HOUSEHOLDERS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1938, Page 6

HOUSEHOLDERS

AT ARAHURA. There was only a small attendance of householders, four ribbing, elected— L. Clark, J. Finch, J. Havill Junr., and D. Muir leaving one more to be elected.' AT WOODSTOCK. Only five were present ■ at Woodstock and the old committee were reelected—J. Gar son, J..Griffiths, E.J; Wells, W. Willoughby and R. C. Wells (secretary).)' > 1 ■ V ' at KOKATAHI. . There were twelve householders, present, me following being elected d committee—Messrs N. Harris, C. Marshall, Leo Stopforth, W, Wieblitz and M. Wallace (Chairman): , HOKITIKA SCHOOL.

HEADMASTER’S REPORT.

The following report was’read by the Rector (Mr J. G, . Johnston); at the meeting of householders: — /. I have much pleasure in reporting on, the school’s activities during the last twelvemonths. ■ The school roll in April 1937 was 436 (primary 332, secondary 104) and at present it is 448 (primary, 325, secondary 123). I am pleased to report that the increased attendance in the secondary department/ Has raised the grade of this department to Grade F and we are now entitled to a’fifth permanent assistant. ' ' r; '*vv.‘

During the year, there ■ have been many changes in the staff/ 1 Misses Mortland and Bell, and Messrs Warren;. Cassidy and Wilson left and' Miss Cowan, Miss Linldater, and Messrs Muirhead, Bell, Gillespie, Harrison and ’Andrews have joined .the staff, ’/ Miss Ridlaffd who was appointed commercial; teacher at'the beginning of last year; resigned at the end of last year, arid Miss Robinson now occupies the position/

In spite of the late opening of the school in 1937/ highly satisfactory results wore obtained, arid Inspectors’/reports/testify to this: /-// /■• During the year, with the grants received from the Hokitika Savirigs the Hokitika High School Board ;ai.nd the .Canterbury" Education Board,/,we have been able to add many new books to our school library. ' . -'A/ In keeping with modern tendencies in education, ,;hobby classes ,were inaugurated last year and now pri two,porj iods per week, children permitted fo choose /the work they wish; to ijd. , Classes are now being conducted in first. ■ nid, basket work, woodwork, :'rieedlo- ! work, painting, sketching, model -Wo- | plane building, stamp, collecting, writirig, drama; \Sfster GillpSpiehas giveri much assistance in the fihsf. aid class, and Mrs Appleton in . the bt)S-i> ket work class., V ■/• i■. ' i Football, cricket and basketball Ha,*t* received attention, and all teams have done well—the School XI wirihinn tho Saturday cricket competition, and the School A basketball team‘ being run-ner-up,/itt the basketball cotnpetitios.

i, The? annual athletic and -swimming Ssports were held and good competition resulted. I. regrot that art. few .parents can. find it convenient to .attend .the sports meetings. Children like ntu audience and the attendance of parents and friends at school functions is always welcomed and: appreciated. ' : • The usual inter-school fames wi<h Greymouth -Technical -School,. Greymouth Mairivand Reefton District H’rfx School were held, and for the first time we welcomed./football .and..: basketball teams from Rangidra High. School, pith which, we hope, in the future, to have • annual games. ; I wish to make special .reference to I swimming. This, year, .103 pupils, were | taught to distance certificatesr-18 for 880 yards. These results are excellent,.; but I venture to sav that even better results will be obtained when we have our own baths. . "" ■ xv. ....

After a lapse of many years, evening classes were commehced in March.- The enrolments have been excellent and.classes are now being regularly conducted in shorthand,typewriting, book-keep-ing, dressmaking (two classes), craft work, english, arithmetic and history. The fees for these classes are most reason,able (from. 15/- per, year for one night per week, 20 1- for two nights,, and 25/- for three nights) and I ‘hope that we shall have still more enrolments, as the? people of the town realise the value of these classes. In conclusion, I wish to express my thanks to my staff for their co-opera-tion and loyalty both in and out of school, to the Committee, Mr Wild and the Education Board for their co-opera-tion and assistance, to the Press, to the parents, and to all others who have in any way helped the school.