AOKAUTERE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 5

AOKAUTERE

(From Our Own Correspondent.) AOKAUTERE, April 17. The monthly meeting of the Aokautere Women’s Institute was held last Wednesdday afternoon. Mrs Greves presided over a good attendance. Mrs Craven, the newly eiected secretary, read the . report of the last monthly meeting and the president gavo an outline of various decisions arrived at by the committee. Mrs D. Scott, who was to have spoken on drama, was unable to be present, but arrangements have been made for a. special meeting when a Drama Circle will be formed. The competition for the afternoon, for the best tomato savoury in the senior division, was won by Mrs Orr 1, Mrs K. W. Field 2, and Mrs Greves 3; best ginger biscuits in the junior division, won by Miss Nancy Field 1, Miss Enid Orr 2, Miss Lucy Gough 3. Instead of the usual roll-call, three members told humorous stories, and Mrs Craven gave an interesting talk on methods employed in the teaching of the infant classes, for which she received a vote of thanks. A dainty afternoon tea was served by the hostesses, Mrs Gilslinan, Mrs Craven and Miss Clarice Lankshear, and a market table in charge of Mrs Orr did good business. Mrs W. R. Hopcroft kindly judged the competition and was accorded a vote of thanks. . , , , , At the annual meeting of the Aokauteie School the following committee was elected: Messrs Chowen (chairman), Petersen, Gilshnan, Durden and A. K. Gre%es (secretary). Messrs Gilshnan and Durden are new members elected to fill vacancies caused by the retirement of _ Mr b. Lankshear, who declined nomination toi health reasons, and Mrs W. F. 1’ ield, who has left the school district. Before commencing the business of the meeting, Mr Lankshear spoke of the good work m educational matters that ha.d been rendered to the district by Mr and Mis Field. Mr Field had been a member ot the committee for 16 consecutive years, for nine of which he had been secretary, and during his long residence he had missed only one householders meeting, when he had to relinquish his position on the committee on account of illness. Mrs Field had become a member of the committee five years ago and Miring that period had acted in the capacity o secretary and those who had worked with her could testify to the capable planner in which she had at all times carried out her secretarial duties. Mr and Mrs Fi and Mr Greves spoke of the. sp.end d work that had been done by Mr Lankshear as chairman and also as a member of the committee. All present regretted Mr Lankshear’s decision not to stand on account of ill-health, and the hope was expressed that later lie would again come back to the committee. Extracts fiom the annual report were as fol.ow : V commenced the year with a credit of £29 9s 3d, being £lB 7s Id in the general account and £ll Is 2d in the special account. Our credit to-day stands at £1 9s 3d, the whole of which amount belongs to the general account, ills specia account lias been balanced owing to the generosity of last year’s committee who have contributed the sum of £1 17s _ 3d id cash to meet our liabilities. Our capitation, from the Education Board has for thfi nast year amounted to b&o, as against £37 for the previous year, and private donations, which have helped oui special account have been _ great y reduced so all this Will make it evident that local means of raising money for- school funds will have to be reverted fo Our chief expenditure has been £l2 lls for cleaning and sanitary purposes. Our stationery account has been reduced y half, due to the reduced school roll and to strict economy on the part of the tpacher in an endeavour to help the committee keep expenses down. We celebra • ed Arbor Day in a fitting manner and were pleased to have with us on that occasion Mr Lange, of the Wanganui Education Board, who gave us some help ful advice. We also had a visit from the chairman of the EducaUon Board Mr iv i? Hemingway, and Mr W. rl. e,: and the chairman and other members of the committee waited on these gentlemen, and as a result of the visit the board provided wire and staples for the repairing of the school fence. To enable the work to be done quickly, the committee engaged a man to do the job with the assistance of voluntary labour, and in th» ™nnpotion we are grateful to the set tiers who provided such great assistance. We are also indebted to the Tennis Clu, who donated a tennis net to the school

aj a mark of appreciation for the use of the school courts. We had a change in the staffing of the school, Mrs Brereton, who had been head teacher for some years, being transferred on promotion to Carnarvon. Under the new head teacher, Mr Craven, the committee feels that Hie school will make good progress and Mr Craven’s association with the school during the greater part of a year shows a keen interest and a. desire to co-operate with the parents and committee in anything for the welfaro of the school and district. We also wish to place on record our appreciation of Mrs Craven’s service* in connection with the instruction in sewing she has given at the school. Parents Day, introduced by Mr Craven, was welcoined as a. pleasant innovation and W 8 hope that as time goes on Parents’ Day will be a popular one in Aokautere. Ihe prizegiving this year took place on the afternoon of Parents’ Day, and Re\. A. N. Scotter, of Palmerston North, very kindly camo over and addressed the children and presented the prizes. The picnic was held at the Ashhurst Domain and proved a happy outing for young and old. Thanks are due to aft who helped on that occasion, to the ladies who provided refreshments and to men who contributed more than enough to pay tho cost of the lure of the grounds. Mr Hopcroft uas acam audited our books and to him our thanks me due.