SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 103, 16 April 1912, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

HASTINGS. ’ The usual monthly meeting of the Hastings School Committee was held in the schoolroom last evening. Pre <ent: Mr. G. Land (in the chair). Me-sr-. J. A. Miller. C. Haukes. T. J. Davidson. H. Miis-in. T. IL Steutrl. J. E. Jones, and T. Styles. HEADMASTER’S R EPORT. The Headmaster (Mr. 1.,. F. Peg'er) reported as follows foj- the four .vc-eks ended Friday, April 12th : — I have the honour to present thr report of the working of the Hast :ngs District High School fcr thf 'our weeks ended Friday, 12th inst. doll number at date of last report (13, admitted since 22, left 23, pres >nt roll number 812, average daily ittendance 758.7. Staff. —Mr. F. A. Palaver, fourth rear pupil teacher, decided to leave it the end of March. His place was akc n on the 10th inst. by Mr. Vv. W. lonasen, formerly of Norsewocd, who had been appointed as a second yea* mpil teacher. Mr. J. T. Daly, third nale assistant, was absent from the Bth to 22nd March, attending the Feri-itorials’ camp, his class being aken by the headmaster. Miss A. I. Harper, fourth mistress, was away ’or 3.1 days owing to illness, and Miss T . Seamens is absent from a similar •ause.

Inspection Visit.. —Messrs .Hill and Smith, inspectors, paid a visit to the •.chool on the 2nd and 3rd of April, nit their report is not yet to hand, 'aptain A. C. C. Stevens. Officer ,'ommanding th<> New Zealand Junor Cadets, inspected our two cadet companies on March 26th, and exirrssed his approval of the genera: ’.ppcarance and drill, the manners if the lads especially when spoken to ■ neeting with extra commendation. The girls were also inspected when ;c.ing through the new physical cui ure drill, as taught by SergeantMajor Just to the teachers : n CaturIny classes.

Swimming.—During the month I have conducted tests in long distance swimming, and although the -.cason was somewhat advanced and the water in consequence colder than isual. still seven boys from the Hereaunga School and 21 boys and 11 drls from our own school competed, -.nd qualified for certificates from ■OO yards up to 2 miles 33yds., the attcr distance being completed by >ur school champion, Alice Corbin. This young lady also added to her list of successes this season by ecur rg tb.e McKenzie Shield for competiion amongst school girls under 14. This was presented to the school for one year) by Mr. McKenzie himself. who also gave the winner a handsome gold medal. Needless to ;tate the staff and scholars are very iroud of the brilliant record in swimming put up by this sixth standtrd girl. ’ CORRESPONDENCE.

The Hawke’s Bay Education Beard wrote notifying that the term ni d summer vacations for the current year had been fixed by the board as follows :—First term vacation, 21th May to 3rd June, both days inclusive ; second term vacation, 7th September to 15th September ; summer vacation, 21st December, 1912, to 2nd February, 1913 ; also drawing attention to the board’s regulations, clauses. Nos. 41, 42 and 43, and stating that in future these regulations would be strictly enforced. The letter stated that it had come to the knowledge of the board that certain schools were closed on every possible occasion, and that many teachers neglected to report such closing as required by Regulation 41. A portion of Regulation No. 42 reads as follows: ‘‘But the total number of holidays shall not exceed 50 in any year.”—Received.

The Education Board also stated that they had decided to make an application to the department for a grant for the balance of the money required to purchase the section of ground proposed to be added to the Hastings school site.—Received.

A communication was received from the Hastings (England) municipal authorities stating that the New Zealand flag, presented to the Hastings (England) schools had been won for the quarter ended December 25th by the Sundown Mixed School, which had the highest per centage (95.7) average attendance for the priod. The letter stated that the result gave,much satisfaction, because the school was in the poorest district in the borough.—Received. A vote of thanks vvqis passed to the chairman (Mr,. Land) for the very able manner in which he had conducted the business of the meetings during the past year. The usual honorarium was voted to the secretary (Mr, W. G. Gould).