CHILDREN’S SPECIAL CLASS

Taranaki Daily News, 9 April 1929, Page 7

CHILDREN’S SPECIAL CLASS

HAWFRA'S ART AND CRAFT ROOM.

PICTURE OF YOUTHFUL INDUSTRY.

A new impression of children and teachers in class-room is to be gained by a visit to the Hawera Main School, where a good start has been made with the special arts and crafts class under Miss Kennedy, lately of Dunedin and previously of London. An air of freedom impressed a News representative who called yesterday and saw the principles governing the special classes being practised. Freedom prevailed, yet it was not of such a nature as to be inconsistent with orderliness and progress. A dozen or more children were rapt with industry. Seated at small tables on chairs, the children at that time were engaged in plying needles with brightly coloured wool yarn to work neat patterns and entirely to transform a cloth well known in the household as the “sugar-bag” variety. Girls of varying ages had made humble yet most serviceable cushions from the same material. Bags for holding toys and tools to hang behind their chairs,' covers and other utilities were in evidence, completed or just begun. A pride of achievement is a natural stimulant to continued endeavour, . and Miss Kennedy aims to develop the individual and the class in that direction as one of several plans of action. The class has been established for only _ a few' days, yet already the fruits of industry decorate the room. Mats made from'scrim and brown paper neatly bound with raffia along the edges are m course of construction. LEARNING ON THE FLOOR. These mats will serve to add a little softness to the bare boards of the floor, and secure cleanliness. The floor is used just as the floor at home before the fireside on winter evenings is used by children. Exercises are had there; the floor is excellent for straightening bended backs. It is excellent also for a surface on which the younger children may select cardboard figures and letters, and. like young printers, turn them into numbers and words in answer to questions and sums. The vita] aim in the management ot these special classes is to fit the child- j ren to make things for themselves; crea- , tion in the concrete sense with tools and brushes, hands and fingers. The academic side is not nee lac. ted. English, history, arithmetic and geography are pursued. What could be more conducive to a successful geography lesson chan the moulding of sand into a map of New Zealand, a lake, a mountain, or an island? CHOICE OF TINY TOTS. i Responsibility of choice rests with the I Liny tot and older child alike. All kinds lof queer devices, puzzles, numbers, let- | ters. figures, tools and materials are , there ready for the using.. The children I mav commence with the task they choose and pursue it for so long as it holds interest. So throughout the day independent choice of task is allowed, except that Miss Kennedy requires two lessons to bo along academic lines. Oi course, if they are chosen first, free choice as to the rest follows. An oil-stove, but no oil; a bead bas-ket-maker, but no beads; the knowledge that music is a tremendous force for o-ood in teaching and development ot children and securing repose and relief, bu' no piano. Difficulties like these race Miss Kennedy at present, pending recipt of a grant and supplies from the Education Board. Woodwork for the boys of the class is catered for in an adjoining room, replete with bench and vise, and, pending arrival of supplies, borrowed tools, ihe first job the. first day the class assembled was to fix a lock on a cupboard door. It is there now, strong and fast. Gardening and games, nature rambles, Isiiming, rythmies, folk dancing, dramatisation of characters i.. history and exercises aro amongst a host of. other things the children of the special class may indulge in if they wish. An atmosphere of happiness stiikca the visitor. Freedom and naturalness prevail. The bell announcing playtime comes very often and children prefer to stay in the room and pursue their task. The teacher at present sends them into the open air. : HAWERA GOLF CLUB. SUMMER CUP RESULTS. Following is the result of the qualifying round for the Hawera Golf Club a summer cup: —

The draw for the first round is as follows: Wilson pkv the winner of Blair and. Strange, O’Callaghan plays Ritchie, Cox plays Murray Page, Glasson plays Little, Gibson plays the winner of Robb and Vinnicombe, Sinclair plays Janson, McKenzie plays Walkley, Whitehead plays Page. Byes into the first roruid must be played by to-morrow, and the first round by April 14. The third round is to be played by April 21, the semi-final by April 28 and the final on May 5.

