GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL GARDEN FETE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6859, 14 March 1929, Page 11

GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL GARDEN FETE

A GREAT SUCCESS. The weather was glorious yesterday for the opening of the Girls’ High School garden fete, which was organised to raise funds towards an assembly hall. The greens were at their best and demonstrations by the pupils on the lawn of folk dances and drill display, made a pretty picture. Splendid music was provided by Mr. Napier by the means of an electricaf gramophone. The Parents' Association, who have worked untiringly these last few weeks, must have felt very gratified to see the children and parents buying so freely and each stall did a brisk business, the afternoon tea and ice cream vendors doing particularly well. It is anticipated that the nett result will bo about £75. The various stall-holders were as follow: —Sweet, Mesdames H. R. Thorburn and W. Howell, Misses Walker and Rainforth; fancy work stall, Mesdames Gunter, Watters and Misses L. A. Brown, and M. G. Wood; ice cream and soft drinks, Mesdames D. J. Lovelock and A. Fuller and Miss Dale; produce, Mesdames J. Aitchison, D. T. Allan, A. Grigor and Misses Fraser, McHaffie and Castle; roll down and darts, Misses D. Niccol, C. Wood, J. Neilson and H. Litchfield; croquet competition, Mesdames Gorbridge and H. Brown; guessing weight of sheep, Mr. Campbell Aitchison and Mr. W. Cutler; bowling competition, Messrs. J. B. Gerrand and G. Corbridge. Mrs. J. Aitchison, as convenor of the ladies’ committee, did much to help the function, while Mr. F. Amos was a haTd-worked and efficient secretary. Mesdames Coombs, J. Black and W. Millar acted as judges of the fancy work.

Prize-winners in tho various compe-

. tions were as follows: — Sponge sandwich, for girl pupils: Miss H. Rowland, 1; Miss M. Better, 2; Miss IT. Stewart, 3; Miss N. Jordan, i special prize. Sponge sandwich (open class): Mrs. B. Wingate special; Mrs. W. Renton, 1: Miss TJ. Hopwood, 2; Mr 3. W. Robertson, 3. Ham guessing competition (191bs. 7ozs.): Mesdames Litchfield ar.d Lovelock, 19Jlbs. each. Lamb guessing (571b5.): Miss Ruth Billens, 57ilbs. Cake guessing: Miss L.' Gerrand, 1. Coat hanger: Miss W. White, 1; Mrs. E. A. Hamilton, 2. Most useful apron: Mrs. Fairbrother. Best needlework: Miss O. Stcnberg. The sponge sandwich competition for High School girls was a great success, the quality of the cooking being | very high, while the entries were large and the judges (Mesdames J. A. Nash and T. R. Moore) had great difficulty in deciding the winners. Fete Opened by Mayor.

I In the absence of Mr. A. Grigor 5 (chairman of the Parents’ Association) 1 Mr. J. B. Gerrand, vice-chairman and 1 treasurer of the Association, extended ! a welcome to the Mayor, and thanked him for attending to open the fete. 1 Mr. Graham apologised for the ab--1 sence of the chairman of the High 1 School Board of Governors, Mr. W. E. ! Bimie, who, he said, took a keen in- > terest in educational matters and the ' scholars. The speaker understood that 1 an effort was being made to raise ■ funds for a new assembly hall. Por ; this there was already a considerable sum of money in hand, collected largely by Miss Mills and the late Miss Hodges, former principals of the school. The Parents’ Association, which already had certain funds, was now endeavouring to supplement these. The school was splendidly equipped, but badly needed an assembly hall to assist in training the girls of the future. He need not emphasise the support given to educational causes by Palmerston North parents, from one end of the town to the other.. At Hokowhitu they were making a big effort for baths, and here they were trying for an assembly hall. He hoped that .a £l. for £1 subsidy would be obtained from the new Government. He was surprised that the school building did not incorporate a hall when first built, but no doubt owing to the financial pressure of thoso times expenditure had been carefully watched. He wished them every success in their efforts. Addressing the scholars, His Worship said: “I sincerely trust that you realise the present sacrifices that are being made to equip you for true citizenship and equip you for the places you will one day take in the world.” Mr. Graham then officially declared the fete open. Three cheers wero given for the Mayor.