TIMARU MAIN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19987, 20 December 1934, Page 5

TIMARU MAIN

A large gathering of parents and friends assembled at the Main School yesterday for the breaking-up ceremony. Mr J. W. Preen (chairman of the School Committee) presided, and associated with him were Mrs Preen, the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) and the Mayoress, the headmaster (Mr W. W. Garton) and Mrs Garton, Mrs H. J. Brewer, president of the Old Girls’ Association, Mrs G. Hilton, an early pupil and members of the committee and staff. The Mayoress and Mesdames Preen, Brewer and Garton, were presented with beautiful bouquets oy the pupils, Mrs Brewer also receiving a floral tribute from the Old Girls’ Association.

The headmaster took the opportunity of wishing all the children the compliments of the season, and said he hoped that they would return to work refreshed by their holiday. The chairman expressed pleasure at the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress, and said that no school function would be a success without their attendance. He thanked them for the interest they took in the affairs of the school. Mr Preen said that all the children had advanced a stage this year, and he hoped that through their lives their aim would be to advance. They should remember that they received their first education at the Main School and give it and the teachers great credit.

The Mayor expressed the pleasure of the Mayoress and himself at being associated with the ceremony, especially as Mrs Satterthwaite and he had both attended the Main School. He recalled the recent jubilee celebrations and said that the school owed a great deal to its old boys and old girls for their continued interest. The Mayor said he had been asked to hand out the cups for the best batting and bowling averages during the year. These cups he had presented to the school 27 years ago at the instigation of a former master, Mr Charles Collins, who was regarded as a fine sport. This year the South Canterbury Cricket Association was making a big effort to revive in-

terest in cricket in the district, and recently he had attended President’s Day, inaugurated by the president of the Association (Mr A. E. Lawrence), when he had visited the grounds and had seen matches in progress. The game wanted more encouragement in this 'district, and he hoped that the children of the Main School would do their best to see that such a fine sport had* the following it deserved. The Mayor then presented the batting cup to Tom Denley arid the bowling cup to Ted Gribben. The Mayoress presented the Dux medals to Hazel McDougall and Leslie Cleveland, who were heartily cheered. Mrs Brewer presented the Old Girls’ Attendance Cup for the class securing the best average attendance during the year to Standard V boys, and a miniature cup, which will be competed for next year for the first time, was received on behalf of the Infant Department by Miss C. I. Macdonald. The Borough Council’s essay (“The Public Gardens”) prizes were presented by Mrs Preen to Leslie Cleveland (Standard VI) and Jean Hepburn (Standard V) and the League of Nations essay (“Disarmament”) prize to Dennis Stead. Mrs Preen also presented the proficiency and attendance certificates. The pupils gave hearty cheers for the Mayor and Mayoress, the headmaster and staff, the School Committee and all who had assisted the School during Hie year. The presence of “Father Christmas” gave a festive air to the gathering and he was a most welcome visitor so far as the infants were concerned, especially when he presented each child with a bucket and spade, which were provided by the School Committee. The Mayoress and Mrs Hilton were also presented with buckets and spades as a memento of the occasion. Through the thoughtfulness of the Old Girls’ Association each child attending the school received a piece of jubilee cake.