NEW SCHOOL INSTITUTION. LIBRARY AT HAWERA SCHOOL. Rows of books, tables covered with magazines, photographs and etchings of scenes, persons and events in many lands and ages, and newspapers for the

class of reader using them, arrest the notice of the visitor to the Hawera Main (School as he opens the door of a I’oom on the south-western wing. It is the new library of the school and it is a real and active part of school life to-day, happily situated away from the classrooms and playgrounds. Nothing desolate or neglected is there about this library. Two librarians were in charge when a News representative peeped in yesterday. Everything was orderly. From the shelves on the left an ardent boy or girl might select a volume telling bright tales of travel in other lands and climes; in the corner stories of adventure are to be tested between covers, while in the centre records of historical happenings since the days of Julius Caesar may be perused. Watches are kept by librarians of the sixth standard, who take duty in rotation. At present only standards 4, 5 and 6 are permitted to use the library, the reason beisig the fear of overcrowding the forms ami chairs and tables. HAWERA DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB. WEEK-END SHOOTING. ' Scores registered by members of the Hawera Defence Rifle Chib last -weekend for Mr. W. G. Simpson’s trophy were:—

A strong, unsteady cross wind and bad light made shooting difficult at the GOQyds. range. The shoot next week will be for the Liddington trophy, ten shots at 500 and 600 yards, and will conclude the season’s programme. NINETY-SECOND BIRTHDAY. CAREER OF MR. GEORGE SYME. Air. George Svme, senior, Hawera, is 92* to-day and his health is remarked upon with admiration by his family and friends. Air. Syme was born on April 9, 1837, at Belmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland, and yesterday ne sang a song rio-ht heartily, cracked his jokes, heard the news with keen relish, paid a visit to the town, played his favourite gramophone records and old days on the goldfields at Shotovcr and Arrow River in the South Island. The song he sang yesterday afternoon was “Ye Bonnie Banks of L o ch Lomond.” Neighbours often hear Air. Svme’s remarkably clear and tuneful voice, come to them across backyard fences. Other favourites of Air. Syme arc “Off to Philadelphia,’’ “Ye Banks and Braes,” and “Annie Laurie.” In fact, Air. Syme ’s the revered chief of the Hawera Scottish Society. Two gramophones, plenty of recoids, a keen musical ear and a singing heart are the principal avenues of joy the old man frequents “My old chums and contemporaries arc becoming scarcer every year and drooping all around.me,” Air. Svme le- ; marked a day or two ago. Bowls was a game played by Mr. Syme for many years. He was a foundation member of the Hawera Club and now holds the office of patron. Although he has ceased to play he still follows the game closely. He toured Great Britain in 1901.

From apprenticeship to the joinery trade in Glasgow at 13 years of age Air. Syme some years later had become the founder of a sawmilling and timber business which is flourishing at the present day. He arrived in New Zealand in 1562 at the Bluff and later tasted the lot of a gold-digger in the South Island. He came to Taranaki in 1865, residing at New Plymouth, Wanganui and Patea, and in 1868 he settled at Hawera. As a contracting builder Mr. Svme was kept busy, and among the buildings he erected are the present courthouse, the first lock-up, railway station and old Catholic Church. Interesting facts in Mr. Syme’s Hawera career are that he was elected at the head of the poll at the first borough council election. He was a member of the school committee for many years, a member of the management of the Presbyterian Church from 1875 onwards, a promoter of tl»? building society and erne of the original members of the Egmont A. and P. Association. Airs. Syme died in July, 1910. Messrs Walter and George Syme, Hawera, are his sons, who are assisting to carry on the business founded by him in 1889.

MR. H. C. A. FOX DEPARTS. SERVICE TO MUSIC IN HAWERA. Mr, H. C. A. Fox, conductor of the Hawera Afunicipal Band for the last four years and the leading spirit in Hawera music activities, i leaving the Dominion in a few weeks for England owing to the state of his father’s health. The news was received at the Hawera band committee meeting last night, when regret was expressed by members. It was hoped by the chairman, Air. E. Dixon, that England would prove distasteful to Air. Fox with the result that he would return to Hawera in a few months. The enthusiasm of Air. Fox had had a wonderfully stimulating effect on Hawera musically, continued Air. Dixon, and .10 other town, perhaps, possessed a man who did so much for its musical welfare. The great improvement of the band since Mr. Fox t< k over was ample testimony to his ability, said several bandsmen. Harmony had existed throughout, said Air, Gould, assistant conductor of the junior band.

JUNIOR FOOTBALL. NEW METHOD OF CONTROL. . Ways and ns of controlling junior football in Sout 1 - Taranaki were considered at a meeting of dub repiesentatives convened b Mr. J. J. Goodwin, at the request of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and held at Hawera last night. All clubs concerned were represented and Mr. Goodwin presided. It was decided to recommend the Taranaki Rugby Union that for South Taranaki the age of fourth giade players as at June 15 be under 17 instead of 18 as at present, provided under Rule 17, and that the age of third grade players be under 19, instead of under 20. Reconstitution of the Eltham-Opunake junior group was decided upon. It was too far to travel, it was held, when only one group was provided for. This will mean that two groups will be constituted consisting of Kaponga, Waimate, Okaiawe Eltha-1 and Opunake in the new group and of Athletic, Hawera, Patea and Alton in the other. The number of rounds to be played was left in the hards of the committees for decision.

