OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22295, 22 June 1934, Page 11

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING CONCLUDED The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was concluded yesterday, the chairman (Mr J. Wallace) presiding. There were also present Messrs .T. Sheppard, E. Morgan, D. T. Fleming, W. Ik Brugh, G. Livingstono, R. H. Todd, W. Cooper, D. C. Cameron, and P. M'Kinlay. STAFF CHANGES. The following resignations were accepted:—Ronald F. Duff, sole teacher, Buscot; Edith V. Double, sole teacher, Kuriwao; lona M. Marshall, sole teacher, Merino Downs; Katharine R. Carpenter, sole teacher, Tahatika; (.Constance 0. Courtier, sole teacher, Waitahuna West; Irene P. Davidson, assistant, Brighton; Muriel L. J. Whitelaw, assistant, Forbury; Evelyn Robertson, assistant, Naseby; Kathleen L. Scoon, assistant, Palmcrston; Mabel F. Benzoni, assistant, Port Chalmers. The following appointments were confirmed: —Evelyn Robertson, sole teacher, Tarras; Ronald F. Duff, sole teacher, Moa Flat; Eric S. Macfarlane, sole teacher, St. Bathans; Alexandrena M. Watson, sole teacher, Avenal Household; Constance C. Courtier, sole teacher, Lee Stream; Isabel M. Falconer, sole teacher, Kaihiku; Ethel E. Dotting, sixth assistant, Eorbury; Muriel L. J. Whitelaw, seventh assistant, High Street; lona M. Marshall, assistant, Stirling; Mabel h. Bobm, second assistant, Naseby; Alice W. Butcher, assistant, Lowburn; Alice J. Borthwick, assistant, Warrington. The transfer of Katharine R. Carpenter to the position of sixth assistant »t George Street Sclwol was granted. SUBSIDIES GRANTED. The West Taieri Committee wrote offering £l3 towards the cost of new furniture for the school and the levelling of the floor. The cost of the furniture was estimated at £2l 5s and the levelling £l2, a total of £33 ss.—Agreed to. The Gimmerburn Committee applied for the levelling of the floor, offering to contribute £3 towards the cost. The architect estimated the cost at about £lo.—lt was decided to grant a subsidy of £4. The St. Leonards Committee submitted au application for topdressiug and repairing asphalt. The lowest tender received had been £29 15s, and the architect reported that the tender was reasonable.—The application was granted. The Ngapara Committee applied for assistance in the laying of three inches of concrete on top of the asphalt. The architect reported that the area was 03 feet by 33 feet, and that cement, boxing, malthoid, together with railage and cartage, would cost £3O 17s. The estimate did not include gravel and cartage or labour.—The application was deferred until nest month.

The Brighton Committee applied for a subsidy towards the cost of a shelter fence around the school ground. The material would cost £lO, of which the committee was prepared to find £5. — The application was granted. • The Upper Junction Committee asked for assistance towards the cost of interior painting and the levelling of the floor, and stated that a tender of £6 for levelling had been received. —The matter Mas referred to the architect for report. ARCHITECT'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

The teacher at Patearoa wrote asking that the gravel paths about the residence be laid in concrete—The architect estimated the cost at about £ls. —The applicatiou was held over in the meantime. The headmaster, St. Clair, applied for repair and top-dressing of asphalt at the school residence. —The architect stated that this work was required and that the cost would be about £o.—Agreed to. The Caversham Committee wrote requesting an additional length of concrete channelling.—The architect estimated the cost at about £l7.—Agreed to. Reporting on the additional cost of improving the grade of the lower playground at Port Chalmers before resurfacing, the architect stated that the area was 113 feet long by 06 feet wide, and the total fail across the width was 6 feet, which worked out at 1 foot of fall in every 11 feet. To provide a grade of 1 foot in 33 feet would mean that the depth of cut at the top boundary would be 4 feet. The proposal would involve expenditure on a concrete wall, galvanised fence removed and re-erected, sewer and storm water drains lifted and relaid, and the whole area resurfaced, a total cost, with asphalt surfacing, of £34(i 2s; if surfaced in concrete, an additional £BO should be added. In view of cost and position of finance, he recommended that the present surface be patched where required and the whole top-dressed with tar and sand at a cost of about £3s.—lt was agreed to find half the cost of resurfacing or one-third of the cost of the original proposal. CHAIRMAN'S DECISION QUESTIONED.

The chairman reported having obtained further information regarding the Tcaneraki Committee election, as a result of which he had .decided to uphold the election. A letter was received from Mr H. M. Wilson, who protested against the board's decision.

Mr Cooper asked why the chairman had come, to the decision. Mr Wallace said he had good reason for deciding as he did, and considered there was no necessity for him to give any further explanation. Mr M'Kinlay asked if the chairman would not give his reason for his decision. Mr Wallace replying that he was not at all averse to giving his reasons. "T gave my deeisiou after being asked by the board to do so," he said, " and if my actions are to be traversed in this manner I shall leave tlio chair." Mr Cooper again asked if the board could not be given some reason, pointing out that when be was questioned regarding the decision he would not know what to say. Mr Wallace repeated his threat to leave the chair if the members persisted in questioning his action, aud the board then confirmed bis decision. TECHNICAL COLLEGE MANAGERS It was decided that the election of the Technical College Board of Managers be held in September, the actual date to be Used later. The election of a palms' representative on the board was fixed for September 12.

CONVEYANCE OF CHILDREN. A request was received from the parents 4 of 10 children at Springvale for a conveyance service to Alexandra. The chairman said that the proposal was that a bus carrying children from, Chatto Creek to Alexandra should pick up the children from Springvale. This would result in the closing of the Galloway School,"and a consequent increase in the attendance at Alexandra. The matter was held over. REOPENING OF TAPUI SCHOOL. The Tapui Committee wrote asking that the school be reopened, and stated that if the board did not agree the Minister would be approached. Mr Cooper moved that the school be' opened, and stated that the board would not be doing its duty if it did not send a teacher. The chairman ruled that the motion was incompetent, stating that the proper course to adopt was to ask the departmont for authority to open the school. Mr Cooper altered his motion accordingly, and it was decided to act as suggested by the chairman. SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED. The following school commissioner* were appointed:—Akatore Coast, Mr D. Allison; Buscot, Mr J. R. Saunders; Fuchsia Creek, Messrs J. Kingan and R. Ludemann; Kuri Bush, Messrs J. W. Geevcs and M'K. Marshall; Lower Harbour, Messrs H. Omond arid T. Powell; Maerewhenua, Mr J. Meikhs;; Makarora, Messrs L. F. Crawford and G. R. Humphrey; Moeraki, -Messrs A. Booth and F. G. Carter; Nugget Point, Messrs J. Cocker and A. Duncan: Puk-j----raugi, Mr C. Hislop; Ratanui, Messrs J. Telfer and \V. Harrington; Waipori Falls, Mr D. g. M'Kerizie; Whare Flat, Messrs F. Harris and F. Johnson. Mr W. Irwin was appointed an additional member of the Kaitangata Committee, and the teacher (Mr J- C. Duthic) was appointed to act as clerk of the Otokia Committee. TENDER ACCEPTED. The tender of Mr B. Coleman of.£6 32s Gd for lease of the school glebe at Hampden was accepted.