EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21285, 14 December 1932, Page 10

EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS

OTAGO BOARD MEETS The Otago Education Board held its monthly meeting to-day, there being present the chairman (Mr James Wallace), Messrs D. T. Fleming, J. Smith, D. C. Cameron, P. M'Kinlay, R. H. S. Todd, and W. M. Cooper. GRATIFYING PROFICIENCY RESULTS. Mr-A. Bain (acting-senior inspector) reported that approximately 2,500 candidates in Otago and South Canterbury were examined for the proficiency test. The percentage of passes as far as the public schools of Otago were concerned was 73.5 per cent., an advance of 6 per cent, over last year. : Members expressed appreciation of the results, the chairman remarking that all the head ; masters wero de- - lighted. , 'APPLICATION FOR NEW SCHOOL. With regard to the Tarara committee’s application for a new school, the ' 'Architect said that he considered the buildings in a fair state of preserva- ■ tion, and good for many years yet. Some general repairs were necessary at an estimated cost of £24.—This suggestion ‘ was approved. OAMARU SOUTH. The Oarnaru South committee intimated that it had £25 available to assist in improvements, and suggested either (1) the erection of a 165 ft concrete retaining wall along Greta street, and removal of macrocarpa hedge; or (2) the remodelling of the classroom at the south-west corner of main school. . . .- ' _ y The architect considered No. 2 more necessary, and he believed it was regarded more favourably by the committee. The total cost would be £B3, less committee’s contribution. _ £25, leaving £SB for the board. —His report was approved. OAMARU- NORTH. ' ’ »The Oarnaru North committee asked for—• (1) The' remodelling of the infant room to form an open-air classroom.— . The Architect said that ( this would be . similar to what was done) at Oarnaru South, and would cost about £235. The committee appeared favourable to find- . ing part cost,—lt was decided to ask / the committee what it was prepared to find. (2) A porch at the south-east entrance to the infant -room.—The Arehi- * tect reported ’ that the porch oyer the entrance to the infant room would protect it from south-east weather, and would cost about £l4, but a trellis break-wind might meet the case quite as well at a cost of £6 15s.—The board will offer £6 155./ (3) A door at the south entrance of the main building altered to open outwards.—The Architect said that the alteration to the door was not an urgent matter,' and he did not ■ recommend the board to increase its offer of £B.—This was approved. •: (4). of asphalt: / The architect reported that the material for , top-dressing would cost £9, of which the committee would find half.—This was also approved. - SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS. Approval was 'given to the St. Leonards Committee’s application _for a subsidy for half-cost of the material for asphalting, the total cost of the material being about £lO.. The Otekura Committee asked for ■ asphalting. If the board provided the material the committee would do the work: , The cost of the material was estimated at £l2 10s.—The work was approved. The architect (Mr Welch) reported that to top-dress the asphalt at Papakaio would cost about £5, including local labour. The work would he done if the committee found half-cost.— This was approved. The'Cambrians Committee applied for a. subsidy towards the cost. of putting down a concrete drill square, the "estimated cost of which was £3o.—-The chairman and architect were given .... power to act. -.:The architect estimated the cost of drainage work, etc.', at-Owaka at £5, and asphalting at £42, hut for material plus foreman’s wages only, a, total of £34 10s. The committee favoured the latter method, as unemployed men were : available.;—The scheme was approved, the cost to the board to be . £23 10s. - The Walton. Committee’s application for interior painting of the school (estimated cost £3O) was left to the chairman and architect. The Hampden Committee applied for renovation of tennis court, which was used' for school purposes only. The architect reported it was so badly perished and broken, the expense would he considerable; material, cartage, and railage only would come to £3O 14s od. The committee might bo able to obtain labour .under " the No. 6 Scheme.—The board decided .to contribute £lO. - ( The Clinton Committee referred to the unsatisfactory nature of the Sunday school building as a classroom, and renewed apiplication for additional room - (£217 was still available out of the Coal Creek insurance money). It was stated . that the room at Oturehua cost £233. —The board decided to call for tenders.