TEACHING OF FARMING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1933, Page 5

TEACHING OF FARMING

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES OMATA BRANCH SUCCESSES. CELEBRATION OF OCCASION. Marking a dual celebration, the presentation of the prizes won by the pupils of the Hurford and Omata schools in the Boys and Girls’ Agricultural Club competitions and of the certificates won by the farmers of the combined districts in the farmers’ field competitions, the annual social of the Omata branch of the Farmers’ Union attracted a large crowd to the Omata hall on . Thursday night. A feature was the number of children in fancy dress. Among the visitors present were Messrs. J. M. Smith, of the Fields Division of the Agricultural Department and chairman of the competition committee, D. le Cren Morgan, secretary of the committee, A. E. Washer, president of the Boys and Girls* Agricultural Clubs, W. P. Okey, secretary, and Duncan McKay, senior agricultural instructor in the Taranaki education district. The evening was largely devoted t» dancing, music being provided by Messrs. Williamson, Sanger and Stafford. Extras were played by Miss Greenwood. Messrs. A. R. Bayly and T. Ryan were masters of ceremonies. A musical programme was interspersed between the dances, every item being encored. A feature was the sweet singing by three boys, Ken Bullin and Jack Joll singing solos and Ken and Noel Bullin duets in which their voices blended harmoniously. Miss D. Abbott and Mr. W. P. Okey sang solos and Mr. Jack Joll gave recitations. Miss Greenwood was the accompaniste. Mr. W. J. Maloney, president of the branch, thanked the performers. Supper was served by a committee comprising Mesdames A. J. Luxton, W. J. Maloney, R. D. Spence, N. Berridge, J. Lynch and P. H. Mace and Miss T. Young. Mr. Maloney paid a tribute to the work of Mr. Washer in connection with the Boys and Girls’ Club with which he had been associated since its inception. In presenting the prizes Mr. Washer said his associtaion with the movement commenced in South Taranaki and he had seen the club become firmly established also in North Taranaki. The Omata branch of the union had helped considerably with finance and in other directions in the early stages of the movement, and that had assisted greatly. He also paid a tribute to the work of Mrs. Luxton. He gave statistics showing that last year Taranaki boys and girls had reared 850 calves, or 40 per cent, of the total in New Zealand. Wanganui was second with 425 calves. This year Taranaki hoped to establish a record with 1000 calves, so he urged all to enter. He then presented the prizes as follow:— Omata School. Martin Rea: Washer Challenge Cup for championship dairy condition ShorthoniFrieslan section, framed certificate ana group badge for first in. group for dairy condition Shorthom-Friesian section, certificate for second in group dairy type —Shorthom-Friesian section, and . club badge'for having completed work in the competition. • . Hugh Gilmer: Certificate for second in group dairy type Jersey-Ayrshire section and club badge. . Jean McHardie: Club badge. Hurford School. Margaret Walsh: Framed certificate and group badge for first in dairy condition Jersey-Ayrshire section (group 4) and club badge for having completed work in the competition. . . • Ted Walsh: Certificate for third in dairy condition Jersey-Ayrshire section and club badge. Laurie Capon, Tom James and Sydney James: Club badges. ' Mr. Washer said that he looked forward to the time when he could present to the Omata district the coveted Trimble Shield, which had been'held by the Egmont Village and Pukearuhe districts. In congratulating the district on its success in the competitions Mr. Smith said he felt that the competitions had a good hold in the district and were having a valuable effect Winning championships was not the aim of the competitions, but rather the furthering of practical knowledge in farming was desired, and he felt that the competitions were having a good effect in that -respect. He presented the-, prizes as follow:— . Pasture competition: A. J. Buxton i, Penwarden Bros. 2. Ensilage earth pit: R. D. Spence 1, A. R. Bayly 2 and 3. _ _ Ensilage stacks: Penwarden Bros. 1 and 3, N; Berridge 2. Ensilage, hillside stack: L. Hay: Penwarden Bros. 1, H. Jvruw and A. R. Bayly (equal) 2. Called on to speak, Mr. Morgan said that as secretary of the North Taranaki Farmers’ Union executive he felt it JUS duty to assist the farmers both individually and collectively in any movement that was for their betterment. He urged all farmers to make full use of the union. . . -. The chairman said , that a great deal of the credit for the support given the Boys and Girls’ Club by the Omata branch was due to Mr. Luxton, while Mrs. Luxton was responsible for suggesting the inclusion of a childrens fancy dress dance which had attracted so much interest that evening. He also congratulated the Oakura branch on having won two championship cups—G. n. Bell the concrete pit ensilage, and H. Staveley the hillside stack ensilage. . A cake competition was won by Mr. A. T. Moore. It was announced that the profits of the social amounting to £2 had been donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs. The following children were m fancy dress: Joyce Wilton (Dancer), Maire Hart (Carnival), Maisie Wilton (Old English), Daymar Holmes (Spanish Dancer), Rachel Mace (Gipsy Girl), Doreen -Hair (Carnival), Ngaire Bayly (Minnie Mouse), Helen White, Waitara (Gipsy), Maisie McKee (Soldier), Nancy Wilton (Egyptian Lady), Tui Ward (Pirate), Rita Berridge (Gipsy), Rhoda Hair (Irish Peasant), Lita Penwarden (Dutch Girl), Isabel McKee (Pirate), Betty Sisley (Pierrette), Mary Bayly (Mr. Baggy Breeches), Patricia Moriarty (“A Maid ), Jessie Ansford (Pierette), Hazel Walker, Opunake (Bo Peep), Myra Ryan (Mickey Mouse), Irene Lethbridge (Pierette), Jessie Bayly (Sailor Boy), Nancy Huston (Early Victorian), Margaret Walsh (Brasso), Jewel Moloney (Night), Eileen Walsh (Poppy), Dawn Walsh (Fairy), Joan Walsh (Scotch Lassie), Dawn Anderson (Russian), Colin Hair (Elf), Robbie Penwarden (Sailor), Alec Sanger (Chinaman), Leonard Spence (Sambo), Alan Walsh (Pierrot), Trevor Knapman (Edmonds Baking Powder), Sherlock Holmes (Mickey Mouse), Neville Hair (Indian), Leo Berridge (Chinese).