DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Evening Star, Issue 3731, 6 February 1875, Page 2

DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

There was a full attendance at last night’s meeting, and the following was the principal business transacted;— I « tt ® City Council declining to B . oh £ lß e freta P a y ment of water rates being read, Mr Stout moved,!" That the Scoreth^To e J^n UC v d ) t ?*. ackn ° wledge the rece ipt of the Town Clerk s letter, stating that the School re^? t ttat the Council did m t u 6 s . ame llberal spirit with them as the late much abvfted Waterworks Company fhth “■? l n W kl ?e t0 the resolution said theCounoxlshould deal liberally with the Committee, as the Waterworks Company had done. Not bemg allowed by law to do so, the Government could not pay the rates, which must come out of the school fees. Mr Bell thought wWh b !& t0 °? arge lthe f ates for the schools, which did not use much water, while Mr Sonon 7*7 °A° Vm l on , that ’ «an obnoxious ha f? beeabroken,down,the Committee should pay the extra twopence per thousand, and be thankful Mr Fish explained that the money woutd be spent in City improvements, so that the ratepayers would be benefited in an n^ ler way- The letter was received. t o S eapP ?^: Chapman, one of the tochers at the Middle District School (which was supported by the head master) for an increase of his salary, at present L 75 a year* w“s referred tc the treasurer for report* On Mr Stout s motion the head masters were requested to confer with the tSiSand p nd Bee wh .at arrangements re the S ®l 0 “^ I to“ a ‘ Cat,0 ‘ 1 ot fM * ““W >» jfiSaftgjsiTSs lowing conclusions Although the deep cuttings on two sides of the schoolroom have left it very much above the road levels, and have formed two perpendicular banks requiring to be securely fenced to prevent accidents through er th c em ,* i<! , waß not considered that the foundation of the budding has been Tu tbat an y preßeut apprehension need be felt concerning its perfect safety. Ihe fences are in good condition, and so placed as to form complete safeguards against all risk of accident. The Provincial Government have constructed surface drains to prevent water percqlatmg apd so causing slips of earth. While at present perfectly safe, and every precaution has been taken to ensure safety, the committee agree that the buildings are improperly situated, most inconveniently arranged, badly ventilated, and quite unsuitable for school purposes: wherefore they recommend that no further expense be incurred in making additions to or alterations of the present school buildings, and consider that efficiency and economy of money and labor can only be secured by either removing £hc buildings to a more suitable site on |;he same reserve, qr.by building new school rooms on a well-arranged and appropnatmg the present structure to which they are better adapted, f hiTcoMh? riass rooms, when every member of the committee was impressed with the utter inadequacy of the school buildings to the edncatioual r£ qmrements of the district. Tlie head master and teachers have had to contend with badly an anged class rooms, which interfere with and increase the labor of supervision, and with close, ill-ventilated rooms, which must have a depressing effect on both scholars and teachers, lhe contour of the reserve is very faVorable 'to the cpnstruction of suitable buildings and -with very little labor might have the advantage of large area of ’playground for the children. This could be secure a by the removal of earth Mere necessary to reduce the ground to a j e ™ L , The Bub-committee suggest that prison labqr should be employed for this purpSeTS permission can be obtained ; to depftsit the roil in one or more of the gullies immediately oohtiguous; and as, through' the construction of i road l’ mau , y , hbUßaß arc pldcedverv road level » il >s more than bable thatjihe Owneis would gladly avail the*! selves of the opportunity of so • *uejn- 1 ing their property/? ft committee should wait upon the soard at its next meeting. P Education ’ A letter was read from Mr ... to

pupils, and asked the committee to provide additional school furniture, appoint two pupil teachers, have the schpol enlarged, and provide a residence. Mr Stout said the Government would supply the furniture, but the sections mentioned by Mr Montgomery were a portion of the Wharves and Quays Reserve, held by the City Council, and at present only returning Lll a-year to the municipal chest. Something would Lave to be done. The Normal School was progressing, and that would take a great many children from the Pelichet Bay School The committee would have to look after a teacher’s residence. Mr Bell thought the committee would have to look to the liberality of the City Council; and Mr Fish, remarked that there was room for another school in South Ward. Miss Bowler was Ti?^ o T*!r^ P U teacher (as recommended by Mr Montgomery), subject to the new regnlaJi?, 1 ??' bbe Committee (excepting Messrs Gillies and Stout) resolved to wait upon the Education Board'and bring the other question before them. In answer to Mr Robin, it was stated by Mr Stout that the Inspector of Schools’ report of the examination of pupil teachers would be laid before the Education Board at its next meeting.