NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1935, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Grants to Clubs. Grants to boys and girls’ agricultural clubs in Taranaki made yesterday by the Taranaki Education Board were £5 each to the north and south areas and £2 10s each to Tainui and Ohura. Cyclist Knocked Down. Struck by the bumper of a motor-car in Devon Street, New Plymouth, a young cyclist, Mr. Colin Dean, was flung across the road yesterday afternoon, receiving painful bruises to the left. leg. He was riding down the street from the post office when he met the motor-car, driven by Mr. M. Paul. He was attended by Dr. W. J. Reid and taken home by Mr. Paul. Teaching Special Classes. The Taranaki Education Board decided yesterday to make representations to the department to have teachers of special classes appointed to grade 2 positions. The opinion that the positions were too difficult for teachers just out of training college and should be given to teachers of some' experience was expressed. For that reason it was considered the grading' of the positions should be raised. Rationed Teachers. A shortage of rationed teachers still exists in the Taranaki education district. At yesterday’s meeting of the education board, it was mentioned by the chairman,. Mr. J. A. Valentine, that application had recently been made to the Otago board for three more teachers, but it was not known whether they would be available. Rationed teachers in Taranaki were now employed in positions from which they could not readily be shifted. Rubbish Fires.

A warning against burning rubbish in the central area of New Plymouth was given by the fire brigade superintendent, Mr. A. Boon, when reporting to the quarterly meeting of the New Plymouth •Fire Board yesterday. It had been done, he said, without notifying the brigade and if continued it might start a serious fire involving heavy loss. Members decided yesterday after a discussion in which the dangers of the practice were pointed out to write to the town clerk on the subjects. Pasture Competitions.

Though all the entries in the North Taranaki pasture competitions have not yet come to hand, it is evident they will easily constitute a record, the recent changes in the conditions having evidently had the desired result of making the "competitions more popular. In the Lepperton district alone, where Mr. A. G. Elliott has just completed the spring judging, there are no fewer than 49 entries, compared with 14 the previous year. The competition committee has introduced a new class this year, which carries with it a trophy, to be awarded to the most improved pasture in North Taranaki each season. That has probably proved an incentive to farmers to enter pastures. School Terms for 1936.

The proposed terms and holidays for primary schools in Taranaki in 1936 were approved by the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. The first term will begin on February 3 and will extend to Friday, May 8. During that time holidays will be celebrated on Anniversary Day (March 31), Good Friday, Easter Monday and Tuesday (April 10, 13 and 14), and Anzac Day (April 25). The second term will extend from Monday, May 25, to Friday, August 21, the King’s birthday holiday on June 3 being the only holiday. The third term will begin on September 7 and end on December 8. Labour Ddy, on October 26, will be the only official holiday. The total halfdays of attendance will be 406, and schools must be open on 400 of them. Massey College Students.

A party of 15 final-year students from Massey College who are making a motor camping tour of the North Island studying farming land and methods in accordance with the policy inaugurated four years ago by Mr. C. P. McMeekan, instructor in agriculture, with tire object of supplementing the college course with first-hand information on farming practice "and conditions in different centres, continued their North Taranaki itinerary yesterday. They visited Mr. G. H. Bell’s Pinewoods Jersey stud at Oakura and inspected the pedigree stock, 'ensilage pits and hay sheds. Later they inspected Mr. W. K. Morris’ pedigree Friesian stud at Oakura and in the afternoon visited Mr. W. B. Fussell’s property at Waiongona, inspecting the plantations and up-to-date farm appointments. To-day they will visit the Tikorangi and Pukearuhe districts. While in North Taranaki the party, which includes, Messrs. R. G.‘ Harper, L. W. Williams and R. H. Crush, three old boys of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, was accompanied by Mr. A. G. Elliott, of the fields division of the Department of Agriculture. To-morrow they will go to Otorohanga and will spend several days in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua districts. They will visit the prison farms in the Taupo district and sheep stations in the Taihape district before arriving at Palmerston North on October 29.