The fixtures committees for each junior group are to consist of a member of the Taranaki Rugby Union and a representative of each team in the group. A committee for each junior group was decid d on to combine to control the third and fo> r grade competitions. The personnel of ths coi mittees was: El-tham-Opu group, Messrs Murphy, Johnstone, Wilson, aspar and A. Guy; southern group, Messrs Lauric Hunt, L’.Coleman and R. C. Rutherford. A recommendation is to be made to the union providing for the deletion of rules 18 and 19 as to games of teams withdrawing no L being counted. The rule had been taken advantage of last year, it was said, where a team had played games and won against defaulting teams. At the end of the round the points th y ha dgained had been discounted.

Nominations of teams were shown to be:—Junior: Patea, Alton, Athletic, Kaponga, Okair z-, Waimate, Opunake, Hawera and Eltham. Third grade: Patea, Athletic, Okai"wa, V'unate, Hawera, High School and Eltham. Fourth grade: Okaiawa, Kaponga, Waimate, Hawera, High School ana Eltham. Some doubt exists as to whether the Eltham nominations will bear fruit.

PERSONAL ITEMS. Twenty years a member of the Patea Harbour'Board is the record of the present chairman, Mr. A. T. Christensen. Air. J. R. Corrigan has had eighteen years’ service. Mr. J. B. Alurdoch, Hawera, left for the south yesterday. Air. E. Long, Alanaia, returned on Saturday from a short visit to AA Tcl’isigton. Air. C. J- Hawken, Alokoia, left yesterday for Wellington to join a steamer for a trip to the East. Airs. Hawken proceeded to Wellington by ear the previous day. Air. ami Airs. 11. R- Scott, Whakamara, returned on Saturday after _ a fortnight spent in Marlborough and Nelson. Air. A. Quin, Hawera, who for several, years has been a prominent member of the local Highland Pipe Band, left yesterday for Wellington, where he will undergo training prior to entering the police force. Air. and Mrs. Morto Hickey, Miss K. Long and party have returned from a holiday at Lemon Point, Kawhia, where they had enjoyable sport fishing. Fish were very plentiful and large quantities were caught. The AVaitomo Caves were visited. Air. D. Henderson and Air. and Mrs. W. Scott, Ardgowan, Oamaru, have returned home after - spending a short holiday with Air. and Mrs. F. J. Massey, Alanaia. GENERAL ITEMS. To come home late on Sunday night and find a homing pigeon in the wardrobe in his bedroom was the experience of a Hawera resident. The window of his room had been open. On its leg was the label N.Z. 101. A note was attached to the bird’s leg. The bird wafi placed on the window silk whence it leuearly yesterday morning.

The Patea Harbour Board decided at its meeting yesterday to levy a rate of l-6d for 'the year 1929-30 on the valuation, £8,260,000, over the boaids area. This will produce a total of £5736 in rates.

To allow the people ot Haweia jind district to hear the contest selections to be played at the band contest in New Plymouth on April 18, the Hawera Alunicip’al Band, under Air. H. C. A. Fox, gave a recital in the park on Sunday afternoon and was rewarded by attracting the largest gathering of, listeners ever seen at one of the band’s outside performances.

The first anniversary of the formation of the junior choir was celebrated at St. John’s Church, Hawera, on Sunday. The junior choir led the singing at both morning and evening services. In the morning they sang two anthems, “Listen to my cry,” and “Soldiers of the Cross,” and in* the evening they repeated the latter and sang also “Absent faces” (in three parts), “I love to hear (he storv,” solo by Audrey AlcLaren, and quartette “The glad message,” Aliases N. and E. Alatlieson, E. Twaddle and Al. Lamb, and the hymn “Knocking.” An address on “Youth work” was given in the morning by Aliss Shannon, travelling secretary of the Y.W.8.C., and the Rev. R. E. Evans preachedJn the evening, taking as his subject “Unlikely channels,” and basing his address on the Bible story of Christ and the Samaritan. In the afternoon Alias Shannon addressed members of Bible classes, about 80 being present.

April 17 is the date set aside, this year for the Hawera Poultry Society’s third voung bird show', which will be held in the* Winter Show buildings, Hawera, Entries close with the secretary, Air. A. Hopkins, on Alonday. Schedules are available on application.

