GARDEN PLOTS AT HOME

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1929, Page 12

GARDEN PLOTS AT HOME

* SCHOOL CHILDREN’S COMPETITION AWARDS MADE AT STRATFORD. From eight entries last year to 14 this year is the measure by which the popularity of the home garden competition in connection with the Stratford primary school can be guaged. ; Mr. W. Dill Mackay, of the Taranaki Education Board’s staff, who judged the competition, Las awarded the following points, the maximum being 109: Bernard Hoskin 95. Fred Hancock 87, Jack Steven 86, Alick Faine 85, Ernest White 82, Harold Austin 81, Don McDowall 80, Josephine King 76, Walter Rogers 75, Trevor Villers 69, Alfred Benefield 66.

No competitor received the. full marks (25) for preparation, and finish, hut Haskin and Faine received 24. For variety and spacing Hancock (24) and Rogers (23) received the highest marks. Hoskin received the maximum marks fox’ cultivation and arrangement, White (23) being next. Hoskin (19 out of 20), Steven, White and Austin were the -highest scorers under the heading of growth and general appearance. Hancock received full marks for notebook, and Hoskin, Faine and McDowall 4 each. Two competitors received no marks under this head.

I “There is no doubt of the popularity ■of the competitions among the parents and, as the marks reveal, the competition was contested in a most enthusiastic mannei’ by the pupils, mainly of standard V.,” said Mr. Dill Mackay in reviewing the competition./‘There was only one competitor for standard IV,, this boy being a competitor last year also. A vast, improvement in the general standard of the work over last year’s was shown, particularly in the preparation and finish of the plots. Cultivation was the weakest feature this year, whilst careful staking, proper spacing and direction and arrangement of rows were fairly well carried out. It would be a great mistake if these gardens are not given the encouragement they deserve for the future. I desire tothank Mr. Gilbert for the valuable assistance rendered in connection with these home gardens and the final judging.”

GENERAL ITEMS. Heavy and continuous rain fell nearly all day in Stratford yesterday, necessitating the postponement. of out-door sports. Once again the central division bowling fixtures have become disjointed, and no cricket or tennis was playable. • In view of the fact that the tramway to the property of Egmont Collieries, Ltd., is nearing completion, work on the construction of the permanent railway line bet 'cea Tahora and Tangarakau has been expedited, and the final rails were laid on Wednesday. Previously this section, of the- Stratford-Okahukura trunk line was a light train line hastily constructed to permit supplies and material being forwarded to the works at the eamp and further on. . AMATEUR ATHLETIC EVENTS. ELTIIAM EVENING MEETING. At Taumata Park the third meeting of the Eltham Amateur Athletic Club was held last evening on heavy ground and under cold conditions. Good entries were received for the various events. Results are:— Boys’ race.—M. Donnelly 1, R. Blackstock 2, L. Were 3. 1-20 yards.—D. Gower 1, M. Prince 2, -J. Cleaver 3. Time. 11 4-ssec.

: Half-mile cycle.—Tipler (90yds) 1, Bourke (25yds) 2, Johnson (110yds) 3. 100 yards ladies’.—Miss M. Rowlands i 1, Miss M. Hirst 2, Miss O. Cleaver 3. 440 yards.—Cleaver (45yds) 1, Prince (30yds) 2, Gower (43yds) 3. , Half-mile walk.—B. Campbell (70yds) 1, D. Gower (70yds) .2. Time, 3min 47sec. Two miles cycle.—-Tipler (200yds) 1, Hart (400yds) 2, Tilly (2110yds) 3. Tipler’s win in this race was a most meritorious one as he fell in the fourth lap, lost half a lap as a result and then with a magnificent sprint finished in the load. 1000 yards.—Whiting (75yds) I, Cleaver (105yds) 2, McWilliitm (110yds) High jump.—Tipler (9in) sft. 2in 1. Whiting (sin) sft lin 2. Cleaver (sin) 4ft 11 Ln 3. CHAMPION MANGOLD CUP. PRIZE-GIVING AT HUINGA. To win the Webb Cup for last year’s champion mangold crop of New Zealand was the distinction gained by Master Ge.orge Loving, of the Huinga school, and at a well-attended function in the Huinga hall on Tuesday evening the cup was presented by Mr. Rod Syme, South Taranaki agricultural instructor for the Education Board. As the cup will be held by the winner for only one year, he was presented with a replica. He was also presented with a silver badge as the winner of the group mangold growing competition. Master Loving’s crop yielded 181 tong of mangolds to the acre. “In recent years we have seen a supplementing of what we have regarded as the traditional school subjects with a number of new activities, all aiming at securing for the children a broader and more complete education,” said Mr. Syme in presenting the cups and congratulating Master Loving on his achievement. “In Taranaki the Boys’ and Girls’ Club work is one of the most important of these new activities.” Mr. Syme went on to refer to the growth of the club movement and the benefit that must result from the fact that children were taking part in farm work not as hired hands but as the proud owners of a calf or a plot, with all the responsibility of possession. They thus obtained a real interest in agriculture. Speaking of the drift to the towns, Mr. Stoic said that the problem was that it was very largely the most intelligent of the country children who went to the towns. The club movement was an attempt to check the drift to the towns by creating a more intelligent |

interest in farm work. Having this in mind, parents should give every possible assistance to tho furtherance of the club work. Mr. Syme also congratulated Beth: Cook, the only entrant from Huinga in the calf-rearing competition, on her success at the calf-judging championships at E'ltham that day. She had been plac-. ed second in dairy type in the Jersey section, in which there were 316 entries. Mr. Jamieson, chairman of the school committee, presented the school prizes gained during the year, congratulating children and teachers upon the success ■ of the year’s work. An interesting programme consisted of a grand' march, several dances, dialogues and recitations, by the school children, the sailors’ hornpipe by Joan Jamieson, the sword) dance by Alex. Jamieson, the Highland fling by Jean, Joan and Joyce Jamieson, vocal solos by Mesdanxes Marfell and Vaughan and recitations by Miss Longstaff.

Music fox' the concert and for a number of the dances was supplied by Mrs. Henderson. Mr. J. Jamieson played ft waltz oix the pipes, whilst further dance music was supplied by local musicians. Supper was served by tlie ladies.