EDUCATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 8

EDUCATION

.CANTERBURY BOARD. The West Coast business transacted by the Canterbury Eduration Board on Friday last included the following matters — Mr W. H. Johnston, Agricultural Instructor, submitted results of the potato-growing competition among the Westland schools, Ngahere being first, Totara Flat second, and Ross third. It was agreed to congratulate the teachers and scholars of these schools on their success. The detailed results were as follow: — School. Variety. Yield pel acie Ngahere Arran Chief ... 17 17/20 Robin Adair ... 8 2,5 (First) Gamekeeper ... 10 3/10 Red Dakota ... 11 4/5 Remarks.—Notes and records full. Observation and experiment have been used to arrive at valuable conclusions. School. Variety. Yield per acre Totara Flat Arran Chief 12 3/10 (Second) Robin Adair ... 8 1/10 Remarks.—Notes full and well kept. Lessons learned of value. School. Variety. Yield per acre Ross Arran Chief ... 8 1/16 (Third) Robin Adair ... 8 Beauty of Hebron 6 Sutton’s Suspense 6 1/16 Remarks. —Notes full, and good lessons learned from the conclusions arrived at from observation and experiment. School. Variety. Yield per acre Ahaura Robin Adair 7 2/5 Remarks.—Records incomplete. School. Variety. Yield per acre Barrytown Arran Chief ... 12 3/10 Maori Chief ... 2 1/2 Remarks. —Records fairly good, but no inferences from the pupils’ experiments and observations. School. Variety. Yield per acre La Fontaine Robin Adair ... 9 6/7 Arran Chief ... 7 1/5 Remarks. —The most valuable portion of the records wanting. School. Variety. Yield per acre Paroa Arran Chief ... 8 3/4 Robin Adair ... 7 Remarks. —Records only complete to a point. Latter part omitted. School. Variety. Yield per acre Ruatapu Arran Chief ... 12 J. Robin Adair ... 9 J. Remarks. —Records not sufficiently complete to be of full value. Te Kinga Arran Chief ... 9 2/5 Robin Adair ... 8 9/10 Remarks. —Inference from experiment and observation not noted. Mr Johnston’s monthly report for June-July was as follows : — “In addition to my work with the secondary classes at Hokitika and Greymouth for two full days per weak-, I have visited the following primary schools: —Ngahere, Hatters, Kokiri, Rotomanu, Ruatapu, Te Kinga, Totara Flat, Inchbonnie, Taylorville, Stillwater, Moana and Ru Ru. It is pleasing to note an improvement generally in the method of keeping notes and records in the primary classes.

clllU JLUUUXU.O LILC UJclbftt’ft. There is also a commendable desire among the teachers and pupils t,> make the necessary preparation in the garden plots for tne work of the coming season. To stimulate the pupils’ interest further, and to make the work more live and real, 1 am endeavouring at each visit to give a practical lesson, using material and equipment which as far as circumstances permit, I carry with me. 1 would greatly appreciate a small grant to assist m procuring such equipment. Few of the schools have any beyond the agricultural tools, but it is pleasing to note that any funds raised from the sale of produce, oi from prizes won are generally being used to buy simple necessary equipment. It will be necessary during this month to procure the seeds and manures for the coming season. With the expense of overland freight, I think I. can get what is required locally at necessary delay. Unless your Board reasonable rates, and without unwishes me to act differently I shall procure locally as I did last year. I have tabulated the results of the Potato Competition, and enclose the results with my recommendations. The schools listed do not represent all the competitors, as some had to withdraw owing to the total failure of crop, non-compliance with the conditions, and thefts.” Aratika.—The Committee’s application for a new tank was referred to the foreman to report or supply as deemed necessary. Bruce Bay. —A letter was received from the Department drawing attention to the Committee’s application for a shelter shed.—lt was resolved to endorse the Board’s previous letter promising a grant of £l5 and advising the Committee to apply for a £ for £ subsidy on any money raised locally. Moana. —It was resolved to take no action regarding the rebuilding of the school until a reply had been received from the Committee witli reference to position of site, etc. Atarau. —A letter was received from the Department regarding the erection of a new school building at Atarau. —- It was resolved to refer the matter to Mr Bignell for report. Runanga.—An application from the Committee foi - a grant for clearing blackberries was referred to Air Bignell, with power to act. Waiho. —A letter was received from the Committee thanking the Board for grant of £lO for clearing new school grounds. The Foreman’s report for the month was received and adopted. Blackball.—Drainage authorised £9 : AVorkshop.—Authority was given to purchase 20,000 ft of red pine timber for stock. The report was adopted, the matter of procuring material and equipment being left to the supervisor, with power to act. Authority was also given for the purchase of the necessary seeds and manures. It was agreed that the election ot Managers bv parents of pupils attending the Grevmouth Technical School should be held on August 30: Air J. Hutton (Director) to be appointed deputy-returning officer for the puipose of the election.