JUBILEE PROGRAMME

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1935, Page 10

JUBILEE PROGRAMME

SATURDAY. 9 a.m.: Assembly in decades on school playing field. Distribution of badges, passes, etc. Formal welcome. Official ringing of jubilee bell. Decade photographs. z 10.30 a.m.: Assembly at Coronation Hall, Eliot Street. Procession to State Theatre. 11 a.m.: Formal reception at State Theatre. ' 3 p.m.: Garden party at Scotlands. 7.30 p.m.: Old Girls’ dinner at Scotlands. SUNDAY 2.30 p.m.: Assembly in decades at Scotlands; procession to school. 3 p.m.: United service at the school, conducted by teachers and old girls; collection. MONDAY. 10 a.m.: Sports; old girls v. present girls. 10.30 a.m.: Teachers and ex-teachers will be the guests of the jubilee committee at morning tea. 2.30 p.m.: Entertainment by present girls. 5 p.m.: Tea for present girls. 8 p.m.: Old girls’ social evening at Scotlands; Old Boys’ Ball. .... nixiuiii.

In 1916, the school was moved from the municipal buildings to the racecourse, which was very favourable for sports. Cricket was taken up with great zest in the summer term; being played, before the bats arrived, with a hockey stick and ball and three crooked sticks of various lengths for wickets.

The principal, Miss Hodges, instituted a class of instruction in life-saving ahd several girls in the following year gained certificates and medallions.

Though there was no field at the new school at Mangorei Road in 1917 and the girls had to walk to the racecourse for practice, it was a golden year for hockey. In 1918 the school was the champion of the North Taranaki division and played matches against Hawera school, New Plymouth Technical College, Stratford High School and the New Plymouth Boys’ High School. In 1917 Hawera Technical School met New. Plymouth for the Taranaki shield, New Plymouth winning by a goal, shot in .an additional five minutes of play at the end of the game.

In 1918 the school entered a team for the Tabor Shield competition in lifesaving. Though it was placed only three points behind the winner it was fortunate not to lose its patient, for the reelsman mistook the signal and wound up vigorously with only the beltman. on the rope - and the patient still far out at sea. Mr. Christiansen coached the girls in reel work and Miss E. L. Dowling instructed in life-saving. The next year they again sought the Tabor Shield without success but won the Taranaki senior life-saving championship; beating a team from the Boys’ High School.

The increased roll in 1929 justified the appointment of a ■ fully-trained sports mistress and Miss .O. J. Taylor accepted the position. She had been trained at Auckland and her efficiency and popularity soon made great changes in the organisation of school sport. Drill and games had previously been organised by members of the regular teaching staff, the drill consisting of quarter of an hour daily for “jerks.” Miss O. Firth in 1926 had taken a temporary part-time position and managed the “gym” and sports until Miss Taylor’s arrival. Drill was then re-organised and in place of the daily quarter of an hour one 40 minutes period a week for drill -was allotted to each form. To create greater interest and a competitive spirit badges were given for good work and form competitions held twice yearly. By 1930 the standard of work had improved considerably and it was decided to hold annually an. individual drill championship which was first won by Margaret Matangi. . With Miss Taylor’s arrival basketball came into its own. First started in 1917

and fostered by Miss D. V. Burrow, it had led a hole-in-the-corner existence until 1924. Though inter-school matches were played in 1919 against Chetwode and Stratford High School, notes in the magazines invariably ended With the shame-faced assertion that the game was “very good for those who did hot play hockey.” Hockey, however, lost supporters when the school withdrew .in 1923 from the Taranaki northern division competition which it had won in 192 k The driving force of rivalry taken away, the less enthusiastic players drifted away and took up the milder basketball. _ On the arrival of the new sports mistress hockey was abolished altogether. Basketball and a new game, _ baseball rounders, resembling to a certain extent the ordinary game of rounders, were introduced. More attention Was paid 1 to cricket and tennis and efforts were made to collect funds for .school swimming baths. For three years gala days were held in conjunction with the athletic sports and these were sb successful that by 1932 the baths were built and annual sports were held in them. Since this time swimming and lifesaving have made considerable progress arid the annual number of awards in life-saving are increasing steadily. For three years the Taranaki centre has held the Wigram Shield and in 1934 it won the Bamford Shield, given to the school with the highest number of awards in the Dominion. Jean Sandel, in 1932 won the diploma, the highest honour offered by the Royal Life-Saving Society. With the additioh in 1929 of four new tennis Courts at "Scotlands,” keen enthusiasm was stimulated. With form and ladder - matches and senior and junior tournaments the standard of play improved considerably. In 1932, a junior hard court tennis tourriament to be played annually was arranged by the Taranaki association. A professional coach was engaged by the association in 1934 and many girls took advantage of this great opportunity to improve their game. The school teams hold an honourable place in the basketball world having won all three trophies at various times for the senior B and junior grade matches arranged by the Taranaki Secondary School Basketball Association. Towards the end of the second term of 1932, basketball and tennis teams from Wanganui Girls’ College visited New Plymouth and the meeting has become an annual event.