Marton School Roll Continues To Soar; Accommodation Problems

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 February 1949, Page 2

Marton School Roll Continues To Soar; Accommodation Problems

The school roll at the Marton District High School has soared to 683, of which 521 are in the primary department and 162 in the secondary. This represents a comparable increase of 32 on last year, according to figures quoted by the headmaster, Mr. A. Thompson, at the monthly meeting of the school committee on Monday night. This year’s enrolments were 71 in the secondary and 42 in the primary of which 24 were new 5-year-oids, said Mr. Thompson.

Until the new infant block was completed, the Old Technical building in High Street was accomodating approximately 150 pupils. Two classes, totalling 81 pupils, were temporarily quartered in the school assembly hall, but the headmaste r said he hoped to transfer these two classes to the new additional rooms in the secondary department block this week. Discussing staff, Mr. Thompson said in his report that Miss A. Findlay had taken up her appointment as domestic science instructress and Miss L. Ching and Miss A. Mountfort had been appointed to newly-created position in the primary department. Miss D. Heidrich and Mr. J. Harris had replaced Miss K. Jones and Mr. E. B. Diehl as probationary assistants. It was reported that the Memorial tablets provided by the Home and School Association, had now been erected in the school’s assembly hall. The committee decided to make arrangements for a suitable unveiling ceremony.

Advice that on the recommendation of the inspectors and the instructors of agriculture the Education Board had endorsed the school’s environment certificates for the year 1948, was received from the board. On behalf of the committee, the chairman, Mr. A. Todd, congratulated the headmaster and the staff on again gaining the honour. It was a great credit to all concerned, he saio.

Tentative dates for sports fixtures were announced as follows: March 2, annual swimming sports, March 17, cricket and tennis ag*ainst Taihape D.H.S., March 29, annual athletic sports. Mr. A. Todd presided over Messrs. D. F. Gorrie, A. W. Setford, R. L. Morgan, C. Hamer, G. H. Smith, G. H. Smith (secretary) and Mr A. Thompson (headmaster). EASTER SATURDAY ATTRACTIONS AT TANGIMOANA. At a meeting of the Tangimoana Aquatic Sports Committee, a programme was drawn up for Easter Saturday for speedboat, outboard, < launch, rowing and canoe racing on' the Rangitikei River. Swimming events are also to be held. The main feature of the day will be a rowing race from the Bulls bridge to Tangimoana. Boats entering will have to have woodden bottoms. The first prize is a cup and £B, second £5 anj third £2. CRICKET FIXTURES FOR SECOND ROUND. As a result of a decision made by the management committee recently, the second round of club fixtures in the Rangitikei Cricket Association’s competition, will be one day instead of two day matches. Play commences at 10.30 a.m. The following is the draw up to March 19:— February 26: Hunterville v Suburbs, at Hunterville; M.D.H.S. v Porewa at Marton; Old Boys v Marton at Marton; Ohakea a bye. March 5: South Rangitikei A v North Rangitikei A at Marton; South Rangitikei B v North Rangitikei B, at Hunterville. March 12: Hunterville v Ohakea at Hunterville; M.D.H.S. v Old Boys at Marton; Marton v Porewa at Marton; Suburbs a bye. March 19: M.DJ-I.S. v Suburbs at Marton; Ohakea v Porewa at Ohakea; Old Boys v Hunterville at Marton; Marton a bye. PERSONAL. Mr. L. A. P. Slessor was granted four months’ leave of absence by the Marton District High School Committee at its monthly meeting on Monday night. Mr. Slessor is at present visiting his parents in England. Mr. L. Miles/ formerly of Marton, has been appointed Superintendent of the newly-formed Tangimoana Volunteer Fire Brigade. VOLUNTARY SERVICES RECOGNISED Appreciation of the voluntary services given by two members of the Marton District High School cricket team—D. Timmins and R. Harvey—who prepared Ihe wickets and outfields at the Marton cricket ground during the holiday period, was recognised in a tangible form on Saturday afternoon, when they were each predent seuted with a cricket bat by the Rangitikei Cricket Association. The president, Mr. N. V. Rix-Trott, who made the presentations during the afternoon tea interval at the club cricket matches, commended the spirit of the two boys concerned. MARION RAILWAY CRICKET TEAM DISMISSED IOR 11\ E RUNS While on Saturday the Porewa cricket team put up a record club cricket score of 327 ; the Marlon Railway team in a match against Flock House at Marton during the week-end wont, to the other extreme and was dismissed for the record low score of five runs. A total of 7.2 overs or 38 balls was suUicient to complete the innings. The highest individual score was one, five batsmen-Eden, Futcher, Steere, Brabyn and Girling (not. out) -reaching that figure. The two bowlers responsible for the debacle were O. Johnson, seven for two, and Simpson, three for three. Railway did better in the second visit, to the crease making 45 (Eden 20, Futcher 9—Larsen 1 for 23, Morcan 6 for five, Linton 3 for 15. Johnson on this occasion did not bowl). Flock House in the first innings made 37, no player reaching double figures, Morcan 9 and Linton 7 not out being the main contributors. R. Girling 4 for 14, A. Futcher 2 for 11, and Eden 4 for 3, were the Mai ton bowlers to meet with success. After making five, Railway followed on and were out for 45. Requiring 14 rlns for outright victory plock House secured these for the loss of one wicket. The side eventually made 90 for eight wickets. (Simpson 43, Morcan 29—Boyd 3 for 5, Brabyn 1 for 15, Girlins 1 for 7. Gribbner 2 for 2). j

