WAIOTAHI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2314, 29 March 1876, Page 3

WAIOTAHI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Waiotahi School Committee was held last evening. There were present—Messrs W. Davies (in the chair), T. W. Gudgeon, and W. Ferguson. The minutes of last regular meeting, and of a special meeting held yesterday, were confirmed. A letter was received from Mr Moore, head teacher of the Thames school, askingto have an additional pupil teacher appointed, as the average attendance, being 251 scholars, entitled the school to additional teaching power.—lt was resolved to forward the application to the Central Board with a recommendation that the appointment of a pupil teacher be authorised. Mr Maberly, master of the Shellback school, reported that the average attendance at his school for the week ending March 17 was 164, and for the fortnight, ending 24th 149. A letter was received from the Borough Local Board of Health, in reply to the application made by the School Committee asking the advice of the Board as to the length of time which ought to be allowed to elapse after recovery before children who had been infected by scarlet fever, or who resided in an infected house, should be admitted to school. It enclosed the opinion of the five medical gentlemen on the Thames (which we have already published), stating that copies had also been forwarded to the Central Board of Kealth, asking their opinion, and that if necessary a regulation should be made and brought into foroe. It was agreed to allow the matter to stand over until a reply was received from the Central Board of Health.

A letter was read from the Waiotahi Local Board of Health detailing the report of Dr Lethbridge re the case of scarlet fever, in a house close to the Waiotahi Creek school, and recommending that tbe school should be closed, the playground fenced, and the water 'closet and drains cleaned, &c.

Ike Seoretary stated that the waterJoset had been cleaned out that morning,' md produced the receipt for the work. It was resolved to recommend that the playground should be fenced in, and that the school should be closed for fourteen days in accordance with J)r Letkbridge's recommendation. A letter was received from Mr F. 0. Dean, calling the attention of the committee to the state of the closet belonging to the Eureka school. It required doors and cleaning. Mr Gudgeon was authorised to see into the matter.

A letter was received from Miss Bowen, assistant teacher in the Thames school, asking for an increase of salary, as, owing to the large number attending the school, her duties. were more arduous. This was accpmpanied by a letter from Mr Moore, recommending the application on the ground of the extra duty which Miss Bowen had to perform, and her great zeal and efficiency. It was agreed to forward the application to the Central Board with a recommendation.

Several accounts were passed and recommended for payment. It was agreed to hold a mooting nest Tuesday ovening, to which the members of tlio other district committees should be invited, for the purpose of _ nominating three or four teachers as being qualified to impart instruction to the pupil teachers, and leave it to the Central Board to select one. It was agreed to procure a supply ot chloride of lime, and distribute it amongst tho schools in the district;.

A conversation took place regarding the unfitness of the Thames School, on account of its situation and the want of roads to it.—Mr ' Gudgeon drew attention to the streets. —The Chairman said that- it was not fit for goats, much less for children in the winter season, for it was surrounded by stagnant water, and was altogether in an unhealthy situation. He understood that the old committee had recommended that it should be shifted to an allotment in Pollen-street, opposite the Cornwall Arms Hotel. He thought they ought to represent the matter strongly to the Board, and that it should be taken in hand before the winter set in.—After some further conversation, it was decided to write to the Central Board, bringing strongly under their notice the unfitness of the Thames school, on account of its situation, being generally surrounded by water in the winter season, and recommending its removal to a more suitable site. There was no further business, and the meeting adjourned.