NGATEA SCHOOL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5178, 14 September 1927, Page 4

NGATEA SCHOOL.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The Ngatea District High School Committee held its monthly meeting on Monday evening, Mr W. McDuff presiding over Messrs G. T. Davidson, R. Burke, W- Lawrence, J. Baker, and E. C. Barriball (secretary). IMPROVING PLAYGROUND. Mr F. Basham wrote advising that he had inspected the playing ground. There was plenty of fall to allow subsoil drainage of the low-lying portion, but in his opinion that would not do away with the present wetness and •mud. He recommended levelling the ground at a cost of about £lO to allow a uniform fall towards drains to provide surface drainage, and then sanding a portion for a playing area. This could be tarred and sanded at a later date. Sand could be obtained at 2s per yard plus cartage from Pekapeka Road. The matter was discused at length, and several suggestions were submitted and rejected. In. view of the fact that some playground improvements were included in the work to be undertaken by the classroom erection contractor, and the impossibility of doing much good with the ground in its present state, the matter was deferred. It was decided to thank Mr Basham for his advice, and to bring up the subject at a future meeting. CONVEYANCE OF PUPILS. The Auckland Education Board wrote advising that it was prepared to extend for a period of three years the contract of Mr J. H. Nicholson for the conveyance of children to the Turua and Ngatea schools conditionally upon the contractor supplying a more suitable motor vehicle and provided that the present number of pupils conveyed was maintained. A member mentioned that he had been approached by some parents with a view to having the contractor take the Ngatea children home before going to Turua. The chairman explained that this was impossible, as the Turua school commenced and came out half an hour earlier for the convenience of the pupils who travelled by bus. The Waitakaruru School Committee wrote as follows : “I have to notify you that children are being carried to Ngatea from this school district, and we request you to instruct Mr Conneil not to pick up any children from the school district boundary beyond Donaghy’s.” The chairman said that lie did not have any power to instruct the motor driver. The matter was one for the Education Board. Parents could get permission to send their children to a school outside their .district if the near school did not Sfuit them. The Waitakaruru committee could approach the parents of the children concerned. He did not think any action was necessary. HOT COCOA SERVICE. The secretary mentioned that he had heard that the hot cocoa service was not being availed of, and that the children had decided not to continue with it. It was decided to ascertain the reasson. ABOLISHING BOARDS. The committee decided to endorse the representations to the Minister of Education protesting against the rumoured curtailment of powers of education boards and urging that the boards be given greater powers. HEATING OF SCHOOL.

Complaints were made that the fires in the school were not used, though there was plenty of fuel available. The chairman was asked to speak to the teachers on the matter. Accounts totalling £l3 4s 3d were passed for payment.