OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3102, 27 August 1913, Page 5

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

The monthly meeting of tho Otago Education Board was commenced on Wednesday, 20th inst; present —Messrs J. Mitchell, D. Borne, A. .u'Kerrow, W. Seou, u. c.. Israel, D. T. Fleming, P. ivFKtulay, and the Hon. T. Fergus.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Tho initial business was the election of a chairman for the year. Ihe lion. 1. Fergus moved, and Mr Fleming seconded, that Mr Mitchell be re-elected to tho position. The mover and seconder and Mr Israel spoke in complimentary manner of the way in which Mr Mitchell had carried out his duties during the year. 'I ho motion was carried unanimously. Mr Mitchell took his scat and briefly returned thanks. DEPUTATION. A deputation from Glenomaru waited on tho board to protest against the removal of the Glenomaru School from its present site. A petition signed by 17 householders was also received protesting against the suggested removal. The deputation was composed of Messrs W. Leslie and . Davis. Mr Leslie said that according to reports in the paper a deputation from Glenomaru had waited on the board and had made certain somewhat erroneous statements to the board. They had askod that the school should be shifted a mile and a-half nearer the station, but, ns a matter of fact, it was only a mile away from the station at the present time. Then it had been stated that the school was inconveniently situated for 31 out of the 37 children attending the school. In the petition they had sent in there were the names of 17 householders who were in favour of the school remaining where it was. There were at least two gentlemen—having between them eight or nine children at the school—whose names the previous deputation had used, who were really opposed to tho removal of the school. Tho number of children represented by those who had signed the petition was about 20 out of a total cf 37. Mr Da vis also spoke, pointing out that besides possessing other unsuitable features the proposed new site was near the railway line and two creeks. If the school was put there itiere would be a drowning match amongst the children. The deputation having retired it was decided to defer consideration until to-day. HALF-COSTS FOB REPAIRS. Claims for subsidies for half-cost of repairs and improvements were agreed to as follows ; Allanton —New bell for school, £2; Mosgiel—Drainage, regrading and gravelling playground, concrete kerbing, £l7 10b; Tokarahi —Repairs to fences and new gate, £5; Otcpopo—Asphalting; increased grant from £22 10s to £SO. architect’s recommendations. The following architect’s recommendations regarding applications for improvements to school buildings were agreed to : Otopopo—That five of the school windows be hinged for ventilation purposes at a cost of £5; Alexandra—That divisions be provided in the school conveniences, cost £7; Waianakarua —That repairs to school buildings and shelter shed be effected, £l4 ; also painting and furnishing interior of school, £l6; Macandrew Road—Supply of three new grates and resetting of another one, cost £8; Palmerston—Committee ask for renovation of four rooms teacher’s residence, cost £l2 10s recommended; Broad Bay—That repairs to school, shelter shed, and teacher’s residence, cost £4O; St. Leonards —Consideration of a new drain from school tank and urinal, cost £l4, also that committee be asked to obtain and cubmit price for repairs to glebe fences; Portobollo —Committee applies for lavatory in school passage—Architect recommends that old school building now used as shelter •beds and library be sold for removal and new sheds be erected; Milburn—That repairs to residence bo effected to chock tho white pine borer, cost £10; Pine Hill— Architect recommends repairs to fences, shelter shed, etc., cost £ls; Sawyers’ Bay —Architect recommends new gate and repairs to spouting and verandah and residence, and half-cost of grading and filling up school ground ; Owaka —Committee asks for seating round girls’ playshed, £4 10s; Albany Street —Architect recommends storeroom inside main entrance, cost £l4; he alao recommends that bulk of interior painting of school must be deferred until summer vacation; Bannockburn Repairs to fences and drains from residence; architect recommends half-cost, £2 10s, and construction of now drains, £ls. general. Mr Scott moved: “ That the board extends its hearty congratulations to the members of the committee of the High School Old Boys’ Association and others who Ofldsted on the extremely successful function* recently held in connection with the jubilee oelsbr-ttions of tho Otago Boys’ High School.” The mover said he regretted that ho was out of town at the time of the celebration* and unable to take part in any of

tho functions. He had, however, met numbers returning to their homes in the north, and ail had been thoroughly pleased with the manner in which they had been treated. It had, moreover, been an eye-opener to people all over the dominion to see tho types of men that the school had turned out.—The motion was seconded by Mr Fleming and carried. The Galloway School Committee renewed its application for erection of teacher’s residence (previous application declined, December, 1912).—1t was decided to make renewed application to the department. It was also decided to forward to the department an application from the head teacher at Oamaru for the erection of an additional room at tho residence.

