GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19669, 11 December 1933, Page 12

GERALDINE

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ] MEETS FAREWELL TO MR WRIGHT The final meeting of the Geraldine District High School Committee for the year, held on Friday, was attended by the chairman (Canon J. F. Coursey) and Messrs A. V. Wright, E. P. Bennett, C. W. Hayward, L. C. Simmonds, and H. A. Wade. Apologies were received from Messrs A. J. Burmester, C. C. Bennett, and S. Lapthorne, and the headmaster (Mr A. W. Tucker). The secretary (Mr F. E. Whiteley) presented a balance-sheet which showed a credit balance of £lO Bs. After the payment of the caretaker's wages and several accounts there would be a deficit of £lO 9s 9d. However, on receipt of the Education Board’s allocation, there would be a credit of £27. The assistant-secretary of the Canterbury Education Board advised that the South Canterbury foreman had been asked to inquire into the committee's application for (a) repairing and top-dressing of asphalt at the primary school; (b) replacement of five desks; (c) the placing of traps in the sinks at the secondary school. The Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald) wrote expressing thanks and acceptance of the committee’s invitation to attend the school breaking-up ceremony on December 20. The chairman intimated that the Geraldine Secondary Ex-Pupils’ Association had offered to give a medal for the dux of the Secondary Department, and the Geraldine Old Pupils’ Association had promised to provide a dux medal for the Primary School. After a brief discussion it was decided, on the motion of Messrs Hayward and Wright, to affiliate with the South Canterbury School Committees’ Association. The Committee also agreed to invite delegates frorr* the Association to address a meeting on the objects of the recently formed Dominion Federation of School Committees’ Associations. The New Zealand Student Christian Movement was granted authority to instal electric light for the forthcoming conference, the work to be done by the South Canterbury Power Board, with no liability on the school committee. Tribute to Mr Wright. The chairman intimated that the meeting was the last which Mr A. V. Wright, who had been a member of the committee for the last five years, would attend, as he was leaving the district. During the three years the speaker had been chairman, Mr Wright had not missed one meeting. He was a valuable member of the committee and had done a tremendous amount of work in laying out the school grounds, especially at the secondary department. The committee and parents owed Mr Wright a deep debt of gratitude. They were sorry Mr Wright was leaving, but were glad he w r as going back on a farm of his own. Canon Coursey said he was sure Mr Wright would take the thanks of the committee and parents with him for what he had done, and they wished him every happiness in his new r home. On the motion of the chairman and Mr H. A. Wade it was decided to place on record the committee’s appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Wright during the past five years. In expressing thanks Mr Wright sai that everything he had endeavoured to do. had been done with the interests of the School in view. He would always remember his association with the School, and trusted the work started would prove as beneficial as he had always hoped it would be. Mr Wright will leave for Rangiora after Christmas. The headmaster (Mr A. W. Tucker) reported that the attendance had suffered very severely through an epidemic of influenza during the first week of the period, when the average dropped to 184. The attendance over the whole period was as follow’s: Primary school, average roll 231, average attendance 208 (last three w r eeks of period average 217), percentage attendance 90; secondary, average roll 68, average attendance 63.8, percentage attendance 94. The attendance having been so low 7 through influenza in the tenth and eleventh weeks of the term, he recommended that the Board be asked to make allowance for this in calculating the average for the year. The headmaster referred to several minor repairs which required attention. The asphalt at the primary department needed repairs, and had been inspected by the foreman, but the Board should be asked to carry out the renovation. Some arrangement was necessary for the care of the gardens at both schools during the vacation. Weeds, which were growing luxuriantly outside the school fences, needed removal. The secretary was instructed to write asking the Education Board to make allowance for the sickness in calculating the average attendance for the year. The gratuitous offer by Mr Wade to effect repairs to the roller at the secondary department was accepted with thanks. The report was adopted. The meeting concluded with an exchange of Christmas greetings. CONFIRMATION SERVICE. Bishop Brodie conducted a Confirmaj tion service at the Church of the Immaculate Conception yesterday. VARIABLE WEATHER. Extremely warm conditions on Saturday were followed by rain earl\ yesterday morning. Commencing in the early hours, rain ceased for a period steady showers setting in at 9 o'clock The w r eather continued warm. HILTON SCHOOL. | The Hilton School honours list foi i the third term is as follows: j Std. Vl.—John Parish. Vivian Patj rick. Beryl Meredith. | Std. V.—Edna Parish. Norma Winj mill, Betty Green. Make. Friend, Joar I Gibson. j Std. IV.—May Leary. Norman Chapi man. St. ll.—Margaret O'Neill, Phyllis Winmill, Colleen Brosnahan. Gladyi : Gould. Hazel Gibson. Jack Baynes. Std. II —Betty Winmill. Ra yin one Johnson, Lester Chapman. Josephine O'Neill. William Cornelius. Std. I.—Eric Davidson. Edwarc ! O'Neill. Ina Benbow. Shirley Winmill ; P.4—May Sharp. Joan Mitchell } Roland Johnson.