TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2818, 4 October 1883, Page 6

TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE

An ordinary monthly meeting of the I Timaru School Committee was held last [ Monday at the Main School. ; MBMBEBS PBE3KKT. ■. Mr John Jackion (Chairman), and Mestra Jones, Hill, Stone, Gibson, and Leggott (Hod. I Sec). MINCTKS. , The minutes of laat ordinary meeting wero read and confirmed. COBEE3EOHDBKCE. The following was read and dealt" with : — . From Mr J. Beilly, Secretary to the Timaru Lodge, Ancient Order of Druids, , stating that the Lodge were arranging a concert m aid of the widow and family of the , lato Mr Geo. Bezzsnt, and asking the Com* mittee'e support m making it a success. '. 'Mr Qibßon moved, Mr Jones seconded, and it was carried unanimously — •' That m answer \ to the letter of the Secretary of the Draids Lodge re the entertainment m aid of Mrs , Bezzttnt and family, ho be informed that this t Committee will render every assistance m itß t power." , From Miss Clara Shirtcliffe, requesting . the Committee to place her name on tho list p of candidates for the office of pupil teacher. 3 The request was granted. 1 Prom Mr A. Parker, acting-Secretary to the South Canterbury Board of Education, stating that m consequence of the illneßS of Mr Q. W. Hammond, Inspeitor of School*, the Board were obliged to make a temporary arrangement wi'h regird to his work, and f requesting tbat the Committee allow Mr Jas. , Soot*, Head Master of the Timaru School, to ■ do the inspecting work. The Board would I undertake to fill his place at the school with ths best locum (enens I hey could get. The Board hoped tbat Mr Hammond would be well enough to examine the Timaru schools himself. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Gibson, seconded by Mr Jones and carried— " That m reply to the letter of the Secretary of the South Canterbury Board of Education i;i re Mr Scott taking the deputy inspectorship, the Committee are anxious to give every assistance to the Board, but must request that a fully competent person be provided to take his place so as to prevent the school suffering during Mr Scott's absence, tho appointment to be to the satisfaction of the Chairmen and Mr Scott." Members pointed oat that the present was the most critical period of the school year, as both teachers and scholars were hard at work preparing for the annual examination, and 1 hoped tbat no difficulty would be met with m the choice of a temporary substitute. They were quite unanimous m desiring to do all they could to help the Board m its present difficulty. From the Board, informing the Committee that it was desirable the school buildings should be insured for the time being if they were let to anyone for purpose* other than political, religious, or scholastic, and recommending that the Committee make a charge to meet the expenßQ of insuring. The letter was duly acknowledged, bub as the buildings were never let the Committee did Dot take any aotion m the matter. TBACHBBS' BBPOBIS. Tho Head Master, Mr James Scott, reported that the number of boys on the roll for the month was 239 ; highest attendance 208 ; average ditto 196.3. He also forwarded a copy of the returns for the quarter ended September 30th. The Head Mistress, Mrs M. G. Grahame, m her report stated that the attendance during thg month had been rery unsatisfactory owing to illness among the ohildren. The roll number was 257 ; highest attendance 216 j and average 192.7. The Infant Mistress, Mist L. Kippenberger, reported tbat the roll number was 468, average attendance 276.4, and highest 353. In consequence of an increased number of children having attended daring the month, the room had got rather over-crowded again, but to obviate this she hoped to draft off two ol&seet to the upper school at Christmas time. The Mistress of the Side School, Mrs A. L. Nelson, reported the number on the roll to be 80 girls and 77 bojs, total 157 ; average attendance 100 6, and highest attendance 133. The attendance had been low during the month, owing to bad weather and sickness. VISITORS. The Visitors for the paßt month reported tbat the working of the schools bad been satisfactory. The following wore appointed for the ensuing month: — Messrs Hill and Stone to the Side School, and Messrs Jonea Bnd Gibson to the Main School. PROPOSED BKTEBTAIiriCENT. Several membora thought it desirable that an entertainment should be held shortly for the purpose of providing funds to purchase prizes for the school children, or to give them a pionic. It was ehown that there whs sufficient talent to be found among the teachers and scholars to enable a first-class entertainment to be got up. It was also stated that Mr Jonas, proprietor of the Theatre Royal, had promised to favorably consider a request to grant the use of the Theatre for the occasion free of charge. So that no time might ba lost m arranging this matter, Mr Stone moved, Mr Hill seconded, and it was carried :—" That . the whole Committee and the teaching staff of both sohools be a Committee to undertake the providing of funds for ihe purpose of giving prizes, or a pionic, at the discretion of the Committee." Aa the Head Master waa la attendance, it

was arranged that the Committee and teachers should assemble at the Main School on Wednesday, the 10th, at 7.30, for the purpoie of discussing the matter fully. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £11 16s 9d were passed for payment, and the Committee adjourned.