ELTHAM-TAKAU DOG TRIALS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1929, Page 7

ELTHAM-TAKAU DOG TRIALS

WEDNESDAY’S BIG EVENT

An event of great interest to Taranaki will be the holding of the Eltham-Takon Club’s seventeenth annual sheep dog trials on Mr. P. R. Brown’s property, Mangamingi, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, when an excellent n,~ eting is promised. Besides the many valuable trophies there is £BO in cash prizes. The judge this year will be Mr. C, Hay, Masterton.

A meeting of all interested in trials and club matters will be held in the Oddfellows’ hall, Etham, on the evening of the first day. Delegates from Awakino to Waitotara will discuss the question of club grouping and other matters connected with sheep dog trials.

The Eltham-Takou trials are considered the premier event of Taranaki and should provide a great deal of interest.

DEFENCE AGAINST CRITICISM.

HEADMASTER SPEAKS HIS MIND. An attack upon the existing anomalies in the education systeto was the form of defence taken by Mr. A. Gray, headmaster in answer to criticism of the numbers taking the agricultural course at the Hawera High School and generally. He spoke at the re-union of the New Plymouth High School old boys at Hawera on Friday night and was supported in his remarks by Mr. W. H. Moyes, headmaster of the New Plymouth High School. Ono became almost nauseated, said Mr. Gray, "when constantly asked why so few were taking agricultural courses. There was nothing wrong with the agricultural course at his school and nothing wrong with the people trying tro conduct it. Certain things were impossible. If a boy wished to go to Massey College on tire higher side. for an agricultural course -he must matriculate. It was very difficult for a boy to matriculate owing to the narrowness of the scope for boys with agricultural qualification as an ideal. Mr. Gray witnessed the case of two boys who had been taking the agricultural course. He had had to put them into the academical (Course and much of their former study had been wasted as a consequence. M an 7 suggestions were heard about money for assisting English boys on farms. What about money for furnishing farms for our own boys? It was high time something was done in that direction. (Hear, hear!)

SCHOOL DAYS RECALLED.

COMMON BOND ENLIVENED.

OLD BOYS IN THE SOUTH.

Recollections of school days formed the subject, of discussion at the first re-union smoke concert of New Plymouth High School old boys of the newly formed Taranaki branch of the association at Hawera on Friday night. 'The oldest living old boy, _ Mr. George H. Ryan, presided and with him at the bench of honour were Messrs. W. H. Moyes, headmaster, Alfred Gray, headmaster of the Hawera High School, Dr. R. G. B. Sinclair and T. E. Clarke, vicepresidents, and G. H. Bertrand. • Every school boy took a pride In the school he attended. This gathering included numbers of old boys of other secondary schools and, all boys being boys, it was a common bond which revived the warmth of old friendships, and formed new ones.

Friendships of a life-time had been formed by him at the “old school on the hill,” said Mr. G. H. Ryan in proposing the toast of “The School.” The school had been small when he had attended under the late Mr. Prldham; there were only 60 or 70 pupils. It was to the credit of the masters that the school had grown to be one 'of the best in the Dominion.

INSPIRATION TO MASTERS. There was no need for him to say how much he appreciated the opportunity of being present and to observe the loyalty to the school, said Mr. Moyes who was greeted with warm applause. Mr, Gray would agree that there were times at school when a headmaster wondered whether all was worth while in worry and work. It was at functions such as the present when the boys of yesterday were seen changed to manhood that a headmaster felt he would not have been anything else, on earth. Boys were a never- failing inspiration.Congratulations were tendered by Mr. Moyes on the formation of the branch. If there was any spot where old boys were numerous it was in South Taranaki. They had played as great a part in the development of the school as New Plymouth . itself. In sport and scholarship they were -well to the fore and a fine typo of boy came from the district. Prowess in scholarship did not always go hand in hand with success in life, averred Mr. Moyes. Old boys would be pleased to hear the “gully” was nearing completion. He would like a brass plate erected with the name of those -who helped inscribed on it. So many had wheeled barrows and smoked “down there,” 'however, that it would bo impossible. (Laughter.)

ALL COLLEGES BROTHERS. All colleges were brothers whose aim was to turn out, not scholars or athletes, but men, said Mr. F. E. Clarke. There could not be only one school. There wore three in Taranaki and he paid a tribute to the Hawera High School, of which South Taranaki was justly proud. He assured the principal, Mr. Gray, that old boys looked with great honour on his school. He referred to the English public school boys’ visit to New Zealand and the bond of sympathy am,ong them. Brother colleges were fraternising with each other as they must inevitably do. Pleasure at being present was expressed by Mr. A. Gray in response. His school was now doing the spade work which New Plymouth had done, he said. He had watched New Plymouth’s pro-

