CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1920, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Tlio Canterbury Education Board met nL Christchurch on Friday. Present— Mr E. H. Andrews (chairman), tlio Hon. J. Grimmond M.L.C., Messrs C. S. Howard, T. Hughes, J. Maze, C) H. Opie, A. W. Banks, H. T. Bignell, G. W. Armitage, J. Jamieson, W. P. Spencer, and A. Peverill. The Appointments Committee reported that letters had been received froiii the several committees, strongly protesting against the proposal to close the Awatuna, Goldsborough, and Mikonui schools. It was agreed in each case to hold over the matter pending

the department’s organisation of a satisfactory scheme for the' conveyance of children to school.

Regarding the erection of a school at Cobclen, for which the Board had £3OOO in hand, it was deeded to apply again to the Department for the balance to make up £6,800, the estimated cost, and if the Department declined to grant the request the building of Pie school to be commenced with tiie money in hand.

A letter was received from'' tiie Department stating its intention for the future:—“To pay maintenance grants for the upkeep of- Manual Training Buildings in the same manner as provision is row made for the maintenance of Primary School Buildings; and that When certain information had beep supplied to the Department these payments would be available. A letter was received from the Department stating that the matter of providing a grant of £75 for the renovation of Greymouth' Manual Training building lias been held over in the meantime. Resolved that a letter he sent to the Department showing the urgent - necessity of having this work done at once, as the building presents a very untidy appearance from the road, entirely out of keeping with what is expected from an educational institution of this kind.

Greymouth Technical School.—A letter was received from the Department, suggesting further alterations in the plans' submitted since last meeting of the Board for the construction of the Engineering Rpom. The Secretary, explained that in reply -to this, an urgent telgram had been sent to the Department asking that the work of constructing the Main Building should be proceeded with at once as the Greymouth people were becoming very i inpatient at the continued delay; and reiquesting that a reply be sent f<fr Friday’s meeting- of the Board. After some discussion with regard to the advisability of interviewing Members of Parliament on the subject, during which it was pointed dut that large grants had. lately been secured in other centres for educational purposes; it was agreed that the matter should lie again brought up for discussion at Friday’s meeting. Tt was also suggested' that the Chairman of the Board the Chairman of the Normal School Committee should be appointed a committee together with the Principal, of the Training College to interview local M.’s P. with regard to securing a grant for building the Normal Training College. BUIDOINGS COMMITTEE. Camerons—Offer from Airs AI. O. Boyle to sell site of two acres for teacher’s residence for £3o.—Offer accepted. Greymouth—.Letter 'from Committee asking that Architect bfe authorised to prepare plans and specifications for swimming baths .which it is proposed to construct at the school. Architect when on the AVest Coast to report and submit plans. Mandnuji—Letter from Clornniittee asking that grounds bo cleared and fenced and shelter sheds erected.—Hon. Grimmond and Air Bignell authorised to visit and have necessary work done. Notown—The Midland Sawmilling 00. asks if Board is prepared to sell tiie old school building.—Air Bignell to report.

Ross —The Committee applies for grant to fence and improve front fence of school grounds.—Granted. Dillmans—Mr F. Neame offered to purchase old school building. Offer declined. Goldsborough—Recommend removal of one room, material to be used for extending Greymouth Workshop. Grey Technical—Site is being cleared and sown in grass. Arranged to pay workmen 16s a day. Hari Hari—Recommend removal of school to a site nearer the township La Fontaine to remain as at present. Humphreys—A good building has been offered by Mr Baxter and the foreman authorised to proceed with necessary alterations. Koiterangi Upper—Recommend establishment of school, Mr Dimmick being asked to obtain offer of a site. Kokatah'i Lower—£l s granted for di-

viding fence for horse paddock, adjoining owner to pay half-cost and Committee to carry out work. La Fontaine—No action recommended regarding consolidation. Ross—Removal and re-erection of fence and repairs to out-offices authorised Stafford—Committee authorised to invite tenders for clearing grounds at' residence, teacher be told that in future she would be responsible for this work. Wataroa—Re-erection of thrger school on another site, which the Board should take steps to seoure. Consolidation.—No recommendation made regarding consolidation of Awntuna Goldszorough and Stafford Schools. Grey Workshop—Workshop would be enlarged, utilising material from Goldsborough. Hon. Grimmond and Mr Bignell also reported favourably on a new school at Koiterangi. Appointments' confirmed included : Jack’s Mill—Miss A O’Donnell, solo teacher. Okarito—Miss A. Connon, mistress, sole charge. Otira—Miss M. Ryan, assistant mistress. , Resignations received and aceeptI ed included: f Jacksons —Miss K. Lcamy, mistress. Pukckura—Miss A. Sweney, mistress. The Department forwarded copy of its Inspector’s report on the Secondary Department of the Hokitika D. 11.5. MR. RIDLEY’S REPORT. Air W. J. Butler of Hokitika, having very, generously donatel £lO to encourage research work in connexion With grasses among children of West Coastschools, the following scheme has been

drafted by Messrs Butler, Inspector Me Gaskill and myself and is submitted for your approval. Mr Butler’s interest ami generosity are deserving of the Board’s heartiest thanks, file encouragement (including to officers) is considerable.

Air McGaskill and myself think it would bo more .in keeping to publish these conditions in local papers and have them circulated amongst schools.' Please arrange for same or give mo permission to. The press have expressed a desire to help on previous occasions. The last three weeks ifore mostly broken. I have been to most of tlio schools not on holiday. A scheme for work for the remainder of 1920 has been forwarded to Supervisor and I am in correspondence with Chief Instructor as regards features of work in it including Potato Competition and Grass Competition AVork. —Received and adopted. It was 'agreed to send Air Butler of Hokitika a letter thanking him for his generous offer of £lO to encourage research work at schools in, connexion, with grasses suitI able for the lands of the West Coast. 2. That a subsidy lie claimed from the Department oil the donation. 3. That the Board approve of the scheme drawn up for prizes in connexion with the abovfe. 4. That Air Ridley’s scheme of Agricultural Instruction for Schools 'on the Coast be approved.