OTAUTAU NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22486, 23 November 1934, Page 9

OTAUTAU NOTES

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

(From Our Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the Otautau School Committee was held on Monday evening. . , , The chairman said his attention had been drawn to the rough state of the floors in the infant room, and something should be done. It was resolved to write the Southland Education Board requesting the architect to pay particular attention to the floors when the repair staff was again in the district, and asking that the trouble be remedied as soon as possible. Mr Sinclair also made reference to the fact that Miss Couper, probationary assistant, was a great acquisition to the school, as she was a good teacher ana a specialist in music and .drill. They should endeavour to retain her services, as there was no other teacher at present qualified in these subjects. It was resolved to write the Education Board, requesting that she be reappointed for a further term. Mr H. T. Thompson, secretary, Southland Education Board, advised that the question of staffing in _ the Otautau School would be considered at the board meeting on November 26. He also notified that Misses Donnan and McConachie had been granted l® ave absence on account of ill-health, and leave had been granted to Miss McConachie and Mr J. E. Stevens to attend the University examinations. It was resolved that the annual school picnic be held at Colac Bay on the first Friday in February, and it was left in the hands of Mr Baker to make arrangements regarding hot water, etc. It was decided to grant a holiday to the pupils on the occasion of the Royal Show in Invercargill. The acting headmaster (Mr J. E. Stevens) reported that the school roll now stood at 185, the drop being caused by three families leaving the township, and one, with four children at school, temporarily. The average attendance for the last four school weeks was 164.5. Many are absent with the mumps and influenza. During the last month Miss McConachie was absent for two weeks on sick leave, and he had to report that Miss W. Gonley, M.A., who acted as relieving assistant, gave every satisfaction. At present the final examinations were well under way, and should be completed by the end of the week, when the pupils will be classified and a start made on next year’s work. The proficiency examination for Form 11. pupils takes place at Otautau on Wednesday, December 5, this being therefore a holiday for the rest of the school. The report was adopted. Personal. His many friends in the Western District will be pleased to learn that Mr Ronald Mathieson, who had to enter the Blind Institute in Auckland on account of an injury sustained to his eyes while playing football, is getting on well. In the sports arena he is making a name for himself, as at a recent sports meeting in connection with the Institute, he won the 100 yards in 12 4-ssec, the hop, step and jump and the sack race, while he was placed second in putting the shot and the three-legged race with a partner. He is also showing promise as a musician, being a tenor singer in the Institute. He is a son of Mr and Mrs D. C. Mathieson, Orawia, and is well and favourably known in this district. General. The Otautau dairy factory is receiving 5540 gallons of milk daily and 2£ tons of cheese are being manufactured every day. This is on a par with last year. Playing in the handicap singles in connection with the Otautau Bowling Club on Monday evening, A. C. White (6) defeated G. H. Stevens (scr) 23-21, and J. Kirk (2) beat H. L. Chandler (scr) 24-6.