HOKITIKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 March 1920, Page 4

HOKITIKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The Committee met last evening at 7.30 o’clock. Present —Messrs A. Aithen (Chairman), D. Stevenson, W. H. Shannon, F. W. Feddersen, W. E. Richards, S. J. Preston, T. W. Bruce, J. R. Hickson.

An apology,was made for the absence of Mr King. The minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE.

From Grace M. Aitken, thanking Committee for appointment as assistant teacher.—Received.

From Rector reporting:—l have to state that the attendance since re-open-ing of the school has not been so good as usual, last week’s attendance being the best so far.

The numbers for last week were:— Primary roll, 313, average, 290.4; Secondary roll, 65, average, 64; total roll, 378, average, 354.4. Since last report Miss Grace Aitken has taken up duty as third assistant in the Secondary Department; also Miss Clara Evans as junior teacher, and Miss Isabel Forsyth, as probationer in the Primary school. I should be glad to know the arrangements for -March 17th, and also for Easter, as I understand that Race Day interferes considerably with the attendance for Easter week.

The arrangements for swimming are not satisfactory. Owing to the fact that the baths are not emptied so often as desirable, we did not get in our required number of lessons last year, and the same seems likely to be the case this year. Were the baths opened about November it might be possible to get the right number of lessons. —Received. It was resolved to give a full holiday on''March 17th. It was resolved to observe Good Friday, Easter Monday, Wednesday for the Easter holidays, and to hold the term holidays in May. After a general discussion on baths generally, the Chairman and Mr Bruce were deputed to wait on the Borough Council in an endeavour to have the baths opened earlier in the year.

From Miss Dixon, teacher, South Spit, reporting attendance averaged 15.2 out of roll number of 18; expressing appreciation of the painting and improvement works carried out recently which had greatly improved the appear, ■once of Die school buildings.—lieeeived.

The Visiting Committee (Messrs Richards and Bruce) reported on a number of small matters requiring attention ; stating the piano was rusty since being used by the Chautauqua; stating Standard 6 and 6 rooms were* badly overcrowded; referring to site lor girl’s shelter shed.—Received; the repairs to be effected, and the Committee to meet next morning to decide on the site. It was resolved to make further representations to the Board on the overcrowding of some of the standa.ds, and to draw their attention of the Board to the reference thereto made in the Inspector’s report.

Messrs Feddersen and Shannon v,t >e appointed visitors for the month. It was resolved to have the piano attended to, and that it not be lent again without the consent of the Committee. The Committee considered the annial report of the Inspector and res jived to express appreciation of the elforts of the Rector and staff.

Mr Shannon moved that steps be taken to bring before the ann'm! meeting the necessity of making arrangenients for a hostel for scholars from the country who were attending the District High School.—Seconded by the Chairman, supported hy members and carried.

/ Some small accounts were passed for payment and the meeting terminated at 8.45 p.m.