SCHOOLS

North Canterbury Gazette, Volume I, Issue 13, 4 November 1932, Page 4

SCHOOLS

This page belongs to the boys, and girls of North Canterbury who still go to school, it is an invitation to self-expres-sion and, we hope, an aid. to selfdevelopment. The more freely it is used the more clearly their elders will realise what school life really means.

RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL

NORTH CANTERBURY THROUGH THE AGES. [By G.C.B.] IV. Recent Period. The elevation which, as we stated previously, commenced in the late Pleistocene, has continued through the Recent Period and indeed is still in progress. The evidence of present elevation is to be found in the existence of such features as recent river terraces, and raised beaches on the coastline. The writer has seen a tiny creek in the Cheviot district which old settlers say was only a surface creek one could easily step across in the early days of. the settlement, but has since formed a channel some 20 feet deep and 30 to 40 feet wide, over some considerable distance of its course. The explanation may be partly that the water supply has increased, but this does not seem to be the case; or perjhaps the creek has in some way been diverted and is now attempting to catch up, as it were, with previous elevation. Raised Beaches. When a period of stability alternates with periods of elevation, the detritus carried down by rivers to the sea is distributed by wave action along the coast line and gradually forms shelves some distance out to sea. Further, where the coast line itself is rugged the pounding force, of the waves gradually undermines and breaks down the cliffs and this material is sorted out as shelves. When elevation occurs these shelves are raised above sea-level as more or less level plateaux. Such Raised beaches are to be seen at the Amuri Bluff and near Oamaru. An interesting example nearer at hand is Motunau Island. The surface of the island is practically flat and represents ian old beach level. The island itself has been able to resist the natural coast erosion, since it probably consists of harder rock than the surrounding material that has been eaten away and distributed over the sea-floor. On the mainland, the flat on which Amberley stands probably represents the continuation of the same raised beach. As we travel northwards along the Main North Road, we reach the foot of old sea cliffs just beyond the road leading to Leithfield Beach, and we follow along this old beach line for some distance and after crossing the Kowai come up on to the surface of the raised beach itself. That elevation has taken place is well evidenced by the deep and steep-sided gullies cut out by tiny streams in the vicinity of the Amberley golf links. The flat area from the foot of the old sea cliffs out to the present sea beach is probably the result of the sea retreating under a later slight elevation. Some of the raised beaches probably belong to the Pleistocene Period, but there is no doubt that others are of recent origin. The same may be said of the river terraces. The Canterbury Rivers. Prior to the late Pleistocene depression the gorges of the Canterbury crivers were not as deep as at present. The preceding elevation had been very intense and the rivers were unable to keep pace with it. By that I mean /that they had not been able to excavate their gorges down, to the base level of erosion. During the depression they would not be deepening their courses but rather filling in portions of them. When the late Pleistocene elevation started they would again commence to deepen their beds. This has proceeded so far now that rivers like the Rakaia and, Waiinakariri are at present forming gorges actually through the gravels they deposited previously. The evidence suggests that the elevation has been some 1000 feet since the plains first began to form. Those who are familiar with the Rakaia Gorge will recall the view obtained where the road approaches the river from the northern side. Travelling over the old gravel plains one comes suddenly in sight of the profound gorge which the river has eaten out of the deposits since the present elevation commenced. Recent Gravels. Gravels of recent origin must of course have been formed on a terrestrial surface, otherwise they would still he under the. sea. An interesting local example is seen at the East and West Greys. Here the gravels to a thickness of /some' 10 to 12 feet have been laid down horizontally across the planed-off surfaces of the Oamaru series, which, as we said previously, had a pronounced dip towards the south or south-east. The dip in this case varies up to about 25 degrees. These gravels

(t*, 1 I—[| i I. .L ■l !3 may have been laid down m a lake which would be drained when the Ashley lowered its bed sufficiently to give the Greys the neoessary fall to carve out the gorges, they now occupy. Gravels of this type may usually be recognised by the fact that the boulders in them are very irregular in shape, not having been smoothed out so much by a long water journey. Also they often have a brownish colour due to oxidation by exposure to air. Marine deposits usually are bluish or greyish in colour. Earthquakes. Earthquakes afford us ample evidence that earth movements are still in operation in the New Zealand area. Obviously if elevation or depression is gradually taking place enormous strains will develop, especially along the edges of the area involved. With respect to the plateau of which New Zealand represents the above-water portion, the region of greatest strain is the edge of the plateau where the ocean depths become more profound. This line is some distance off the eastern coast and the sudden release of strains originating there probably accounts for many of our earthquakes. Other earthquakes are more local, for example,, those occurring in the Kaikoura region where the mountain system is not nearly so stable as that of the Southern Alps, and where folding action is slowly taking plaoe. To allay the fears of many of my readers, I may explain again that these actions are extremely slow, and that when a major earthquake movement takes place in one locality that may release the strain for centuries. Volcanic Action. No volcanic action has taken place in the Canterbury area within the Recent Period. Banks Peninsula was thrown up during the great Pleistocene elevation but has been partly submerged in the following depression. Lyttelton Harbour has been formed by the sea entering the crater of a huge Pleistocene volcano, but fortunately there is no sign of' any further action. Conclusion. In these articles, I have attempted to give in an elementary way a brief account of the main facts of our geological history. The story could be much amplified by giving an account of the flora and fauna of the various periods as evidenced by a study of their fossil content, but this aspect of the question I have not touched upon. I fully realise that the story has been, for the main part, most fragmentary, but will feel amply rewarded if I have (assisted any of my readers to a fuller appreciation of the topography of the Canterbury area.

