SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 25, 5 November 1901, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above was held at the State School rtom last evening.

Present: Messrs Moffatt. (chairman) Boyce, Hursthouse, McGlashen,Knapp and Bartlett.

Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed

The accounts, as presented were passed for payment. Mi- Inspector Harkness wrote enclosing copy of report and results of examination held at the Borough Schools.

A letter was read from the Nelson Education Board with reference to the complaint made by Mr Goodman, Inspector of Nuisances, as to the drain on land belonging to the teacher's residence in Stafford Street. The Secrettry said he was instructed to inform the Committee that the letter would be sent on to the Borough Council, and that the Council was to blame for permitting the natural watercourse to be used as a public drain.

The Chairman remarked that two members of the Board, Messrs Maginnity and Baigent,* had lately visited the spot. They were of opinion the Council was liable, but he thought not and suggested to them that the matter should be placed before the Board's solicitor.

Messrs Boyce and Bartlett thought the Council was liable.

Mr Hursthouse thought there was no more nuisance there than in other parts of the Borotigh. Thh Chairman said he had again seen Mr Maginnity who had said that no doubt if the matter was again represented to the Board they would undertake the -work.

Mr McGlashen thought it would take a considerable sum to properly fill in the ditch.

The Chairman thought they would, with the ,£3O originally asked for, abate the nuisance to a considerable extent.

Mr Hursthouse explained what he and the Chairman had recommended in the first place. If the Council had to go into the whole system of drainage for the Borough it would cost a large sum. If the ditch at the back

of the residence was a watercourse, all the others, of a similar character, in the district- were. He proposed, that the Committee apply for the sum < f <£3o to xnprove the sanitary conditior s of the teacher's grounds, and that the Board be informed that the Borough Council does not use uatural watercourses as public drains.

The Head Master, Mr H. Langford, attended the meeting and explained what had been done in connection with the charge of a parent against certain scholars of writing improper notes to other pupils. One of them had written an ample apology to him, which had been submitted and accepted, and a severe reprimand administered; the other had withdrawn from the school.

Mr Hur.-thouse said the HeadMaster should be complimented upon the tact he had displayed, a_nd also on the way he had cleared up the matter. His sentiments were endorsed by other members and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Hursthouse, seconded by Mr Bartlett, that Mr Langford be heartny thanked, and a letter be sent to Mr and Mrs Johnston conveying the Committee's appreciation of the trouble they had taken in the matter. It was reported, with reference to the complaint brought up at a previous meeting, that a reply had been received from the teacher, in which it was stated she regretted the incident, and if the child had made the request, as asserted she did not hear it.

The Committee decided to forward a letter to the teacher, pointing out the danger to health refusing to allow children to leave the room when necessary.

The Chairman informed the meeting that during Mr Maginnity's visit to Motueka he had taken him to inspect the High School site. He had also sought his opinion as to whether the present quick hedge was a good one, and had received a reply to the effect that the Committee request for a picket fence was a reasonable one. He had obtained an estimate from Mr A. Miller, builder and contractor, which he submitted

It was eventually held over till after the election of the new building. Mr Langford informed the Committee that the new Headmaster, MrHarris, had requested him to carry on until he was able to take charge, at the beginning of the new year. It is resolved that the Committee approve, of the arrangement ; Mr Langford to be released from his duties to allow of his Christmas holidays being spent in his domestic circle.

The Secretary of the Board notified t e acceptance of Mr A. Miller's tender for the new School and the appointment of Mr- Tarrant as supervisor. The meeting then adjourned.