EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 245, 25 March 1915, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held in the Board's office, New Plymouth, yesterday, when there were present: Messrs H. Trimble (chairman), A. Morton, H. Marfell. A. H. Halcombe. F. Mackay. A. Mel. Bradbury, R. Masters, J. Young, and 0. A. Adlam,

J CHAIRMAN'S REPOItT. . The Chairman reported that he hod made temporary appointments as follows:—Central. Misx L. Williams eighth assistant: Makehu. Miss Moir, sole teacher; Hillsborough, Miss A. Brown, assistant; Piikeho. Mis? B. Hunt assistant; York, Miss Kerrick, assistant: West End. Mrs. Firth, assistant; Kalmi. Mr. S. White, sole teacher; Ui-i> nui, Miss E. Mace, assistant; Koru, Miss Rowlands, sole teacher; Okato, Miss \ Chapman, assistant. KAIMATA SCHOOL GROUND.

The chairman reported that a deputation from (he Kaimata School Committee waited on him with reference to the improvement of the unoccupied portion of the school ground probably about five acres. The committee's proposal was that the Board should pav half the erst of clearing the ground, 'the committee paving the other half, (hat the committee should crop the land for a few years so as to bring it into proper order for re-grassing, receiving anv money derived from grazing or selling the crops as payment for its expenses. After (Inland had been re-grassed it was suggested that it should be divided, one portion being set aside for a horse paddock e.'id the other for the use of the teacher. Should the Board favourably consider the proposal, be would recommend that the grass seed for re-sowing should be supplied by the Board. It would be necessary to obtain the consent of the teacher, as he would lose the use of the ground during the cropping. The chairman said that the committee suggested that the. ground should be cropped for three years.

Some members were of opinion that throe years was too long to crop the lari'l before grassing it, and that three ploughing was sufficient. Moreover, they considered that if the committee was petting the use of the crops for three years they should be able to pay the expense of clearing and grassing it. Mr. Morton thought that if the land was cropped for three years without thoroughly working it each time, it would be in worse condition at the start than at the finish. The schoolmaster and children would be deprived of its use for three years. The chairman considered that the majority of the school sites were a disgrace, and that it would be a good proposition to the Board to have it cleaned. Mr. G. A. Adlam moved that the ieport be adopted, and that someone should be appointed to see that the work was properly carried out.

Mr. Morton moved that the committee be subsidised to the extent; of half the cost of clearing the unoccupied position of the school ground and that, provided the teacher does not object, they be allowed to crop the land for two years on condition that the grass is laid down in proper grass at the end of that time.

This was seconded by Mr. Young and carried.

MOHAKAU SCHOOL SITE.

Messrs R. Masters and E. Mtirfcll reported that they had visited Kiore again in connection with this matter. Mr. A J. Stockley offered them a site of three acres at £25 per acre which he had previously refused to sell. They therefore recommended that this should be purchased in preference to that offered by Mr. Todd. The vendor had agreed to pay the survey fees and also the cost of converting it from L.I.P. into freehold. The report was adopted. Mr. E. Marfcll, in urging that something should be done to provide school accommodation at once, referred to the present accommodation as a disgrace.

A NEW DEPARTURE, In submitting a report from Mr. J. G. Ellis, Instructor of Agriculture, on the trip made by the boys of the Distiict High School, Stratford, to the State Farm at Moumahaki, Mr. W. A. Ballantyne, Chief Inspector, after referring to the success of the trip, stated that the regulations of the railways did not specially provide for a trip of this kind for school boys, and consequently the boys had to pay adults' fares. He thought' that the regulations might be amended so that provision should be made for boys and this might be done if the Education Board brought the matter under the notice of the General Manager of tho Railways.

