PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 91, 17 April 1930, Page 5

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING GENERAL BUSINESS The Wanganui Education Board met yesterday, Mr W. A. Collins presiding. There were also present Messrs Woodroife, H. Hemingway, R. Dukeson, J. Aitken, Tingey, A. 8. Coleman and W. Adams. Notification from the Education Department of a grant of £94 towards the cost of a dental clinic at Gonville was received. Application was made by the Middle Road Committee, near Raetihi, for the erection of a new school. The matter was held over for report. Regarding the establishment of a school at Hihitahi the senior inspector reported on local conditions, advising that the children had to travel by train to Tauraugarere. The train arrangements were such that they lost two to two and a-half hours' schooling each day. There were 45 pupils affected, and their permanent residence about Hihitahi seemed assured for 10 to 15 years. He recommended favourable consideration be given the application. This was endorsed.

Regarding an application for the establishment of a school at Erua the senior inspector stated that as the children did not reside at an excessive distance from Waimarino and that their residence at Erua was not suliiciently permanent he could not recommend that the application be entertained. The committee at Whenuakura asked that a new school be erected, as the present building was most unsuitable. It was unsafe in case of severe storm or earthquake. The head teacher wrote pointing out that the chimney was directly over the door. The present rule in the school was that in the event of an earthquake the pupils did not leave by that entrance, but by the windows. In such a case, however, the teacher wanted to know if he were liable in the event of accident. The matter was referred to the architect for report. Householders at Cheltenham wrote complaining of the state of the school building, expressing a desire that a new one be erected or that the present building be remodelled. The architect was asked to report. Permission w r as granted Mr F. E. Versey to transfer his right of occupation of the Livingstone Schoo! site to Mr W. F. England.

A notification from Mr C. F. Johnston of his intention to discontinue occupation of a section in the Apiti survey district was held over in the meantime.

The Education Department wrote advising that it had been brought before the Minister of Education when at Westmere that a septic tank was urgently required at the school. The suggestion was that £35 be furnished by the committee and £5O by the Board, the Department finding the balance. A report from the Board's architect (Mr E. R. Hodge) advised that the cost of the work would be £lBO and the proper allocation was £45 each from the Board and committee and £9O from the Department. Board members considered that the principle should be that in such cases the whole of the money should be found by the Department. At the sam v time it was decided to point out to Westmere that, under existing circumstances, it would be necessary for them to find £45.

An application from Glen Oruoa for the erection of bicycle shed was favourably reported on by the architect, and approved. The Bulls Committee wrote applying, for a grant of half cqst towards the erection of a bicycle shed. This was set down to cost £9 7s. In his report the architect the practice of erecting flimsy buildings about the school premises and recommended that a building suitable be erected, the whole cost to be borne by the Board. This was approved. The architect's recommendation that a permanent partition be erected in a classroom at Bainesse was approved. There was a favourable report tabled from the architect for the installation of a septic tank at South Makifikiri, the committee advising their willingness to find £5O. The report was adopted. The Ohakea Committee applied for materials to fence land recently acquired. Granted, the labour involved in erection to be borne by the committee. The application of the Utiku Committee for the erection of a wood shed was left in the architect's hands with power to act.

Aramoho committee asked that a concrete ramp at the entrance to the boiler room be removed, and that the school be supplied w T ith a 20-foot ladder. The latter request was granted, but the ramp removal was held over for the architect to report on. The architect was deputed to report on the sanitary system at Glen Oroua. The Murumuru Committee made application for the erection of a shelter shed. This was referred to the inspectors for report. A request that sanitary arrangements at Russell Street School at Palmerston North be further considered with a view to providing for better supervision was referred to the architect for report.

The Education Department wrote advising, with regard to this year’s Training College entrance examinations, that concessions had been granted to probationers who had passed matriculation on teachers’ D. These subjects were exempted. The Board expressed satisfaction at the move, the chairman pointing out that it was for one year only and that probationers would have to be on their guard next year.

