ELTHAM SCHOOL CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1934, Page 6

ELTHAM SCHOOL CONTROL

ROLL OF 350 PUPILS REPORTED.

MINISTER’S VERSION OF STAFFING.

The Eltham school re-opened with an attendance of 321 and a roll number of 350, stated the headmaster, Mr. R. E. Thomas, at a meeting of the school committee on Tuesday. There were 183 boys and 138 girls in attendance, while the roll contained the names of 205 boys and 145 girls. The term averages for last year were 332, 331 and 334. Twelve new pupils were enrolled on Monday. Of the pupils who qualified for proficiency or competency certificates 18 were attending the Stratford Technical High School and one the New Plymouth Girls’ High School, four were engaged in farm work, two girls were working at home, two boys were learning a trade and one was a shop assistant. Mr. E. Townsend commenced as probationary assistant and Miss E. Rowe as additional assistant. Mr. A. C. Walker, appointed under the scheme for unemployed teachers, would commence on February 10. The papering and painting of the school residence and the building of lavatories at the infant school had been done during the holiday. The chairman (the Rev. J. A. Ryburn) said Mrs. Clifford Jones had withdrawn from the dental clinic 'committee. He criticised the method whereby an appointee did not take office as soon as elected* Mr. Kemp defended the method, stating the object was to attain continuity of management during the dental clinic’s financial year. Mr. J. C. Walsh wrote tendering his resignation owing to departure from the district. The Education Board advised a grant of £l5 to the funds to be made available in March. Correspondence was received from the Minister of Education stating that the committee appeared to be under a misapprehension in regard to the_ appointments of relieving teachers in . cases where teachers were absent owing to sickness. No relieving teacher would be sent to a school for a shorter- period than four weeks unless in the opinion of the senior inspector the remaining staff could not carry on in a satisfactory manner. In the case of Eltham the average attendance had declined to such an extent that according to the regulations the schol was overstaffed. The chairman said he was very dissatisfied with the reply. He felt disinclined to do anything further in the matter. He moved that the letter be received. Messrs. Ryburn and Kemp were appointed a visiting committee. Messrs. Gigham and Kemp were appointed to attend a meeting convened by the Mayor to consider the town jubilee celebrations. Mr. Benefield was asked to continue as the committee’s representative on the dental clinic committee. The chairman reported that a school picnic had been arranged for February 15 at Ngamotu. ’ There were present the Rev. J. A. Ryburn (chairman), A.. R. Kemp,- E. L. Bigham, A. E. Benefield, H. J. Mehrtens and J. H. Barnard. COLLISION AT TUTUTAW A. CAR DAMAGED; DRIVER GRAZED. A collision between a car and a motorlorry which damaged the car rather severely and injured the driver slightly occurred near Tututawa early on Monday. The lorry was only slightly damaged. The two vehicles, the private car driven by Mr. Oscar Woods, Puniwhakau, and a Stratford County Council truck driven by Mr. L. Caskey, met on the narrow road as the car was proceeding towards Stratford and the lorry to county work. The side of tfep car was much damaged and Mr. Woods was injured slightly on the hand and head. The truck driver was unhurt and the truck itself was driven back to Stratford for repairs. HIBERNIAN BENEFIT SOCIETY. STRATFORD BRANCH MEETING. The annual meeting and social of the Stratford branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society were held on Tuesday night. There was a large attendance of members, visitors from the New Plymouth and Hawera branches and representatives of kindred societies. Officers appointed at the annual meeting were: President, Bro. C. Massey; vicepresident, Bro. M. G. Dwyer; secretary, Bro. O. E. Lennon; treasurer, Bro. L. F. Coley; warden, Bro. E. T. McLaughlin; guardian, Sister D. E. Roberts; sick visitors, Bros. J. W. Pooley and W. J. Dwyer and Sister M. E. Dwyer. The officers were installed by the president of the Taranaki-Wanganui provincial branch, Bro. B. McCarthy, who congratulated fire members on their election. The retiring president, Bro. J. W. Pooley, was presented with a past president’s certificate by Bro. C. Massey, who made reference to the splendid work done by Bro. Pooley during the past 12 months. He hoped to be able to reach the standard set by the retiring president. Toasts honoured at the subsequent social were: The Hierarchy and Clergy, Bro. Massey—the Rev. Father Evans; The Hibernian Society, the Rev. Father Phillips—Bro. B. McCarthy; The Ladies, Bro. A. O’Sullivan—Bro. L. F. Coley; Outgoing Officers, Bro. W. J. DwyerBro. J. W. Pooley; Incoming Officers, Bro. Walsh —Bro. C. Massey; Visitors, Bro. O. E. Lennon—Bro. O’Malley (Hibernians), Mr. C. Ireland (Manchester Unity), Mr. F. Foley (Triumph), Mr. R. Kivell (Foresters), Mr. E. D. Evans (Druids); the Artists, Bro. M. G. Dwyer —Bro. P. Brennan; The Chairman, Bro. J. W. Pooley—Bro. C. Massey. Entertainment was provided by Messrs. A. O’Sullivan, R. Muller, J. Kovaleski, P. Brennan, R. Hook and P. T. Aitken and the Rev. Father Phillips. Community singing was led by Bro. O’Sullivan.

FIRE BRIGADE MEETING. The monthly meeting, of members of the Kaponga volunteer fire brigade was held on Tuesday, Superintendent A. Melville presiding over a good attendance. Correspondence was received from the United Fire Brigades’ Association intimating that the annual conference would be held at Hamilton on March 5. The superintendent was appointed the brigade’s delegate to the conference. One new member was elected and another was nominated for confirmation at the next meeting, bringing the brigade up to its full strength of 15.