CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1929, Page 12

CENTRAL TARANAKI NEWS

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS,

I i Telephone Nos. i Stratford Exchange f 552 Office 718 Private c I

Telephone Nos. Stratford Exchange 552 Office 718 Private

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

PKURI.EMS FOR SHOPKEEPERS. Unworn retailors have, in anticipation of Santa Clans* demands, huge stocks of Yuletide goods, and already the demand has exceeded that of previous years. Weeks of effort have resulted in shop windows bearing an enticing appearance, the display of novelties, presents mid Christmas necessities being so arrayed as to prove irresistible. In many windows ingenious mechanical contraptions, whirling wheels aud coloured lights attract the crowds and present a further traffic problem to the overworked police.-One grocer informed an eager housewife that he had in stock enough new-laid eggs to last three months. Little Betty entered the draper’s establishment aud worried the young man behind the hosiery department, counter for one silk stocking. The harrassed assistant was amazed, after he had asked the reason for her wanting only one, to receive the reply that she did not want Santa Claus to think she wore Lisle tops. In a stationer’s shop one man was noticed browsing among a stupendous collection of Christmas cards, yet he. seemed uncertain of making a purchase. A pretty fair-haired girl, thinking she might be of assistance, chose a card for him. ‘■'Here's lovely sentiment/’ she cooed. “To the only girl I over loved.” “Splendid f” he cried, brightening. “11l take five —no, six of those, please.” Father and mother were in the same shop and mother watched father purchase a set of scientific instruments for Bobby, a three-volumed treatise on the feminist movement in the Malay Archipelago for little Mabel, and a sterilised sanitary rattle for baby. “Now what would you like yourself, father?” she asked. Father (eagerly): I think I’ll have a clockwork engine. Little Billy was greatly worried about the .trouble he was to mother, “She’s very patient, you know,” he said to father, “but she often sends me to the stores for things and the stores are a good way off; and I know she gets cross waitin’ when she's in a hurry.” “Not often, I- fancy,” replied father. “Oh, she’s generally in a hurry. She gets everything all ready for baking, an’ finds nt the last minute, she hasn’t any baking powder; or she gets a pudding all mixed and finds she hasn’t any nutmeg or something; an’ then she’s in an awful stew ’cause the oven is all ready, and maybe company coinin’; and I can’t run a very long distance, you know, and I feel awful sorry for poor mother.” “Humph! Well, what can we do about it?” “I was thinkin’ you might gel me a bicycle for a Christinas present." RATAPIKO SCHOOL BREAK-UP. . ’ PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The prize-giving ami break-up of the Ratapiko school took place on Thursday. A very fine sports programme had been arranged by the teachers, but on account of adverse weather conditions it had to be carried out indoors. The schoolroom presented a very gay appearance. A ' very pretty paper bell was hung in the centre, from which’ was draped paper chains of many colours. Christmas crackers and bells also formed part of the decoration scheme?- which was in keeping with the festive time of the year. There was a good attendance of parents, who seemed to fully appreciate the entertainment provided by the school pupils under the tuition of their teachers, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Court. Afternoon tea was served by the ladies’ committee and each child was presented with a book and bags of lollies andnuts. Mr. M. Nolan, chairman of the school committee, presented the prizes gained during the year, each pupil being cheered as ho or she went forward to receive the prize. Following were dis winners of the special prizes: — Quality of work, standard s.—Enid Hendry, Third term- examination marks.—Joan Karalus. Highest examination marks for the year.—John Kuklinski. Best geographical scrap book (prize presented by Mrs. Wilson). —Alan Martin, Special spelling prizes.—Senior, Keith Wells; junior, Peter Ganna cay. Eight children qualified for attendance certificates, Master Clarence Butler having the record of not having missed a day during the school year. Attendance, certificates and books were iresented to Ennid Hendry, Mavis Grigg, Mick Ku- : klinski, Jim Bennett, Clarenee Butler, John Kuklinski, Clarice Wilson and Jack Corbett. Jong jump.—Primers: Girls, Gracie Kuklinski; boys, Brian Mannix. (Standard 1 and 2, girls, Nita Gush; boys, Malcolm Willans; seniors, girls, Moua Corlett; boys, Jim Bennett and Alan Martin (equal); skipping, girls, Joan Karalus; boys, Bernard Kuklinski. Putting tail on pig.—Junior girls, Vera Nolan; junior boys, Gerald Long; senior girls, Nellie Gannaway; senior boys, George Karalus. .Swimming eertiiicates.—44o yards, Elis O’Donnell; 220 yards, Doris Martin and Keith Wells; 50 yards, Mavis Grigg and Alan Martin. The swimming champions of the school were Keith Wells and Doris Martin, who each received medals suitably inscribed. The concert programme was as follows: Song, “Seeing Nellie Home,” senior pupils; recitation, “The Stray Cat,” John Kuklinski; recitation, “Little Tramp Dog/' “Buster” Corbett; recitation, “The Wind,” Peggy Nolan; action song, “Jack and Jill,” primers; dance, A’s and B’s, senior boys and girls; song, “Let’s grow old together,” senior pupils; recitation, “The Leaking Cowshed,” Joan Karalus: recitation, “The Spider,*' George Karalus; recitation, “Somebody,” Margaret Gannaway; song, “I Don’t Care What You Used To Be,” juniors; recitation, “A Man of Bengali,” Jim Bennett; recitation, “Jack Frost,” Dan Butler; recitation, “Autumn,” Jack Corbett;

