OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 955, 10 May 1879, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The regular monthly meeting of the Committee was held last evening, when there were present —Messrs. N. Fleming (chairman), Montagu, Smith, Hay, and Hardy (secretary.) The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the following letter was read The Chairman Oamaru Schools Committee. Sir:, —I have the honor to bring under the notice of the committee that last year, during my term of office as chairman of the committee, negotiations were set afoot, with a view to acquiring section 11, block 75, in order to complete the block for the new South School site. By referring to letters of date December 6, IS7S, and December 28, IS7B, pp. 333 and 341 of letter book (more particularly the last named), you will see that, at the Board's request, the committee suggested that the Corporation should be requested to exchange with the Board the section above referred to (11, block LXXY.) for educational section 13, block XXXVII. To that letter I am advised that no reply has been received ; at any rate it is certain that the Municipal Council has never been communicated with by the Board. I would suggest that the Committee should press the matter to an issue without delay, as when the exchange is arranged, it will be necessary • to obtain an Act to give effect to it, and there is now but a short interval before the meet- i ing of Parliament.—l have, &c., | Wji. J. Stewakd. Oamaru, May 6, 1579. After some little discussion, the Secretary was instructed to write to the Education Board again, urging the necessity for 1 the exchange being made without delay. The following letter was also read : High School, Oamaru, « May 9th, 1859. The Chairman, Schools Committee, Oamaru. Sir, —I have to report that I sent Misses Islip and Hay to the North School, and that ! I have received a reply stating that they . have entered on their duties. t I liavejalso io report that the condition of the entrances to nearly all the class-rooms requires attention, more especially those of the new infant class-rooms. I have to submit for the immediate consideration of the Committee the subject of heating the schools. No fire has been laid here this season, and there is neither coal nor wood on the High School premises. I would further state that the condition of > the footpaths of the adjacent streets proves detrimental to the average attendance in wetweather Little children cannot be expected to sit comfortably in a cold class-room with mud-covered boots on.—l have, &c., Robert Peattie, Rector. The Secretary was directed to write to the Education Board, asking why a pupil teacher for the High School had not been appointed. The Secretary was empowered to obtain a supply of wood and coal for the , schools. It was stated that the footpaths alluded . to by the Rector were being attended to [ by the Corporation. The other matters mentioned were referred to the Building Committee and • the architect to the Board, who is visiting [ Oamaru. Several accounts for repairs to the schools were referred to the Building Committee, and the meeting closed.