Improved Public Speaking

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 15, 15 December 1945, Page 6

Improved Public Speaking

Congratulations on the improvement on public speaking at the Palmerston North Boys’ High School was expressed at the annual break-up ceremony, last evening, by the chairman of the Board of Governors (Mr M. H. Oram, MP.,) who said this had been particularly impressed on him in attending the annual dinner at College House, when speeches had been made by pupils. Some of the speeches, he said, might well have been made by adults. Vandalism At Levin.

Acts of vandalism have caused concern to residents of Levin for some time past and recently daihage was done at the waterworks- At Wednesday’s meeting of the Borough Council further instances were cited. Two rimu trees about twelve feet high in the Waiopeliu scenic reserve have been cut down, hydrangeas in the garden plot adjacent to the Horowhenua County Council’s Chambers in Bath Street have been uprooted and seats in the Regent Theatre have been damaged. More deplorable still, two headstones at the Levin Cemetery have been pushed over. The council decided to refer the matters to the police. The Palmerstonian.

The Palmerstonian, the annual magazine of the ' Palmerston North Boys’ High School, has again been published. Containing as it does a review of all of the school’s activities for the past year, its sports, and school institutions, the publication is . one that is always popular, especially among former pupils. The wealth of inlormation which the magazine contains gives it a high placing among publications of its kind. A good deal of space has been given to the activities of former pupils of the school in their war service and a record is given of those who have made the supreme sacrifice since the last issue was published. The magazine contains numerous good photographs. Rangitikei River Survey The Rangitikei Catchment . Board has plans in hand for an aerial survey of the Rangitikei River to be taken from the river mouth to Rewa, a distance of 33 miles,, by R.N.Z.A.F. planes from Oliakea. . Delays have been caused to the project because of the change-over at the station from, a wartime to a peacetime basis, and in the meantime photographs of particular points have been taken with a smaller camera. The consulting engineer (Mr H. R, Farquhar. of Palmerston North) has used the photographs extensively when discussing problems with the hoard, these. being, in the main, requests for. assistance from farmers whose properties are the subject of erosion or threatened by it. Trends in Education

Disagreement with recent developments in the growth of secondary schools under education boards was expressed by Mr M. H. Oram, M.P., chairman of the Palmerston North High Schools Board of Governors, at the annual break-up ceremony of the Boys’ High School, last evening. Over recent years there had been established post-primary schools of a multiple type that had grown up under education boards,, said Mr Oram. In his opinion that was not a good type. Education boards had no facilities for conducting a post-primary school,! which should be governed by an independent board, with direct access to the Education Department. Only in that way could a school build its traditions and fulfil its full and proper purpose. Caring for the Pig.

Times were when anything was good enough for pigs—a few' bits of torn tin, some dirty hay, and any kind of wood for framing formed the foundation of the stye, while the pen was dirty, and inadequate, but times are changing. For years the Wellington District Pig Council has been striving to bring about higher standards of pig management and pig housing, the argument being advanced that money spent wisely on these lines gave a good return. Steady progress has been made and farmers who derive a considerable part of their income from breeding and fattening pigs have in very many cases been eager to adopt new methods which have proved their worth. Several pig houses in the Manawatu have - been photographed and described in descriptive pamphlets as being of a desirable standard and type. At a meeting on Thursday of the Wellington District Pig Council reference was made in the report of the supervisor (Mr L. L. Marsdon) to the fact that Mr D. Rowland, of Tiakitahuna, was having erected a six-pen totally enclosed house, “fitted with glazed tile troughs and sleeping platforms made of hollow bricks.” It was stated that this pig-house would be one of the best in this district” for its size.