TOWN SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8102, 21 November 1894, Page 2

TOWN SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of thiß Committee was held at the Council Chambers la. t evening. Present: Messrs John Graham, M.H.B. (Ohairman), Haddow, S. Boiton, jnr.. P. Cooke, Johns. The minutes of the pievious meeting were read and confirmed.

O-itward eonespondenca was read. The Chairman said that thore weie complaints regarding' he Venetian blinds recently fixed at the Central School. Two blinds bad ' already broken, and it was feared there would be trouble wit a others. The Headmaster had said it might be that the blinds were as good as the prioe would allow, but the faots ware as he stat d. The Chairman said he was a'so informed that the Board's Secretary wbo had drawn the specifications, had decline 1 to inspect thebliods unless he reoeived 303 as oomtnissicn for so doing. Mr Haddow said that it had been so reported. Several of the members of the Committee spoke very strongly about the Secretary of the Board oompetiog with those in business in doing architect's work. Mr Cooke moved that a Sub-Committee, oonsisting of the Chairman, Messrs Boiton and Haddow, should enquire into the matter and report to the Board if necessary. This was carried. Mr Topliss asked the position regardiog truants under the new Act.

The Chairman said that under the new Act a child was compelled to attend at least sis times in every week that the school was open nine times ; ordinarily school was open 10 times in the week.

Inward correspondence was read. With reference to the action of the Board in deferring further consideration of the Committee's application for grant for Toi Toi Valley School until a statement of the Committee's funds was reoeived, the Secretary said that when the grant was originally asked for he stated ia another letter that the Committee had no fund 3in hand. It was resolved to supply the Board with a statement of accounts as at the time of the application being made, with explanations. Some disoussion took plaoe on the suggestion from the Board that Venetian blinds should be placed in the central room of the Toi Toi Valley School, and it was left for the Sub-Committee appointed to deal with the Central School blinds to see if the suggestion made was the best thing to do.

It was resolved to get the gas laid on to the Central School, as authorised by the Board.

A letter was received from the Napier District School Committee, eta'iog that oi'culars were forwarded dealing with the desirableness of the adoption of a uniform series of bo ks throughout the Colony.

The Chairman said that the Minister of Education was considering the question, and no doubt there wou'd ba legislation on the subjeot next session. It was resolved that the Napier Committee should be informed that the Committee agreed with the desirableness of the books ia use throughout the Colony being made uniform, and also that a copy would be sent to eaob Committee ia the Nelson district, and they requested to reply to the Napier Comnrtfcee direct.

Three eaees of diphtheria were reported. It was stated in the room that one of tbess had already recovered.

The qneelion of holidays was considered.

The Chairman said that the headmaster of the Central School Bcid that the period between the examinations and the commence* ment of the holidays was to a large extent lost time It was a question therefora whether the holidays should not commence aa aarly aa posgiblp, and the ohildran get to work as early in January as possible to avoid as much o! that sort of thing as possible.

No action was taken about the holidays, the question, after disoussion, being deferred till a future meeting for decision.

With reference to prizes, the Chairman said that Mr Gibb3 had spoken to him about tin's matter, and said that in the Central School the feeling with masters and boys was that it would ba more appropriate to devote the amount usually spent in prizes to the purchase of books, to form the nucleus of a library. This opinion was discussed at some length and it was the general opinion that as it had not been announced in the early part of the year that prizeß would not be given, it would be unfair to deoide now not to do so.

It was resolved that prizes should be given oq the same basis as last year.

It was resolved that the following ladies should be asked to act as examiners of sewing, Mesdames Bsthwaite, Burford, Cooke, and John 3 .

School reports w re dealt with The Chairman said the Hay J H llaoKen*

zie had asked to be excused till Christmas, ho being at Hobart spending a holiday.

On the motion of Mr Oooke, seoonded by Mr Topliss, a hearty vots of thanks was passed to the Bey J H MacKenzie, for bis services as acting Chairman during the ab senoa of Mr Graham.