REEFTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1917, Page 7

REEFTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL

COMMITTEE MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the above was held on Friday evening last. Present: -Messr s H. S. Castle (Chairman), D. Panckhurst, J. Dick, J. Noble, E.' J. Seaiitlebury W. B. Auld, and R. Wills. CORRESPONDENCE. „ From Secretary of the Nelson Education Boa id. agreeing to the request of the Committee to vary the holidays from a week m the months of May an'tl September to two weeks in the month of July. From the same, acknowledging receipt of the Committee's letter covering copy of a resolution adopted at the householders' meeting on April lfeth, and stating, in reply to same, that the Board will be unable to arrange for classes at the School of Mines a s suggested, for the simple reason that the maximum capitation allowable for classes of a technical character is already provided for this year at the Reefton school. The classes arranged for —viz. woodwork, cookery, agriculture, physiology handwork, ets.—are, in the cpinion of the Inspector, more suited lo the requirements of the school than the subjects proposed,in the resolution submitted. From the Headmaster, forwarding his report for the month of April. , showing the attendances to be as follows:—Primary: April Ist, number on roll 176 bovs. 122 girls, tolal 298: admitted,' 1 hoy," 1

girl,'total 2: withdrawn 1 boy, 1 "girl, total 2: April 30th number on roll, 176 bovs. 122 girls, total 298. Secondary: April Ist, number on roll, 9 bovs 18 gills, total 27 j admitted, 1 girl : April 30th, number on roll, 9 boys. 19 girls, total 28. Average attendance: Primary 261, or 87.6 per cent. : Secondary, 26. or 93 per cent. "There was a considerable amount of sickness during the month, and the wretched attendance on race day also had a bad effect on the attendance. T underPtand that proceedings under the "School Attendance Act" aie being taken ."gainst two paYents. and official warnings have been given in certain other cases. Buildurns and ('.rounds. —Your sub-committee visited the school during the month and noted various matters.. Adornment of (■'lass Rooms—Vim will remember that some time ago I mentioned that the Tourist Department was prepared to supply mounted photos of New Zealand scenery. Recently 1 wrote for further particular's, and the result has been the forwarding of a full set. The conditions of the gift are that the pictures be suitably framed and permanently hung in the schoolroom. The woodwork classes have made the frames, and T shall be pleased if the Committee can provide the glass (estimated cost 18s).

Our class roon>s are decidedly gloomy, and anything that will tend to brighten them is worthy of consideration. The question of environment is receiving sperial attention from the Department, and the supply of good pictures, as funds permit, cannot fail to have a good effect on our school." The reports of the sub-committees were received, and it was decided to make an application to the Board for a grant for the repairs to the spouting and "the construction of a new drain to carry the water off, which at the present time runs underneath the school building. It was also decided to have the ploy. ground graded as soon as the levels are deceived from Mr Brett, the Countv En- • gineer. . * The Headmaster was authorised to pro. cure the necessary glass for the framing of the photos donated by the Tourist Department. The Secretary drew the attention of the Committee to the state of their finances, For some years past they had had a balance to their credit, but that evening, after the month's accounts were paid, they would have a debit balance of 9s 6d. and with the winter months coming on. which would necessitate large accounts for fuel, With the expectation of the Government making a grant for the erection of a new school, the Committee had made very little demand on the Board for repairs', only the most necessary having been done, for which the Committee had paid themselves out of the school fund. At the present time Mr Scantlebury stated there did not seem the slightest "chance of the Government making such a grant for the next two or three years, even if then. No

entertainment had been got up since 1909 (with the exception of the yearly benefit given by Mr Tom Pollard), and he' thought that an entertainment might be run this year. He therefore moved: That the Headmaster and the teachers be asked to take such steps t in the training of the children for the holding of a concert in July next, this being seconded by Mr J. Dick and carried. The Chairman and Mr Auld were authorised to interview the contractor with respect to the delay in the erection of the back fence at the school grounds. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mrs Scantlebury for the use of the room for the holding of the meetings of the Committee during the past year. The accounts wore passed for payment, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.