TEMUKA D.H. SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10182, 20 December 1927, Page 3

TEMUKA D.H. SCHOOL.

CONCERT AN O DISTRIB UTION OF PRIZES.

THE CONCERT.

After an interval of several years a concert by the children attending the Temuka District High School was given in the Dominion Theatre on Friday evening. In former years the children’s concerts were always among the most popular of the year, the theatre or other building in which they were held being crowded by the children, their parents, and friends, and the large attendance at Friday night’s cqncert showed very plainly that the interest in such functions has not waned —they are as popular as ever they were. Every, seat in the theatre was occupied, although a good deal of extra seating had been provided, and it was regrettable that many who, wo'uld gladly have been present were unable to gain admittance, owing to lack of room. The concert was given for the purpose of augmenting the school funds. Mr A. E. Smith, chairman of the School Committee, announced liefore the programme was started, that owing to it length and the prize distribution that was to follow, no encores could be allowed, although ~he had no doubt that many of the items would be deserving of such. The .audience proved an appreciative and enthusiastis one, and the young. ' . performers, without exception, were rewarded with rounds of applause. The children made , an attractive picture as they appeared on 'the stage with their happy, smiling faces and- attired in their'pretty'dresses'. , The concert was' opened with a pianoforte solo,' “In the Gloaming,” nicely played, liy Kathleen Lyon.,, and this was followed by a song'and. dance entitled': “Poor Peter,” by standard two’. ' This'' was a very popular item, and warmed the audience up jtp. do ” tlieTr part in the evening’s .performance. Next came a vocal ‘ duet by two' little tots, Mona Ives and Norma. Stiles, ‘Where Are'You Goins: to, My Pretty Maid,l the children being daintily dressed as a dairymaid, and suitor. With this item may be mentioned another, similar one given later in the programme by ' two performers, of slightly older growth, Barbara Lee and' 'Hector.. McMillan, who; sabs “Will You Mfu’ry Me?” the actors being . appropriately; attired, the little girl in a sweet lavender; dress and the boy in a black dress suit. The singing of the children in both duets was tuneful and clear, their gestures just what was wanted, and their efforts , evoked storms of applause. . In the “Kettle Song,.” : by the ■ junior boys, the youngsters came on with a good march, and acquitted themselves 'vieriy .well.' A. dance by the junior girls was a pretty item, as was also the action song, “The Hat Shop,” by standard ■four girls. In both, the girls were attractively dressed and .well up in their parts, and song and dance were warmly applauded. The songs by the girls and boys of standard three, “Jogging Along the Highway” ' and “Little Grey Friend,” were highly pleasing ■ to the audience. In the former the boys were dressed as “swaggers” (and very rough swaggers), and with swags on their, backs, they., walked, and swayed, and limped along, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Had encores been allowed, the performers Avould have got one. “Nursery Rhymes,” by the junior girls?, were very pleasingly rendered, and were •followed by a vocal solo entitled “Voices in the Woods,” ,by > Jessie Brownlee, who sang very sweetly. Next came one of the best items given during the evening, the Maypole dance, by the senior girls. Attractively dressed, they went through the movements of the dance : in a, ’ highly creditable manner, the effect being exceptionally good. In the songs, “The Mill Wheel” and “Land, of My Fathers,” by the pupils of standard six, the voices of the performers harmonised perfectly, and the numbers were much enjoyed. Betty Salmon and Margaret Lefeber rendered a song very pleasingly, after which- came ,a-dialogue by pupils of standard .four.. It ~ ...was ~ entitled. , “Getting Ready for the Picnic,” and showed a little girl,' as “Nurse,”' getting a family of "six boyA and girls ready for a picnic.: It was true to life,, and caused much, amusement. A quartette, “Slumber Sea.” by Jessie Brownlee-, May Walker, Mir la Paiki and Edna- Dale,: was ’pleasingly given, and the programme was brought to a close, shortly before 10 o’clock with a “Folk Dance,”. ,a charming item by the ’High School girls, who. ..went ithrough, whe dance very gracefully. The ■’atiier , heavy task.of playing the accompaniments fell almost’entirely Vn Miss David-son,:-the drily exceptions Hieing that fpr.. Jessie,, Browiilee’s. solo : (played,, by Miss Hay) and that for the quartutit' (played *hy' Miss" Ink McFarland); 'The concert was an enjoyable one in every way, reflecting much credit on the children and their and- here may he quoted a few ’ words uttered by Mr Burnett, just before tile close of the evening. Speaking, as-a visitor, said Mr Burnett, he A to say how much he had enjoyed t]ieir concert. It was well nvorth coming a" long distanfce for and -to see the ■ children’s bright and .happy faces. Among the items that had appealed to him most was the Maypole dance which-in memory took him hack 30 odd years, when he saw it danced in Timaru by Timaru Main School girls. The whole of the items had been very well given, arid he had enjoyed the concert very much. The applause showed that the audience fully endorsed Mr Burnett’s sentiments. PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The presentation of school, R.S.A. and Navy League prizes followed. R.S.A, Banner and Prize, Mr J. Maze, president of the Temuka branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, said it gave him great pleasure, to congratulate the. Temuka School on having won the association’s banner for the second time. The competition was open to all the schools in 'Canterbury and Westland, and, this made the honour the more great. Mr Maze theii went ’on to explain the objects of the association in presenting the banner and prizes, and expressed the hope that the school would he successful again next year. He then, with a few fitting words, presented the prizes.

