OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 19407, 16 November 1926, Page 3

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Mommy meeting The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was commenced today, those present being Alessrs J. Wallace (chairman), J. H. Wilkinson, J. Smith, J. Horn, AI.P., P. AUKinlay, G. Livingstone. L. Sanderson,_ R. 11. Todd, and the Hon. D. T. Fleming. REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS. The architect recommended in respect to Sawyers Bay School; Bettor_ lighting of infant room and levelling of the floor; three blinds for one room and an alteration in tho method of darkening tho fanlights for delineascopo pictures; new wire netting for fence. —Approved. In respect to the Port Chalmers School, tho architect reported that a fair amount of repair work was needed to roof gutters, downpipes, etc., and to tho steel windows, which were jamming in some places. The estimated cost was £32. —Approved. Tho teacher at Owaka Valley applied for a cupboard for handwork material —The opinion was expressed that as the department was insisting on more handwork, it should bo prepared to make an additional grant to provide cupboards for tho material required. —The architect was authorised to expend up to £4 10s on the cupboard. FREE EXERCISE BOOKS. Tho Education Department intimated that in Auckland and Canterbury private firms have for some time been .supplying free exercise books to tho schools, the cost being met by advertisements. The department suggested ihat all boards should call for tenders tor the supply of exercise books along .those lines. Tho Chairman said that tho Otago Board had signed a contract with a firm, but that firm h.id been unable to get advertisements here. The Senior Inspector said that in exercise books which were sold there were advertisements. Air Sanderson said those advertisements were put in by the publishers, so that better value could ho given in the books. No action ivas taken. LIABILITY OF COMMITTEES. Tho Education Department intimated that tho Crown Law Office had advised that where a school used for social purposes was destroyed by fire, no liability rested on the committee. SCHOOL FORESTRY COAI.PE'; - TIONS. Tho Forestry Department’s suggestions regarding classes for school competitions at the A. and P. Society’s Winter- Show wore, approved. USE OF BUILDINGS. It was agreed to, grant-the use of school buildings at Knritane, West Tnieri, Evnnsclalo, and Whare Flat during the-Christmas vacation mx the usual terms.

The oldest pit in operation in Europe, perhaps in tlu world, tho Desch salt mine in Transylvania, has caved in. Its first shaft was sunk by tho Romans in pre-Christian days, and the mine has been operated, on. and off, for more than ,2.000 years. Through constant exploitation the labyrinthine galleries had un{ler-tunuelled the whole town of Desch, and eventually • the main shall collapsed. Fortunately the accident occurred at night time, when, nobody was working underground.' Only minor material damage ; was done to some of the houses near the pitlicad. i J