The Legion of Frontiersmen will hold a ball in °he Whakamara hall to-morrow night. A bus will leave Latham’s garage, Hawera, at 7.45 p.m., only half fares being charged.

The Alton Football Club’s annual eeven-s-sidc tournament for the Alt6n challenge cup and seven gold medals will bo held on Mr. A. J. Gibbs’ grounds tomorrow, commencing at 11 a.m.

At the last meeting of the Patea Borough Council a strong appeal was made by councillors to. the Mayor, Air. P. S. Finlayson, to reconsider his decision and to accept nomination for a further term. In thanking councillors the Alayor said he ■would consider the matter further after consulting the Mayoress.

Complimentary reference was made at last night’s meeting of the Patea, Borough Council to the work of tho town clerk, Air. F. 1. Ray, in regard to rate collection. The collections last year amounted to 97.8 pei’ cent, of the total demand, which, said the Alayor, was tho best result achieved for a number of years.

Air. H. 11. Sterling, general manager of raihvays, arrived in Hawera _ last night and met a deputation of businessmen regarding freight rates, particularly as affecting dairy produce. Accompanying him were Messrs. E. Casey, divisional superintendent for tho North Island, Al. Dennehy, law and land officer, P. H. Hartland, ‘district traffic manager, H. W. Beasley, district engineer, and J. Pringle, district business agent. Tho party proceeded to Stratford later in tho evening and aro due in New Plymouth to-day. The meeting with the deputation was not open to the Press. GRAND THEATRE. “WILD BLOOD.” That remarkable equine screen star, Rex, who has already displayed his talents in “Wild Beauty,” “Hoofbeate of Vengeance,” and other Universal productions, will appear on the screen again at the Grand Theatre to-night in his latest picture, “Wild Blood.” He is a Ifiy supported by Jack Perrin, Ethlyne Clair and Nelson McDowell, not to forget another clever horse actor, Starlight. In “Wild Blood” Rex, a wild horse, has a hazardous life eluding capture at the hands of an unscrupulous rancher, whom be instinctively hates. The rancher has designs on the daughter of a miner who had just arrived and had staked a claim, and Rex’s equine mind prompts him to take sides with the miner and the girl. Life is full cf hardships for tho girl, whose circumstances are poor, and she falls victim to the suggestions of the unscrupulous rancher that they go to the city together. Rex piays a prominent part in the chase after the subsequent fleeing couple, and enlists the aid of his herd of wild horses to mete out justice to the villain. The stampede of wild horses in the climax of the picture is replete with thrills and provides a fitting conclusion to a thoroughly entertaining screen attraction. The supporting programme includes two news reels and a comedy.

Gross. Hep. Nett .... 1’3 20 73 R 1’ Pa."e .... OG 22 74 10 75 W S (ribSOTl .. , t .. .... 05 20 7b .... S3 7 76 W. G. Walkley .... 03 16 77 E P. Cok .... 05 18 77 R. G. B. Sinclair .. .... 01) 22 77 J 0 Bobb .... 103 26 77 W ,1 n 11'011 .... 107 30 77 Murray Page ..... .... 103 24 78 If A iiniicoDibo ' .. *. .... 90 20 79 T. F McKenzie .... 101 22 79 t, T! Ritchie .. . . .... ioo 20 SO Il Whitehead .... .. 97 16 81 A. J. Glasson 99 18 81 H Wilson .... 102 20 82 W. G. Strange .... .... 107 21 83

TId. 400 500 600’Tl. Pres. Robertson . scr 32 32 34 98 Rflmn. R. Evans . 84 25 32 29 044 Rflmn. E. Booth . 2J 2-8 31 32 931 Rflmn. A. Elgar . 3:1 27 33 30 931 Fflmn. F. Ching . 6 27 28 28 89 Rflmn. G. Cross . S’ 25 31 29 882 Rflmn. H. Lamb . 11§ 24 23 28 8f>a Rflmn. J. Vinten . 111 22 28 21 821 Conditions were difficult owing to an unsteady wind blowing across the range and a mirage. On Saturday-the following g scores were registered for tho Linkhoi •n trophy: — Hd. 400 500 600 Tl. Rflmn. J. Vinten . 81 37 44 43 1321 Pres. Robertson . scr 41 46 44 131 Rflmn. G. Cross . it 'H 44 44 1305 Rflmn. A. Elgar . 1.1 39 46 43 1292Rflmn. E. J. Booth 3 41 42 41 127 Rflmn. R. Evans . 12} 33 43 36 1241 Rflmn. Beatson . 19J 26 37 35 1172 Rflmn. II. Lamb . 171 25 37 35 1141