TIMARU MAIN SCHOOL

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13637, 3 July 1908, Page 2

TIMARU MAIN SCHOOL

The monthly-meeting of the .Tima.ru Main School-Committee was held last evening Present—Rev. XE. . Hunt (chairman), Mr (X G, Vogeler (hon. sec), Messrs Stead, McG'ahoh,. Radcliffe, -Robertson, arid-Rev: J. VOlphert. Apologies were sent by Messrs Wilson and Burmeistei-. The. chairman imported that during the month noi ice was received from the Board re the election of a meniber of the Board for the Middle Ward. He understood that ' Mr—Howard, ; the -present, member, had been nominated -already, and he thought that, this committee could not do better than: vote for" Mr Howard; they could not h'av£ a better man for the position. - The' committee were doubtless pleased-to see in the Governor's Speech,; that there was a reference to prospective" legislation in much; desired directions, in the way of lessening 'the number-of scholars in■'classes, v and the raising of teachers' salaried';, and .one ■or two other much-needed' improvements. He sin-cerely-trusted •" that .-the foreeast would be,carried out during the present session. The 'chairman also related a conversation with the contractor for building of additions i to the Technical School, regarding fencing and carting over the school grounds. The headmaster reported that the -attendance 'during June had not been so good as previously, owing partly to cold weather and slight ailments among, the youngs- pupils,- but .was again improving. The averages for the past four weeks had been 685.6, 674.7, 698.2, 706, - an 'increase of 10 on last quarter. After a reference to cases of sickness, the report proceeded that as the time for tree-planting was at hand he would like' to get say 50 small New Zealand trees to plant in the school garden' for a year preparatory to planting out in the.-corner next to" Arthur street,, when the' Technical School was finished. , He understood 't'ha-t the Government nurseries supplied trees gratis for planting on Arbor Day.' A» request was enclosed from ex-pupjis, who: asked for leave ,to use one of the rooms in the school for a gathering of ex-pupils, to be assisted by the teachers. As this would be a means of keeping .'the expupils in touch with the school Mr DaU glishy.jecomm ended .that the request -. be granted. ' The request from.the old pupils for. use of a. room for annual gathering was granted. " ,

It was Tesolved that *he contractors for ■the Technical School building ba granted permission to use a roadway not exceeding 20lb wide alongside • the headmaster's section; this roadway to be .defined ,by £u stake and wire fence ;; : t^--ground 'to; be left in the same order as ; lound • driain pipes to be protected; and thit if "this; arrangemenb is. departed- apm, Cihis peis mission'to be withdrawn. \' '' ■'

It waa decided io write to the li'orestry Department for 60 native trees for -p,aiit-. iflg m tlie school giounus, ana also uJuy uo obtain eouie-iiuui local bushes.

Tne liclucation! Board advised that the architect had been instructed to report pii alleged delects ,m.the Toofing.-xif .: tiia architect had visited the school during the uue_ rains, said; the chairman, he would nave Uxn. uiiaoie., to- buy mac the'-'- com-: piaiu.s Wrt-e exaggeiateu. '-..-;'■ A sub-committeereported-: on the savings bank account, recommending that the bank, be conuinud; xnat } \vuhuiuwiii, be permitted only in the'week previous to the term holidays, in eases ideemed by the .headmaster;to be exceptionalj ; ..thai tue headmaster and one: of die teachers be appointed trustees. in lieu of members: of the-committee; that no interest be allowed to depositors, but. that; interest earned hi used lor school'sports purposes or? for additions to the library; that theicoitimittee appoint, auditors in March .oi- each, year; and that- these' recommendations, come into force on being, adopted.: An addition wis' made -that -withdrawals be allowed for--one-month .under the old jl|i someiiitle 'djscusSion'^n^he.matter,; ' ; fThe he -thought' that those for whom-the school bank was established, • —those who could only put in a small amount,—would continue to use the.; bank, •while those who 'could put in large ; sums would go to the-post office direct.. --There were 50 depositors who were in the; habit of paying, in a shilling or. more at" a time, and 150 who paid/in, less than".ls- at a time. He- thought the sf> might.as: Swell go to the post office direct. ;'■ ''■"''■ Mr; Vogeler supposed that those who wanted interest would pay into the* school bank until they, had enough .to be worth taking to the post office.. He did not think many thought of the interest at all. The report v as amended wa.si,-adopted. Mr Vogeler suggested : that a- set :of swings for the girls would be a; desirable addition to the grounds,, and consideration of the proposal wfys deferred.:.'-;.... ' '■, , A circular was- received'-ironi the City School 1 Committee,.; Nelson, 'asking for:support in seeking tcf obtain'- a' fairer share of voting powerfor the committees of large schools in of - members of Boards. The Nelson. City schools had 1115 children and- tie 'committees had 18 votes; suburban schools had 67 children, and the. committees ;had •21 Votes.

Miv/ Vogeler remarked "that the... maui school' only gave ;nihe votes, and ;'any school with oue^fourth: of ;; ihe attendance had as many.'.' .The l^ge.schools ojaght' to have more say in - the , elections, were really financing the schoolfi. : :: It w& I 'agreedto. hand;the circular '(a long oiiej round among membersfor perusal before replying^: " : ~; '-; ~; ■Mr McCahon reported as visitor on the condition of the .school as he; found- it,_ the work : -was goings on ; satisfactorily, the children .all looked healthy, and there were no complaints ..about: the. premises.- The roofing however needed attention, for it was rusting a great deal -and .wjjuld soon-be' in holes. He also.spoke'of what he had.seen in the way of planting in the garden, and of Mr "Dalglish's desire' for some • native trees. ...-. Accounts to £ll 12s 4d were passed,