TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4533, 7 May 1889, Page 3

TIMARU SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The ordinary meeting of|thc Timaru School Committee for the month washeH last evening. Present— Messrs J. Hill (chairman), Mcllroy, Burford Grandi. and Cotter. The headmaster, Mr John Wood, reported the attendance for April to have been — Main School : roll number 052, avernge 763, highest 827 ; Sido School : roll 170, average 142, highest 155. He recommended for tbe post of pupil-t»acher, resinned by Miss K. Pearson through ill health, Miss Lettie Hassell, who had been studying for some time with tbe other pupil teachers. The attendinco for the month had been reduced by sickness, especially in the lower classes. Ever since the reopeniug of the school a numberof children had been very irregular in their attendance ; a list of names was enclosed in order that the committee might deal with the matter if they saw fit. lhe teachers had all been regular in attendance to their duties. Mr Meaghor bod been away one day through illness, and Miss Campbell from the Side Bchool for a week through a sister having an infectious disease. Dr Keid certified to the cessation of danger before Miss Campbell resumed her duties. Her place meanwhile had been taken by Mies Lillie Rowley. The list of " irregulars " con. tained the names of 15 boys and 10 girls, members of 21 families. Tho resignation of Mils Pearson of the pupil teachership to which she was recently appointed, was rtceivod and accepted, and it was resolved to recommend tbe board to appoint Miss Hnsaell in her place. I It wns also roaolved — " That tho list of absentees be handed to the police authorities with a recommendation to prosecute if | nccensary." A report by the Inspector on n surprise visit paid to the. Side school was read. The organisation wns satisfactory. Tha timetable was suitable, but the clock was out of order, and things could not go like clockwork if tho clock did not go. Under the head of " methods," the Inspector remarked that in view of the fact that the BtaJl' consisted of ono teacher and apprentices, it must be allowed that tbe state of tho school wae very creditable. All tbo teachora bad need to bo reminded that the eye must be mainly relied upon in tho maintenance of order. Simultaneous answering appears to bo carriod to Buch excess that the weak and lazy are lost in the crowd. — appeal must al»o be made to the individual. Order, etc., was good on tho wholo. Tho lavatory tap was out of order, and a good deal of water was escaping ; an additional wire in the main rond fenco would bo an improvement ; and tho window frames and other woodwork required painting. One of tho arcliimodean ventilators boing out of gear tho air of tho room it was connected with became- vitiated, so much as to smell offensively. Mr Grnndi/us requoslod, roportoil on" repairs required at (lie main school. Ho found the gates and gato posts nil more or loss rotten ; the largo window in Standard I. boys' room should be cut and hung in the same way as tho others to obtain ventilation. Tho closet lloors were in need of repairs, some being quite rotten. A largo stone lay on the play ground. He did not know whose business it was to remove it, but it was dangerous whero it was, Reaoived — "That tho visitors bo instructed to bring up estimates of repairs required at both schools, at nott meeting." Three tenders wcro received for supply of fuel for the winter : — J. Durkin— Newcastle 275, Wcstport 33s j cut black pine 33i, other wood 2U». A. Bhcrratt — Nowcnstle 28j, Westport 32s ; black pine 345, totara or white pine 30f. R. Donn — Nowcnstle 275, Wcstport 32s ; black pino 33s j kindling 28s, niiind wood 2fM. Tho tender of H. Donn was acorpLwl. Aa tlio result of a conversation on the subject of tbe secretaryship, tho chairman said as no one olse would take it, ho must ; ovi dently Mr Bruno could not attend to it as lie was out of town. Thoy could not afford U pay a secretary. Tho probability was thai the committeo would havo to ask tho parent: to pay for the iuk and other odds and endi uee-1 in tho schools. The committee positi vely would not bo ablo to buy ink for tin schools. An jnk account was now submitted fo payment. Mr Harrop thought that most o Uio expenditure on stationery was in thi highest standards', and for tbo privilogei seventh standard, lor which the schoo rccuivcil no bcnofil, and he, as a pareul o children in tlio lower standards, objected li bo inkod for a contribution for ststionorj Ho paid 4s a quarter, and his children, u bolioved, usod no stationery at all except |nl and ponrUi, If tli- cSßimittco paid tfea in!

, account, and similar accounts, what became i of the fees ? He would like to see a statei meat of the fees account. ; Accounts were passed for payment to the : amount of £9 10s 9d.