WAIMATE CARNIVAL SPIRIT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23280, 16 August 1945, Page 3

WAIMATE CARNIVAL SPIRIT

Spontaneous Rejoicing

1 Dancing In Main Street

Waimate people gave free reign to the spirit of rejoicing when bells and whistles signalised the news of the surrender of Japan at 11 a.m. yesterday. Scenes of carnival prevailed in the town, and in spite of the weather the celebrations were continued throughout the day and into the evening.

Within a few minutes of the sounding of the bells people gathered in Queen Street, and their numbers were augmented by children from the schools. The air was thick with confetti as laughing and cheering throngs joined hands and danced in the street to the accompaniment of music by members of the combined Silver and Salvation Army Bands. There was warmth and gaiety in the scene, and colour in the flags and bunting displayed on the frontages of buildings. Red, white and blue streamers, thrown down from the roof of the Post Office were quickly seized by school children and used with success to entwine their teachers. Several appeared in fancy dress, and one shopkeeper provided a lolly scramble for the youngsters.

Motor-car horns were sounded, tins were beaten, and a joyful pandemonium reigned. Even the town clock joined in the celebration when some adventurous individuals ascended the tower and assailed the bells with hammers.

After lunch, band music and community singing in Queen Street was a feature of the festivities, to which the skirl of the pipes was contributed by the Highland Pine Band. Much amusement was caused by the appearance of a vehicle that customarily proceeds in the dead of night when it was driven along Queen Street placarded with notices referring to Hitler and Mussolini. Processions headed by The bands marched through the streets, the fire engine being the principal vehicle included, while those on foot were gaily decked out with paper hats and fancy dresses.

A service of thanksgiving was held in the Salvation Army Hall in the afternoon, while the Salvation Army Band played at the Public Hospital. A free social was held in the Salvation Army Hall in the evening. The evening festivities in Waimate began with a big torchlight process in which large numbers of the public joined and this was followed by a bonfire and community sing. The Waimate Highland Pipe Band played in Queen Street where jollification was still going on at a late hour. A dance in the Olympia Hall was in full swing and several private and smaller functions were well patronised. To-day’s Celebrations Children's events in Queen Street will be a feature of the celebrations this morning. A public function will be,held in front of the Post Office at 2 p.m., followed by a combined service of thanksgiving in the Olympia Hall. Among the informal fixtures to-day will be a football match between teams representing the Stock Agents’ Association and the Waimate carriers. This will take place at 3 p.m.

School Committee

Advice that the Department has approved a grant of £3OO for the purpose of remodelling the old manual training building was received from the Education Board by the Waimate School Committee at the monthly meeting. The Board’s letter stated that it would not be possible for the work to be put in hand before the next school holidays. The contribution of £5O made by the School Committee toward the cost of the work was acknowledged. Present at the meeting were Messis G. R. Watters (chairman), D. Willcocks. E. C. Horsley, A. J. Mcßae, A. A. McKenzie. J. M. King, J. K. Denholm, C. W. Englefield, and the headmaster (Mr J. M. Wilson). The Director of Education wrote that it was anticipated that 70 to 80 sound film projectors would be received this year. It was considered that the 16mm. Bell and Howell sound projector was the best type of machine available, and these machines .were sold at approximately £l7O. The letter added that the National Film Library had more than KjpO films, both sound and silent, and these were available free of charge to schools requiring them. The roll number was 536, said the headmaster in his report. The daily average attendance was improving. Mrs M. Ross had left on July 30, and Miss McConnell was relieving. Miss Nichol had recommenced duty on August 1. The report dealt with interschool basketball matches, and mentioned the success of the basketball and football teams at the recent, tournament in Timaru. Pupils of Standards 3 and 4 had taken part in the Arbor Day observance at Seddon Square.

