WAIMATUKT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 35

WAIMATUKT.

December 26. — On Tuesday, 20th inst., our school closed for the Christmas holidays; bin as we only get half our vacation now, the function is not such an important affair as it is in the more fortunate town schools. As no school prizes have been presented for some years, our break-up is nothing greater than any Friday closing, with the exception of hand clapping, feet tramping, and dust-rising, which delight the young hearts. How. great must be the satisfaction that 'our boys and girls derive from kicking thos« seats and desks, cheering and shouting in that room which for 10 months demanded quietness, diligence, and whispering ;' and to .thp teachers, how gratifying must be the comical expression on the pupil*' faces when the words — "No school for so many weeks," are uttered. From town schools the pupils go honle to hide school books and exercises for six or seven weeks, and the teachers pass over those well-worn door" steps for the railway station or the steamer to drive the tiredness, by six weeks' excursion, from the brain, and return, tired, perhaps, with the travelling, but renewed and invigorated in mind and body. From the few country schools that still .have harvest holidays — holidays that are retained not for'their necessity, but for -the reluctance to kill an oldestablished., custom (for old customs die hard) — teachers close their school doors for two or three weeks, and go home to brood over their misfortune in not being able to take a trip; nor does the prospect of harvest holidays afford any consolation, because then,, though the vacation may b& -a little longer, they cannot leave home, ioi there are no cheap fares by train or steamer. "When the two or three weeks are up, they resume work .with the tired feeling still there, and the cobwebs still entangling Jhe mind. .School" Concert.— The School Committee's " funds ( beings exhausted, it -was ? few , weeks ago » decided to hold a school concert, x'his -function came off on Wednesday, 21st inst. Mr J.\ C. Thomson, M.H.R., presided, and in his address, chiefly on matters edixcaiional, said he ha^ just read the inspector's report on the school, a few weeks' ago, in the board room, and wished to impress upon us that we must not run away with the idea that other sohools in the district were better than those near at hand. He said that the inspector's report was not complimentary in every respect. Mr Thomson referred to tihe new syllabus, and showed that in some respects it w#s an excellent thing, especially in that, by Nature study, it made a demand on the children's power of observation. The address was received with loud applause. The first item on the programme was a song, "Scotland yet. liom Miss Maggie Brown, which was well received ; then four little school boys— John Southern, Roy M'Kenzie* Perston Lindsay, and Thomas Mooney — dressed in character, recited a piece, "When I am a Man," so well that the applause" was vociferous. Then 12 little girls sang an action song, keeping good time, and making a pretty picture with their laughing face 3, pretty dresses, and sweet voices. A dozen girls then made their appearance with dumbbells in their hands, dressed in white tastefully and neatly, and to the harmony of music went through a number of exercises that was watched with keen interest by all. After them came a little mite of a girl — Marjory Barren, and in a clear, distinct voice recited an appropriate piece for a little girl. The next item was,_for a school concert, a unique one; Miss Jessie Fraser danced some step dances very well indeed. If Jessie's dancing was to many a surprise, the skirl of the Highland bagpipes was a much greater surprise, for where, out in Waimatuku. where things are never done in halves, -would the pipes be heard at a schoo-1 concert? The scene was changed, and three little pupils— Ruby Lindsay, Annie Ryan, and Livingston Fraser— acted a nice little piece; Ruby, in her chair with hei doll or. her knee, looked so earnest and seemed so anxious about her sick baby; Annie, as the servant, acted her part well; and Vena, the doctor, was so confident that he could cure the baby and in such a hurry to show his medical skill that he quite forgot to take off his tall hat or lay down his bag. Mr W. Hymphries, who is always well received, and encored, sang two songs. During the interval which followed, as the night was wet and no one felt disposed to go out, attendance certificates were presented to John M'Bide and Alice Ross, who got first class, and Iva Brown, John Soxithern, and Thomas Mooney got second class. A bagpipe selection was then given by Mr Jenkins. The second part of the programme opened with a recitation from the chairman, which was listened to with spellbound attention, and Mr Thomson had to respond to an encore. Nine senior boys then gave an exhibition of dumbbells, which was performed so exactly, and without nxusic, to the word of command, that those to whom dumbbells were a novelty were quite pleased. Mr T. Williams, our local storekeeper, sang a song in a way that showed he understood what he was about. Miss Greta Fraser then went through that difficult performance, the sword dance, which brought the audience to its feet the better to see the dance. Mr Hymphries again gave two comic songs, which were certainly well received. Six girls who had been instructed) by Mr J. S. Brown sang "Tlie village choristers.'' Three young ladies then, by request, repeated the dialogue they gave at the ladies' social, and barely escaped an encore. Miss Maggie Brown and .Mr T. Williams sang a duet, "'lhe crookit bawbee." The singing of the National Anthem closed what all admitted was an enjoyable evening. Mr J. Fraser proposed a -^ote of thanks to the performers and the chairman. The children were then invited to the school, •yvheie willing hands seived them with tea

and cake to their hearts', or rather their stomachs', content. Although this arrangement created a little bad feeling, it proved the very best for all concerned, because the children were better looked after, the hail was kept clean for the dance to follow, and there were not sufficient dashes nor enough room to supply all at once in the hall. The proceeds— £l2 — will enable the School Committee to carry out some necessary improvements. Messrs J. Ross (chairman of School Committee), J. S. Brown (secretary), and n . Strang were doorkeepers, and took a deep interest in the concern. Mr D. M'Kenzie was the general factotum. But special praise is due to Miss Pilcher, school mistress, for she had the get-ting-up of the school children in all they did with one exception. Considering that only a few weeks were given fo prepare, and the manner m which the children went through their pieces, it showed how intelligently au^ enthusiastically Miss Pilcher worked with them.