Navy League. The Navy League, phizes were presented by Mr C.' E. Bremuer, who. before doing so, apologised . for the absence of the 'president of the Temuka ' branch of the League, Mr J. J. Ellis, who was at present in Christchurch, and for Mrs Routledge, who had presented the prizes in former years, and who was unavoidably absent. Mr Bremner then went on to explain the objects of the' League, after which he presented the prizes. School and Manual ■ Training Frizes. The Mayor (Mr T. E, Gunuion) presented the prizes to the winners in standards 4, 5 and G, and in Mr E. C. Roberts’ manual training (woodwork) classes. After thanking the committee for inviting the Mayoress and himself to be present, he congratulated the children on their behaviour, which reflected great credit on their teachers as well as themselves. He hoped they would have a good holiday, and after it was over, - that they would come back to school with, renewed energy and determination to do their best. He had pleasure in wishing the children and their parents a “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” (Applause). Sewing Frizes. The sewing l prizes were presented by. the headmaster, Mr Harrison, after .which The High School Prizes were presented by Mr ~T, D. ; Biu*nett, member for the district, : Mr, Burnett’s Address. Mr Burnett, who was greeted- with applause, said he was ;very glad to be present and looking-, over such a sea., of faces, and he. mustsay that they appeared a very happy ; crowd. He thought they niust just about lu'Vve completed a , shecess-ful; year and Were all "thinking ,of: the Christmas holidays, and, ay qxie who had been moving up iukL'Mo wir through Sontlr Canterbury -at-these annua)■school functions-. it -was--good to think that- ■right' through- -iho DomiulQii there ’were similar gather-, ings -of- happy children and proud parents, jaß)celebrating the end of anothei- - 'successful;--' ■ school, year; <Applause). He was I ' glad it was ■sob--New' Zealand . was still .in th.e •making, and- it was the great privilege for us here 1 to be -carrying on. the traditions of our race and Empire. (Applause)... This is as it .should - be. If they'Would excuse him, he would like to give a few words of advice. When one consul--erecl What is the chief end of school life, when, one -thinks of the '.sacrifices .the parents, .and State is making (for- education is costing the State £4,000,000), it should call up to all of us the great, responsibilities that the. State, parents and teachers are taking in educating the children. Addressing himself to the parents, he said that the mainj unit of the nation was the family* and the head of the family was noli the father, but the mother. fore, they should train their girls | to be homemakers, and they should j take care that nothing interfered with the great objective, of training our girls as homemakers. He I never knew a good man that had! not had a good mother. Many peri- | lons experiments wtre being made I in education at present, and it he-J boved all to .see to it that our edu- j cation is carried on on right lines. | Mr Burnett then addressed a few words more particularly to the children. Speaking of the sacrifices being made to give them a good education, to make them useful men and women in their future life, ,so that they could carry on and improve the conditions of the country and be good, citizens. In conclusion Mr Burnett welcomed the new headmaster, Mr Harrison, and wished him ■a 'successful career as headmaster. of the Temuka District High School. He wished all a “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” The Dux Medals. < The dux' medals were-then presented by--Mr Burnett, to Hilda Longson (secondary department) and Winston- Smart (primary);-Mr Burnett commented on the .. fact that Hilda Longson? by becoming dux of the High School, had repeated what she had done in the pri mary department.; The recipients were warmly, applauded-., -. • VOTES. OF THANKS.

• Mr -Smith, on behalf of the committee, moved comprehensive votes of -thanks to the ..Mayor-,and Mayor-ess,-to Messrs Burnett, Bremner and to Mesdames Scrimshaw and Blackmore, the Salvation Army, the teaching staff of : both High and Watt-Lowry,,b Schools, the dental nurse, and to all others , who had given the comrhittcc assistance. These were carried, by acclamation, On the call of the Mayor, a hearty .vote... of .thanks l ' ! ..v as accorded Ike • committee for - their:jwbrlb. ... . 1 1 The proceedings ■ terminated at. 1V... o.’clo.c.lb. .With, the .National Anthem..-' -*■. ~.. ;y, , ; '‘The. fb.Hpwih§ .special-prizes- were not included-in ■■ the, list published. 'iu last -Tuesday’-stissue man’s special for senior typewrit-: ing,. Mary- Stack.;, -MrHodgson’s special for progress,- James Spillane (matriculation class). “ .