Mr T. E. Platt, teacher at Pukekahu, applied for an extension of a verandah at the residence. The chairman stated that Mr Platts and his wife were doing good work and had wards of the State housed comfortably. It w r as his (the chairman’s) opinion that the Department should provide the cost of an extension. It was decided to request accordingly. A complaint of overcrowdnig a bus conveying children to school was received from the Raetihi committee and was left in the hands of the chairman. The Board decided to recommend an increase of 2s 6d a day in the rate of payment made to Mr W. Archibald, South Makirikiri, for the conveyance of children to school.

A request from the Palmerston North Hospital Board for the establishment of a class at the institution was approved. A suggestion from the Foxton com-

mittee that the whole of Easter week be observed as a holiday and that second term holidays be altered accordingly. This was . not entertained. Mr Aiken pointing out that the Board could not take that action for one school and not the lot. Chairman’s Report. The chaiiman reported as follows: 11 Works.—The Education Department has authorised a grant towards the cost of erecting a Dental Clinic at Gonville School. The following tenders have been dealt with: Hunterville, new school joinery; Marton Sash and Door Co., £214 (accepted); Feilding Sash and Door Co., £2lB. Hokowhitu, new class room joinery: Feilding Sash and Door Co., £6B 12s (accepted), Bassett and Co., £76 Ils 10d,. Marton Sash and Door Co., £69 ss. The Architect reports as follows: — “Work Completed.—College Street: A bicycle shed has been erected for use by the pupils attending the new building. Manual Training Building, Palmerston North.—The buildings have been repaired and painted in two coats to the exterior. The interior of the main building has been painted in two coats; cookery room: The floor of the cookery room has been recovered with inlaid lino. Taihape: The Dental Clinic building, type “B, ’’ has been completed. Mangaweka: The Dental Clinic building, type “C,” has been completed. Patca: The Dental Clinic building, type “B, ” has been completed. Otamakapua: Additional ventilation has been provided to the classroom. Mataroa: The exterior of the school, residence and outbuildings has been painted in two coats. The interior of the dining room of the teacher’’ residence has been re-papered. Tiihapc. The teacher’s residence has been repainted. The whole of the picket fencing surrounding the school area has been repaired and painted in two coats. Patca: The latrine buildings have been painted in two coats, both to the interior and exterior. Waiata: The school and out-buildings have been painted in two coats to the exteriors. Minor repairs have been effected. College Street Special: The cross partition has been removed from the sectional building, and the two classrooms converted into one for the accommodation of the special classes. A hot water heating system has been ill stalled. The building has been re-painted in two coats, both to the interior and exterior. Special furniture has been provided, and the room otherwise fitted to meet the wishes of the teacher. Wangaehu: A new shelter shed has been erected. A now water service has been laid on from the adjoining property to the outoffices. A connection from this service has been taken to the teacher’s residence. Whenuakura: Minor repairs have been carried out at the school and residence. Rongotea: A bicycle shed has been erected. Manchester Street: An extension to the bicycle shod has been provided. Pohonui: The chimney has been rebuilt and repairs to the building carried out. Works in Hand: —Colyton Residence— The work in connection with the erection of the teacher’s residence is well under way. The whole of the

framing has been completed, the walls rusticated and the roof covered. All finishing timbers and joinery have been delivered to the site. Hunterville: The work in connection with the erection of the new building is well under way. The framing work of one wing has been completed, and the walls are now being covered. The foundation of the front wing has been completed, and the timber work is being pushed forward. Rewa: The new building is w’ithin one week of completion with the exception of the painting work. The exterior has been completed, and work is proceeding on the fixing and finishing of the interior walls. Hokowhitu: The timber and joinery have been ordered for the erection of the additional room. Delivery of the timber within the next few days is expected, when a start with the building will be made. Aratika: The painters have in hand the painting of the school and out-iuildings. ; Raukura: The painters have in hand ; the painting of the school and out- I buildings. Moawhango: The painters ; have in hand the painting of school ; and out-buildings. > “Proposed for ensuing month: To ; carry ont with the works in hand. Cen- ! tral School: To carry out improve- j ments to the heating system. Gon- ; ville: To erect Dental Clinic. Puto- ; rino: To erect extensions to school |! building. To carry out maintenance j; work in Taihape ami Feilding districts. ,