For some considerable time, he said, several teachers had complained to him about the late arrival at school of the boys who worked on milk delivery carts in the city and suburbs, and also stated that in a number of instances the boys, owing to the very early hours at which they had to rise, and the nature of their work, were unable to do their ordinary school-work.
He had, therefore, drawn up a report to show the number of boys undertaking this class of work in 12 of the city and suburban schools.
The total number was 116, of which number three were seven years of age, six were eight years, four nine years, fourteen 10 years, sixteen 11 years, thirty-two 12 years, twenty-five 13 years, and thirteen 14 years, and three 15 years.
Thirteen of the boys rose between 4 a.m. and 4.45 a.m.; 31 between 5 a.m. and 5.30 a.m.; and 72 between 6 a.m. and 6.30 a.m.
Before attending school 65 of the boys did over two hours' work, 36 did over three hours' work, nine did over four hours' work; and six did over five hours' work.
Mr Ryan added: "Owing to the long hours they have to work a great number of the boys do not arrive at school until 10 a.m., or 10.30 a.m., thereby losing from 1 to 1 hours' lessons every morning."
•Without legal authorisation of any kind, but solely by the force of public opinion, the residents of Pembroke have established a sanctuary for teal, grey, and Paradise ducks along the foreshore and across the bay which fronts the township.
That the birds appreciate the wise and kindly fore-thought shown is made evident by the numbers which frequent the bay at all times, but particularly when the guns are out; and their presence, and the fearless confidence which they display, adds greatly to the attractiveness of the place.
• For the month during which four men were employed by the Otago Acclimatisation Society in culling red deer in the Hunter and Dingle Valleys, about 40 deer were shot, the greater number in the Dingle Valley.
Weedy deer are are reported to be extremely plentiful on the ground under the control of the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society, and it is time that steps were taken to prevent the better portions of the forest being flooded with undesirables from country over which the Otago Society has at present no control.
The policy of masterly inactivity pursued by the Waitaki Society is a supremely selfish one, and it has been contended that, failing to keep clear the ground under its care, that body should relinquish its trust in favour of a society whose members would realise that their responsibilities did not begin and end with the receipt of revenue derived from the sale of licenses.
• The official opening of the Balclutha municipal water supply took place on Wednesday, when a large number of the townspeople assembled to witness the ceremony at the power station, alongside the southern end of the traffic bridge.
Mr D. Stewart (Mayor) said that the works were the largest municipal undertaking in the history of Balclutha.
They had cost about 7000, against the estimate of 7500, and were carried on under Mr Williams, civil engineer, Dunedin, who had turned out an excellent job.
The borough was to be commended for taking this step in the direction of a water supply, which was a needful thing, as was borne out by medical and sanitary science.
- ODT, 21.6.1912.