COAL AND THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

[By G.N., Form Lower Y.b.]

No aspect of the Five-Year Plan has interested me more than coal-produc-tion. In the coal production of Russia there are two main centres —the Don Basin and Kuznetsk. Of these the largest, by far, is Kuznetsk. A Year Ago. In the Don Basin working conditions were terrible. Little more than a year ago men had to climb down ladders, crawl sideways along a sloping passage, and slide down coal chutes until they reached the mining level. They could not be carried up or down the shaft in the cage because it was not safe. The miners could not come up the same way as they went down, but had to walk out a different way. ' When they reached a depth of about 2000 feet, they had to crawl along the seam dragging their implements, till they .reached the head. Then they had to lie on their sides, or kneel, according to the height of the seam, and hew out the coal with picks. When they had cut out a certain amount, they threw it back by hand and loaded their cars. jThen they pushed the cars to the pit head, where they were hoisted up to the surface.

All the time they were housed in damp, earthen huts. Diseases such as rheumatism and tuberculosis were common among them, and medical equipment waß poor. Indeed, it was difficult to obtain workmen except among the Komsomols or Communist youth, yho were willing to go anywhere and work under any conditions. To-day. Now, the accommodation at the Don Basin is vastly improved. The miners sleep in large, airy dormitories. There are theatres for their amusement, with seating space for a thousand or more; gymnasiums, reading-rooms, libraries, clubs, and up-to-date hospitals. The Don Basin is gradually being mechanised and will finally reach the standard of those of the Gorlovka and Kuznetsk Basins. These are very up-to-date. The conditions above-ground are the same as at the Don Basin. The mines generate their own electricity by means of Soviet-built steam turbines; electricity is used in the mine for haulage, electric motors being mounted on cars and driven by women; for charging the batteries of the miners’ lamps; for driving coal-cutters; for aerial tramways ; and for hauling above ground. Aerial tramways are used for carrying the coal to the coke-plant of the mine. Air-compressors are installed at the mine-head sp, that pneumatic hammers can be used by the miners. Knapp bar coal-cutters are used as well as rotary cutters to speed up production. Coal conveyors are used extensively to facilitate the handling of coal. At the pit-head a rescue squad is stationed; fitted with gas masks. ,

Mining Machinery. Now, Russia is producing her own mining machinery at the Gorlovka factory. Heavy and light types of coalcutters are made, as well as ventilating equipment and mining implements. The factory is being reconstructed ana enlarged. Old coal-cutters are repaired and overhauled. Soon the Gorlovka factory will become a centre for all the coal-mining of the U.S.S.R. and will speed up -the production of coal even faster than it is doing at present.

TALES FROM THE MAORI.

