OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 7

OTAGO EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY -MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Education Board was commenced on Wednesday morning, there being present—Messrs J. Wallace (chairman). J. Horn, M.P.. J. H. Wilkinson. L. Sanderson. J. Smith, G. Livingstone. J. Mitchell, R. H. Todd. P. M’Kinlay, and D. T. Fleming, M.L.C.

The Architect (Mr J. Rodger), in the course of his report on works, stated, with regard to Awamoko, that a coal shed had been erected and general repair work carried ' out. Within recent years this residence property had been frequently flooded, the flood waters having invaded the house on at least one occasion. The flood last month rose to within a few inches of the floor level, •'he result being that the house remained damp for a considerable time. This flooding was largely the result of water being run off from the Oamaru borough race by the caretaker, and he recommended that the board write to the council requesting that the caretaker be instructed that in times of flood, when he found it necessary to run water off from the race, that it be done over the Awamoko Stream, where he was advised that it could as readily be done and where no flooding of property would result.—lt was resolved that the Oamaru Borough Council be written to in accordance with what was contained in the report, and be requested to prevent the flooding occurring again. The following applications were granted : — Kaikorai.—Application for infant room improvements. Architect estimated the cost of levelling floor and providing suitable furniture, and recommended that this be granted. Hampden.—Teacher’s application for improvement to drains from residence. The architect recommended that the drain be extended to connect with a large covered drain about two chains away. Owaka.—Application for the erection of a bicycle stand. The Architect estimated cost at £l4 6s, and recommends that it be granted on a subsidy basis (half subsidy claimed). Application for improved heating in the room used for the secondary department. Architect recommends that a stove be installed, but this need not be done until the approach of next winter. The Architect recommends the provision of a stile in the position indicated bv the committee. Island Cliff—The Architect recommended that the committee be granted half cost of top the trees over and above the value of firewood. The Architect recommended repairs- to the fences and* new gates. The Henley Committee reported that it had decided to raise the school playground and would like the board to go out and see the proposed scheme. The Architect suggested that the committee might be met as requested and assisted as far as was reasonable. —The board granted £lO for the work. The Evansdale Committee wrote stating that the road to Evansda'e from Merton was being widened, and the result would be that considerably more traffic would be diverted along the road from Evansdale to Warrington, rendering it '•till more unsafe for school children.—Application to be made to the department for a new school. Mr E. A. Munro and J. R. Sanders intimated that they were willing to act as school commissioners at Buscot,—Approved. A petition was received from the residents of Glenomaru for the removal of the school to a position in . the vicinity of the Glenomaru railway station.—Application to be made to the department for a grant to move the school. The Department intimated that a grant of £B6 had been made for the purposes of a South Dunedin dental clinic.

The Department, in reply to a petition from Ripponvale settlers, declined to increase the grant for the conveyance of children. In view of this the board decided to inform the settlers that they would be required to pay £1 per annum for a family: cr the conveyance would be stopped at the end of a month. The tender of Mr Wm. Suttie for the lease of the Waipahi School glebe was accepted.

In connection with Albany Street School the Harbour Board wrote intimat-

ing that a committee had been set up to approach the City Council to see if it was possible to get back the Logan Park area as a school site.

The Chairman said they should say that they had authority to build schools on that land: that they had authority to build two schools. He asked were members of the board prepared to reply to the Harbour Hoard that they desired some decision because they had authority to build schools.

Mr Wilkinson said when the Harbour Board had approached them it had been stated that the Education Board would give it an opportunity of resenting an alternative proposition, and they were waiting for that. He did not think the members of the Harbour Board fully appreciated tha’’ position. It had been the intention of the board to secure another site at the foot of St. Andrew street. Continuing, he said that on three different occasions they had altered their arrangements out of deference to the opinion of public bodies, and for a time the Harbour Board had taken up the position that it did not intend to depart from its position. The first site the Education Board had agreed upon was an ideal one: the second he did not agree with. Albany Street was now- a normal school, and they did not want two. There was considerable feeling that the Albany street sentiment should be retained, and that the school should be in he Albany Street School district. They knew what had happened at Kensington, and wanted to have the children as far as possible off the main thoroughfares. lie pointed out that there had been two sites at Logan Park, and that the one was altogether out of the question and unsuitable. • All the talk about being closed in by warehouses they accepted with a grain of salt. They should give the board credit for being interested in the welfare of the children. It was unfortunate that there should be this continual delay over the matter. The Harbour Board should assist them to secure a new school at the earliest possible date. It was only the last few weeks that teachers had asked him how be could expect them to carry out their work in the dark rooms in which they taught. If the board was sincere in its interest in education it would agree to their request; -that was that it would give them possession of the area at the foot of Albany street. Mr Horn moved in this direction, the motion being unanimously agreed io.

