TIMARU MAIN SCHOOL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14038, 22 October 1909, Page 6

TIMARU MAIN SCHOOL.

' SUCCESSFUL GARDEN PARTY. The committee and teachers of the Tnnaru Main School yesterday carried out a very successful festival in the school grounds for the purpose of raising funds for various buxool expenses, this form of entertainment being preferred to the.formerly customary evening concert. The school and their .patrons were for Lunate in having a fine afternoon for the event, though a cold wind was somewhat unpleasant in its stronger gusts. A large square was roped off, including most of the level part of the boys' playground, a preparation which prevented the crowding in-upon the little performers which had been, an annoyance in previous years. The Timaru Marine Band was present, and their music helped to make the afternoon pleasant. Four of the rooms of the school were furnished as after-noon-tea rooms, and at times were overcrowded. Displayed on one of the front windows was a really fine array of "trophies won during the year," these comprising the Sargood sliield, four silver cups, a silver salver, a 400day clock, a barometer, and one-and-twenty gold and silver medals fc.r victorious footballers. The shield was the first prize for school cadets shooting in South Canterbury, and other prizes were for drill, club-swinging, and football- The attendance was large, and both sexes and all ages were represented, though the parental element was certainly the strongest. Sports were begun early, and as the afternoon wore on, were from time to time interrupted by little displavs,— such, as clnb swinging by about' I CM) girls, a maypole dance by infants under Mim Avison, a Highland reel in costume, by young pupils of Miss Glover. About 3.30 a megaphone announced threequarters of an hour's interval far afternoon tea. The tea proved acceptable and the takings at the doors were a record. The threequarters of an hour was a busy time in the dosed quadrangle, where a large number of children were being given the final touches of preparation for the "Empire March," and the was stretched somewhat —but only ten minutes beyond the time-table —by the process of photographing the ■ several groups. The March _ made amends, everyone declaring that it was a really excellent living picture of Britannia and the Dominions. Britain led the way, a group comprising a nicely costumed "Britannia" supported by rose maidens, soldiers and sailors, costumed representatives of the four Home countries, with banners and emblems in variety, and a_ big John Bull carrying the British flag. "New Zealand" came next, chiefly represented bv a bevv of | girls in dresses and hats decorated with fern leaf, the lender circled in New Zealand • flags, and four littJ<Maori girls from Temuka represented the native race. The fern leaf girls carried large gilt letters reading the name of their country. " Australia " followed, each State of the Commonwealth beine separately symbolised, and the "tail" was composed of vnriovs samples in miniature of the "floating populations " of diggings and stations. And attached to Australia wee a coiTole of Papuan blacks, particularlywell got up in materials snrinlied by Rev. Mr Hunt. Canada came along

in divisions, one for summer in costumes pretty with large maple-leaf patterns; another for winter, with heads and shoulders and feet covered with cotton wool,snow, and following the girls came some extremely well got up Ked Indians, boys and girls, and cowboys were' not forgotten. " India " was a prominent section of the procession, with its party dressed in various bright colours, and escorting an "elephant" bearing a little Nabob in the howdah. Nest eaine •" Africa," represented by a very picturesque and motley party of boys and girls, for Egypt, South Africa, the Gold Coast, etc. White girls and black, cake-walk negroes, Egyptian'and Dutch ladies, and rickshaw 'hoys, helped to make up this, the last of six sections. "Britannia" appeared first, her members were disposed iir a tableau on a stage, and the succeeding parties came separately and made obeisance to her, and when all had arrived and done this Britannia led a procession of all round and about the roped enclosure. It was remarked that no one applauded from first to last. Judging from the private remarks made this was because everyone was absorbed in curious inspection of the multitudinous variety of detail in the' costuming of the living symbols of Britain's mixture of subjects. The preparation of the children for the march must have entailed a vast total of work and care, and the rehearsals -had been so carefully done that the march passed off extremely well, and the teachers concerned in it are to be heartily congratulated on the success of the most ambitious thing of the kind ever attempted here. The whole was arranged by Miss Siblv, assisted by Mr Collins in drills. " lie former was wardrobe mistress, and oil her must have devolved a great deal of work in thinking out such an elaborate scheme, and dressing the children of the dilferent nationalities so realistically as she did. Complimentary references to tlie result were heard on every hand, und they were well deserved. At intervals during the afternoon a programme of races was got off. liesuits were as follows: — Girls' Events —50 yards handicap, under 10 years, M. Smail 1, F. Dun2, E. Feilding.3. 75 yards, 10 to I*2 years, E. Fraser and G. Auld, equal 1, E. Adams 2, J. McNab 3. 100 yards championship—This resulted in a tie between P. Hurdley and B. Allen, and will be run off next week. Skipping race. 50 yards, M. Smaill 1, M. Hayes ,2 F. Duncan 3. 75 yards ditto —I. Segar 1, J. McNab 2, D. Olphert 3. 100 yards ditto, P. Hnrdley and B. Allen equal 1, E. Chalmers 2, V. Crawford -3. Hoop race, 75 yards, G. Auld 1, M. Peake 2, R. Mackinnon 3. Hoop race, 100 yards—E. Macdonald 1, W. Smaill 2, M. Segar 3. Thread the needle race —E. Chalmers 1, P. Hurdley 2, M. Segar 3. Ditto for girls, under 11, E. Cruickshank 1, S. Day 2. Sack race —P. Hnrdley 1, I. Ennis 2, D. Strachan 3. Boys' Events—so yards handicap, "W. Bell 1, A. Herdman and R. Steehman equal 2. 50 yards scratch r:>c< — A. Herdman 1, F. Hilton 2, I. Cunningham 3. -75 yards ditto, P. Herdman 1, S. Coppin 2. T. Stechman H. 100 yards championship—H. Davie 1, C. Clarke 2, F. Stechman and W. Best equal 3. .220 yards, G. Herdman 1. L. Leopold 2, S. Coppin 3. Ditto for boys over 12— N. Berry 1, V. Ga biter. 2, H. Collett 3. 100 yards handicap, under 10, R. Stechman 1, J. Smith 2. A. Herdman 3. Ditto for 12 and

over—S. Satterthwaite 1, H. Davie 2, J. Scott 3. 100 vards. ]0 to 12 years—P. Herd man" ], S. Coppin 2, D. Lawson 3. -140 yards relay ra-"C — This was won by S. Siitlerthwaite's team comprised as follows: S. Satterthwaite, C. Might, R. Logan, :in«l W. Stead. There were ]f) teams conij>< iing. 440 yards open—R. Collett. 1. J. Scott 2, G. McWhirter 3. It was six o'clock when the races had got so far through, and as ib was getting ]ate and cold, a few other events were held over to be run < 11" :il the first suitable opportunity.