An Old Buriabplace. [Collected and told by C.D., Form Vl.] One afternoon found us, with no definite end in view, on the road between Tuahiwi and Kaiapoi by the side of the Whakahumi River. After some time we decided to go to the old Maori village near Kaiapoi. Mounting our bicycles, we pushed against a stiff easterly breeze and followed the stream until we reached the north road in the direction of the sandhills. At last we came to a gate, and entering the paddock found ourselves on a sand-hill which had once been the centre of the old village. “This,” said, my friend, “is the site (pi the old kaika ‘Wai a te atua.’ It is the nearest spot to that on which they settled after the fall of Kaiapohia. There,” pointing to a spot densely overgrown with broom and aka vine, 4< is where the wharepuni (meetinghouse) used to stand; but there is no sign of it now. This is the Ruataniwha cemetery, and is the earliest burialplace, except for that at Kaiapoliia.” We walked over to the sacred spot. Many people lay buried there: old men and women who must have been old when they escaped the Ngati-toa’s slaughter, and who must have, seen many a grim fight; and beside them their children, who had never gone through that terrible ordeal. So we passed along reading now one tombstone and now another until we reached one under which two children lay buried. As I read a strange thing happened. That grey stone changed colour as though rays of light were passing over it, now bright, now dark, and moving ever upwards. My friend turned away and rubbed his eyes. I started, turned away, and looked back again. It was still there. “This tombstone seems to be changing colour,” I said, “or else I‘in ‘seeing things.’ ” “Well, that’s why I turned away,” remarked my friend; and we both aooked round for the cause, but could see nothing which could have influenced ifche stone in such a way. We turned our eyes once more to the stone and in that instant the curious change began all over again. We were mystified. Then we went to the side of the Whakahumi which was a little way off - and saw the place where the canoes used to unload the shellfish they brought from Puharakekenui (four miles north of New Brighton). I have learnt since that this phenomenon of the tombstones is not uncommon in Maori cemeteries, and that it is really the stone trying to attract the attention of the deceased person’s relatives, and of any understanding persons who may be present with them. And this is why other people who go there do not see it, and so laugh at those who have seen this light.

SCHOOL PICTURES.

I. Spring.

[By E. 8., Form Vl.]

In a field full of flowers stands a little child, olive-skinned, oval-faced, with lips parted and blue wistful eyes. Her arms are full of the sweetest and simplest flowers. Her flaxen hair is flying wildly in the wind; so is her little yellow skirt which defies fashion’s “lengthened decree,” but harmonises perfectly with the tiny yellow daisies in her bouquet.

It is a glorious day with only a few little mischievous clouds, like creamy patches on a blue gown. Beside her .are two bushes in early leaf, from one of which a tiny cheery bird is. warbling, while a scarlet butterfly floats lazily against the background of cloud. What a picture I But did we not say her eyes were wistful? They are even a trifle sad. Perhaps she longs to burden more her already laden arms, or perhaps she is realising that at that moment when the sun is shining so brightly she is yet crushing some delicate little flowers beneath those “earthy’’-grey shoes of hers. Who knows?

This picture was painted many years ago by Berta Zuckermann, an Austrian girl of fourteen. The original is in Professor Cizek’s Juvenile Art School in Vienna.

CORRESPONDENCE CLUB. Extracts, copied as written, from letters sent from other countries: (a) England—July 21st. 1932. I was very glad to get your letter, but I’ve only just settled down to write back, the reason is that here in England we have most of the public examinations in July, and I have just taken the Matriculation exam.; and so has my brother, though he had to go to the University to take it, because he \loes not go to school now. I suppose it is the same thing as you take in December, and it is also an entrance exam, for the universities.

The last exam, was on Tuesday, so our form had a holiday for the remainder of the week. The rest of the term, which ends at the end of July, our form has a generally slack time, while the rest of the school will be having the terminal examinations. I suppose

we should have been working hard before (which T didn’t) to get this reward.

On Wednesday we’re going to have a form picnic. What a crowd it must be when you have your school picnic. Do you all go to the same place ?

I wish we. could have some of the interesting clubs and things you have at your school. Ours is a particuarly uninteresting one, partly because of the rather old-fashioned head mistress. We don’t oven have sports or prize-giving Hay, and only an occasional play or lecture. We just keep to the same routine of: school in the morning from 9 to 12, games from 12 to 1, and school in the afternoon from 2.30 to 4, then plenty of home-work . . . . . . Our holidays at school come like this: After the first term (September to December) we have about thi’ee weeks’ holiday, and also three weeks at Easter, then the summer holiday of about six weeks is the whole of August and about two weeks of September. . . I forgot to mention' the (week’s, holiday we. have in the middle Of the third term, that is, this term we’re finishing now, known as Whitsuntide.

(b) From an Indian Boy. . . . You desired to know about the “Indian village birds,” so I am going to tell you something about them.

First bird I will take here is crow. Crows are found in plenty in India, [they are great thieves, they live near towns and villages and are always on the look-out for something to fly away with. They steal eggs from the birds’ nests; perhaps that is. why they are so careful of. their own. They fear, it may be, that what they do to others, others may try to do to them. Another curious bird which is common in India is the pigeon; it is like a dove only bigger. They live almost entirely on grain, and if you through them a handful, one bird picks up perhaps 100 grains in less than a minute. The hoopoe lives on different food from the crow and pigeon. It has a very long and slightly curved beak and with this it digs deep into the ground and pulls out insects. It bathes not in water but in dust. It finds out a dusty place in which it crouches, ruffles up its feathers and rubs them in the dust. Among other interesting birds are the “seven sisters” or “bubblers,” because of the chatter they keep up while flying, and “seven sisters” because they go about in flocks. Another bird is a duck. They also go about in flocks. They are goose-like but bigger and their shape is as of a goose. They swim in rivers and lakes. This very Sunday we hunted four ducks. It is very difficult to shoot them. I like their feathers and I use them in my hat. I am sending you a few of them and I think you will like them.