Mr. J. G. Ellis reported that the party consisting of 29 boys visited the farm during the period from March 15th to March 20th, living under camp conditions. Mr. Lonsdale, manager of the farm, had expressed himself as being always pleased to assist in anything appertaining to agriculture, and spared no effort to make the party comfortable in the camp and the visit ploasunihle and profitable, and he. and four members of his staff gave gome very valuable instruction in the various departments of agricultural work done on the farm. ''j, Lonsdale gave two very intere" a[ ' ln „ * ( ] o ] monstrations, one on pio 3 ("r»->-breed) and one on shogp. - -«sli;re assistant manatr»- '" ivrrs - Kirklan.,l, cattle (A- -,. ■-> S avc o,le in dairy t i . ...i'shire breed). Mr. Foreman, ..ii' head gardener, gave one on the orchard and one on the garden, and Mr. Beverley, the plant breeder, one on potatoes and grasses. In addition to these, the boys had observational instruction in hedge plants, root crops, lucerne, grasses, and weeds, .which he conducted himself. They also engaged for several hours in practical work, which took the form of weeding the root crop, which work was supervised by one of the farm employees and the tutors in charge. JJy arrangement with the officials, who supplied free passes, the boys visited the YVaverley A. and P. Show, where the comprehensive exhibit which the authorities of the farm had at the show furnished a good opportunity for the boys to see at one time the products of the farm, and made a fitting complement to the observation work they did in passing from place to place on the farm, and which, of course, could not have been furnished had it not been for this show being held, whilst they were visiting. He took the opportunity of making their inspection of the exhibit another observation lesson, and considered that they were fortunate in being so privileged.

Mr. Thomas took liis full share of the work and responsibility and rendsivd invaluable services. Under bis direction the discipline was well maintained and the comfort of the hoys assured. Most of (he hoys iook ii keen interest in (V work and appeared to appreciate the all'orded to Yearn, end lie was very hopeful (hat a good impetus to 1!]"

ce-ri-uliural work of the school would result from the visit and Unit lasting h-nofit would accrue from (his. th-r first o.vp.-rinient of (he kind, lie -,vas so thoroughly coiivinced of (he iv.-it - ! that might he ohlam.'d from a visit of (his eharacier (let lie should like the board to sanction, a -em Mar visit for teachers during- the holidays in May and later on woidd ask permission to take some older boys from some of the other schools. It was unanimously resolved to tender a vote of thanks to'the officials of the farm for the interest they had taken in the boys. TUNA SCHOOL. Mr. R. Masters reported that he had arranged with Mr. Hatlmway, chairman of the Tuna School Committee, that Mrs, Thomas should be allowed to retain tho crops sown by the late Mr. Thomas and

sell them at a time most profitable to herself. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. W. A. Ballantyne, Chief Inspector, reported that most of the blinds at Rntapiko required some attention. Tlnv-e blinds were certainly required for the large windows and four for the small ores. The Central School curtain was in r." 'xl order, but the wire needed tighten-

The Inspector also recommended pay-, went of a bonus of £lO to Mr. F. i who had undertaken the supervision of the teachers' Saturday classes in Strat- I ford during 1914. The report was adopted.

As extra accommodation was urgently needed at the Douglas School, the Chief Inspector recommended that the Douglas Hall should be rented at 5s per wc-k. —Agreed to. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr. 0. 11. Moore) reported, inter alia, that the Ware.n school additions would be completed ttiis week. The side recess at the office had been closed in and made into an office for the Agricultural Instructor. The sawn' timber had been ordered for the. Kiore school. He had gone into the matter of drainage at Norfolk school, and recommended that a concrete chan-

nel be formed along the side of the school and continued on to the road water table with drain pipes, and also put down a concrete footpath from the back of the residence to the northwest corm r school, at a cost of about £8 10s The Overseer also reported on the drainage at Whangamomona,' and recommended that'a drain from, the lavatory to the terrace overlooking the river be' carried out at the. board's expense, and that the school ground be graded, the board's share of the cost not to exceed £7 10s. on a £ for' £ basis. The report was adopted.

The following matters were referred to by the overseer:—Oaonui: Supply of timber for fence; Inglewood: Blinds and door; Midhirst: Tank for headmaster's residence; Durham: Repairs to cottage and school; Te Kiri: Repairs to residence. SCHOOL LIL-EARIKS.

