OHAKUNE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 10

OHAKUNE

OHAKUNE HIGH SCHOOL FANCY DRESS BALL On Tuesday evening last the school hall was a colourful sight on the occasion of the primary school’s fancy dress ball. Parents of children, witf., their customary generosity, had pro-' vided an excellent supper, which the ladies of the staff dispensed to children and parents witn great cliiuiency. Mrs. Blacklock and Mrs. Lightband who judged the costumes, had a difficult task, but finally chose the following prize-winners:—isi. Section, Pat Lewis, Russian dancer; 2nd. section, Alice Wilkinson, Xmas tree, 3rd. section, Clarance Enwright, beefeater; 4th. section. Douglas Gribbin, butcher, D. Tocker, nigger boy. The following special prizes were awarded to the most successful ticket sellers: Lionel Cure 1, Frank Kerr 2. The following were some of the pupils who were present, and some of their costumes:— Form V. -- Margaret Roberton, Thelma Hammond. Form IV.—Dorothy Hardie, Mavis McKenzie. Form lll—Beryl McKenzie, Anita Elliott, Ruby Kandell, Betty McIntyre. Form 11.--Mildred Perry, Edna Lane, Gipsy; Melva Shrodcr, Joan Nankevell, nurse; Pat Norton. Form I.—Shirley Sweeney, rance girl; William Perry, Teaspoon Tea; Audrey Elliott, Queen of Hearts; Pat Towns, Joyce Walmsley, Ivy Watson, Connie Soufflot, pierrette; Barbara Moss, ballet frock. Standard 4. —Fay Woolhouse, signal; Margaret Borlase, fairy; Elsie Green, Russian dress; Trevor Collingwood. rags and patches; Ken Becker, Robin Hood. Standard 3.—Norma Medak, poppy; Lionel Cure, cowboy; Bob Bergerson, cowboy. Standard 2.—Doris Hing, Doreen Spence, Adelai Crump, waitress; Meryle Hopkinson, nower girl; Christina Campbell, Gipsy; Eric Stewart, cowboy; Cyril Scott, cowboy; Brian Elliott, Dutch boy; Albert Reid. Standard 1. —Rhoda Gregory, bridesmaid; Olive Robertson, Queen of Hearts; Merle Kerr, Ethel Martin, Hawaiian girl; Iris Meegan, Valerie

Jones, Egyptian lady; Yvonne Borlase, Gladys Guilder, Rex Medak, clown; Ronnie Giass, Bob Youngman, rabbit; Clarence Enwright, Ivan Becker, clown; Gordon Marshall, cowboy; Clarence Enwright, beefeater.

Primers.—Peter Clarkson, cowboy; Alden O’Keefe, Graham Gardiner George Woolston, Dawn Tocker, Derek Tocker, Marjorie Lewis, Margaret Watson, fioyver girl; Gladys Watson, flower girl; Walter Reid Bruce Elliott, pierrot; Ron McDougall, bowser; George Gregory, Maori; Olive Tagg, flower girl; Audrey Holman, princess; Beverley Hopkinson. flower girl; Milton Woolhouse, cook High School Speeches A high standard was shown by contestants in the speech competition foi pupils of the Ohakune District High (School held on Wednesday. The judge (Dr. Fellham, of Raetihi), was impressed with the general excellence of the speakers. Alter deliberation the judge awarded the contest to Cecily Slater, whose speech on “Mary Queen of Scots," was a model of careful preparation and clear delivery. Dr. Felt ham also highly commended the speeches of Bruce Flyger and Roderick Stuart, who spoke on ‘Bismarck’’ and “Baldwin" respectively. He mentioned the steady delivery ol Flyger and in particular, praised the impartial manner in which Stuart presented his fads to the audience. The pupils gave the speakers an attentive hearing and showed their appresiation of Dr. Feltham’s kindness in coming along to act as judge. Secondary Education Visit of Education Board Committee A meeting of great interest to citizens of Ohakune was held at Ohakune District High School on the afternoon of Wednesday last. The committee which was set up by the Wanganui Education Board to investigate the position in regard to the claims of Raetihi for a separate secondary department met members of the school committee, staff, and citizens of Ohakune. His Worship the Mayor of Ohakune (Mr. L. W. Nation), presided, and introduced to the meeting the members of the committee -- Messrs. Munro, Boden and Boulton. Mr. Nation then pressed home firmly the claims of Ohakune to be considered as a centre for a high school, and outlined the indications of progress in the district which showed the prospects were good for the future of the school.

Dr. Jordan emphasised the central position of school children upon which the High School could draw. In Ohakune the school roll was 274, while 100 children attend the convent school. Three miles south Rangataua had nearly 100 pupils, and Karioi, further south, had 50. To the north were Horopito (app. 40), and Fokaka (20). He definitely challenged Raetihi to name any school near Raetihi which could equal even Horopito in roll number, let alone Karioi and Rangataua, for after all Horopito was perhaps as near to Raetihi as to Ohakune, though more closely connected to the latter by virtue of the railway.

Mr. Blyth, headmaster of the High School, pointed out the importance of the “status quo," the fact that the High School was already at Ohakune and that a good bus service was provided over only seven miles of good road. He also referred to the roll numbers in Ihe High School which showed how the great majority (more than two thirds on the average) of pupils came from Ohakune or nearly compared with the minority of onethird from Raetihi.

Subsequent speakers emphasised the folly of constituting two small secondary departments which must, of course, be inferior to one consolidated high school such as is at present in Ohakune. Also the proposal to transfer the whole high school to Raetihi was just as foolish for it would mean transporting a majority of pupils out to a minority. It would be far better for Raetihi people to do their utmost to send as many children as they can to the Ohakune District High School, thus raising the roll number by the few extra pupils required to obtain a fourth teacher, whose presence would make possible a still more widely diversified curriculum. The present school offers academic and commercial courses but another teacher would mean the provision of an arts and crafts course.

Other speakers pointed out the fine ten acres of playing areas at Ohakune as compared with Raetihi School s lesser area, and also the manual training centre which is established at Ohakune. It was also pointed out that the problem of children living outside Raetihi could be solved by a readjustment of times of arrival and departure of the high school bus so that such times would enable a connection to be made with buses bringing in primary pupils to Raetihi. Messrs. Munro and Boulton assured the meeting that the case would be put to the board in an unbiassed manner and a fair judgment would be made. Mr. Boden, senior inspector, stressed the comparative inefficiency of two small secondary departments as compared with one unified department.

The meeting was closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the committee of inquiry for their attentive hearing.