LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12000, 18 October 1906, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

«> ■ At last night's meeting of the Girls' College Board of Governors, a letter was read from the Hon. George Fowlds, Minister of Education, stating that he would be pleased to preside at the next "breaking up." Farmers and others will be pleased to hear that there is going to be fine displays of machinery at the forthcoming Wanganui Agricultural Show by both the Massey-Hams Company and Messrs Reid and Gray. "They did some peculiar things in the old days," remarked a member of the Education Board last evening, when referring to the schoolmaster's residence at Sanson. One of the chimneys, he said, had actually been built over a spring of water, which "had been springing ever since." An invitation is to be extended to Mr Ramsay Macdonald, chairman of the Labour Party in the British House of Commons, by the local Independent Political Labour League to visit Wanganui. Mr Macdonald is expected to arrive in New Zealand in the course of a week or two, and an effort will be made to induce him to lecture on labour matters locally. The Girls' College Board of Governors held their monthly meeting last evening, when the chairman reported that the College was quarantined owing to an outbreak of scarlatina. It was resolved that the chairman make the necessary arrangements for renting, a suitable hall in town where the day pupils can continue their studies. The resignation of Miss Richmond, musical directress, was accepted. It was decided to re-arrange the musical staff, and to call for applications for the vacant position, and also for an assistant music teacher. The matter of including cooking, domestic economy, and dressmaking in the College curriculum held over for a special 'meeting next month.

The Education Board last evening decided to get a report from the Chief In■pector as to the feasibility of holding the annual examinations of schools in dairying districts during the winter months, instead of iv the summer, as at present. Mr Braik remarked that, except for Standard VI., examinations were gradually going out of vogue. At last week's meeting of the committee of the Wanganui Agricultural Association a resolution was carried appointing Mr John McGregor to take Mr J. Brownlie's place on the general committee, the latter having, it was alleged, forfeited his seat owing to non-attendance. At yesterday's meeting it was pointed out that Mr Brownlie had not been a member of the committee, and it was resolved that a letter of apology be sent to him, and an expression of regret that such a mistake had been made. It was further decided to delete that resolution from the minutes of the previous meeting. A deputation from the Horticultural Society, consisting of Messrs J. F. Holloway and A. A. Gower, waited on the Education Board last evening, and asked that all schools whose pupils wished to come to the Society's show on 30th November should be given a holiday. The deputation pointed out that a large number of schools would be competing in the classes set apart for them. They had asked the Railway Department for excursion rates for the country children, and had reason to believe that these would be granted. The Board's chairman remarked that the Board was trying to cultivate nature study, but that the matter of granting a holiday for the show really lay with the committees. It was resolved to express the Board's sympathy with the request, and that it has' no objection to any committee giving al holiday. The hard work entailed upon pupil teachers through having to work all day, study at night, and then attend classes for the best part of every Saturday, was referred to at the Education Board's table last night by Mr J. Smith (the Taihape member). Mr Smith said he spoke with a lively remembrance of his own pupil teacher days, when his work, like Tennyson's brook, seemed to go on for ever, and he considered that every pupil teacher should be given a half holiday per week. The, Chief Inspector quite agreed with this, and said further that every pupil teacher should be allowed an hour per day for study. The matter was referred to Mr Braik to report upon, the chairman remarking that no pupil teacher should /have to work all day when he had to -study at night. If your work basket needs replenishing call at McGruer and Co.'b. They stock the best haberdashery, silks, cottons, pins, needles, tapes, buttons, and the hundred-and-one items that go to make up the busy needlewoman's outfit. In little as well as big things McGruer and Co. are easily the cheapest house in town. — Advt.