OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 743, 28 August 1878, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Schools Committee was held last evening at the Secretary's office. There were present—Messrs. Stoward (Chairman), Fleming, Gibbs, and Hardy (Secretary). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, and the outward correspondence was read and approved. A letter ivas read from the Secretary to the Education Board covering a letter from Mr. Petrie, Inspector of Schools, in which the latter gentleman reported that there was accommodation in Oamaru for a much larger number of pupils than is at present in attendance at the schools. He stated that the North School was overcrowded, and that the High School, with the aid of the Volunteer Hall, was capable of receiving more scholars, while the South School might, by a small outlay on furniture, be made capable of accommodating all the pupils it would receive for a year or two. He recommended that the additions should only be made to the High Schqol and the North School ; but that no additions should be made to the South School, which he stated was an old building and badly situated. He stated that the Board should hold in view the erection of a new school more to the south in place of the present building. Some little disoussion took place upon the subject, during which Mr. Fleming remarked that he recently visited the High and South Schools, and must concur in the report of Mr. Petrie, more especially in view of a High School proper being established in Oamaru, which wouldhebelieveddrawatleaßt 150 scholars

from the other schools. It was resolved, '•' That this Committee coincide with Mr. Poirie's views as regards the desirableness of having the South School placed in a more central position as regards the south part of the town, and with the understanding that the Board will endeavor to provide for this, approve Mr. Petrie's proposal to carry out the enlargement of the North and High School buildings only. They, however, desire to urge that the out offices at the South School require immediate attention, and ask that these matters, and the fencing I }( the playground may be attended to. They further desire to acquaint the Board that there is now an opportunity of obtaining sections in a convenient situation at a reasonable rate, and that it may be desirable to acquire a suitable site for the future South School without delay. The Secretary was instructed, when forwarding the'above resolution tp the Education Board, to qslj that, in view Qf the additions to the South School being oarried out, the balance of the LI2OQ remainijig after carrying out the additions to the High and North Schools should be devoted to reoairiner the reetorv.

! Mr. W. Fidler, of the High School, applied for and obtained leave of absence in the early part of October, for two days, to enable him to attend the Annual College Examination in connection with the University to pass one of the preliminary steps for a degree. Outstanding accounts of the ojd committee to the amount of L§s o°s. lid. were passed for. payment, and the balance of the money received from the Education Board ordered to be paid ipto the Bank in reduction of the overdraft obtained last year. .It having been decided that the Committee should meet on Saturday morning, at half-past ten o'clock, for the purpose of opening the tenders for repairs to the rectory, the meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.