NEW HOME FOR SCOUTS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1930, Page 10

NEW HOME FOR SCOUTS

INSTALLATION AT MASONIC HALL.

For some time the Stratford troop of Boys Scouts has been hampered by lack of suitable quarters.' Till recently the Scouts used the Stratford Football Club’s gymnasium, but that building had many . disadvantages as far as Scout work was concerned. . >

Through the assistance of citizens the Scouts have been able to secure the use of the Old Masonic Hall, .Juliet Street, and were officially installed there last night. A spacious building containing three main rooms, the hall is admirably suited to the Scouts’ purpose, and should do much to. popularise further the movement among the boys in Stratford. ' . , '

There , was a large gathering of Scouts ?hd parents, to whom the chairman of the executive committee, Mr. W. McInnes, explained how the Scouts had been hampered in the past by want of suitable accommodation, . Now meetings would be held every Friday night, and he hoped parents would take an interest in their boys’ work. He welcomed members of the Toko troop, who attended in charge of Scoutmaster M. Urquhart. Under the direction of Scoutmaster M. Thompson, the Scouts. contributed a .programme of demonstrations of tenderfoot and ambulance work, club-swing-ing, physical drill and boxing.-Slipper, was provided by wives of committee members. .

PRIMARY TEACHER LEAVES.

FAREWELL TO MISS I. FOSTER.

Members of the staff and of the committee of the Stratford primary school assembled yesterday at a farewell and presentation to Miss : I. Foster, first assistant mistress, ‘ who is leaving the school to take a position at Goodwood, near Cambridge. '? Before presenting Miss Foster, with, two cut glass vases as a memento from .the staff of her nine years’ sojourn at the school, the. headmaster (Mr. L. J. Furrie) said that Miss Foster had a Very fine record, as a teacher. Her demeanour in a classroom secured immediate' obedience from the pupils without the use of oppressive discipline. During the eight years he had. been headmaster at the school he had not had a single complaint from parents regarding Miss' Foster’s treatment of their children, and that such was the case was an excellent indication of the capable way in which she. taught and controlled her classes. During the four or five years that he had been chairman of the committee he had come into close contact with members of the teaching staff, said Mr. W. Hoskin. In his opinion, Miss Foster was an exceedingly capable teacher with, a very fine record. One parent, on hear-, ing that Miss. Foster would be leaving the school, had said to him:'“Miss Foster’s going will be a great loss : to the. school; can’t you keep her here ?" “The Stratford school has a wonderful record for high moral tone and scholastic attainments, and I think’ Miss Foster has done her share in building iip that reputation,” said Mrs. P. Thomson, a member of th. committee. . ' On behalf of the other members of the staff Mr. D. Taylor, first assistant, expressed regret at Miss Foster’s departure, and joined with previous speakers in wishing her success in her new sphere.

MATAU GENERAL. AND PERSONAL.

The ladies’ social committee held a meeting on Saturday. The following accounts were passed for payment: Timber for hall improvements, £3; cupboard for hall, £1 10s.; hire of hall, '£l; and other. items bringing the total to £B. This left a balance of 4s. 5d., which was voted for a dust. pan. Mrs. P. Rolfe, organiser, did splendid work on the committee.

A meeting of ladies was held on the same afternoon'to make arrangements for the church social to help reduce the vestry deficit. There was a good attendance, and the -following committees were formed: Supper committee. Mesdames P. Rolfe, G. Jensen, E. Ericksen and W. Rawlinson; decoration committee, Misses. G. - hapman and D. Jensen; general committee, Mesdames H. Larsen (organiser), E. Evans, E. McCoard, A. Rolfe and G. Rawlinson and Misses M. Larsen and D. Rawlinson; stage managers, Messrs. G. Jensen and H. Larsen. The date of,..the social was. fixed for May 23. . The cream lorries are stopping this week and the herds are being dried off for the winter. A meeting of settlers has been called for Monday by the chairman. of the Stratford County Council to discuss the refusal of the Loans Board to sanction the proportional rating proposals for the Matau-Kiore metalling scheme. An effort will be made to draft another scheme which will be acceptable, as the Government offer of a subsidy of I £3 for £1 is considered too good to be\ lost. ■ Misses G. Chapman and N. Mundy are spending a few days in Stratford. Mrs. Adams, who has been the guest of Mrs. P. Rolfe, has returned to Ohura. Mr. E. Evans has returned from Christchurch. Mr. J. Milson is visiting friends in Stratford. o Mr. P. Rolfe left for Ohura last Tuesday. Mr. S. J. Kennington has returned from New Plymouth. Mr, R. Lambert was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. K. Mumby last week-end. Miss H. Ayers and Miss D. Rawlinson are visiting Taranaki. PERSONAL ITEMS. Messrs. Dynes Fulton (Hamilton), W. Fisher (Carterton) and J. G. Brechin (Pahiatua) . were in Eltham yesterday attending a meeting of the board of directors of the New Zealand Rennet Company. The death occurred at Eltham on Thursday of Miss Jean Jardine, only daughter of Mrs. M. Jardine, after a short illness. Miss Jardine was keenly interested in local activities, and was ! very popular among a wide circle of friends.