The meeting was concluded on Thursday, there being present —Messrs -I. H. Wilkinson (in the chair in the absence of Mr J. Wallace), J. Smith, L. Sanderson, J. Mitchell,. R. H. Todd, G. Livingstone, P. M’Kinlay, and D. T. Fleming. RESIGNATIONS. The following r csignations were accepted : —Thomas Hepburn. headmaster, Five Forks; Frances E King, sole teacher, Greenfield; Isabella F. Barron, infant mistress, Maori Hill; Jessie £. Macgregor, first assistant. Owaka District High; Arthur V. Fleet, third assistant, Caversham; Olive R. Parches, assistant. Maungatua ; Marguerite Murphy, ninth assistant. Mornington ; Elizabeth P. Dunn, fifth assistant, Oamaru South; James A. Duncan, third assistant. Port District High: Annie C. Indr, second assistant, Strath-Taicri ; Mabel P. Gwyn, assistant, Tahokapa ; Annie D. Dunn, first assistant, Waikouaiti; J R. M’Kinnon, second assistant, Tokomairiro District High ; Eileen M. Walden, subs, assistant, Alexandra District High : Daphne G. Carey, kindergarten assistant, Normal ; Ethel Jones, assistant, Miller’s Flat. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made : John -Campbell, head master, Weston; Margaret Murphy, sole teacher, Oturehua; Austen J. Fraser, sole teacher. Hilderthorpe; James A. Duncan, fifth assistant, George Street; Isabella F. Barron, infant mistress, Macandrew Road : Elsie R. Macdonald, lw?cond assistant. Clinton ; Elizabeth P. Dunn, second assistant. Sawyers’ Bay; Eva M. Williams, assistant, Ardgowan ; Olive R. Purches, assistant, Leith Valley; Ethel Jones, assistant, Otepopo; Patience Rooney, assistant, Tuapeka Mouth : Eileen M. Walden, subs, assistant, Musselburgh.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £21,425 6s 3d were passed for payment. ATTENDANCE REPORT. The Attendance Officer (Mr J. E. Rvan) reported as follows:—The attendance on the whole has improved considerably during the present month in spite of adverse weather conditions. The Oanjaru schools, which were affected by an epidemic of measles’ and mumps, are now gradually getting back to normal conditions. It is satisfactory to know that at Kaitangata the roll number is steadily increasing, and is now almost back to where st was prior to the closing of the mine. The attendance at this school is also exceptional, the average for the last month being the highest for some years — 96 per cent. It is also worthy of note that the attendance at Cavsrsham School has increased considerably, the number on the roll now being 705—a i ecord for this school.—l’lie report was regarded as satisfactory, and adopted. GENERAL. The Mosgiel Committee applied for a subsidy for levelling and sowing down grass on the plaving area.—One-third cost granted. The Strath-Taicri Committee applied for improvements to the playground. The Architect recommended that the application receive favourable consideration as the committee was working on the right lines.—One-third subsidy was granted. Ihe St. Clair Committee applied for tables and chairs for the infant department, cupboards for the children's individual material and wall blackboards — Work to be proceeded with. The Architect reported on the cost of an alteration to a space in the infant school for the purpose of making it suitable for use as classroom, Anderson’s Bay School.—The alteration was agreed to.

'lhe Oamaru South Committee reported that the'fence on the Hull street frontage was in bad condition. The Architect reported that a concrete retainina wall was needed, and the fence over this position would requred to Ire reconstructed. Larger concrete trays were required for ill the stoves, and the blinds in one room required renewing.—It was decided that the work be done.

The Kelso Committee asked that the interior of the school be painted. The Architect recommended that this be placed on the same footing as Coal Creek, where the committee found part of the cost, this being subudised l»v the department, and the board.—Agreed to. 'lhe Architect reported that th c drain age from the tanks at Teaneraki was unsatisfactoiv as the fall was towards a neighbour's ground, which was confinnally saturated. 'lhe neighbour '-as willing to allow a new drain to be nut through his property. He reirorted further that the school was overcrowded, and recom mended the enlargement of two rooms VI ith summer conditions approaching he regarded tliis work as urgent.—The senio, inspector to report, and. if report favourable. application to be made to ihe department for a grant. The Pukeuri Committee asked that t part of the school rlel'e be set apart for the use of children's horses, and that i new fence he erected between the school and the glebe, taking in the bovs’ nutoffices and about one acre of the glebe to enlarge the playground.—lt was ecided io ask the architect tn renort on (lie matter. 'lhe Principal of the Training College recommended that the term holiday's be from August 26 to September 9. Inclusive. — Approved The department wrote asking that as far as possible arrangements should again be made for synchronous holidays, and forwarded the dates recommended bv the Council of Education.—lt was decided, on the motion of Mr D T. Fleming, that the arrangements already made be agreed to, pending a conference between the secretaries of the High Schools’ Board uid the Education Board. Consideration of a petition from the residents of Eveline and Fernbrook for a new school was held over for a month.

It was reported that- at a meeting of treasurers of schools committees, convened by the School Committees’ Association, it was decided to adopt a tabular form of cash book, and to ask the board to approve of same and forward copies to other boards and to the department, the department to be asked to prepare r balance sheet corresponding to the items in the cash book. It was further decided to ask the board to support a recommendation

to the department that th e forwarding of voluntary contributions to the board by committees be dispensed with in all cases where the money has again to be refunded to the committee.—The board resolved to approve of the scheme of the department and the recommendation that it be adopted.