GENERAL NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19196, 12 June 1924, Page 11

GENERAL NEWS.

The monthly meeting of the North-East Talley School Committee, held on Tuesday night, was attended by Mr J. 3. Bardsloy (chairman), Mrs <i. B. Elliot, Mrs Peart, Messrs S. Little. O. Manson, J. Reekie, J. Laing. J. Elliot, and H. Bcgg. The head master reported that the school had reopened that morning with 12 new pupils, making a total roll number of 605. The attendance was excellent, as, excepting one ca-lo of scarlet fever, no infectious disease v.-ai prevalent. Miss Walden had that day taken up her duties at the school, in succession to Miss S. Bayley. In connection with fho new playing area recently laid dewn by the Education Board, several members stated that the ground was in a very unsatisfactory state, and had evidently not been drained, as after a shower of rain it was impossible to walk across. She committee decided that, the jjround should nut be played on this winter, and that the attention of the Education Board’s architect be drawn to the diet that the ground was not satisfactory. In speaking of finance, the chairman laid stress on the fact that the allowance to the committee from the Education Board was not sufficient to carry on v.-ithout the aid of locally-raised money, and l.c expressed the hope that the hoard would allow ’ho committee a fair sum from the ■amount granted by the Minister of Education towards helping (he finances of the larger schools. Arrangements were made to supply the children having lunch at school with cocoa during the winter m’onths. For several years the School Committee has had the running of the public library, and as the public is not taking much interest in this binary 't was resolved to call a meeting of subscribers and intending subscribers to discuss what should be done in the matter of making the library more self-supporting, and to try to got the subscribers to appoint (heir own committee to take over and manage the library. Although the subscription to this library is sominal, only GO names arc on tlio toll, and as (here are absolutely no expenses in connection with the running of flic library fall the subscriptions being put into ne wbooks), the support accorded the school Committee docs not justify all the work entailed in atendanco, etc., so it was decided tint the subscribers should be given the opportunity of running it themselves. The president (Mr (». Stuart Thomson) presided at, the fortnightly meeting of (he Moruington Literary Society on Tuesday evening, and the large audience had a rare treat in listening to an address by the Hon. .M. Thomson, whose fine descriptive powers and literary grace were devoted to a, description of the rise of the great Mogul Empire, with special reference to the good and great Akhar. He is snccially qualified to speak about India, and had the rapt attention of his hearers. The address was illnstarted by maps, on which were shown the vast territories over which the Moguls ruled. In moving a vote of thanks, Sir Trotter spoke highly of the great interest and charm of Mr Thomson’s address.