Mr. A. V. Sims, headmaster of the Ngaere school, notified that his committee had voted £1 out of school concert funds towards a school library, and he for a subsidy of an equal amount from the Education Board, as contemplated by section 37 of the Education Act of 1914. It was resolved to ask the committee to hold over their request until the iegulations referred to had been issued. AKE-AKE AT RAHOTU. Mr. F. Ward, secretary of the Bahotu School Committee, notified that ake-ake was prevalent amongst the Native children, and the teaeher had had to exclude some of them. His committee also requested the board's direction with iegard to the prevention and cure of the disease. It was resolved to forward the letter' to the District Health Officer. NEW SCHOOLS'.'

The application for a new school at Tahoni, and extra accommodation at the existing school, was referred to the inspector to report on, as was also the application for the enlargement of the Ruapuka school, and a new school at Radnor. SCHOLARSHIP MATTERS.

It was resolved to apply to the Education Department for the extension of one year of the National Scholarship granted to Gordon F. Saunders.

The following candidates were granted permission to transfer the tenure t-f their scholarships: Miss Ellen Hester Wolfe, Stratford District High School to Whangarei District High School; Master Charles M. Copestake, Stratford District High School to New Plymouth Boys' High School; and Master Alfred S. Ki'isby, from Stratford District High School to Palmerston North High School. The resignation of M. Charles Ha;nblyn, probationer in the Bell Block school, was received and accepted.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. Mr. J. A. E. Keast, chairman of the Kirito School, notified that the teacher had asked the committee for two weeks,' holiday in June instead of separate weeks in May and September, and the committee was agreeable to the proposal. The chairman said teachers had their long holidays at the end of tl.c. year, and the September holiday was arranged to rr.aki a brea.c f.ir the chil l.en between June and December.

It was accordingly resolved that tae board failed to see sufficient reason to make the change suggested. The Puniwhakan School Committee asked to be allowed to close the school from April Ist to April 12th instead of during the winter holidays from May 28th to June 7th. —Agreed to. Later Mr. Marfell moved in accordance with notice of motion that where school committees so desire, the usual spring holidays be omitted, and the winter holidays extended.

Mr. Adlam, in seconding, stated that backblocks teachers found a week's holiday in the winter of no visa to them, as it took them three days to get out, and three days to yeturn. The. e])ji!i'iuan said, that the mat>I,a 'i fioeii thoroughly discussc' --J' ago. The tooliers thou «- June to ** -greed that from j December was too long a spell without holidays for both teachers and pupils. The alteration was then made from a fortnight in June to a separate week in each May and Septeinber. The motion was lost on the casting vote of the chairman, Messrs Adlam, Masters, Marfcll, and H'alcombe voting in its favor. GENERAL.

It was resolved that the, necessary grass seed be supplied to Matau and Pukeho School Committees.

The subsidy granted the Midhirst School Committee in July, 1.914, was increased to £2 10s.

The Kent Committee is to be informed that as the board made a grant hist year for clearing tlhe weeds on the ground, no grant could be made this.year The chairman and Messrs Morton and Bradbury were appointed a committee to revise the board's regulations, and to report to the next meeting. Application for new desks for the Inglewood School was referred to the inspector for his report. £ for £ subsidy up.to £3 was granted the Okau Committee towards improving the school grounds.

It was resolved to ask the Waiva School Committee for particulars as to the improvements on which they propose to expend the subsidy asked for.

It was resolved to inform Muskor's School Committee that the Board fails to see any reason for granting the 10s charged for cleaning the. school. The mailer of grubbing gorse on the Mimi school iirmnids was referred to Mr. ITe'cnmhe. with power to act. Tenders for the supply of lead and tin for use at (he Technical College were referred to the director, with power tii act.

It was decided to apply to the Ivlneatioa lVperhnetit for an extra allowance for ilie West F.m\ School Committee for eleanber (he sheller shed, now utilised as a cless room.