WESTOWN SCHOOL

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1926, Page 15

WESTOWN SCHOOL

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The ordinary meeting of the Westown School Committee was held on Mondayevening, when there were present, Messrs. J. Garcia (chairman), W. J. Ewart, J. P. Casey, L. T. Haylock, L. S. O’Donnell, E. J. Ulander, J. W. Darby (hon. secretary), and the lieadmaster (Mr. H. F. McClune). An apology was received from Mr. W. G. Anstis. Mr. C. C. Elliott forwarded his resignation owing to having, removed from the district. The resignation was accepted with regret and steps will be taken to fill the vacancy. The headmaster reported that the roll number was 259, a decrease of one on last weeafc numbers. The average attendance was gtill suffering considerably through an epidemic of mumps. The Hon. R. A. Wright, Minister of Education, visited the school on Tuesday last, and addressed the children. He gave a sympathetic hearing in the matter of improvements in the shelter accommodation. Mr. C. H. Moore, the architect of the board, had forwarded a gate for the back entrance. A lawnmower is required for the plot on the assembly area. He also enclosed £7 5s 9d, the amount obtained by the children for pictures for the school and wished to know what amounts were to be spent on the library, the furnishings and the pictures. It was resolved to allocate the whole amount collected by the children, viz. £7 5s 9d together with subsidy for the purchase of pictures, the selection being left in the hands of the staff and the ohairman. It was reported that the recent euchre and bridge party had resulted in a profit of £9 2s, and it was decided to authorise the teachers to expend up to £9 in furnishing the teacher’s room. Mr. E. Avery was thanked for a donation of a picture. Mr. W. J. Ewart was thanked for the offer of a lawn-mower, as was also Mr. L. T. Haylock for his offer to repair it. The visiting committee, Messrs. L. S. O’Donnell and W. J. Ewart, reported that everything was in order. Messrs. W. J. Ewart and J. P. Casey were appointed a visiting committee for the ensuing month. The chairman reported that the Hon. Mr. Wright had agreed to assist the Education Board in making a grant towards the cost of improvements to the open-air shelter shed, which should make it suitable for temporary needs. It was decided to hold a concert in aid of the school funds in the Westown Hall on November 23. The first half of the programme will be provided by the school children whilst Mr. Fredric has consented to arrange a party to provide the second half. The grounds superintendent (Mr. W. G. Anstis) reported that the football ground was getting cut up in places owing to cricket being played on it. This was probably unavoidable and he advised topdressing it with about 30 yards of black soil, and rolling with a heavy roller at a cost of £4 10s. The shrubs were all growing and looking well and if the weather held up, arrangements would be made to sow the grass on the plots this week. Mr. Anstis had again started carting metal and with good weather should finish the basket-ball ground this month. The report w-as adopted and the work recommended will be carried out. The Taranaki Agricultural Society wrote asking for a supervisor to be appointed in connection with the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Club competition, in which the school had made one entry in the calf-rearing competition. Mr. L. T. Haylock w-as appointed supervisor. The resignation of the custodian was accepted and steps were taken to fill the vacancy. Accounts amounting to £2O 9s were passed for payment. Mr. A. F. Nulls, scoutmaster, reported that there were now 18 scouts and 30 cubs on the roll. The attendance was very regular at the weekly meetings and the work was progressing steadily. Most of the boys had made arrangements for obtaining their uniforms.