 1501 - Group IV.—Douglas, Huinga, Toko, Finnerty and Ngaere. At Stratford.—Jersey-Ayrshire : E. Putt (Huinga) 1831. N. Wisnewski (Huinga) 1791. P. Wakelin (Toko) 1681. Friesian-Shorthorn : M. Jones (Finuertv) 173, D. Ogle (Finnertv) 1531. B. Ogle (Finnerty) 1471. CHAMPIONSHIPS. These will be decided on Thursday at Hawera. , Tlie group judging for group 1 will take place just prior to the championship judging to be at Hawera on Thursday next, December 18. STUART WILSON CUP. PRESENTATION AT OEO. The district of Oeo has been brought strongly into prominence recently by the success oi a pupil of the school, Jean Millar, in winning against all competitors in New Zealand the handsome cep presented some years ago by Air. Stuart Wilson for the heaviest and best farm root crop grown by “ school pupil. This is the fifth year of competition, but only the third in which it has been open to all the Doiyinlbn, and in those three years a South Taranaki girl has won it twice, while in the intervening year an Okaiawa .boy, Betts, was practically equal with the winner ' u quarter point separating them, Mid in the other year another Okaiawa pupil,, Dorothy Ward, was the winner.

Last night at the Oeo Hall, coincidentally with the annual prize giving,, advantage was taken of the opportunity to make the presentation of the cup, Mr. ,J. \V. Deem, of the Agricultural Department, who has always taken a keen practical interest in the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, being asked to perform the ceremony. There were also present, among a number of visitor*, Mr. R. Dunn, president of the South Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union, and Mr. A. J. Glasson. of the department, while apologies for unavoidable absence were received from the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. A. Noswortliy). Dr. Heakes, Dr. Cockayne, Mr. A. Lees, and others. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr A.dVlillar) presided, and briefly introduced I Mr Dunn, asking him ' to take charge of the proceedings. Mr Dnnn, after expressing his great pleasure at being present, said he was one of the promoters of the clubs, and had always taken a very keen interest in the movement. He referred humorously to the clerical error made by a lady agricultural paper in sending out the weight of the crop as 1382 tons instead of 138.2 tons, and said that all the world would he asking where this district of Oeo was which could grow finch phenomenal crops. He stressed the value of the competitions, for they taught the children to be industrious and thus to become better citizens. Thev also developed a love for the land, than which there could he no better calling for the people of a great country like New Zealand, and if there

was a love for the land there would, be a love of country, than which there was none better, and it should develop also the right feeling that no other country was so good as our own. In conclusion, Mr Dunn said he hoped none of the children would forget the evening and the function in which they were taking part, and that it would always have an influence for good. He then formally asked Air Deem to make the presentation. Air Deem, after expressing the apologies of the leading men named above, offered heartiest congratulations to Jean Aliller for her great success, saying that people would he asking who she was, and where was Oeo. Her .success would be a fine advertisement for the district and for the Dominion. He said Air Wilson many years ago had, by writing to, the papers, endeavoured to create keen enthusiasm for the clubs, and then in 1920 he presented a fine cup, which bears his name. Until 1922 it was open only to boys in Otago, hut in that year he agreed -to throw it open to boys and girls of the Dominion. The subsequent success of the Okaiawa and Oeo pupils had been very marked, and he hoped Oeo would keep it for a Tong time, in presenting the cup to Jean, he expressed his pleasure at seeing her name inscribed on the cup, and hoped slie would tell others how to grow such crops.. As the cup could not he left at Oeo, a gold medal and photograph were presented each year to the successful competitor bv the Agricultural Department. He hoped Jean would long wear the medal. It was an honour to her and to the whole district and to the school.

Amid the plaudits of the large company assembled. Air Deem then pinned the medal on her breast. On lier behalf Air Aliller expressed her appreciation of the Lonoir conferred on her, and thanked Air Deem and Mr Dunn for their kindly and complimentary remarks. The cup is a massive one, and very handsome in design. It is inscribed on the one side as follows: “Boys Agricultural Competitions.” “Dominion Challenge Cup.’’ “Presented by Stuart Wilson, Esq., AVellington.” And on the other side with the names of successive winners:— 1919-20. —W. B. Collins,* Beaumont. 1919- George AlcLeod, Momona. 1920- —Owen Gould, Hampden. 1921- —Dorothy Ward. Okaiawa. 1922- —L. Stevenson, Hampden. 1923- —Jean Miller, Oeo.