ASHBURTON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1578, 5 March 1919, Page 8

ASHBURTON.

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

From Our Own Correspondent. The monthly mectiug of the Ashburton High School" Board was attended by Messrs .T. Tucker (chairman), C. Reid, W. Oakley, G. H. Buchanan, W. B. Denshire, and A. Drummond. The headmaster, Mr W. F. Watters, reported that the school roll was 206 (106 toys and 100 girls), 12-1 last year pupils had returned (69 boys and 55 girls), while 82 new pupils (."7 boys and 45 girls) had been admitted, making a total of 200, including IS in the preparatory I school. The average attendance since the opening of the school had been 180, or 88 per cent, of the roll number. The number of free-place pupils was 166, and there were 12 fee-paying pupils. There were 31 boarders in the rectory and 15 in the girls' hostel. The headmaster forwarded a list of apparatus and chemicals required for tho Reaching of chemistry. Mr C. Reid and the Rev. G. Miller were appointed visitors for the ensuing month. NEWS AND NOTES.

At a meeting of the Ashburton branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, held on Monday night, the question of land settlement for soldiers was discussed. Several of those present were not inclined to accept the Hon. D. H. Guthrie's recent statement while in Ashburton to the effect that soldiers with no capital could get on the land without experiencing considerable difficulty from the Land Department. It was decided to hold tho matter over until a reply had been received to a letter sent to the Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Town properties appear to be changing Viands freely, quite a number of houses having been sold since the armistice was signed. The same thing applies to properties in the country. During the week ending Saturday last, the local branch of the New Zealand Fai'mers' Co-operative Association sold one property each day, the aggregate value of the land disposed of being £60,000. The weather continues to be good for the harvest, and threshing reports coming forward show a very heavy yield in practically every district. In the Willowby district a field of College Hunters threshed out as high as 88 bushels to the acre; 70 bushels and over being common in many parts of the country. When questioned, a number of farmers state that the year will be to them a pleasant memory in regard to harvest labour, one farmer stating that during his 20 years' farming experience he had not employed better labour. It is understood that the Crown Lands Department has inspected Mr F. Ruddenklau's property at Staveley, with a view to ascertaining its suitability for a soldier settlement. It is intended that a petition will be circulated among the soldiers in the Ashburton district, with a view to urging the Government to acquire another desirable property for soldier settlement just outside the borough. Messrs W. J. Dickie and W. Nosworthy, M.Ps., will bo asked to present the petition. Owing to the large number of ticketholders being unable to gain admission to Mr Wright's concert on Monday night, it was decided to repeat it last night. The attendance was again largo, and the performance, which was well presented, was well received.

Mr James Cow, Ashburton, has been selected to represent the Patriotic Committee on the local Repatriation Committee.

Miis Doris McClurg, who has been acting as commercial instructress at the Technical School for the past two years, has been appointed to the position of commercial mistress at the Ashburton High School.