THE HIGH SCHOOL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 304, 7 October 1935, Page 6

THE HIGH SCHOOL

MEETING OF THE BOARD.

PROGRESS OP FARM WORK. The Ashburton High School Board of Governors met this morning, when there were present Dr. G. I. Miller (Chairman), Messrs W. H. Woods, E. H. Orr, H. R. C. McElrea, J. Brown, F. Farmpton and W. T. Lill. The headmaster (Mr E. A. Cockroft) reported as follows: “Roll num|ber —This is. 221, being three more than at the same time last year. Since the school resumed on September 16, the attendance has been weak, owing to an influenza or severe cold epidemic. Many are still absent. “Boys' Sports—The boys’ sports were held on Tuesday last. These were a great success, and several records were broken. Owing to the fact that no Board meeting was held before the sports, Board members did not receive their usual early notice of them. A concejrt was held at the end of last term in St. Andrew’s Hall. It was a financial success. We are indebted to several musicians in the town for their valuable assistance.

Farm Report—The farm report from Mr McGregor for September is as fol lows;—

“Since last meeting of the Board in August, we have had the loan of a tractor from A.D.A. in order to cope with a rush of work. The use of the tractor was of considerable interest to some of the boys. “In the holidays I had the assistance of some of the members of the agricultural class during lambing, at which they gained some experience. The percentage of lambs, while satisfactory under the present conditions for feeding and caring would have been much better had we got the necessary facilities for feeding and caring for the weak ones. Losses this season, while not excessive, are above normal. Several lambs have been worried. “We have tailed 128 lambs. The percentage is approximately 107 calculating it on the number of ewes put to the rams in April. The pure-bred Ryeland ewes, two purchased from Mr H. C. B. Withell at a low figure, and two presented to the school by a person who wishes to remain anonymous have all lambed, giving six lambs (3 rams and 3 ewes) a percentage of 150. “Only one of the two pure-bred English Leicesters has lambed (one ewe lamb). A four-year-old draught mare has been purchased to replace the horse sold in August. The bridge over the water-race at the main entrance to the farm became unsafe for traffic, and has been replaced with concrete pipes. The timber will make good stock bridges over the races, which are very deep and wide, and are a source of danger to ewes and lambs. No sleepers are available for posts for sheep yards. It will be necessary to purchase posts locally.” The staff was congratulated on the efficiency with which the sports meeting was handled and the school on the fact that so many records had been successfully attacked. The Minister of Education! the Hon. S. G. Smith) wrote regarding representations made to him when he was in Ashburton and stated that if the Board would forward its proposals for repairs to the buildings, they would receive consideration. He stated his inability to increase the grant toward the cost of the change of heating system in some of the rooms, but he had approved a grant of £BS toward the cost of alterations to the lavatory system at the school. In regard to the application for asphalting paths, the Minister stated that the incidental grant should be utilised for this work. He regretted that owing to the limited funds available, he was unable to make a grant for the erection of a house on the farm for the use of the agricultural. instructor. The question of the free conveyance of pupils from country districts would be given consideration at a later date. The financial statement showed that there was a credit balance of £9O 15s.