SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13973, 6 August 1909, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

TIMARU ALAIN. The monthly meeting of the Timaru Main School Committee was held in the Board room last evening. Present: Kev. A. E. Hunt (chairman), and Messrs J. Radcliffc, AY. Burmester, J. McCahon, A. Stead, H. M. Robertson and C G. A'ogeler, lion, secretary. The chairman said that before proceeding with business he begged to move that tho committee express its deep regret at- the death of Mr John Jackson, late chairman of the South Canterbury Education Board, and places on record its deep sense of the great loss the cause of education had sustained by his. decease. The motion was seconded by Mr J. McCahon and carried. The chairman said the only comment he had to make on the other business was with regard to tho new bell, which they would notice had been successfully installed. The headmaster, Mr G. Dalglish, reported that tho attendance of scholars was improving. The averages for the past five weeks were C 71.9, 669.2,-685.2. 663 and 695.6 out of a roll number of "S3. The hew bell had been hung and gave every satisfaction. Tho total amount in hand for the fuel fund was £l4 6s. Ho had added about 70 volumes to the library, the cost coming from the balances of the school savings bank. (The balance after paying out all deposits was a little over £20.) They had received live dozen forest trees from the State nursery and these with ]OO others from Bank's Peninsula Jiad been planted in the school gardens. The inspector proposed to pay a visit to the school about the 12tli inst. Some of the x frosted windows needed touching up." He recommended that the committee apply to the Board for more desk accommodation in the infant room, as there were over 260 infants on the roll and only 100 could be seated at the desks. It was decided to ask the Board to bear the cost of the new bell, on the ground that it is an essential part of school furniture. AVith regard to the desk'accommodation it was resolved to ask tho Board to provide more accommodation. Mr AV. Burmester, for the visiting committee, reported everything as regards school matters working satisfactorily. The question of a miniature rifle range had been discussed by the committee who recommended tuc Government's offer of assistance in the matter. It was suggested that a. range could be safely and cheaply made. —It was decided to" obtain more information of the range and the secretary was instructed to arrange for the frosting of windows. Mr Burmester said tho headmaster had asked that the mid-day recess be at 12.15 instead of at noon, to minimise tho risk to the children of being run over bv cycles which wero passim: about that time. Mr A r ogeler said from a return the janitor had made it appeared that the following number of cycles passed tho school: —In the first five minutes, 1G: in the second, 30;. in the third, 15; and in the last 15 iiuiiutes onlv seven. It was decided to leave the matter to tho chairman and headmaster to arrange. It was resolved that the school break up on August 27th. _ Accounts amounting to £/ lis 'HI were passed for payment, and the committee rose. 'ttMARU SOUTH. A moiithlv meeting of the Timaru South School Committee was held last evening. All the members were present except Mr Dockrill, who sent an apology. Before taking ordinary business, the chairman (Mr Sealeyj proposed and Mr Mcllroy seconded a resolution expressing regret for the loss to the cause ot education by the death of Mr John Jackson, who had been for over 30 years associatied with education in South Canterbury. The motion was carried in silence.

The chairman reported that since last meeting the name of last year's dux had been printed on the merit board, and while the painter was there he got him to remove the frosting from tne upper panes of some of the windows to improve the lighting, and to renew it on the lower panes. 'Die committee's credit balance would be about exhausted by the accounts to be passed — £8 lis 'Jo: but the incidentals allowance would be received tins nioiitii. The cheque for the Barclay memorial fund suoukl also be passed—A'B 12s. The result of the Board election would not be Known till next Jlonoav.

The headmaster reported that for the penod_ ended July aUth tlie average was 370, an iuciease ot 5 on the previous month's roll. There is still a good deal of sickness among the pupils, as the average show*. On more than one morning at '.< o'clock the temperature of the rooms was only it-i degrees —two degrees above freezing point, and even at 10 a.m. the temperature had barely reached 3<J degrees. It was .evident, therefore that the problem of properly warming the school had not yet been solved. Notice iiad been received that the inspector would visit the school next Monday. Tho term examinations would be over in time to allow the term Jiolidavs to begin on August 27th, and he" suggested that this date he approved. Onfridav last the. school celebrated Arbor Dav.'Witlt his usual liberality towards schools. Mr J?. Jf. 1 J bodes, of Blueclilfs, scut a very line assortment of native trees, and a h-w North Island totaras were also obtained from Mr Dalgnsli of the Mam School, and these and some shrubs were planted out bv the children under the direction of 'Messrs Sealey «„,[ knowles. The Committee's thanks w.-rc due to these gentlemen and to Mr J?Jiodes for his generous gilt They, were also indebted to Mrfcealcy ior a promise of prizes to those children n-liose gardens were in best order at the end of the school Year. J he pupils were taking keen interest m the competition. Jn the infant room one of the patent window hinges had become loose and some plaster had lallen away. In the main building several of the door-locks appeared to be quite worn out, and the clock in Miss Campbell's room hail for souk; weeks declined to move'. During the month Miss Aylmer had entered on her duties as probationer (in place of Miss Dickson resigued). A few items of school requisites wore asked for —slate and lead pencils, inks, chalk and foolscap.—Tho report was adopted. A Ict-I«r fr-.m (he Hoard .<aM (hat

the matter of replacing worn-out grates had been deferred untiL the Christmas holidays. Messrs Mcllroy and Irascr reported on their observations as visitors, and remarked generally that there was improvement visible in the caretaking in some directions, but a weakness in. ths ••dusting." 'J'ho amendment of the defect in down-pipes had Jiot yet been oiiecto'd. The accounts submitted were passed for payment. Votes of thanks were passed and recorded to Mr E. H. Rhodes for gifts of trees, Mr Hay for shingle, and Mr Storrier for a present of coal. Messrs Hay and Dockrill were appointed visitors for the month. EDUCATION rsOAlll) ELECTION. A little discussion took place at the South School Committee meeting lastnight, on the subject of Education Board elections. A bye-election, to fill the vacancy' caused by the death of Mr Jackson, is to take place. Mr Boothroyd reminded the Committee of what happened at the last election, when the Timaru Main and South Committees each nominated a candidate, and neither of them got in He recommended that a conference .1 the town School Committees bo heki, to select one candidate to reprc*. Nt the town, and then they might lmve :i chance of getting him in. The chairman said it was most unfair that the town schools, which earned most of the money for the maintenance of the schools, should .'hswamped liv the small schools, v. Litii totalled less than one-third of the number of children in the town .schools. As it was, the country could beat the town everv time. in any case tii.: country w<\uld have seven representatives to Timaru's two. Mr Boothrovd said the law ought to bi altered. It was ridiculous Unit .1 school of 20 should have 5 votes, and ' a school of 300 only !). If the three town schools united, with some help from the country part of the ward the.> might get a candidate elected. 'Without such union they had no chance at all. , , - The Committee did not seem •■ic-luied to adopt Mr Boothroyd's suggestion, and it was moved and carried " That in the event of Mr Sealey being defeated in the present election, he bo nominated again for the extraordinary vacancy." Mr Knowles '•' ventured to say " that the Rev. Mr Hunt would be nominated by the Timaru Main Committee, who also met that evening. (This surniise was correct.)