SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1924, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Grey'niouth Main School Committee, held . last evening, was attended by Messrs J. Tennent (chairman), R. J. Williams, J. Weaver, F. Lament, *H. Herring, and Ensign Lamberton. The Rector (Mr H. H. Allison) reported that the attendance showed a slight reduction, owing to several cases of diphtheria. The averages were as follow : —Main School, 577 out of '609 ; Blaiketcjivn, 79 tout of 83; total 656 out of . 692. Since the last meeting the following .changes in the staff have been made; Mr McGallan and Miss Lilburn are relieving in place of Mr J. F. Wilson and Mr Okey respectively. Misses Mabin, Knell, and Leach, and Messrs Wilson, and have joined as pupil teachers or probationers. The room in the gymnasium has been improved and the pupils are* now quite comfortable. The halyards on the Hag-pole required replacing. The leaks in the roof have been repaired. The report was adopted, Mr Williams stating that the halyards had been replaced. The chairman reported that he had written to the Canterbury Board • recommending Miss M. A. ’ Dunn’s application for leave of absence. A reply was received from the Board, stating that the application would be favourably considered if a suitable substitute could be secured, the leave to extend until February 1, next. A request that pupils be granted a half-holiday on the • occasion of the sports on- St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) t/as received from the * St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Committee. The sports s wo.uld be open to all schools, „. : The Rector recommended that the pupils leave early instead of a half-holiday being granted, as the Department was objecting to the number of holidays being granted in some districts. On tho motion of Dlr Weaver seconded by Mr Williams, the matter was referred to the Rector, with power to act. Several circular letters (from t : ly> Canterbury Board were received, asking for various returns for the information of the auditor*; regarding the appointment of teachers; and fire prevention in schools. Mr Williams stated that the rubbish placed near the gymnasium was the onb- source of danger he , knew of at the school. It was decided to draw the attention of the caretaker to the matter. Mr Williams also .stated that the insurance on the Blaketown gymnasium should be increased. The 11 1 1 t

amount, he understood, was now only £lOO, and it should be doubled, as the building had been improved. The chairman : Perhaps we can get £250 upon it. On the motion of Mr Williams the matter was referred to the chairman • for attention. * A request that the writer’s claims be considered when appointments were being made to the teaching staff, was made by Mr H. Beaumont, who gave his address as Kunanga. On the motion of Mr Williams, seconded by Mr Herring, the letter was referred to the Canterbury Education Board. As the result of an inspection of the school by members of the Canterbury Board, it was notified that ■the foreman had been authorised to carry out alterations to the temporary classroom to make it more comfortable for teaching purposes. Renovations to the caretaker s cottage ■were also authorised at a cost of £6o.—Received. The Board also wrote stating that in view of the Committee’s offer to contribute £250 towards the cost of installing an up-to-date heating system in the school, the Board had decided to apply to the Department for the balance of the money required. approximately £650.-—Re-I ceived. The Dental Nurse (Miss E. Dunn) reported that 335 operations had been performed during the month. The Blaketown School had also been visited and 18 children examined. The report was adopted. Regret that any misunderstanding had occurred over the appointment of Miss Bignell was expressed in a letter received from the secretary of the Canterbury Board, who stated that the Board was actuated entirely by its wish to give unnecessary delay, and therefore in the interests of the school. It was decided to take no further action. A rough balance sheet prepared by the secretary (Sir W. F. G. Pullen) showed that the Committee’s receipts had been £s'll 19s 8d ’ and expenditure (including cost of memorial gates), £523 Is sd. In the absence of the secretary, discussion of the balance sheet was held over. Mr Weaver stated that a new 500gallon tank and stand were required at Blaketown. The chairman and Mr Williams were empowered to . make enquiries, with a view to securing a suitable tank; also to arrange for repairs to blackboards at Blaketown. , Ensign Lamberton and Mr Herring were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month. Accounts amounting to about £l2

were passed for payment.