DISTRICT NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1923, Page 8

DISTRICT NEWS.

TATARAIMAKA. (■From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual distribution of prizes took place in the local school on Thursday, December 20. Mr. Young, chairman of the school committee, spoke of the progress the school had made under the able tuition of Mrs. Smith and her assistant, Miss Paterson, and added that in the recent examinations every child passed, three gained proficiency and one competency. Twelve children were awarded certificates for good attendance. Mr. Deare, member of the Education Board then addressed the children, and congratulated the teachers on the successful year. Mr. Instill, secretary to the Education Board, was also present. The ladies of the district provided a dainty afternoon tea. Miss Paterson gave an enjoyable /picnic at the mouth of the Timaru River to the school children and their parents. Bathing was the order of the day. A large crowd is expected to attend the social in aid of the local hall on New Year‘s Eve at Oakura. The second half is to be a Leap Year Dance, and there are to be several novelty dances. Mrs. A. McMasters Davidson, Auckland, has been visiting her sister, Miss Sisley. Mr. and Mrs. Finlay and children are spending a holiday in the district, and are the guests of their relatives, Mr. and Mrs. T. Morris. RATAPIKO. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The holidays have arrived at last, and the breaking up of the school took place on Thursday, December 20. The children had been looking forward for that day to come for some time back. The committee have been very fortunate in securing a fine range of prize books for this year, and these were presented on breaking-up day. A fine programme was gone through by the children—songs, recitations, dialogues, etc., as well as fancy dancing by Miss V. Jacobsen, senior pupil of the school, the accompanists being Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. H. Martin.

After the programme had been gone through, Mr. E. Gnigg, chairman of committee, presented the prizes, being assisted by Mrs. Wilson. Special prizes were awarded to Master Bredin for mapping, whilst a special prize was presented to Violet Jacobsen by the teacher for neatest books in the school. Mary Karalus was awarded a special prize for neat work. Miss K. Leslie (pupil teacher) presented two of her pupils with special prizes. Two special prizes for best attendance during the year were awarded to Violet Jacobsen and Willa Bredin. After the prize-giving, Miss V. Jacobsen was presented with a fine gold medal, given by the teachers and pupils of the school for eight years' unbroken attendance. Mr. R. Grigg, senior pupil, presented the teacher (Mrs. Wil-

son) with a box of chocolates. Afternoon tea was provided by the ladies, and a bag of lollies and nuts was given to every child by the committee. The weather is most beautiful for this time of year, and some fine crops of hay are being harvested. There are also some fine crops of soft turnips to be seen. Potato blight is very prevalent around this part of the district, and a great many plots have been ruined through the late rain. The hydro works are slowly creeping towards Ratapiko, and we will very soon be able to press the button like the townie. We now have a well-established motor service, and it is proving to be a great benefit to the settlers. Miss Mvra Wilson is spending a few weeks’ holiday with friends in Wanganui. The hydro camp at the Manganui has broken up for the holidays, and the caterers and cooks (Mrs. Barras and Co.) have gone on a fortnight’s well-earned holiday. A post office has now been established at the hydro camp in connection with the Tariki-Ratapiko-Taitama Rurrfl Delivery. All motorists are warned against visiting this district unless they are well provided with rope, as our local mailman has to tie down all his passengers to keep, them going through the hood of the ear. Such is the state of our roads! DOUGLAS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) During the past week our local hall was engaged by a band of Maori entertainers. The function took the form of a concert followed by a dance. The items rendered were much appreciated, ewpecdally the songs in their own tongue. The dances were characteristic. When the floor was cleared for dancing our dark brothers showed great skill in the way in which they rendered the dance music, which was much the best we have had for a long time. It was thought our piano was about done, but these folk showed that it had still some music in it. On Thursday, December 20, Douglas farmers were seen driving calves to the saleyards and to Mr. O’Reilly’s for the purpose of inoculation. The small boys seemed to enjoy themselves too. as some of these animals proved rather stubborn and did not want to go the required way. The school children gathered in the hall on Thursday afternoon, it being break-up day. A very enjoyable afternoon was spent in dancing and games and a little community singing. Through the afternoon the children were given refreshment*, which consisted of cakes and jelly, etc- One of the most pleasing items of the afternoon was the presentation of a xylonite hat brush to Miss Walter, who has always so willingly helped with all school functions. Miss Jean Needham, on behalf of the pupils, thanked Miss Walter and made the presentation. which was followed by the singing of “For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow” and three ringing cheers. Miss Walter suitably responded, and then called for three cheers for the teachers. The children from the local school received invitations from Santa Claus, who will be in attendance in Stratford on Monday, dispensing hospitality in tne way of buns and soft drink*. etc., and a free picture show to all children. We wish Santa Claus and aril friends the compliments of the season. WHAREROA. (IFrom Our Own Correspondent.) On Thursday evening last a pleasant time was spent in the local hall, when the annual distribution of Sunday school prizes took place. There was also a Christmas tree laden with toys. A bountiful tea waa prettily set out on the tables. The Rev. Monaghan, of St. Mary’s. Hawera. presided, and presented the prizes, while for the singing Mrs. Craig acted as accompanist at the piano. During the evening, Miss Mavis D’Ath, a popular Sunday school teacher, was presented with a handsome volume as a small token of appreciation of her .assistance at the school. She. suitably

