SHANNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Shannon News, 6 August 1926, Page 3

SHANNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING. ’ The above meeting was held in the Schoolroom on Wednesday evening. Present: Messrs R. L:. Tippler (chairman), Blackwood, Bowler, Brown, Watkins, Butt, Cronquest, Lunkshear, Roberts (secretary), A. T. White (headmaster). CORRESPONDENCE. From Mr H. Nicolson, of the Otaki School Committee, stating lie had re- j cently had the pleasure of seeing the Shannon jpchqoß grounds and had j been, inpressed with all lie had seen. I He would like to see one of the lad- \ de-rs installed at the Otaki School and would be pleased to- receive approximate cost of same. Mr G. Powell, the Board’s superintendent of Buildings, wrote approving of the acceptance of Mr Bishop’s fender for £l3 17s for the construction of an incinerator at the school. Mr H. Atkins, member of the Board, advising that the. yGbimnittee’fe requests have mot with the following results:—New fence, granted; shelter shed, new. one to be erected; conveyance of children, owing to getting insufficient monies to meet requirements, the Board has again written the Department re the request and hope that success will he the outcome.—lt was resolved that a letter . of thanks be forwarded to Mr Atkin. GENERAL.

On the motion of the chairman it was decided to write to the Board asking them toi let- the Committee know as soon as possible what, it being done, in respect to ’ the septic tank for the school. In reference to the Committee’s complaint, as to the unsatisfactory state of the asphalt on the school grounds the Board forwarded a letter received by them from the contractor, in which he stated, he would give it a top dressing, if it was not satisfactory. He blamed the children for breaking it up, who, be stated, had been allowed to roam over it.— Resolved to write to the Board pointing out that the explanation was not correct, as tire children were kept off by a rope fence and at no tim-p were permitted to roam on it.

The chairman and Messrs Blackwood and White were, appointed to arrange the site for the erection of the incinerator. Votes of thanks were accorded Mr F. Newport for supplying plants and supervising planting on Arbor Day, and to Messrs Benefield and Soars, Aramoho, for donating plants.

CONVEYANCE OF CHILDREN:

The chairman reported that meetings had been held at Miranui and Buckley re conveyance of children to and from school. At the former place the residents formed themselves into a committee to further their claim. At Buckley, it r had been decided to endeavour to- get those residing at the end of the Buckley road to come in, but he had sinqe learned that they are not willing. It was decided to get into- communication with some of the Committees sin the Wanganui and Hawkes Bay Education Boards districts to/ ascertain what distance, school coaches convey children in those parts. A ; committee consisting of this month’s visiting committee, the chairman and Messrs Blackwood and White were appointed to go into the question with power to act, of fixing the charge for children who are not eligible, but travel by the school coaches.

VISITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. Messrs Watkins and Brown, last Month’s visiting committee, reported that the rubbish tank was an eyesore and badly wanted clearing. The fence on the east boundary was in a bad state, posts we.re broken, staples out and wires loose, the damage being done by stock on the outside. At the infant school they recommended that the old tank stand be removed. The sump was always being blocked and they recommended the removal of the. present tap and a bubble dr inking tap put in its place. It was decided to draw the attention of the owner of the property on the east boundary to the condition of the fence. The question of installing a bubble tap was held over until plans are |re<ceived for the new septic tank , drainage. HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The headmaster (Mr White) repo,rt 7 ed that he intended at the end of the present term to have ail the desks scrubbed and oiled. He stated there was a surplus of cash in hand of £3 over the issuing of cocoa to the children and he would like the Committee to take the money over towards the payment of the jugs, or to purchase something for the school which would carry a subsidy. The average attendance for. the past month was 317, 297. 306, and 282, the number on the roll being 358. He stated that the decrease in attendance had been brought, about by the outbreak of influenza and he was going to ask the Board, on this account, to have the past quarter eliminated. He recommended that Messrs Wilkinson and Hyde be accorded a vote of thanks for a. free picture show for the children which had brought in £2 13s for the' School fund. The sum of 30s had been received from the sale of potatoes. He asked that the Department be requested to l fumigate the School as soon as possible.