SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 164, 12 June 1926, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

COLLEGE STREET MONTHLY MEETING.

The regular monthly meeting of the College Street School Committee was held last night, Mr S. W. Oliver presiding. . Others present were Messrs T. Inglis, W. Naismith, P. W. Barnard, F. H. Tucker, W. F. Cutler, J. R,. Wood and H. C. Le Grange (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. B. Stubbs and W. A. Swinbourn (headmaster). The report of the headmaster (Mr W. A. Swinbourn) for the month ending June II stated that the present roll number was 552 and tin; average attendance 517.2. Tweniv-four pupils had been admitted to the school and 17 had left since the resumption after the recent vacation. The winter holidays were held from March 14 to 31. During the recess the grass in the grounds was kept down by sheep which, incidentally, has considerably improved the condition of the playing area. The shack has been attended to, and metal had been distributed around portions of the .school property and the next fall of rain would determine if more were necessary. The visiting .committee were at the school on Wednesday last. Tickets for the annual school ball on July 2 had come to hand and were now in circulation. Mr Swinbourn stated that ho would be absent from the school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week, as lie would be acting as the teachers’ advocate at the Grading Appeal Board to be held at Wanganui on the days mentioned. In connection with the use of tho quadrangle for teaching purposes, two moro stripes of cocoanut matting, as suggested by the committee, would be most acceptable. Tho chairman reported that improvements had been affected to the shack at the rear of the school building. A hood had been affixed and numerous structural alterations had been completed.—The action of fitting glass windows to the shack received the approval of the committee. As regards the drainage in the vicinity of the bicycle shed it was mentioned that a quantity of metal had been used to overcome flooding, and in the event of a further collection of storm water, it was decided to attend to the matter immediately. Two half-days—Wednesday and Friday—were granted the school children on the occasion of the Winter Show next week. Matters in connection with the annual school ball to be hold on July 2 were discussed and the chairman reported that a combined meeting had been convened for June 22.

It was decided to write to the Board of Education asking for 100 chairs, tho headmaster to supply particulars of requirements in this respect. The Manawatu Hockey Association wrote stating that it had been decided to allow free admission to all school children wishing to attend the Indian Army hockey match to be played at tho Showground on June 30, and requesting the committee to allow pupils time off to witness the contest.—The offer was accepted and. the association thanked for its invitation.

The Education Board, in reply to a letter from the committee in respect to a material for covering the surface of the assembly hall, brought forward recommendations relative to the work and suggested a suitable brand of covering. It was explained that the board’s architect had examined the surface and decided that the concrete floor would have to be treated first and as this would prove costly it was decided to provide material not exceeding a cost of £l3 los on condition that the work was successfully accomplished to the satisfaction of the architect.—The committee after considerable discussion instructed the secretary to write and ask the board to instruct the architect to do the necessary work. Official confirmation was received from the Wanganui Education Board of the extended leave granted Miss J. King on account of illness.—Received. A lengthy letter was read from the Y.M.C.A., relating to a membership, campaign and facilities offered to prospective members.-—Received. Accounts totalling £l9 6s lid were passed for payment.