MOTOR UNION CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1931, Page 10

MOTOR UNION CONFERENCE

ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE. Wessrs. AV. 0. Williams, E. P. Cox, J. A. Duffill, AV. O’Callaghan and S. C. Tonks have been appointed a sub-com-mittee of the South Taranaki Automobile Association to arrange for the entertainment of delegates to the North Island Motor Union conference at Hawera next month. • . The. touring manager of the Auckland Automobile Association forwarded a copy of the letter he had sent to the Tongariro National Park Board urging the provision of adequate camping facilities for motorists in the park. The letter pointed out that .the clearing of a small amount of scrub would, provide ample space for at least 100 tents. Last season fully 50 per cent of motorists had carried camping gear a.nd those local authorities which had -set- out 1 to cater for this ■ class of traific had found that th e camping . grounds, had amply' repaid them for any expenditure. MANAIA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. ' PAST PROGRESS REVIEWED. In ins' half-yearly report, the headmaster summarises its history and activities of the Manaia High School. The institution was opened in May; 1925, under the headmastership of of Mr. J. Nairn, Mr. A. F. Allan being Miss M. Johnson succeeded Mt. Allan until October, 1927, when Mr. D. G. Sherson was appointed. The school year of 1928 opened auspiciously when the roll rose to 27 and gratifying results followed, four gaining matriculation. In 1929, conveyance facilities to and from Okaiawa resulted in the roll almost doubling. To the manual section was added a class room to hold 25 pupils, but soon another room, a combined science and class room, became imperative. Miss McLeod, M.A., Dip. Ed., was appointed as extra assistant when more comprehensive courses were arranged and expanded during 1930. To meet the varied demands. of the pupils, many options were undertaken by the staff, professional, commercial and vocational courses being provided. The school was showing an admirable espirit de corps and success was established. The present year opened with Mr. J. Browning succeeding Mr. J. Nairn as ■headmaster. In addition the staff comprises Mr. D. G. Sherson, 8.A., and Miss McLeod as full-time teachers, and the following part time teachers: Mr. S. R. Veitch, accountant; Mr. R. Syme, instructor in forestry and agriculture; Mr. W, Entwistle, woodwork inspector; Miss Helyer,. cookery mistress; Miss Hughes and* Miss Patterson, M.'A,, instructresses in dressmaking; Mr. A. McKenzie, surging master.. _ • The high school committee has laid down two excellent tennis courts and has provided' football, basketball and cricket grounds. The keenest interest is taken in the welfare of the pupils by both the committee and the teachers, the. headmaster continued, and the .school is organised to maintain the physical, mental and moral well-being at. a high, level. The control is largely in thehands of school officers drawn from the' senior classes who weekly prepare a duty roster. Moral and temperance training: is provided and kept to the fore. Religi-; ous instruction is provided by the local ministers, the Rev. R. Miller, chairman of the committee, the Rev. B. Dudley and the Rev. Ci W. Solomon.

The sports activities of 1931 comprises an inter-school competition between Manaia and Opunake High Schools for a cup donated by the Herbert Smith Trust for annual competition, ' and provincial schools’ competition. In the contest of June 3 the A basketball team won the Bennett and Sutton Cup. Swimming, for which at' present no facilities exist at the school, is given every stimulus. Two silver cups are annually competed for by tile girls and boys, the. winners for 1931 being Frances Gamlin and Geoffrey Hammonds.

The school district served grows greater each year, 1931 showing a roll of 51 pupils. In addition, the Form I. and 11. pupils, numbering 208, attend weekly from Manaia District High, Manaia Converit, Okaiawa, Otakeho, Oeo, Auroa and Kaponga for manual. and vocational' instruction. ■ • -

The professional courses provide, for .a-four-year training, thus covering a full matriculation programme. In the commercial course the pupils receive a business training in book-keeping, typewriting, commercial correspondence, .shorthand, and other selected subjects. The science course aims to give a sound training in agriculture, forestry, mathematics and allied courses. The, dressmaking course will be under the eare of MiPatterson, an experienced associate of the Women’s Institute of Arts and Sciences. . '

The social side of school life is freely catered for by debates, concerts, playettes and other pleasant functions, while literary and artistic skill is encouraged in the compilation of an annual production, a magazine edited by the senior officers. SS WET DAYS IN MONTH. HAWERA RECORDS 7.67 INCHES. A rainfall of 7.67 inches was recorded at Hawera in July, and although this is not as great as the eight inches that fell in June, 1929, and which according to records at the Hawera Post Office is a record, the fall was unusually high. Rain fell on 25 days, the heaviest fall ■being on the ninth, when 1.1 inches was recorded. In July of 1927 there were also 25 days on which rain fell, but the fall for the month was only 4.56 inches. There were 13 wet days in July, 1930, but these aggregated only: 1.76 inches of rain. The rainfall of 1.1 inches on July 9 is the heaviest for one day so far in 1931, and the 25 w et days in the month also constitute a record for the year. ‘ - BUSINESS NOTICES. The Farmers’ Union advertises particulars of the ball to be held' in the Alton hall on August/ 14. A good orchestra will provide the music, and Mr. J. Palmer will present the prizes for the field competition. It is the intention of the Mt. Egmont Alpine Club to hold the first Taranaki winter sports meeting on the Rangi-toto Flat, on the summit of Fantham’s Peak, in October. A euchre party, organised by the Hawera branch of the New Zealand Labour Party, will be held in St. Joseph’s Hall, Hawera, to-night. Good prizes arc offered. ■