TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 26 November 1914, Page 3

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held yesterday, there being present: Messrs H. Trimble (chairman), G. A. Adlam, R. Masters, A. M. Bradbury, J. Mackay, A. 11. Halcombe, E. Marfell, A. Morton. Leave of absence was granted to Mr J. Young. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.

The chairman reported that the following temporary appointments had been made: —Pohokura, Mrs Mills, head teacher; Jfias Bramley, sjole teacher. He recommended that the overseer ho given a room for the storage of plans of schools. This could be accomplished by an addition to the storeroom, at a cost of £3O. The report was adopted. It was decided that the next meeting of the Board be held on Dec. 10.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR'S REPORT. Mr A. Gray, technical director, reported:— New Plymouth.—Most of the night classes have closed down for the year. The day classes will continue until 18th December, when the breaking-up ceremony and distribution of certificates will take place at the college. During the year the night classes have been small, but the majority of the students have been attending for the purpose of advancing themselves in some particular trade or profession; there have been few casual students. The dressmaking class should have been much better attended than it has been If it is not supported better next year, it will have to be discontinued, as there is ample work in the day and country classes to fully occupy the time of the instructress.

Plumbing'.—The Plumbers' Board seems to be fixing a fairly high standard of work for its examinations. The list forwarded shows that only thirtyfive candidates in the Dominion were successful. One reason for the failure of candidates, is that they think they can pass the examination on one year's work, whereas really the standard set is based 011 five years' work. In future the examinations will be held in December, and there will be an additional examination 111 February of 1915, in order to place the new arrangements on a proper footing. I have suggested to the Plumbers' Board that the examination be taken in sections, and also that four years' attendance at Technical classes lie allowed to count in lieu of the fifth year's apprenticeship. In connection with plumbing certificates something will have to be done to assist apprentices in centres outside New Plymouth. During the year some students have been attending classes here from as far as Stratford. Men who are prepared to do this are worth encouraging, and I think I can promise a plumbing class in .Stratford for next year, if anything like a reasonable number of students are available. The Pharmacy Board has decided to make an allowance of ten per cent, of marks in chemistry and botany, in the case of students who regularly attend recognised classes. lam making arrangements for next year to enable Taranaki students to take advantage of this. v Country Classes.—The country classes, mostly dressmaking, have, been fairly well attended. I was somewhat, surprised, however, to find in some country centre, where I tried to establish a class in farm carpentry that insufficient students were forthcoming to start the class.

Jll connection with country classes held oil' the railway line the travelling expenses are very heavy, and in future some arrangements will have to be made in regard to this. The Technical Director also read a report of his visit to the Palmcrston North and Wanganui Technical Colleges. The report was received. Authority was given for the payment of £35 5s to instructors at the Technical College. Mr Masters reported that the price charged for cleaning the septic tank at hip Mrntford Teclmleiil Heimo} s'.&» reasonable and lie recommended payment of same ( £4). The report was adopted. Mr Masters further reported that he had arranged with Mr 11. Collins to take over the headmaster's residence at Stratford at £35, which was £lO above his tender. The report was adopted.

Till- Hoard went into committee to hear the inspector':; report. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The Chief Inspector, Mr liallantyne, reported: —I have gone carefully through the list of applicants for the position of first assistant in the seconary department of the District High School, Stratford. I recommend that Mr Howler, who is at present on the staff of the secondary department, be promoted to the position. The report was adopted. k* 4 """" STRATFORD SHOW. The secretary of the Stratford A. and I'. Association wrote asking the Board to close the schools in the Stratford and Whangamomona counties on the "people's day" of the Stratford Show. The matter was referred to the various school committees concerned. SCHOOL, COMMITTEES. The following appointments on school committee were confirmed:—Albert, Mr W. Orr, vice Mr P. Olson; Central, Mr Hardgraves, vice. Mr E. Griffiths; Mohakau, Mr J. Caldwell, joint commissioner with Mr J. Stockley; Pukeho, Mr W. Drake, vice Mr S. Hales; Raliotu, Mr D. Anglesey, vice Mr Neilson.