The residents at Bishops wrote furnishing particulars regarding their application for a new school, and promised a contribution in cash of £4O, a site free, and tho cartage of all material. There were 25 children in the locality; 16 of school age. Seven of them were at present attending school, four were boarded out, and three were convoyed to another school. —The matter was referred to the inspector for a report. The head teacher, Lower Harbour, wrote renewing his application for payment of house allowance, and a letter in support of the application was received from tho Educational Institute. —'I he application was declined.

The department intimated that the board’s application lor a grant for the erection of a new school in Waipiata township could not be considered until it was assured that the new site had been secured. —The Land Board intimated that sections 169 and 175, block XI, Komaka Village, would bo set aside aki a s.te :f the board conveyed the present site to the Crown.—This was agreed to. Tho department intimated that it could not accede to tho request for the immediate establishment of secondary classes at the Roxburgh School; if a guarantee of 20 proficiency pupi e for 1914 could be given tho application would be granted at tho beginning of that tear. —Committee to bo advised accordingly. Tho Education Department intimated that space had been secured at the Auckland Industrial Exhibition for the work of students attending tha technical and other schools, and of educational apparatus and appliances generally, and that Mr Isaac would visit and arrange regarding representative exhibits from Otago.—Not£id. The Dunedin Competitions Society wrote asking (1) that any child who is absent from school to attend competitions should not on that account lose his “ good attendance” certificate; (2) that in calculating the schools’ average attendance these absences bo disregarded. -To bo informed that the board has no power to do anything in the matter.

Tho Christchurch Press Company wrote intimating that by arrangement with tho Government it had forwarded to every school in the dominion a plate of 11.M.5. New Zealand. —Noted with thanks.

An application from the Port Chalmers •Committee for tho erection of new residence for the head master, together with an estimate by the architect, was considered in committee. —It was subsequently decided that alternative tenders should be called for tho construction of an eight-roomed house in brick or concrete.

SECOND DAY. The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was continued on Thursday morning, Mr J. Mitchell presiding. Accounts amounting to £13,143 3a 6d were passed tor payment. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. The following resignations wore accepted: James M’Lay, sole teacher, Warcpa; J. 8. Nelson, sole teacher, Otakou; Ruby L. Ryan, mistress. Fairfax; Fiona Ellis, mistress, Lower Harbour; Ethel A. Roeeveare, mistress, Walton; Ernest A. Searle, fourth assistant, George Street; Lily M. Cornish, third assistant. Tokomairiro; Jessie B. Wilson, sixth assistant, Mornington; J. M. Mitchell, junior assistant, Green Island. Tho following appointments were made; — James M‘Lay, head teacher, Ranfurly, vice A. Lake (transferred); Ernest A. Searle, first assistant, Tokomairiro, vice A. Hoggans (transferred); R. G. A. Sawell, fourth assistant. High Street, vice E. Partridge (promoted); Ruby L. Ryan, eighth assistant Gaversham, vice A. Bowling (promoted); Jessie M. Mitchell, junior assistant, George Street, vice G. MTvor (resigned); Emma Ewart, sola teacher Tapui, vice A. D. Roche (transferred); Grace H. Betting, junior assistant Strath-Taieri, vice M. A. West (transferred) ; Lily M. Cornish, mistress Waikoikoi, vice Sarah H. Guy (transferred) ; Marion Reid, clerk School of Art, vice J. Buchanan (resigned). SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. The following School Commissioners were appointed:—Girnmorburn, Mr M'Leod ; Kyeburn Diggings, Messrs E. F. Parker and L. W. Beer; Papatowai. Messrs J. H. Ollorenshaw and J. Fadden; Pakeiwitahi,

Mr A. S. MTntosh; Tautuku, Messrs J. Hurring and G. J. Clarke. GENERAL. The board having received two deputations from Glenomaru, one advocating the removal of the school to a site a mile and a-half nearer the railway station and the other opposing any such change, it was decided to take no action in the meantime. The Seacliff "Committee asked for the installation of hot water service at the teacher’s residence; committee to find half cost (£7). —Agreed to. Tho Hooper’s Inlet Committee applied for half cost of excavation of bank and gravelling of school ground (£2’. —Agreed to. The Kaihiku Committee asked permission to let the school glebe (about nine acres) for a few' years for cultivating, in order to rid it of noxious weeds. Agreed to on usual conditions.

In regard to the communication from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union enclosing a copy of resolution to bh© effect that country teachers’ salaries should be Supplemented by a small subsidy, it was decided to reply that tho board had sent a general recommendation to tho Minister on the subject.