TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 May 1925, Page 11

TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

MONTHLY 'MEETING. The Ha.wera Technical High. School Board met last evening, wnen tnere were present: Messrs it. o. Sage teMur), T. \Y. J. Howell, T. <J. Hobbs, w . Hntwitsle and Mrs \V .' Gilbert. Apologies for absence were received 11-om Messrs J. B. Murdoch, J. W. Harding and A. Lees. The chairman pointed out that the work of leveling the back portion of the school ground should be undertaken non - before the season ‘advanced too far. The area was quite useless in its present condition. It was decided, on the motion of Messrs Jbntwistle and Howell, to have tn© ground ploughed with the intention of laying it down in grass in the spring. The chairman was authorised to purchase up to half a dozen sheep to keep the grass down in the school grounds. it was left with tne headmaster to ascertain if it were feasible to extend the hot. water heating system in the main school building td, the engineering and laboratory rooms. A scheme for fitting out a cookery room at the new school, entailing an expenditure of £176, was placed before the, meeting, but 'the chairman considered that the price was prohibitive. He said that what, was wanted was an addition of a cookery room at the school, and he had approached the Director ot Education, Mr J. Caughley, -in connection with the matter, but Mr Caughley had given' Kim to understand that such an addition could not be expected while the old technical school building was in existence. The report of the headmaster, Mr Gray, mentioned chat the school had opened with an attendance oi 77 literary, 71 commercial, 5 agricultural and home science, and 17 engineering pupils, making a total of 177.

The report went o.n to say : “The prolonged recess meant that a number who otherwise would have been at school did not enrol, but the rea: 1 students who are properly controlled by their parents came along in due course, and sceveral members of the staff have remarked to, me on the extra enthusiasm shown in work this year. I am sure that it will he found that the extra holiday has not done much harm. The proposal now is to have two weeks’ holiday from 15th to 29tli of August. This 'will mean long terms, but perhaps no better arrangement could be made. The Director of ‘Education (Mr, Caughley 7 ) visited the school on Thuvsdav, April 30. He also visited Mr, Sutherland’s farm at Alton in connection with the school agricultural work. The Director expressed himself as pleased with what is being done. ’Colonel Austin, Departmental Inspector, visited the school on the 4th, sth and ‘6th of May. In connection with the small farm scheme, the caretaker is at work subdividing the paddocks at the hostel. On Monday last twenty-three boys visited Mr Sutherland’s farm at Alton and. received valued instruction in root

crops and lucerne growing. Mrs 'Sutherland very kindly provided refreshments, and the bays had a most enjoyable as well as a most instructive time. A scheme for raising money tor the improvement of the front grounds .is now in poreation. Mr R. Morrissey has consented to hold a gift, auction on a Saturday afternoon, and parents have been circularised for donations. A. number of offers have come to, hand, but I hope a great, many more will be in before long. The school will be glad to receive donations of any sort from anyone at all. Any article can be turned into Gash, and I hc.pe others besides parents will contribute. Since last meeting two of our boys have been appointed to positions iii the Public Service Department in New Plymouth. These appointments are .pleasing, and moreover they justify the school’s policy with regard to examinations. . - ’ To names already publisned as having secured senior free .place certificates those of Katherine Sutherland aha Violet Death should be added. These names were omitted from previous The appointment of Miss D. Garnett as trainee for a further year has been confirmed. . ~ „ More typewriters are required ror \he commercial class. No Government .assistance is obtainable for typewriters, and the procuring -of these ,is always a hard matter. However, if we could procure three or four more rebuilt it would facilitate the. commercial work considerably. I have to thank Mrs Mo.rnson and Mr Beauchamp for donations of vegetables and p'ants to the hostel. The report was adopted.