HOLIDAYS. The Waitara committee wrote suggesting that as the schools lmd been closed for two weeks on account of the teachers' physical training classes, that a fortnight should be deducted from the Christmas holidays. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. The following teachers were granted leave of • absence:—Miss M. Blake, Kulmi; Mr Ellis, technical instructor; Mr Pope, Ureuui; Miss Golding, Kina. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr C. H. Moore) reported as follows:Huirangi.—New school; The building is now well oil toward completion and should be ready for occupation in about a fortnight. Tariki.—The painting of the outside of both school and residence, and kitchen inside, have been completed; also sundry repairs attended to. As the present tank at the school is worn out, 11 have sent one out to replace it. This

are both concreted, .and it will be necessary to re-build on the same site. The committee wish to have a turn-stile or swing-gate at the front entrance, and are willing to pay for the labour. I should recommend that this be attended to when the other proposed work is being done. Central.—The spouting on the gymnasium practically requires renewing. The committee are willing to pay for labour. I would recommend that this be attended to; several other repairs will receive attenti6n at the same time" In regard to the latrines, I propose to make the present skylights work pro perly and repair the iron on walls. If the skylights are used regularly, the ventilation will be quite sufficient, as the places are always kept clean.

Stratford. —I have inspected the Sep- | tie tank at the Technical School; I I

would recommend that the committee be asked to renew the filter beds with screen shingle instead of coke, the board paying for the material. In regard to the tank itself, I wish to make further investigations in regard to the drainage from the science room. Huiroa. —New out-offices have been erected at this school; sundry repairs were also attended to. I aIBO noted

painting requirements both at school and residence. Central.—My attention was drawn to sundry repairs and requirements at this school. The fence on the Gover street boundary requires attention, as several panels were in danger of falling out to the footpath. I had this attended to at once. The report was received. SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS. ' Correspondence was dealt with as f follows: j Applications from Egmont Village for spouting and down pipe; from Waitini for new blinds; from Korito for repairs to ventilators; from Pembroke for a tank; from Tarata for repairs, and from Stratford for replacing the aspalt floor in the infant school with a wooden floor were referred to the Overseer. Ail application from Tarata for 16 • dual desks was referred! to the In- } ■ spector. A request from the West End for enlargement of the school was referred to the Inspector. On the motion of Mr ITalcombe, authority was given for the supply of wire and fencing posts for the Waiau school site, the residents undertaking to provide the labour. It was decided that a meeting of householders be held in the Waiau school on December flth at 7.30 p.m., for electing a School Committee, and defining the boundaries of the school district, Mr Ilalconibe to be the Board's representative.

DEPARTMENTAL GRANTS. It was decided that the Minister be asked to authorise the Board to expend the grants for schools which were withdrawn by him, and also to make grants for the other works for which application has been made. BOARD MEETINGS. Mr Marfell moved that the meetings of the Board should commence at 11 a.lll. He pointed out that at present it was necessary for him to spend two days instead of one over the meetings as he eonld not get back the same night, and that caused additional expense. Mr Mackey .seconded the motion pro forma but opposed the change. After some discussion the motion was lost. CONTROL OF SCHOOL GROUNDS. The chairman, pursuant to notice, moved that regulation 65 be repealed with a view to substituting the following:—The Board reserves to itself the right to decide what portions of the grounds attached to a school may be used as a playground and as a horse paddock, and will also decide what shall be done with the remainder of the glebe. He stated that his object was to bring about a reversion to the Board of the control of school grounds, so that a horse paddock might be fenced off, and the remainder of the land dealt with as the Board thought fit, cither by allowing the teacher to cultivate it, to let it, or to allow ti>-> - _ tn j-I* it ■>'' v coinmittccß tO '. xuo pointed out that one Jesuit would bo that weeds would be kept ' down ami the land jrtit to good use. At present COlUmitteeS Claimed to control ! the school gl'Otinds, and though he did not propose to interfere wdien the ground was being put to good use he considered that it would be better for the control to be under the Board. It would also give the teachers the opportunity of keeping a cow. The motion was carried.

Accounts amounting to £2957 7s Id wore passed for