ASHBURTON.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1198, 13 December 1917, Page 9

ASHBURTON.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE. From Our Own Correrpondrnt. Th<" Borough School Committee met on Tuesday evening, when the members present were: .Messrs \V. G. HiJlier (chairman ). Vim. Oakley. John Watson, ;E. Buchanan, J. McCaskev, ami the i Revs. Nelson Wright and Geo. Miller. A credit balance of 17/6 was reported. The chairman stated that the calling of tenders for the new school had been' stopped, and, as far as he knew, nothing further had been done in connection with the building. It was decided to ask the board for an explanation af the delay in the erection of the new school. The headmaster (Mr Geo. Schneider) reported that the average attendance at the main school was 4ft", the highest 420, and the lowest 360. while the corresponding figures at Allenton were 146, j 155, and 134. The school concert had I realised the sum of £O9 G/-. He suggested that certificates be given at tha break up ceremony in lieu of prizes, and that the money usuallv spent in prizes be donated to' the Bed Cross Society. The report was adopted, and it was decided to hold the break-up ceremony on December 20. Permission was granted to the Pre*- < byterian Church to use the Allenton Schoolroom for religious services on Sunday evenings.

NOTES AND NEWS. The Lady Liverpool Society of Ashburton acknowledges gifts from the following:—Knitting from Mesdames R, Clark, Frizelle. and Schneider, Misses Merle Pearce and Rose Morris, and Bt. Stephen's Guild; sewing from Mist Fechney, Fairton schoolgirls. Convent schoolgirls, and Borough schoolgirls; magazines from Mr E. Robilliard; and the gross takings at Mrs Wright's concert £45 1/-. At the meeting of the Ashbarton Presbytery, held on Tuesday, the Rev. A. Morrison presided. The balancesheet showed that the total receipts had been £23 and the expenditure £lO. The report of the commission's visit to the Tinwald-Flemington charge was verysatisfactory, and recorded good progress. The plans of the additions to the Methven Sunday School, consisting of a room 24 x 30, were approved. Owing to wet weather, there was only a small yarding of sheep and cattle at the Ashburton yards on Tuesdav. The following sales were made:—■ Fat cattle—Bullock £lB. 1 do. £ls 17/6, cow £l2 5/1 to £9, vealer £4 7/6. Fit sheep—6 ewes 30/9, 15 do. 27/6, 6 do. (in wool) 40/-, 2 do. 25/3. 4 lambs 25/-, 1 do. 25/6, hogget (in wool) 36/-. At the sitting of the Military Service Board on Tuesday, counsel for an appellant spoke of the scarcity of lajbour in the Methven district. "The need for labour is urgent,'' he said. "Yes; and the need for men is more j urgent," replied the president (Mr W. | H. Bishop): "I can tell you this: that I both you and I will be doing without j things which we now consider necessary j before long. That is the answer to . vour remark."

At the School Committee meeting on Tuesday the chairman (Mr Hillier) stated that a gentleman who desired at present to remain unknown, had offered to install in the new school, provided suitable arrangements couid be made to alter the plans, a telescope which would be of even better clas9 than that used in the Wanganui Observatory. Members expressed approval of the anonymous donor's action, and it was decided to advise the board of the matter. The Ashburion Technical School Board met on Tuesday afternoon, there being present:—Messrs C. Beid (chairman), W. F. Watters. Geo. Schneider, R. A. Collins. John Watson, J. Borthwick, and G. W. Andrews. The special committee set up to consider the question of overtime reported that in an educational establishment, where the success of the work was dependent upon the enthusirvm and devotion of the teachers, the arrangement for a method of payment based upon the wage system was unsatisfactory, and this was what payment of overtime amounted to. The time-table should be so arranged that the teaching hours of thp staff would approximate 30 per week for 42 weeks in the year. Where a member of the staff was engaged in teaching during the day he should not tench for more than three evenings per week.—The director " submitted an agreement for teachers to sign embodying the recommendations of the committee, and the report, after a little discussion, was adopted.

Accounts amounting to £365 18/5 were passed for iiaympnt.