OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 4

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD

Tho meeting of the Otago Education Board, held on the 20th, was attended by Messrs G. C. Israel (chairman). Borne, M'Korrow, Scott, Wallace, Smith, Mitchell, and Fleming. The following applications for subsidies of half-cost of repairs were granted: — Pnkeuri, purchase of shelter trees. £1 2s 6d; Highcliff, metalling school grounds, 10s; Clyde, fence between school ground and teacher’s residence, £3 12s A grant of £ll 6s for repairs to the teacher’s residence at Waiwera was approved. Applications from Waipahi for repairs to school and residence and from Reomoana for new outhouses wore held over for the architect's report. The application of the North-East Valley Committee for forms for the gymnasium was granted. Tho renewed application from the Waikouaiti Committee for full cost of installing a hot water system at the teacher’s residence was refused. The architect was directed to report to next meeting cn the application from Tapanui for a new residence for the head master The Kensington Committee asked . that the section it had recently acquired and filled in as an extension of the school ground bo asphalted.—The request was granted. The architect reported on tho condition of the Moa Creek School building on the occasion of his recent visit to it. The school had been closed for holidays, but he found doers, windows, and desks unlocked. The whole condition of affairs pointed to a lack of proper interest and care of the property. —lt was decided to send copies of the report to the teacher and the school committee, with a request for an explanation. The mistress at Kia Ora wrote asking that a large tent bo supplied to her as a temporary residence during tho summer.—lt was decided to erect a two-roomed shed as a temporary residence. Residents of Maori Crook and Ida Valley wrote making application for the establishment of a new school. There were eight families concerned, with 27 children, 19 of whom were of school age and 16 of whom were on the roll of other schools. —After discussion, the architect was_ directed to report on tho feasibility of shifting the Poolburn school building. The Education Department again appealed to the board to encourage by every means in its power tbe view that, in the present emergency, much improvement of school accommodation that would otherwise be neccssai’.y must inevitably be postponed, and hoped that the board would in its turn lim : t its applications for grants to absolutely necessary requirements.—Tho communication was noted. It was decided to grant Mr Sinclair, contractor for the conveyance of Dalvey children, Tapanui, the sum of 15s a week up to the end of the year. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs Nelson Isaac (School of Art staff) and Inn H. M‘Lean and Walter Thomson (Training College students), who have been accepted for military service. The appointment of Miss Rose Zeller, of Christchurch School of Art. as a temporary assistant in place of Mr Isaac was approved. The Education Department’s reply to the request of the board that second year Training College students should bo permitted to complete their training by filling positions indicated that the concession asked for had already been practically granted by the denartment. It was decided to refer the protest of the Inch Valley Committee against the inconvenience caused through the school committees’ financial year ending on December 31. while the committee holds office until the following April, to the department.

It was decided to grant permission to tho head master of the A’lnnton School (Mr Allan) to act as clerk of tho Allanton School Committee.

G. C. Israel (chairman), Borne, M'Kerrow, Scott, Wallace, Smith, Mitchell, Fleming, and M’Kmlay. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. The following resignations were accepted:—Kate \V, Currie, sole teacher, Wanaka; P. H. Jones, sole teacher, Arthurton; J ames Lcnihan, first assistant, St. Clair; Margaret Smith, junior assistant, Anderson Bay; J. Mackenzie, head master, Kelso; Eliz. Argue, hist assistant, Beaumont; Mrs Isa Wilson, sole teacher, Wharo Flat; Helen E. Fisher, pupil teacher, Green Island; W. B. Inder, sole teacher, Hillend; Annie F. Smith, first assistant, Portobcllo; Fred H. Wilson, sole teacher, Houipapa; Mary Tough, junior assistant, Musselburgh. The following appointments were approved:—Mrs Isa Wilson, sole teacher, Otokia, vice M. M‘Lcod transferred; Daniel W. Morgan, sole teacher, Nugget Point, vice F. Henaghan promoted; W. Restall, sole teacher, Earnscleugh, vice J. S. Fawcett transferred; Annie F. Smith, first assistant, Moeraki, vice M. E. Davidson transferred; W. B. Inder, first assistant, Papakaio, vice S. F. Houston promoted; B. Marwick, second assistant, Waitati, vice A. Hastings transferred; Cath. Palmer, second assistant, Naseby, vice O. N. M‘Leod resigned; E. Argue, first assistant. Momona, vice A. C. W. Easther transferred; A. H. Healey, solo teacher, Matau, vioo H. Ewart transferred. GENERAL. Accounts amounting to £11,659 15s 5d were passed for payment. The Truant Officer reported that there had been a decided improvement in the general attendance during the month ended October 14, the exceptions being Mosgiel, Mornington, and Sawyers Bay. The architect was directed to report on the request from the Hampden committee for repairs to residence and to school and fencing. The Maori Hill School Committee wrote drawing attention to the urgent need for increased acommodation for the infant department. As a temporary measure, it strongly recommended that the use of the Coronation Hall (adjoining the school property) be arranged for. It could be got for 10s per week. The committee stated that the number on the infant roll was 122, whereas the room at their disposal gave sufficient space for only 66.—The matter was referred to the architect and chairman to inquire into and report. It was decided to inform the Tokorahi iSchool Committee that the board was not in a position to give any definite information as to when a teacher’s residence would be erected and a room added to the school. That would depend on the department, and the condition of its finanaces. The tender of Mr J. Strachan, of £354, for the erection of a new echool in brick at Wylie’s Crossing was accepted. It was decided officially to alter the name of the Maruimeta School to the more popular name of Wedderburn.