cress and congratulated Mr. Moyes on the achievement. Hawera was a younger brother and looked upon New Plymouth for a good example. He trusted New Plymouth would continue to set a good example to them. Wonderful work was being done by old boys associations said Mr. R. F. Page responding on behalf of Welling' ton college. The new memorial school hall at Wellington College was typical of tlio work of associations. He congratulated the school upon the nearness of its jubilee. He had not known it was so close as 1932. He had attended the Wellington College jubilee celebrations and urged old boys of New Plymouth to be present at their own function. It would be one of the most wonderful experiences of a life-time. Ho congratulated New Plymouth old boys on the formation of the branch and hoped it would prosper. There w. s one name associated with Wellington College, just as Mr. Moyes’ was with New Plymouth. He referred with enthusiasm to Mr. J. P. Firth, late principal. Other schools represented were Stratford High (Mr. A. W. Lawn), St. Patrick’s College (Mr. B. Malone), Te Aute College (Mr. G. H. Bertrand), and Auckland Grammar (Mr. R. W. Wilson). Additional toasts honoured were: “The Chairman” (Dr. Sinclair —Mr. Ryan), “The Present Headmaster” W. H. Moyes), and “The Press.” During tho evening songs were given by Messrs. Eric Pacey, B. Malone and S. Anderson, monologues by Mr. C. J. McFadyen,' and community singing, led by Mr" Anderson, with Mr. G. Meyrick at the piano. Mr. R. F. Page was accompanist in the absence of a member. DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB. RESULTS OF WEEK-END SHOOT. Members of the Hawera Defence Rifle Club fired on Saturday for a trophy presented by an anonymous donor. Scores were low owing to the trying light and very strong wind blowing across the range. Results are: —

The shoot next week will be for Murch’s trophy and ths last round of the Bennett a*nd Sutton Gup.

FEBRUARY DRIER THIS YEAR. Hawera experienced a greater fall of rain in February, 1928, dry though it was, than during the 28 days of last month. Rain fell on eight days in the previous February, and only on six days last month. The total fall for last month was only 1.17 inches, as against 2.35 inches for February, 1928. The maximum fall was 0.7 inches on February 2. WHAREROA SCHOOL PICNIC. The Whareroa School held its annual picnic at the Mokoia beach, reports the News correspondent. It was a pleasant day and a large number of cars arrived laden with happy children. The Mokoia beach is an ideal spot for picnic parties with its long reach of beautiful, firm sand and the Tongahoe river for bathing. The new bathing sheds were a great acquisition; and they were well patronised. The children enjoyed the surf bathing tremendously and had a very hilarious time for an hour or more. They were then assembled on the grass on the cliff top for lunch. The school committee provided fruit and sweets,-. and after lunch there was a lolly scramble. Mr. and Mrs. George provided a tin of sweets. Members of the school committee aided by the teacher, Miss McCormick, put through a programme of sports, of which the results are:— Standard VI. —Mavis Smith 1, Mary Williams 2.

Standard V. —Girls: Mary Hughes 1, Zoe Tocker 2. Boys: Ernest Hine 1, Lawrie Fearon 2.

Standard IV.—Boys: Bill Tocker 1. Girls: Olive Smith 1, Gladys Reynolds 2. Standard . 111. —Gerald Hawthorne 1> Ernest Williams 2. Standard ll.—Girls: Gracie Chapple 1, Marjorie Fearon 2. Boys: Jack Smith 1, Victor Chapple 2. Standard I.—Roscoe George 1. > Primers. —Margaret Tocker 1, Joyce Gibson 2..

Married ladies’ race.—Mrs. Patterson 1, Mrs. Price 2.

Single ladies’ race.—Miss Zena George 1, Miss Ida Smith 2. Married men’s race—Mr. Aberley 1, Mr. Hawthorne 2.

Single men’s race—Mr. Jack Campbell 1, Mr. Colin Smith 2.

HIGH SCHOOLS AT PLAY.

ANOTHER FOOTBALL FIXTURE.

An annual football fixture between the second fifteens of the Hawera High School and New Plymouth High School were mooted at the re-union smoke concert of South Taranaki old boys of the latter school on Friday night. Mr. F. E. Clarke, in proposing the toast of “Sister Colleges,” urged that such a game be played and continued as a friendly custom between the two schools. The idea was warmly welcomed by Mr. A. Gray, principal of the Hawera High School, and by Mr. W. H. Moyes, principal of the New Plymouth school. Efforts would be made, they said, to carry the suggestion into practice.

KOHI NEWS.

RURAL MAIL AND TELEPHONE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A daily rural mail service has been started in Kohi. Although only a few miles from Waverley settlers have previously had mail but three times a week.

The telephone system is to be connected to the Waverley exchange in a couple of months, thus cutting out the local sub-exchange. Party lines will have to be largely employed, but the cost will bo lower than at present. There are about 30 subscribers from this district who will be affected.

Messrs. Hogg, of thtf Wanganui Education Board, and Haines, of the Department of Agriculture, paid a visit to the Kohi school on Friday. They are making a tour of the schools in connection with the agricultural competitions and will return at a later date to judge the crops growlr by the school children.

Ude. 300 500 G.T. Rflm. R. J. Evans . 11 32 47 90 Rflm. G. Cross ... 10 35 42 87 Rflm. E. J. Booth .. i 4'2 44 862 Rflm. L. Uttinger .- ser. 43 43 86 Rflm. A. Elgar- ... 38 44 852 Pres. A. G. Robertson J. 37 47 842 Rflm, Jones ...... .1 39 43 83 Rflm. R. Beatson .. 122 33 35 802 Rflm. J. Vinten ;. 52 34 '40 792 Rflm. F. Ching .... 42 34 40 782 Rflm. L. Rush .... ser. X 38 39 77