LOCAL AND GENERAL

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1930, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“Back to the days of William Tell,” remarked Mr. A. Lees at the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday when a letter was received from a parent in a country district inquiring whether bows and arrows were safe in school grounds.

"I used to hold the principle that if a man could have a car he could afford to pay a substantial fine,” said the magistrate (Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M.) in the New Plymouth Police Court yesterday. "But in these days I don’t know—l don’t know.”

Passing over Paekakariki hill in a service car at 5 p.m. on Thursday last, says the Manawatu Times, the passengers were pleased to see Mount Egmont, the coast line of the South Island and the Southern Alps more dearly than on any occasion for a year past. When exactly at the summit of Paekakariki, the cone of Egmont was in alignment with the south peak of Kapiti.' Atmospheric conditions gave per-, feet visibility. When a motor-lorry driven along the South Road, New Plymouth, collided headon with. a tram the explanation was given that the driver was driving along the tram tracks and that the tyres caught in the rails. It was a wet day and if he had tried to get out suddenly. he would have skidded dangerously, ‘‘Yes,” eaid the borough inspector, "but it is an offence against the by-laws to .drive along the tram tracks, although we have not had cases at the court for that offence for some years.” An unusual incident occurred in the Children’s Court at Christchurch on Saturday morning, when an argumentative father came close to being coinmitted for contempt. The magistrate, Mr. Lawry, ordered the man’s arrest, but on an assurance by the latter that he would behave, Mr. Lawry did not proceed with the charge. The trouble arose during the hearings of a case in which the man’s son was charged with three petty thefts, and the father denied various statements by the police.

The" Prime Minister (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) when speaking at Lyttelton on Saturday night told a story.to illustrate the recent increases in taxation. A friend had said to him, that although most things were now taxed there were still some left. It reminded him, said Air. Forbes, of the old Irish jaunting car driver, who, after trying all methods of making his horse go faster, was asked if he knew of anything more. “Sure,” he said, "I can twist his tail, but I am keeping that for the hill.” "We are keeping the other things for the hill,” said Mr. Forbes. Applications for three sections in the Brinklands Settlement, one mile and threequarters from Fairlie, closed on Thursday, and only one was received, says the Christchurch Press. The applicant will be examined by the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. W. Stewart), and if the examination proves favourable he will be given his choice of one of the three sections. Since applications closed there have been several inquiries regarding the settlement, and it is possible that the two remaining sections may be taken up.

Showing the adaptability of the movable type of class-room that has been adopted by the Taranaki Education Board to cope with the need for increased accommodation at schools pending the provision of permanent additions the architect to the board (Mr. €. H. Moore) reported that on Monday week the staff went to Opunake. The temporary building, was taken down, the sections carted to Fitzroy and by mid-day on Thursday the room was ready for occupation. The classroom, which WQuld accommodate nearly 40 children, had already been dismanted and reassembled on five different sites.

Through the medium of the Junior Red Cross Organisation a “friendship scrap book” compiled by the boys and girls of grade 6 Stanley Jones. School, Calgary, Canada, was forwarded to the Westown School, New Plymouth. It contained essays and pictures dealing with Canada. The Westown School in return is sending a similar book from its Junior Red Cross Circle. Both portfolios were displayed at the Taranaki Education Board's meeting yesterday, members taking a keen interest in thgm. A motion was pass. complimenting the pupils of the Westown School upon the excellent display of essays, photographs and sketches dealing with New Plymouth and Dominion matters. The collection was prepared by members of the Junior Red Cross Circle under the supervision of a of the staff.

The enterprise of the residents of the Mangahume district in raising money for the improvement of the school grounds and the neat state of the school grounds generally formed the subject of eulogistic reference in a special report submitted to the Taranaki Education Board yesterday by a committee. ' It was stated that during the last four years, as a result of local effort £230 had been raised by a queen carnival and entertainments. The money had been expended partly in preparing a parade ground and tennis court and the erection of a neat fence and hedge. Owing to the department’s subsidy being regulated according to the grade of the school the committee had not obtained a very large subsidy. Mr. White considered the effort a remarkable one for a school with an attendance of 16. For four years over £2OOO per annum has been raised for Taranaki schools by voluntary effort.

The question of extending the Easter vacation to include the Tuesday was discussed by the Taranaki Education Board yesterday, notice of motion to that effect having been given by Mr. J. McAllister. Advocates of the proposal pointed out that Easter was the first holiday vacation of the year, and having to resume school on Tuesday would° spoil the holiday for teachers who wished to travel any distance, as well as for parents who wished to take their children away. Moreover, secondary schools took the holiday on the Tuesday and it would be advantageous to have the vacations synchronise. Opponents of the proposal pointed out that up till three years ago it was customary to include the Tuesday as a holiday, but owing to the holidays taken for shows and sports some schools found it difficult to secure the necessary 400 half days schooling required under the regulations, and therefore the Easter vacation had been curtailed. Schools did not resume until the Tuesday after the second term holiday, and if Easter Tuesday were reinstated it would probably be necessary to resume on the Monday instead, and the opinion was expressed that with that alteimative. teachers would prefer the position to remain as it was. Consideration was deferred till the next meeting. Meanwhile the secretary will prepare a statement showing the number of holidays now taken by"the various schools. Stocktaking Bargains this week at The Hustlers, ■ This season’s goods to be cleared at sensationally reduced prices. Quality and bargain prices, a combination that brings you savings. See that you do not miss such good savings,'! Hinstlersji •Drapers, Devon Street.*-? ■■ ’ •