Miss Kidd. Mrs Haliwell. Mr N. Penlington and Mr A. F. Palmer and the headmaster were appointed to represent the school at a meeting to be called to discuss the formation of a Parent-Teacher Association. Reporting for the visiting committee. Mr Denholm said that an additional teacher was required for the infant department. The asphalt had lifted in places as a result of the fall of snow. The headmaster and the secretary (Mr W. P. Wilson) were deputed to draft a letter to the Education Board asking for an additional teacher for the ini ant department. The secretarv v;as instructed to write to Mr W. J. Hutt thanking him for repairing the sewing machines.

Rugby

The draw for Rugby matches on Saturday is as follows: Senior: Makikihi v. Temuka, 3 p.m. (Referee, Mr Stechman). Junior: High School V. Old Boys, 1.30 p.m.; Southern-Huimai V. Makikihi, 2 p.m. Fourth grade: High School v. Convent, 1.30 p.m. The Waimate Junior Rugby representative team is;—Full-back, Wild; three-quarters, Stoddard, Hayman. Moore; five-eighths, GUy, Woods, Hetrick; forwards. Jones, Grant, Buckland. Smith. Rooney, Bailey, Brennan, O'Neill. Emergencies, Hutt, Englefield, Baker.

Dance At Waituna

The Waituna Red Cross Sub-Centre held a successful dance recently, the proceeds being for local funds. Music was supplied by Mr D. Taylor, while Mr G. Court acted as M.C. Mrs C. Veitch contributed vocal items, and extras for the dance were played by Misses A. Patterson and V. Ross. Prizes given by Mesdames D. Taylor and E. Foley were won as follows:

Personality waltz, Mr and Mrs T. Campbell; Monte Carlo waltz, Mr Powell and Miss I. Ross. The fruit cake made by Mrs F, Meyer was won by Master R. Davidson with ticket No. 258. Mrs Meyer (president) thanked all present, for their loyal support, and all who had assisted in making the function such a success.

Golf

A return match played between members of the North Otago and Waimate Golf Clubs on the Waimate links resulted in a draw with 12 matches each. Waimate took the lead during the morning with 84 matches to 74, but North Otago turned the tables in the four-ball match in the afternoon which the visitors won by 44 to 34. The visiting plavers were welcomed by the Waimate Club contain. Mr R W. Maslin. who spoke of the fine spirit of sportsmanship existing between the two clubs. The speaker thanked members of the Ladies’ Club who had given up their time to the catering arrange-

ments. The North Otago cantain, Mr F, Fraser, thanked Mr Maslin and I lie Waimate team for their h<nnil' | ilv. •tul expressed the hope that, the Waimale plovers would nay a further visit lx> Oamaru this year. Results (North Otago players inent.tre'ert first.): Morning—S Cuthbertson tost t.» R Drpeon 2-1. W Thomas lost, to R C M .rvan 4-3. P Mull'-an lost to T A.

Wilson 3-2. E. Fraser lost to A. Guy 4-3, F. Crimp lost to R. W. Maslin 4-3. J. Matheson beat. G. S. Collett 3-2, J. McCaw beat. I. Schrader 2 up. L. Dcbenham lost to A. H. Cooke 4-2, R Watson lost to T. Waldie 1 un. R Bradley lost tn Havnian 2 up. N. McQuade beat D. Keyes 4-3. H. Muirson beat J. O’Hara 3-2. D. Hume beat C. G Holmes 2 up, J. Catto beat J. Mcßreartv 5-4. H. Furney beat L Tooniev 4-2. C. Koller was all square with W. Hill. Afternoon: Cuthbertson and Mulli?an all souare with Deacon and Morgan: Fraser a’d Crimp lost to Wilson and Guy 5-3; Thomas and McGaw beat Collett and Schrader 3-2: Matheson and Watson lost to Maslin end Cooke 3-2; Debenham and Bradley lost to Waldie and Havman 5-3; Muirson and Catto beat O’Hara and Holmes 4-3: Hume and Furnlev beat, Keyes and Toomey 3-2; McOuade and Koller beat Mcßrearty and Hill 8-6