OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1183, 31 January 1880, Page 2

OAMARU SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The first jaie'eting "of ihd hew Schools. when tliera \\rsre pjream^M^sfrs., K f ..Fleming, Forrester, Smith, Beo, : Mollison ? , Steven,son, and Hardy (Secretary).

On the motion of Mr. * Forrester, seconded by Mr. Smith, Mr. Fleming was elected Chairman. Mr. Fleming expressed his thanks for having again been elected Chairman, and said he would, as heretofore, do his best promote the welfare of the school district. On the motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Bee, Mr. J. Hardy was again i elected Secretary, at the same salary "as i 'last year. : i ?• On the motion of Mr. Mitchell, s'econded <by Mr. Bee, Mr. W. J. Smith was elected i Hon. Treasurer. • p !v Messrs. Forrester, Stevenson, and Beej i with the Chairman, were appointed a Building Committee, and Messrs. Smith, Mollison, and Mitchell, with the Chair-! man, were elected a Visiting Committee. -Some discussion took place upon financial matters, during which the Chairman strongly urged the necessity for the Committee: working as economically .as possible, with a view to paying off the remainder of the old liabilities left by the .Committe.e prior to the coming into force of the new Education Act. He said these* liabilities should - properly have been, discharged by the Board, but they had declined to discharge them, and the task had fallen upon the Committee. The last Committee had succeeded in paying off a large proportion of the liability, and he hoped the present Committee would succeed in freeing the school district from debt. Some discussion then took place as 'to the probable income of the Committee and the known liabilities that would have to be met, and the Chairman, Treasurer, and Mr. Forrester were appointed a Finance Committee. . . , A letter "was read from the Secretary to the Education Board, intimating that the Board had decided, in view of the urgent' necessity for increased accommodation, that a school to accommodate 500 children should be erected at the south'end of the town on the site recently acquired by the Board. Plans and specifications would be prepared, and tenders called 1 for the work at aft early date. ' Another letter wasread from the Secretary to the Education Board, intimating that the Board had deferred consideration of the question of erecting teachers' residences at; the North : and South Schools for the present. • . The Chairman said that, while in Dunedin, he had had a conversation with Mr. Pryde with reference to the erection of the teachers' residences, and he had been asked whether, in the event of the Board deciding to erect these residences, the Committee would forego any claim to have a janitor's residence erected at the High School for the present. .< He had expressed the belief that the : Committee would consent to such an arrangement, and had promised to consult the new Committee . upon the matter. He would like to have an expression of opinion from Mr. Peattie upon the question, as that gentleman had already been promised a janitor's residence at the High School. There seemed little probability of all the buildings being erected this year, and it simply resolved itself into the question,, which is the most necessary, the janitor's, residence or the teachers' residences?" ' - : Mr. Peattie said the matter,, was .one purely for the Board to decide. So far as he was concernecl lie would cheerfully waive any claim he might have to a janitor's residence in order that .his fellow teachers might be provided with residences. Several members agreed with the Chairman that o.f the works proposed the teachers'' residences were the more important, and it was understood that should the matter be brought officially under the' notice of the Committee, they would be prepared ! to consider it favorably. ' ' 1 ' " The Hector- of the High School (Mr. Peattie) reported that Miss Spratt had taken up the duties matron on opening the school; that the scheme proposed to' the late Committee for the future management of the school had been entered upon, and to all appearances would work well; that prior. to opening the school lie had employed a man for two' days to remove the long grass and weeds which had accumulated on the play ground ; and that Mr. Sumpter had given six gum trees as. poles for swings, to be erected as the Building Committee might advise. —The letter was received, the money paid by Mr. Peattie for removal of grass ordered to be ! refunded, and the question of swings referred to the Building Committee. • - Mr. Lindsay, head master of the North School, reported that Miss Nicol, senior pupil teacher, had requested him to make an application for two months' leave of absence in order that she might attend the classes at the Normal School preparatory to the annual examination ; that the attendance at the North School during the first week since re-opening has reached the -average of 300, which would entitle the school to., nine teachers, whereas there 'were, only seven, and applying for two additional teachers ; and that the accommodation for obtaining a supply of water was unworkable. Some discussion took place upon Miss Nicol's application, during which the Chairman, said that some new regulation would have to be made with reference to the Normal School.: At present it was anything but satisfactory, and the teachers sent out fron.} that school: were not in any way. calculated to maintain the standard of education. It was eventually resolved, in view of the facts that; the school was not fully supplied with teachers and that applications werebeirig made for additional teachers.".not. to. grant the request, ' The Secretary. w r as instructed- tq w'rite to the Education Board applying for the appointmentof two pupil teachers, and recommending Miss Peach and Miss Pattisop. for the positions. The question of water supply was referred to the Building Committee. Mr. Rice, head master of the South School, reported that the attendance at his school since the reopening (236) was such as to warrant the appointment of an additional teacher. He also reported that certain repairs, to the school were necessary.—lt was decided to request the Education Board to appoint another pupil teacher, Miss Cunnin'ghanie of the High School being recommended. The matter of repairs was referred to the Building Committee. The Secretary was authorised to take possession of the Committee's water tanks at the. Volunteer Hall, with ,a view to their utilisation at the schools. The meetings of the Committee were fixed to take, placei on: the < first Friday in each month. An from Mr. Wansbrough was referred to the Finance Committee, and a vote of thank? to the Chairman - terminated the' nieeting, - ! - ;