STRATFORD NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1926, Page 4

STRATFORD NEWS.

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL. MEETING OF MANAGERS. (From Our Own Reporter.) Stratford, May 5. A meeting of the board of managers of the Stratford Technical High School was held to-night. Present: Mr. H. Trimble (chairman), Mrs. Hardy Jones, Messrs. Sr Macalister, J. McAllister, N. H. Moss, C. D. Sole, C. Moore, W. Hoskin and C. M. Birkett. The principal, Mr. A. H. R. Amess, reported as follows: During the montii there were seven withdrawals and two enrolments, making a total of 270 pupils. The attendance was very good. The term examinations were being held at present, and, as far as could be judged, the majority of tlie*pupils had done a very good term’s work. Mr. Amess also brought before the board the matter of the motor mechanics’ class. Some time ago the board moved to have this class established, and a grant of £230 was made by the Minister for Education for the purpose of purchasing apparatus. This grant had never been spent, as the Education Department vetoed the purchase of the machinery. Recently the department had notified the school that the boys were not eligible for engineering bursaries, even should they pass the necessary examinations, as there was no provision in the school for practical work. The board was pressed to have the grant expended, as there were sometimes boys who qualified for these bursaries. The school had at present an instructor well qualified to do the work.

The director’s report was adopted, and it was decided to make fresh application to the department for the grant to fit up the motor mechanics’ workshop. In connection with the election of two members on the New Zealand Technical Schools’ Board, voting papers were supplied, and members were asked to indicate by a system of preferential voting the order in which they placed the, thirteen nominees drawn from different parts of New Zealand.

PRODUCTION OF BUTTER-FAT. Inquiries at the Stratford dairy factory reveal a decrease in the production of butter-fat this season as compared with the last. The April returns, however, show an increase of 8.2 per cent, over the figures for the'same month in 1925. The eleven months ending April 30, 1926, compared, with the corresponding period of 1925,. show a decrease of 4 per cent, of the total butterfat When the very bad spring is considered this decrease is not regarded as serious. Though the supply for the autumn is being maintained very well, as shown by the April figures, the length of the season and the,;, supply for May depend largely on the weather. CENSUS RETURNS. The census returns, which are now available, do not cover the Stratford borough or the north and east ridings of the county. The county figures are:— Mangaehu Riding: 152 males, 121 females; total 273. South Riding: 552 males, 462 females; total 1014. West Riding: 499 males, 431 females; total 930. Until the returns are complete, no comparison can be made. The population of the Stratford County alone at the previous census was 5290. PERSONAL. Mr. J. J. Pickett, who was for many years postmaster in Stratford, is at present renewing acquaintance with his many friends in the district. Mr. Pickett, after retiring from the service, took up his residence in Hastings. He has been spending a short holiday in New Plymouth. Mrs. and Miss Conder left for Levin by this morning’s express. They have been the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Masters. Mr. W. P. Kirkwood left for Wellington this morning on business. Mrs. Don, who -was in Stratford on business, left for the south this morning.