GREY TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 December 1940, Page 4

GREY TECHNICAL SCHOOL

BOARD OF GOVERNORS I The monthly meeting of the Greymouth Technical School Board of Governors was held last evening; present: Messrs T. E. Coates (Chairman), W; H. Parfitt, A. H. McKane, A. A. Adams, P. J. McLean, C. F. Shapcott, J. E. White, E. B. E. Taylor, and Mrs. C. H. Lindsay. The Principal, Mr. W. M. Stewart, was also present. The Principal reported that eight applications were received for the vacancy which occurred as the result of the departure of Mr. T. D.'Holmes, 8.A., for Wellington College. He recommended that Mr. G. W. Ormandy, 8.A., be appointed, and said that Mr. Ormandy was formerly in Canterbury, but for the past seven or eight years had been in the North Island. — The recommendation was adopted. A letter from the Education Department advised that the Government had approved a grant of £4B for iron, to cover the cycle stands at the school. Reporting for the Visiting Committee, Mr. Shapcott. said thta the iron had been forwarded, and was ready for the work to be undertaken. The Education Department wrote, stating that the offer of the use oi the school buildings as evacuation points, in the event of an emergency, was appreciated, and asking whether the Board had taken any steps foi the protection of the pupils during school hours. —The matter was referred to the Principal, to confer with the Chairman of the Emergency Precautions Committee. It was decided again to write tc . Messrs Williamson, contractors, regarding the unsatisfactory state in which the ground was left, there still being a heap of logs, roots, shingle, and other rubbish. It was also decided to forward a copy of the letter to the Education Board. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT The Principal reported as follows on school activities during the past four weeks, the report being adopted: Since my last report, one boy and two girls have been withdrawn, leaving the roll number at 267, comprising 127 boys and 140 girls. The average attendance over the four weeks has been 91 per cent. The University Entrance Examinations have been concluded. The annual break-up and - prize-giving ceremony will be held in the Town Hall on Wednesday, December 18, at 2 p.m. Mrs. O’Brien has 1 kindly consented to present the prizes. The School Magazine, published early in December, is up to its usual high standard of interest, and reflects great credit on the teacher in charge and on the pupils who were responsible for its production. The School first eleven played their • annual match against the second eleven of Nelson College at Nelson on Thursday and Friday, December 12 and 13. The game produced its usual well-fought finish, the School team being defeated by five wickets in a fully playedout match. The boys enjoyed their trip to Nelson very much, and I wish to express the thanks of the School to the Headmaster, staff and boys of Nelson College for their hospitality and kindness. During the past fortnight, the boys and girls have been given an opportunity of attending regularly at the Municipal Baths for swimming, an opportunity of which a large proportion took advantage. A considerable number have been taught to swim, and I am glad to report that a good beginning has been made with life-saving classes. Since November 16, £2/9/6 has been received in school subscriptions, making a total for the year to date of £129/13/10. Other receipts have been: Magazine 12/-; library 15/10, social £l/1/9, cricket £l3/1/6. Payments have amounted to £59/6/-, including magazine £34/19/3, cricket £2l/10/-, entertainment £l/10/-, tennis repairs £ 1/6/9. The balance in hand is £56/2/5, and accounts outI standing amount to £3/15/-. The number of pupils in residence at the Hostel is 36, 22 boys and 14 girls. Of this total, 1,1 are full-time boarders, and 25 go home at the week-ends. The total proceeds of various efforts in the School for patriotic purposes amount to £35, a sum which reflects great credit on the pupils. ..Adding to his report, the Principal explained that the amount for patriotic purposes was raised in the school, and appeals were not made to the public. Since the departure of Mr. Holmes, the production of the magazine had been in charge of Miss Me- J Niven. Mr. G. G. M. Mitchell had consented to deliver the occasional address at the break-up ceremony to- i morrow. The school would resume on • February 4. 1 In connection with the subject of prizes, the Principal said he was in some doubt about them, this year. In view of the fact that residents and business firms had had so many calls upon them, he decided not to send out circular letters appealing for donations. However, the cost would not be great, and he asked if the Board would be prepared to sanction an ex-, penditure for prizes, to the extent of a maximum of £ls.' Last year, although the Board sanctioned £2O, it did not have to provide one penny, i —The request was granted, with the’

maximum as suggested. Referring to the financial position at the school, the Principal said that the balance in hand, £56/2/5, would probably be reduced to £5O by the end of December. It had not cost the Board a cent, this year, for the magazine or sports. The Sports Committee had managed its affairs fairlyshrewdly, and the indications were that they would not have to call upon the Board for a grant next year. There was a good stock of cricket material on hand. In other words, the school’s .sporting activities this year had been more than self-supporting. —This report was received as very

■ satisfactory. Mr. Adams suggested that money be made available so that the caretaker could secure a man to help him to clean up the grounds, and attend to the hedges. The caretaker had not 1 enough time to do all the work himself. - I

Mr. McKane said that the main worry was the hedge, and the arboretum also needed attention. The caretaker was doing wonderful work, but could not cope with it all. • The matter of securing temporary assistance was referred to the Principal and the caretaker. | Accounts were passed for payment. as follow: School £ll9/6/3, Hostel. £l3O/10/8. The School account has | a credit balance of £l4O, and the I Hostel account a credit balance of £66/6/10. , The Chairman extended to members best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.