ELTHAM SCHOOL AFFAIRS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 6

ELTHAM SCHOOL AFFAIRS

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE 325. I HOT COCOA FOR CHILDREN. The Eltham school committee met on Friday night. The headmaster, Mr. R. E. Thomas, reported that the average attendance for the past two weeks was 338. The roll number was 356. The average attendance for the first term was 325. School was closed from May 4 to May 21 for the term holidays. Mr. A. C. Walker had been transferred temporarily to Rowan, and owing to sickness Miss Ray had not returned after the holidays. In consequence temporary changes in class organisation had been necessary. The visiting committee reported that good work was done by sheep in cleaning up the long grass and the playground was neat and tidy. The secretary said there was about £4O cash in hand after the payment of accounts. The chairman said the capitation this year would be only £l5O,- compared with £173 last year. Receipts were no more than expenditure, which would have to be cut down to the minimum unless there was money forthcoming from somewhere. The amount in the special account had been raised some years ago for school improvements and subsidised, blit it was now going in general expenditure. A letter was received from the South Taranaki Boys and Girls’ Clubs seeking financial assistance for the movement. The chairman reported on the recent meeting of the South Taranaki Schools’ Committees’ Association and explained the purpose and objects of the association. Dr. Saunders pointed out that large schools paying the maximum levy had only the same voting power as a school paying the minimum and he considered voting power should be according to (the amount of the levy. It was decided to make this recommendation. Mr. F. Muggeridge and the chairman were appointed delegates to the association. • It was decided to nominate Dr. W. M. Thomson for the vacancy on the south ward of the Taranaki Education Board. The question of providing the children with hot cocoa at mid-day during the winter was discussed following receipt of a letter from Mrs. C. W. Gibson. It was decided that the chairman and Mrs. Jones go into the question and report. Regarding the dental clinic committee, Mr. Muggeridge said that had he known the Eltham delegates were expected to take office as chairman or secretary he would not have accepted nomination as his work prevented him. Mrs. Jones said she also would not have accepted a position on the committee, but Mr. Kemp assured her that an Eltham delegate need not necessarily take up the • secretaryship. Now they were on a par with a country school. Mrs. Jones and Dr. Saunders were appointed a visiting committee. There were present the Rev. J. A. Ryburn (chairman), Mrs. H. C. Jones,

A.* Towers, T. Glass, F. Lynch, F. Muggeridge, H. J. Mehrtens, Major Perry and Dr. Sounders. GENERAL ITEMS. Freedom of Voting. “That Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., Dominion President of the Farmers’ Union, be given freedom of action in exercising his vote in the House with regard to the welfare of the Dominion,” was a remit passed by the Stratford executive of the Farmers’ Union on Saturday to free Mr. Polson from a pledge given to the Dominion executive of the union. Registrations and Levies. The motor vehicles registered at Stratford are: Cars 786, cycles 85; compared with 785 and 78 respectively last year. Unemployment levies paid numbered 1100, last year’s figure being 1090. PERSONAL ITEMS. Hon. R. Masters arrived at Stratford by the midday train on Saturday. The death has occurred at Douglas of an old pioneer of the Toko district, Mr. James Philip Benjamin Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs was 73 years of age, and is survived by his wife, five daughters and five sons. They are: Mrs. R. Hill (Douglas), Mrs. M. H. Caldweyy (Te Popo), Mrs. L. G. Hill (Huiroa), Misses F. and E. Jacobs (Douglas), Messrs. James (Otahuhu), Jack, Joe and Albert (Douglas) and Charles (Huiroa). Kahouri Bridge Euchre. The fifth of a series of six euchre parties was held in the Kahouri bridge hall on Friday night. There were 19J tables engaged. The results were: Ladies Mrs. Sanson 1, Mrs. Brown 2, Miss L. Nelson consolation; men, Mr. T. Death 1, Mr. Weller 2, Mr. L. Neilson consolation. A dance followed, the music being provided by Mr. H. Waite and the extras by Mr. T. Waite. Mr. H. Hann was master of ceremonies. PLAZA STRATFORD. “RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS.” “Rasputin and the Empress,” the delightful dramatic attraction on the current programme at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, will be finally screened at the matinee and evening sessions to-day. Lionel, John and Ethel Barrymore portray what is considered to be the finest piece of work these screen artists have done. “Six Hours To Live,” which gives Warner Baxter the most dramatic role of his career on the screen, will be the film feature on the Plaza Theatre’s programme, starting to-morrow. Sharing top-line honours with Baxter are John Boles and Miriam Jordan the latter a beautiful young English actress who makes her screen debut in this Fox film production. “Six Hours To Live” was adapted by Bradley King from the original story, “Auf Wiedersehen,” by Gordon Morris and Morton Barteaux. Briefly, it deals with a dramatic episode of international history, in which Baxter, as the representative of a small republic, successfully prevents the efforts of plotters to ruin his country and plunge the world into another disastrous war. The plotters succeed in accomplishing Baxter’s death and are prepared to go through with their nefarious scheme, when he re-appears, the hand of death miraculously stayed for six hours by the discovery of an eccentric old scientist.