HIGH SCHOOL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 261, 28 June 1932, Page 4

HIGH SCHOOL

ROTORUA BOARD * __ SCHEME FOiR AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION NOW PREPARED HEATING OF BUILDING At a meeting of the Rotorua High School Board last night, Mr. R.0B. Nesbitt presided. The headmaster in the course of his monthly report stated that it was proposed to proceed immediately jvith the preparation of three acres of the Medical Qfficers' Reserve for spring sowing. It was necessary to considef the problem of levels which might eause some difficulty. The hicycle shed only provided accommodaton for about half of the boys' machines and he aslced for authority to purchase suffi-'-eient timber to erect further aecommodation on the south side of the technical block and around the artfioury. The work could be carried out by the woodwork students. The present shelter shed did not seem very popular and would he more useful as dressing rooms. He would like to see the outdoor seats increased as there was not sufficient accommodation for those who took their lunch to school on fine days. The recommendations were approved. Heating System The headmaster also reported upon the heating of the school as follows: "The present system has been thoroughly tried out during the past month. The boiler has been kept, on frosty mornings, at a temperature of 200 degrees, but even then the radiators in the junior school do not become more than moderately warm. It would. appear that the coupling of the additional radiators in the extension to the original system has overloaded the boiler. To improve matters, the following suggestions are offered for consideration. (1) The heating of the staff rooms and my study by electric radiators. This would enable the hot water radiators in these rooms to be turned off, and their heat supply diverted to other rooms. In any case, 'I should greatly appreeiate the provision of an electric radiator for my study since I find it necessary to spend considerable time at school in the evenings. (2) The installation of a separate heating supply for the junior school. In this connection, I had in mind a supply similar to that in use at the Rotorua Motor Camp, which uses crude oil and "coke as fuel, and which is both rapid and efficient. (3) In any case, the whole of the hot water pipes where they pass over the ceiling and below the floor should be lagged with cowhair felt or asbestos rope. A great quantity of heat is at present lost from these pipes, and lagging of them should result in a marked improvement." The question was left to the building committee with power to act. Town Belt The Domain Board notified that it had been agreed that the fence line to the entrance to the High School be removed back to the west side of Ann Street, provided the board bear the whole cost of such improvements and carry out a tfee-planting scheme to be approved by the board. The arrangements for these improvements are to be left in the hands of Mr. W. A. Goudie, with power to act. Agricultural Instruction AMengthy report was submitted dealing with the proposed course of agricultural instruction at the school. The general features of the scheme | are: — General: — To inculcate (a) a spirit of scientific investigation and thought. (b) an aptitude for reasoning from cause to effect. (c) to bring the activities of the district, agricultural and pastoral, into closer contact with the i child. (d) to make the child a more i useful and scientific member of socii ety, and to train him in the m'ethods and practice of scientific farming. Specifie: — (1) To teach the child the clements of agricultural botany, agricultural chemistry and ideals in agricultural practice as applicable to the Rotorua District. Aim. — To lay out experimental plots which will demonstrate clearly the best way in which to treat Rotorua soil; the best pasture mixtures to ; sow down; the best method of maintaining that permanent pasture; and the. best manures to use to maintain j the plots in such a condition that they will he valuahle, not only to the school itself, but also to the farming community in general. Specifie AiTfis: — (1) To carry out research on grasses and pasture mixtures — their utility and their upkeep. (2) To investigate the improvement of root crops in pumice land. (3-) To give the childr ideas of practical farming on as large a scale as possible. General Outline: — Plots to be sown with (a) pure certified grass seeds of one type only. e.g. Hawke's Bay rye, Southern rye, etc., various cocksfoots, clovers, fog etc. with controls, and each subjected to different treatmetft and results noted. (b) Pasture mixtures (supplied by Agricultural Dept) to be similarly treated, (c) Root crops, lueerne, and vegetables to b similarly treated. The report was received with satisfaction and an early commencement with this branch of the work looked forward to. •