GERALDINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18718, 6 November 1930, Page 12

GERALDINE.

A TASTE OF SUMMER. The weather in Geraldine yesterday gave residents a taste of summer. Throughout the day sweltering nor’west conditions prevailed, and quite a large number enjoyed the cool embrace of the baths. AN AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. The Director of Education (Mr T. B. Strong) and the Assistant Director of Education (Mr A. Bell) arrived in Geraldine last evening from Ashburton. They met the local Committee and Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., and discussed 'matters in connection with the proposed agricultural school, and will proceed to-day to Winchester and Pleasant Point. On Friday they will visit Londridge and Craigmore, and on Saturday will visit Timaru to consider possible reorganisations as outlined in the Education Committee’s report. PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS. This year the Public Service examination will be held in Geraldine in November, a room in the secondary department to be used for the purpose. There will be nine candidates. For the first occasion for a number of years no matriculation examination will be held in Geraldine, but the pupils entering for the examination will visit Tirr^u SCHOOL UNIFORM. “I should like the opinion of the Committee as to the wisdom of asking primary school children to wear a school uniform similar to that worn by secondary school pupils, but with enough difference to distinguish each department,” said the headmaster at a meeting of the Geraldine School Committee. He suggested that the following uniforms be adopted:— Primary girls—Navy tunic and white or cream blouse, red patent leather belt, panama hat in summer, and navy serge hat in winter; black stockings, low-heeled black shoes, with navy overcoats if possible. Secondary girls—Some as primary, except hat band of school colours to be worn with hat band in front. Primary boys—Grey flannel shirt, grey worsted shorts, black stockings with red bands on top, and school cap edgfed with red braid, coats to be optional, but if worn to be of same material as shorts. Secondary boys—Same, but with badge on cap. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the headmaster. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. At the monthly meeting of the Geraldine School Committee there were present—Messrs A. M., Fyfe (chairman), C. Armstrong. W. H. Wallach, A. V. Wright, the Rev. W. J. Couling, the secretary (Mr J. G. Grierson), and the headmaster (Mr A. F. Barrell). The secretary of the Canterbury Education Board advised that Mr G. W. Armitage, a member of the Board, and the assistant architect, had been deputed to confer with the Committee respecting the proposed drainage of the grounds. The chairman stated that the visit had been made, and a satisfactory scheme had been arrived at. The tender of Mr E. J. Richards to supply seventy yards of shingle at 3/9 a yard for paths at the secondary school was accepted. The headmaster (Mr A. F. Barrell) reported that owing to sickness, the attendance had dropped as low as 221 out of 260. Dr. Baker McLaglan and Nurse Atkinson had visited the school on October 23rd, and had reported that the children’s health had improved. The attendance in the secondary department continued to be highly satisfactory, there being an average attendance of 58.2 out of a total of 60. The teachers and pupils in both departments had been busy tending individual plots, making ornamental sections, priming and planting, and the grounds were looking trim. Mr G. S. Ridley, agricultural instructor in South Canterbury, had commented favourably on the work. It was advisable that a competent man examine the swings at the school to see if they were safe enough for further use. The school would close for the Christmas vacation on December 19th, and would resume on February 2nd. It was decided to have the swings examined, and the report was adopted.

The secretary of the Canterbury Education Board wrote stating that the Board was unable to accede to the headmaster’s request for provision of drinking fountains. —It was decided that the headmaster be authorised to procure a number of mugs if necessary. The Education Board made a grant of £ls toward the Committee’s incidental expenses. The Board also wrote in connection with the removal of tree stumps from the secondary school grounds.—lt was reported that the work would commence early this month.

The chairman reported that Miss V. Clarkson, who had been appointed to take charge of the Geraldine dental clinic, would be ready to commence duties as soon as instructions were received from Wellington. It was decided to set aside £l6 for school prizes, and to hold the prizegiving on December 18th, Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., to be asked to speak. For the Visiting Committee, the Rev. W. J. Couling reported that everything had been found to be satisfactory, and the gardens had been very much improved. Messrs W. H. Wallach and A. South were appointed visitors for the forthcoming month. Accounts amounting to £24/0/8 were passed for payment. LECTURE ON CAPTAIN COOK. “Captain Cook” was the subject of a very interesting address on Tuesday night by Mr C. H. Tripp, of Timaru. Dr. P. W. Hislop, chairman of the Scout Committee, presided, and in introducing the speaker stated that he regretted that there was such a poor attendance of the public. The lecture, which dealt with the life, times and travel of Captain Cook, whose work of exploration meant so much for New Zealand, was followed with great interest by the Scouts and those of the public who were present. A collection for the Scout funds taken at the conclusion resulted in 21/9 being taken. • 1

VICTORIA LODGE. At the fortnightly meeting of Victoria Lodge, Bro. L. Mitchell presided over a good attendance. Sick pay amounting to £lB was passed for payment. Eight Brothers were placed on the sick fund, while two were declared off. Two candidates were successfully balloted for. An invitation from Daphne Lodge, Ashburton to their birthday was accepted. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr G. A. Burgess, clerk in the Westport Post Office, has been transferred to Geraldine, and will take up duty to-day. He will be an additional officer on the staff. Mr E. L. M. Fairhall, of Dunedin, has taken up duty on the staff of the Geraldine branch of the Bank of New South Wales. Mr F. H. Fish, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, is at present on annual leave, which he is spending in the south. During his absence, Mr Q. G. Christophers is occupying the position of relieving manager. Mr Q. G. Christophers, who has been on the staff of the Bank of New South Wales, Geraldine, for a number of years past, has been appointed to the Christchurch branch. Mr C. Bennington, a King Scout, has been appointed Assistant Scoutmaster to the Geraldine Troop. Mr C. Cussen, poultry instructor of the Department of Agriculture in Christchurch, visited Geraldine yesterday and gave an address to the members of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. Miss A. Hughes, of Geraldine, is spending a holiday at Russell’s Flat. PLUNKET SOCIETY. At a meeting of the Geraldine branch of the Plunket Society, the president, Mrs J. M. H. Tripp, presided over a good- attendance of members^ The president, in her address, referred with satisfaction to the working of the nurse’s motor-car. She said that a report had been prepared relative to visits paid by the nurse in regard to attendance on children. This showed that 132 children had been attended, but only twelve parents had paid their annual subscription of 5/-. This was probably largely through want of thought, but every parent should become a subscriber. There was a long discussion on various remits for the annual conference to be held at Wellington, at which the branch is to be represented by Mrs J. M. H. Tripp and Mrs Sinclair - Thomson. The finances were gone into. Mrs Tripp was granted two months’ leave of absence. The nurse’s report showed that she had received 150 calls at the rooms and had paid 204 visits to homes. She had motored 599 miles. There had been _ eleven new babies.