replied, thanking all for the kind present. Miss D’Ath is leaving for the teachers’ training college in Wellington. The Rev. Monaghan gave an appropriate address, and Mrs. Nichohw, superintendent of the Sunday school, a|so made an interesting speech. On Sunday week night the spell of dry weather was broken by a fine and welcome rain, which will do incalculable good to, the crops and grass in the hayf.elds. A large area of hay has been got in all round the district, many of the yields being excellent. The Hawera Dairy Company have sold five thousand boxes of butter at Is 7d per lb, with casein to be made from the skim milk. On Wednesday afternoon the Whareroa school broke up with a pleasant little ceremony. The children sang a number of songs very nicely, while Ida Smith, Mavis Smith and Iris Nicholas rendered recitations. The ladies handed round afternoon tea, which was much appreciated, and then three heartycheers were given for Miss Rawson, their teacher, who has brought the children on with excellent results. MANGATOKI. (iFrom Our Own Correspondent.) The annual prize-giving ahf breakingup ceremony of the Mangatoki school was held in the hall on Thursday, 20th. Mr. J. P. Marx, chairman of the committee, presided. Miss Perrott, who is leaving to be married, was presented, by her classes with a breakfast cruet. Miss Z. Humphries, who next year is going to the training college, was the recipient from her pupils of a silver manicure set, while Miss MacGregor was given a suede purse. Standard VI. presented Mr. Gant with a gold sovereign case. Mr. Gant is io be congratulated on the success of his proficiency pupils, five out of feix gaining certificates, these being Edwin Wright, George Nicholas, Amy Sulzberger, Irene Penny and Alice Gatenby. After a few items by the children, a prize was presented to each child. The special prizes given by Mr. A. H. Gant are as follows: —Standard L, fit’s t, Spencer Reeves; Standard IT., first, Mary Fearon; Standard 111 first, Ernest Marx; Standard IV., first, Oscar Cleaver; Standard V., first, Furgus McGuinness; Stanrad VI., dux of the school, Edwin Wright; good work in Standard VI., 1 Alice Gatenby; most popular pupils, boys, Campbell Colson, girls, Eileen Clarke; sewing (Miss MacGregors’ prize) senior, Amy Sulzberger, Standard IL, Ruth Manley, Standard I. Mary Pilkington; Most helpful child in Standard 11. (Miss Perrott’s prize), William Spence; most helpful child in Standard 111 (Miss Humphries’ prize), Gordon Perry; most progress (Miss Perrott’s prize), Alfred Willan; consolation prize (Miss Humphries’), Ruth Manley; singing (Miss MacGregor’s prize), boys, James Fever, girls, Lena Hamilton; gardening prize for the best kept garden (presented by Mr. H. G. Carman), Albert Taylor and James Kofoed. Twenty-five attendance certificates were .presented to those children not missing more than two and a half days. RAHOTU. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The great event of the year, so far as ) the children are concerned, is undoubtedly , the school concert. For the past fort- ' night the young people have been thinking and talking about one subject only, the concert. The performance took place on Wednesday evening before a crowded audience, which thoroughly appreciated the children’s efforts. The opening item was a pianoforte duet by Missses Momona and Jones, then followed two choruses by the senior pupils, “Live for To-day” and “The Captain’s Ditty.” The infants provided a number of items, which met with hearty applause. Their opening chorus was “The Fox and the Grapes,” after which Henry Neilsen recited “The Popper Box.” The next item, “Nursery Rhymes,” produced some very realistic acting on the part of the little folks. Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, Little 80-Peep, Little Boy Blue and Little Jack Horner were all represented. Edna Tyrell recited “Grandpapa’s Spectacles”; Dolly Kahui, Whilma Murray and Queenie Horo sang a very pretty action song, “The Maori Canoe,” for which they were recalled. “The House That Jack Built,” by the junior boys, was a most amusing item. The boys were in costume and carried models of the house, rat, cat, etc. The large cow, modelled in plasticine, certainly looked a dairy type, though her breed is not found anywhere in Taranaki. The infants’ part of the programme was brought to a close with the song “Sandman,” which followed a recitation by a tiny little chap, Frank Okeroa. A very dainty item by two of the senior girls was the song and dance, “To a Miniature.” Mary McLeod, dressed as a man of the period, gave a very sweet rendering of the song, while Elsie Rutherford gracefully acted the lady’s part. The audience insisted on their repeating the item. Alan Rutherford feelingly recited “How the Calliope was Saved.” George Butler and Leslie Morrow, suitably attired, sang “Huckleberry Finn,” and when recalled, “I’m Getting Better Every Day.” “Wyoming Lullaby” by Misses McLeod, Momona, Jones and Tioki was followed by another song, “Pal o’ Mine” by the same four girls, assisted by Jack McLeod and Rangi Tioki. A display of dancing steps by the senior ?irls completed the first part of the programme. During the interval the chairman of the School Committee (Mr. Butler) thanked the people for their attendance, and : also thanked those ladies who had assisted the teachers in organising the concert. He explained that owing to the illness of one of the principal performers, one of the items had to be dropped two days before the concert, and the breach was being filled by Mr. Linehan. The second part of the programme consisted of a poi dance by Misses Jones, • McLeod, Tioki and Momona. This was a ! very popular item and had to be repeated. 1 Mr Linehan then recited “The Green Fye I of the Yellow God,” and as an encore 1 “The Deed of Horror.” A display of i Swedish drill by the senior boys followed. I the exercises being very smartly done, and ; the item was a popular one. Misses Mo- j inona, McLeod, Jones and Tioki gave a ■ fine rendering of the “Murray Moon,” and then assisted Jack McLeod and Rangi Tioki with the choruses of “Beneath Thy Window:” Both these items received wellmerited applause. An amusing little play, “Franchette from* France,” showed that some of the children had considerable dramatic ability, which met with hearty recognition from the audience. The characters were: Franchette, Dolly Wahui; Sarah Jane, Irene Morrow; Snowflake, Vera Billing; Corporal Tinn. Katie Morrow; Ching Ching, George Butler; Golli- > wog, Ray Seeker; Teddy Bear, Leslie Mor- ’ row. The singing of “The Sea Volunteers” ; by the senior pupils brought the concert 1 to a close. A dance followed, and was kept up until about 2 a.m. TIKORANGI. (From Our Own Correspondent.) On Thursday evemng. 20th inst., all roads led to Tikorangi, the attraction be-