»recitation, “Sweep’s Pony,” Peter Gannaway; song, “Coat of Blue,” senior pupils (soloists, Mavis Grigg and Josie Nolan); dance, “Godess,” junior pupils; action song, “Old King Cole,” primers; recitation, “Mother’s Help,” Bessie Newman; recitation, “Mother’s Help,” Bessie Newman; recitation, “Birdie." Joy Eva; reci, ation, “Mother’s got the ’Flu,” •Josie Nolan; song, "Don’t Forget Me Little Darling,” school children; recitation “Seaside Dog," Joe Martin; recitation, “Doorsteps Clean.” Bernard Kuklinskit dance, “Butterfly Dance," senior pupils; song, “Rio Grande," Vera Nolan. Clarice Wilson, Margaret Gannaway and Peggy Nolan; song, “Billy Boy,” Gerald Long, Mick Kuklinski and Dim Butler; recitation, “Lay,” Nellie Gannaway and Enid Hendry; recitation, “Cock-a-doodle-do,” Clarence Butler; song, •’Where Are You Going My Pretty Maid," Gracie and Mick Kuklinski; recitation, “Be a Sport,” Mavis Grigg; recitation, “Boats Sail on the Rivers,” Clarice Wils'on; dance, “Mountain Climbing.” senior pupils; recitation, “The Fisherman,” Alan Martin; recitation, “Smile and the World Smiles With You,” B. Kuklinski; song “Fascinating Mary,” junior pupils; recitation, “Little Brown Brother," Malcolm Willans; recitation, “Summer Tears," Mick Kuklinski; recitation, “If I Knew,” Vera Nolan; song, “Weeping Willow," senior pupils. At the conclusion of the programme a very pleasing little ceremony took place when the chairman called on the children to make presentations to the teachers on behalf of the school committee. Mrs Wilson received a silver cake dish which was accompanied by a bouquet of roses, and Mrs. Court a salad bowl and servers aud a bouquet of mauve flowers. The acoinpaniments were very ably played by Mrs. Court. “HIGH VOLTAGE” PRESENTED. HAWERA OPERA HOUSIC. “High Voltage,” presented to a large audience at the Havvera Opera House on Saturday, provided something unusual in the way of entertainment, for the entire film was staged in the one location with but six actors. Yet it is a story gripping in its intensity, with touches of pathos fully appreciated by the more sentimental. It is mid-winter in America, yet despite the signs presaging a blizzard a happy-go-lucky ser-vice-car driver is optimistic about crossing the snow-bound plains with his valuable human freight to Chicago. The passengers are a detective (Owen Moore), his lady prisoner, a millionaire and a girl travelling to meet her lover. When in the middle of the plain the car breaks down and the party is stranded. Fortunately it is able to reach a small wooden church, occupied by a “hobo," before the blizzard breaks. Food is extremely short and the six people are faced with slow starvation unless relief is quickly forthcoming. Day after day the blizzard rages. An aeroplane flies overhead without sighting the stranded people, and gradually hope gives way to despair. The unshaven men at times descend to the level of primeval beasts, the ladies of the party become callous and hysterical in turn, yet there is always that silver lining which shows that civilisation and culture have not entirely been forgotten. Even when the last portions of the food supply are being divided with meticulous care the service-car driver, in an endeavour to cheer the party up, sings “The Gourmand’s Feast.” The climax is unexpected and sensational and one leaves the theatre wondering, if one were situated similarly, how one would behave through such an ordeal. The appetite for the piece de resistance is whetted by the excellent preliminaries. Dozens of motor-boats, are seen and heard sputtering in races, while at the Aldershot military show are witnessed the King's Guards performing some amazing feats on their chargers. Those intelligent animals have even been taught to waltz to music. London's famous fire brigades are seen in training, mid the famous English baritone, Dale Smith, renders in his inimitable style songs of Old England. He ia supported by some highclass artists. An English comedy and the Pathe Sound News and Audio Review complete the programme. Bo\ SEVERELY BURNT. PETROL EXPLODES AT DOUGLAS. While Frank Latham was filling an 8-gallon drum from a petrol pump at Douglas on Saturday a little boy named Eric Wills came along and fired a toy pistol. The sparks from the cap ignited the petrol and the flames reached the boy’s clothing, which was set alight. The boy ran into the' store, where Mr. C. A. Bredow promptly flung a tarpaulin round him and smothered the flames. Nevertheless the boy was seriously burnt and was taken to the Stratford hospital. GENERAL ITEMS. The lengthy mail train was detained many minutes beyond its usual’ time at Stratford on Saturday, duo partly to the exceptional rush of holiday-makers but more especially to the fact that a train from Tahora, packed with railway workers, women-folk and children on their way out on holiday, drew in to the Stratford station at the same time as the arrival of the mail. Most of these people intending to travel south had yet to purchase tickets ami see to the transference of luggage. A special meeting of the Stratford Domain Board on Friday night appointed Mr. S. Taylor, Lower Hutt, to the position of curator of the Stratford domains. The winners of the lady’s watch for guessing the weight of the. bullock at the A. and P. Show, Mrs. A. K. Sehenket, Strathmore, and Mrs. R. Hogg, Midhirst, drew lots for th? .watch. Mrs. Hogg was successful.