HIGH SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1919, Page 2

HIGH SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS.

REQUESTS FOR CMIANT,

At yesterday's mooting oi' the High School Board of Governors the secretary read the following important letter which had been forwarded to the Minister ;askioig for grants towards certain improvements: —

"Tlhe -Minister of Education, Wellington.—Sir,—About nine years ago 'my Board entered into an agreement for sa.le and purchase of about five acres of land to add to the playground of tile Whangarei High School wihieh then consisted orily of four and a-half acres and was wholly insufficient. The land was secured on a ten years' purchase irom the. late Mr Thos. McCliiitock for £1000 on easy terms. -My Board has paid off now £500 on account of such purchase leaving a balance of £500 svliich must be paid next year in terras of vke agreement. On behalf of my Board I have now the honour to make application for £ 500 to meet this obligation and ask that you will cause an appropriation to be made for this amount by way of a. grant on the Estimates of the coming session of Parliament. My Board is also erecting in connection witih its present hostel a combined recreation room and study for its boarders. The boarders this year number twentytwo, being the largest number we have ever had. Their present preparation room is far too small for this purpose. There is no other accommodation than this room for the boys on wet days so my Board decided to put up this building snaking a room suitable for the purpose of a study and recreation room. Tenders have been called for its erection and tine lowest at £ 482 has been accepted and the work is proceeding. I may explain that this is the same sized building which the Board wrote to you about on the 14th April last which my Board then intended for ,a recreation room only and was estimated to cost £250 and on account of which you were prepared to give a subsidy of £125. Since then my Board reconsidered the matter and decided that df the same building were properly lined, ceiled and made comfortable it would also do for a study for the boys as well as for recreation purposes. Hence the increase in its cost. The room -will also require to have placed in it suitable fittings and our .architect estimates the cost at £ 50. _ Tie above tender of £482 plus the fittings and architect's fees, £25, will bring the total cost up to £557 which amount any Board wished you also to Uiave placed upon the estimates by way of a grant in aid of buildkigs. As the lighting of this new building could be better supplied by electricity than by gas. the Board ilxas resolved to light the hostel and new buildings throughout with electricity supplied by the Council. This is estimated to cost £ 100, which amount my Board also wishes l you to place upon the estimates. During this year the Board has considered the condition of tfheir endowments (known as the Kioreroa Reserve, witlh a viewto its improvement and obtaining better rentals from its tenants, To this end a subdivisional survey of the block has been made under the Land Transfer Act and the Board propose to give the present tenants good registerable renewable lease under the Public Bodies Leases Act, 1908. This will . induce them to make improvements and in retura for giving them tihese leases my Board will get better rent returns. This survey /is to cost my Board £130, a.nd has to be paid before the end of this year. The amount of this commitment my Board also wish fyou to place upon, the estimates. Tabulated, the above amounts required are as follows: — £ To pay* off balance of land purchase 500 For recreation room and study, etc 557 For electric lighting , 100 For cost of subdivisional survey 130 Total £1287 "I might explain that the above requirements are all necessary for the proper a;nd efficient carrying out of the educational duties of the High School. My Board has no funds out of which these amounts can be paid and will simply have to overdraw on its bank if the appropriations are not made. My Board does mot anticipate this not being done as it coni siders its requests are quite reasonable. In addition to the above my Board will at its first meeting consider the advisability of extending- its hostel accommodation for its boarders and also of class rooms for the school and if it decides to do anything, thjen probably you will be asked for further grants. Our hostel is at present up to its full complement in numbers of dormitories. ■Wβ anticipate quite an influx both in boarders and day scholars next year so that the Board would orily be acting , wisely in getting ready for this. Of the determination of my Board on these matters I -will acquaint you later. The Board approved and thanked the chairman for having taken the matter in. hand in good time." t The [Minister replied as follows: — "I am in receipt of your letter of the 4th inst. and have noted the representations therein contained in support of your request that the sum of £1287 be provided on the current year's estimate to enable your Board to meet its obligations in regard to an area of land which was acquired to extend the playground, and to cover the cost of other improvements at the school. In reply I desire to inform you that I shall be, pleased to give consideration to your application. in the meantime lam obtaining a report thereon,"