SCHOOL CONGRATULATED ON WINNING EMPIRE SHIELD. Several messages of congratulations on the Marton District High School cadet team again winning the Earl Roberts Imperial Challenge Shield for the British Empire, were tabled by the headmaster, Mr. A. Thompson, at the monthly meeting of the school committee on Monday niuht. “I think it is a marvellous achievement, as no other school has won the shield twice in succession,” said the chairman, Mr. A. Todd in congratulating the team and those responsible for its training in winning the shield. The score of 307 put up by the team out of a possible of 320 is believed to be an Empire record in the history of the competition. Much of the school’s success goes to the school cadet officers, headed by Lieutenant J. M. Grant, and the Army Department instructor, W.O. 11. D. J. Abel, R.N.Z.A.C., who last year also coached the winning team. Among those who sent congratulations were General Weir, General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, Brigadier Andrew, V.C., Officer Commanding the Wellington Military District, Captain Andrew. Officer Commanding No. 6 Area, the Wanganui Education Board, and Mr. E. B. Gordon. M.P. for Rangitikei. The question of an appropriate presentation ceremony was briefly discussed and the committee decided to defer any definite arrangements until the next meeting. BABY BOYD MOVES TO TOP OF POLL IN BABY CONTEST With half the period gone, Baby Boyd, who last week was in fourth position, has moved up to the first place in the Marton Baby contest being staged by the supporters of the Town Queen in the Fire Brigade carnival. Last week’s leader, Baby Cairncross has dropped back to fourth, while Baby Miles still remains in second position. The contest so far has raised just on £6O towards the funds of the Town Queen (Miss Ruth Brown). Each vote counts 3d and various shops in town have been allocated as the headquarters for different babies. The latest voting figures are:— Baby Boyd 658 vote, Miles 606, Caulton 539, Cairncross 412, Berry 337, Pollington 336, Worsop 218, Cameron 208, Marsh 205, Shardlow 168, Beazley 165, Knight 162, Arapere 132, Sharp 121, Angus 119, Payne 101, Hardyment 100, Grey 90, Ellery 63, Howard 39, Whitfield 39. RAISING OF £3OOO GASWORKS LOAN. Formalities associated with the raising of a £3OOO loan for improvements at the Marton gasworks were concluded at a special meeting of the Marton Borough Council, when a special order authorising the raising of the loan was confirmed. The loan covers a period of 25 years, the rate of interest being 3 1-8 per cent. Security for the loan, interest, and other charges will be obtained from a special rate of 3-10 d in the pound on the unimproved value of rateable property in the borough. The new rate will be entered on the next rate demands sent out by the borough council.

SASH AND DOOR BEAT IMLAY IN TUG-O-WAR (CONTEST. The second of a series of tug-o-war contests in aid of the Town Queen was held in the Marton Sports Hall on Monday night. On this occasion the Marton Sash and Door team emerged with an undefeated record, beating last week’s winner, Imlay (Wanganui) in the final. Results were:— First round: Imlay No. 2 beat Old Boys; Imlay No. 1 beat Hill Bros.; Sash and Door beat Gun Club. Semi-final: Imlay No. 1 beat Imlay No. 2; Sash and Door beat Gun Club on a full block. Final: Sash and Door beat Imlay No. 1. Next Monday night there is to be a special challenge match between the Imlay (Wanganui) No. 1 team and the Sash and Door team, of three oneminute pulls. This is a special contest and the result will not count in the series now being held by the sponsors. There will again be the usual pulls for all teams after the challenge match, which is the first on the programme. FINE IMPOSED FOR BEING DRUNK ON IJMITED EXPRESS Arrested by the Marton police at the railway station on Friday night, Ambrose Joseph Anthony Lipinski, employed by the P.W.D. at Porirua, appeared next day in the Marton Court and was charged with being drunk on 5 the Limited express. He pleaded guilty and was fined £i by Mr. H. J. Higham, J.P. Baron Arapiri was convicted and fined I°/" by Mr - W. A. Ingle, J.P., in the Marton Court yesterday morning on a charge of being found drunk at the Marton Railway Station on Saturday night. Sergeant W. J. Brown conducted the case for the police Department on both occasions. ROTARY CLUB. The guest speaker at the Marton Rotary Club weekly tea on Monday was Mr. Alan Smith, who spoke on his experiences during a recent visit 1 to England and Canada and dealt fully with some aspects of the car-hire service in London.