The last bird I shall mention here is the woodpecker, the bird that taps or pecks at the bark of a tree. It has a long sticking tongue which it pushes into the cracks of the bark, where insects hide. GIRL GUIDES. On Friday, October the 28th, twelve excited Guides waited at four o’clock in the Cottage for Miss Blackwell, who was to bring with her Miss Bromley Cocks, our Provincial Commissioner. We had decorated the Cottage beforehand, and our patrol corners were brightened with flowers of our patrol colours. Miss Hollow welcomed Miss Cocks at the school, and then came into our meeting for a short time. After we had welcomed Miss Cocks, the Guides gave a short charade (almost impromptu) portraying some of the Girl Guide work, and acting the word “membership.” Then, after inspecting the Company, Miss Bromley Cocks gave us a short talk about Guiding in the Early Days, which was followed by a discussion of the work ior our Secpnd-Class Badges, and also of how we, as a school company, may get proficiency badges on our school work. Miss Blackwell brought back the .garments we had made for the Lady Alice Fergusson Cup, for which Canterbury had come third. When, at ten minutes to five, we said “Good-bye,” we felt that we were indeed part of that great world-wide fellowship known as the Girl Guide Movement.

Rangiora Convent School The results of the recent music examinations have been published, and the school has done remarkably well. Eight pupils were presented, and all •passed the actual examination, while five of them obtained honours. To do this a pupil must obtain 80 marks. Out of the eight pupils not one obtained less than 73 per cent. The examinations were conducted by Mr. Egerton Lowe, who took over the work of Dr, Ronald Chamberlain when the latter fell ill, and he spoke highly of the pupils presented and of the teaching. He said that there were no- weak spots in their performance and that such pupils made examining a pleasure.

The pupils of Standard VI. were given part of their proficiency examination on Wednesday; the rest will be held on November 29.

The boys played a team from the Borough School at cricket recently, out; were beaten by 12 runs. Our boys scored 23 runs to their opponents’ 35. The following are Ike pupils who passed in music; Intermediate —Pass; McMullan, Douglas John. Junior —Honours: Parsons, Basil (violin). Pass: Powell, Margery. Advanced Preparatory Honours: Forgeson, June Iris. Preparatory —Honours : Cruickshank, Valarie. Pass: Pitama, Rimn. Initial Honours: King, Richard Manning; Wilson, lan.

Rangiora Borough School. The new concrete pitch has been finished, and with the advent of a truer wicket we. anticipate considerable improvement in the boys’ cricket. To facilitate the draining of the playground workmen are at present digging a sump.,'This is about 16 feet in depth and about four feet across. Fourteen feet of clay had to be dug through to reach the point where shingle commenced. Now as a result of the recent wet weather water is continually seeping through the 'clay and necessitates considerable bailing before the work can be gone on with. Our cricket XI. recently defeated the Convent School team in a good match, and is at present hopefully looking forward to other friendly matches. To arrange these, however, is a matter of considerable difficulty owing to our distance from other schools.

Southbrook School The school took the first plunge of the swimming season on Wednesday. The ideal weather caused the baths to be greatly in demand, and all enjoyed their swim immensely.

The baths have been cleaned and white-washed, and a path has been constructed round the edge. These improvements have made a great deal of difference in the general appearance and in the cleanliness of the water.

Sefton School The school gardens are healthy and flourishing. Summer games, are well on, tennis ancl rounders for the girls and cricket in three grades —senior, intermediate and junior—for the boys. The four chosen essays from Standards V. and VI. for the annual Navy League essay competition have been sent away. This is the first time Sefton School has competed. A committee meeting to choose the picnic grounds will be held next week. Parents are to vote for a suitable place. Everyone is working hard, as there is now only a short time left before the examinations, and preparations for the school concert are keeping teachers and scholars very busy.

Amberley School There lias been a good attendance this term of the 11(5 pupils of the Ambcrley School. Three belong to 'the agricultural club, and five have successfully hatched the eggs supplied to them. Part of the Proficiency Examination was held on Tuesday. The School is feeling the financial pinch this year, and teams have not been able to travel to play their matches, owing to the cost of transport. The baths have been cleaned out, and swimming, to the children’s joy, will he starting very soon.

Broomfield School The gardens, which now present a bright and neat appearance, are being kept in good order by the twenty pupils attending this sole-charge school. But owing to our small numbers, there being only nine boys, no sports teams can be formed.