’ ing the annual school concert and dance. ‘ The commodious hall was taxed to its ' fullest capacity, and the programme submitted by the school children was voted ' by all to have been one of the best ever presented here. The manner in which the different items were rendered reflected the highst credit on the teachers and Mrs. ' A. Woods, who assisted in the training. It would be difficult to single out any item ’ for special mention, but the action songs rendered by the juniors were particularly delightful, the little tots doing* their part faultlessly. During the evening Miss J Myrtle Mercer (Pater), who, with her ' aunt, Mrs. Mercer, is on a visit to the L school house, delighted the audience with ’ an exhibition of fancy dancing. An excellent programmew as brought to 5 a close by the singing of VGod Save the ’ King.” A fine supper was’provided, and ’ afterwards dancing was indulged in by a 1 large number. The music was kindly pro- ’ vided by Mr. Gordon Fraser, and Mr. A. > Woods carried out the duties of M.C. in 1 his usual brilliant manner. 1 The committee* and teachers tender their » sincerest thanks to all who contributed to make the evening such an unqualified suc-‘ cess. The accompanists were Miss P. Nicoll, Miss Vera Hicks and Mrs. A. * Woods. The concert programme was as follows: Opening chorus, “Salute We the Flag”; action song, “How’d You Like to be a Baby Girl,” junior girls; song, “A Jolly ’ Old Sow,” junior boys; recitation, “A Pattern Child,” Doris Jupp; action song, “Eight Little Mothers.” junior girls; dance, Miss Mercer; action song, “A Child’s Goodn»ght,” junior girls; action song, “Japanese Fan Song.” senior girls; recitation, “Foolish Questions,” Murray Hicks; character song, “Tramps,” senior boys; scarf drill, senior girls; song, “Boys of’the British Army,” senior boys; dialogue, “Engaging a General Servant,” senior girls; physical drill, dumb bells, senior boys; character song, “Urchins We,” senior girls; ) dance, Sailor’s Hornpipe, Miss Mercer; i song. “John Peel,” combined; “God Save ! the King.”