Educational

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 11

Educational

The Committee of the Lawrence District High School held their monthly meßting in the schoolroom on Thursday, December 4fch. Present — Messrs J. Thompson (chairman), M'Lean, Crow, Jeffery, and Fraer (secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, and several accounts were passed for payment. The Visiting Committee reportedhaving visited the school, and that everything wa? in. a very satisfactory state. The building I was in splendid condition throughout, the grounds in perfect order, tho trees and shrubs planted aU round the inside of the fence growing finely. The outhouses had been thoroughly cleaned, and were well kept. Over 350 pupils had been enrolled during the year, and there were about 290 in average attendance. 1 Grea credit was due to the rector, Mr Stenhouse, and his assistants for the good order and government of the school. MrM. Fraer reported that notwithstanding the heavy expen* diture in improvements, tbe Committee would leave office with a liability of only about L 20 Thig was considered exceedingly satisfactory by the other membersof the Committee. It waa decided to present a silver medal each to the dux boy and girl, as was done last year ; to devote LlO from the special priza' fund, and to solicit special donation* of prizes from the friends of theschool. Tne distribution f.f prizes will take place' either on Friday, the 19fch, or Tuesday, the 23rd instant, as will brsi; suit Mr Sienhonse's arrangements. Messrs Thompson, Fraer, and M'Lean were appointed to selsct the prizes. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. The schools tinder the management of the Dunedin School Committee will close for the Christmas holidays on the 12th of December, and will reopen on the 26th of January, 1880. At ,the request of the masters, the School Committee last evening agreed that the vaca. tion should commence a week earlier than usual, in order to allow the pupil teachers to attend tbe examinations. The Dunedin School Committee on Monday decided to recommend that ■ the following appointments of teachers be made for the new school in George s tree fc :— Mr Da vid A. M 'NicoU, at present master of the Outram School, be appointed head master ; Miss Jane Pratt, assistant at the Union street School, matron ; and Mr Win. Bennett, head master of the Flag Swamp School, second master of the George street School. The Civil Service examinations all over the Colony commenced on Monday. In Dunedin the examinations were conducted at the Education Office by Mr P. G. Pryde. For Otago there are 15, candidates — 13 in the junior and two in the senior division. The examination of the junior division will close to-day, and the_ examination of the candidates in the senior division will commence to-morrow. The Works Committee, of the Dunedin School Committe at its last meeting recommended that a carpenter should bo advertised for to act as janitor of the George street School, at a salary of Ll5O per annum for himself and wife, and that he bo ' employed in executing repairs to any of the other city Bchools. The mattsr was deferred for further consideration.