WHANGAREI HIGH SCHOOL.

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1926, Page 8

WHANGAREI HIGH SCHOOL.

MEETING OF HO aVO ‘ >!•' GO\t;t?nv>rs The usual monthly meeting of the Whangarei High School Board of Governors was held last night, Mr W. A. Carruth, chairman, presiding. There were also present: Messrs J. D. Mc- | Kenzie, R. C. M. Harington, J. I. | Wilson, H. C. Rishworth, F. Higginson, JH. W. Crawford and A. B. Charters, M.A., Principal. VOTE OP CONDOLENCE, j Feeling reference to the irreparable • loss sustained by Mrs Hollway, a member of the staff, in the recent death of her son was made by - Mr Higginson, and a vote of condolence to Mr and Mrs Hollway and their daughter was carried in the customary manner, the members standing in silence. , REPORT OP INSPECTORS. The report of the recent inspection visit by Inspectors Caradus and Foster was read and discussed, and on the motion of Mr H. C. Rishworth, seconded by Mr H. W. Crawford, it was resolved that the report be received, and that the Principal and staff be congratulated upon the very satisfactory state of the school us indicated in the advice received from the inspectors. WOODWORK. As it was pointed out in the above report that there was neither sufficient room nor enough teachers to give more than nine woodwork lessons during the week, Mr J. D. McKenzie moved that application be made to the proper authorities for extra accommodation and extra teaching staff to ensure that a greater percentage of the children would be enabled to receive lessons in woodwork and | cookery. This was agreed to. ' NEW HOSTEL AND SCHOOL ADDITIONS. The chairman reported that the building contractors were making very good progress with the new hostel and the additional wing to the school, and he had been assured that the hostel would be ready for occupation early in January. A meeting of the Board had been held on the ground during |he previous week, when it was decided to ask the Department to agree to one or two alterations to the plans. These consisted of the making of a doorway On the western aide of the western dormitory in order to give easy access to the prep, room, and also a doorway at the southern end of the two southern dormitories in order to give more direct access to the dining room. He was able to report that both these alienations had bfen agreed to by the Department; . and accordingly they would be made. GIRLS’ HOSTEL, The Chairman also reported that alterations to the present hostel would be necessary in order to convert it into a girls’ hostel, and he recommended that steps be taken immediately to have plans and specifications prepared ‘ in - b’rdet that this work could be executed during the Christmas vacation.

It was that the matter be referred' to the House Committee in conjunction with the Principal to report to the next meeting, the same committee also to' 1 report upon the possibility of having gas connected with the administration block of the new hostel and heating and power points fixed in the new addition to the school. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT.

The principal’s report was read as follows: —

The roll number of the Upper School shows a much smaller percentage of removals than has been experienced in former years and is now 390; that of the Lower School shows no decrease. In the Hostel several boys did not return this term and the net roll is now 83. Hostel.—The new hostel is well under way and the contractor assures us that he will be finished in plenty of time for the opening of school in February next, so that our plans can now be made for the conversion, during - the summer vacation, of the present boys’ hostel into one for girls. I had hoped to have recommendations and tentative plans ready for this meeting of the Board but have been too busy. I have however taken the necessary measurements etc. and shall place concrete proposals and plans before the next meeting or before the Hostel Committee at an early date if possible. So far as I can sce / at present, the limit of accommodation for girls will be 50, plus three house mistresses and female house staff.

I am at present engaged in compiling a new form of prospectus now rendered necessary and would ash the approval of the Board for obtaining prices for printing such prospectus when ready. In addition it is now time to inform parents of the Northern Peninsula, by advertising, that the Girls’ Hostel writ be ready at the beginning of the school year. I have a number of girls’ applications already and I do not see any difficutly in being able to fill the Hostel; in fact, we may find accommodation too limited. For the new Boys’ Hostel no provision for gas appears to have been made in the specifications. I would suggest that the Board go into the question of ascertaining .whether gas can be installed as in the hot weather it will form a valuable coolring adjunct. Further, the water main on Kent Street appears to consist of an inch pip e only, whereas wo have found a four inch main necessary at the present Hostel.!

It costs three-eighths of a penny to one penny per dozen to preserve eggs with Sharland’s Egg Preservative. Small tins sufficient for 14 dozen eggs. 7

The money for library purposes, kindlv donated by Mr Dobson, has been speat, but we need more than three ; i■>-> 11 ■". the number of books obtained. Lou tin gent on the Board’s funds being in a healthy condition I would ask for a substantial amount to be voted for more books; the absence of a library is really a standing reproach to a school of this size, and ns the Board, though perfectly willing, was not allowed to expend part of its capital for library purposes, I suggest a grant from the ordinary income account. With the coming of the cricket season I ask the Board to make its annual donation to the boys’ and girls’ sports funds, and to increase the amount in view of the increase in the number of

pupils. As it is intended to use the new grounds for cricket this season a roller is necessary. We have a concrete roller but it has no handles or bars. I therefore ask for authority to obtain the necessary ironwork and have it fitted. i T regret that Mrs Hollway has suffered a severe loss in the death of an [ only son at Christchurch. With the concurrence of the chairman, I gave Mrs Hollway the necessary leave {in accordance with .the regulations) to go | South. She has now resumed her school duties. i The visiting Committee, Messrs Carrulth and Crawford, visited the school yesterday, when I pointed out a few repairs that have been rendered necessary. The window-rods are still unsatisfactory and need re-fixing in some more permanent manner. A number of members of the staff will be sitting locally at the University examinations to be held in October and November, and I recommend the Board to grant the necessary leave in accordance with the regulations. Although .the Department approved of the installation of power points in the new wing ufider construction, I can find on the plan ho reference to such .points, which are necessary for clean-' ing and heating purposes. The report was received and dealt with. LIBRARY FUND. A grant of £SO towards the School Library was agreed to. SPORTS FUND Grants towards the sports funds were authorised as follows: —Boys, £3O; girls, £ls. FINANCE COMMUTES. 1 The Finance Committee was requested to report upon, the state of the Board’s finances at the next meeting. BOARDING FEES FOR GIRLS. Fees for girls who will be boarding iii the hostel next year were fixed to be the .same as those now paid by the boys. OFFICIAL VISITORS, Messrs Wilson and Higginson were appointed official visitors fqr the ensuing month.