NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1915, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the New Plymouth High School was held at the Board's office last evening. Present: Messrs. E. Dockrill (chairman), W.. N. Ewing, M. Eraser, E. W. Atkinson, D. Hutchen, H. Trimble, J. S.' Fox, A. McHardy, E. P. Webster, Dr. Fookes. A PROTEST. When the chairman asked for confirmation of the minutes of a special meeting, which had been held to discuss the question of making temporary arrangements for the Girl's High School, Mr. Trimble protested on the grounds that no notice had__ been given of the meeting. The chairman explained that it was one of those cases in which he as the executive officer did not wish to take sole responsibility, and as the matter was urgent he called as many of the members together as he possibly could Mr. Trimble said that this was the second time this had occurred lately. He had no objection to what had been done, but the form was irregular. The chairman should have reported to the meeting of the Board what had been done at the informal meeting for confirmation. While agreeing, Mr. Fraser said that they did not think of formalities at the time as they had considerable trouble in finding a place for the girls. The action of the chairman in calling a meeting and the resolutions passed thereat were then confirmed.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. In connection with the proposal to move the Girls' School into the upper story of the' new electric sub-station, Miss Hodges, the Principal, reported that she understood the electric plant on the ground floor would be working, and that it would make a noise of so disturbing a nature that it would be quite impossible to carry on the work above, and she suggested' that the Board make careful inquiries as to the truth of this before finally deciding to rent. The question of laboratory also cropped up. A large proportion of the time given to science subjects must be devoted to practical work in a laboratory, Otherwise they could not be used for public examinations, and they would lose capitation 011 them. Miss Hodge also stated that she would like to in. troduce a domestic science course next year, but the size of the school did not warrant it. Mr. Hutchen remarked that the racecourse buildings had been suggested to him as a suitable place. Mr. Fraser pointed out that the machinery was away at the back, and not under the rooms proposed to he used. From experiments made when he was present, he did not think there would be much inconvenience from noise. Mr. Hutchen presumed that steps had been taken to obviate noise as much as possible, otherwise the clerical staff would not be able to work. On the motion of Messrs Fraser and lowing it was resolved to rent the upper floor of the Electric Light Sub-station for £2 per week as long as required. THE £2OOO GRANT. The Director of Education (Dr. Anderson), writing in reference to the subject of the proposed grant of £2OOO towards the erection of a Girls' High school, said that the Department pre- ■ ferred at- the present juncture, that the Board should finance the new building for which approval had been given out of board moneys, exclusively, and was prepared to that end to take steps at once to obtain the necessary authority to borrow to th" extent of an additional £SOOO over and above the £2OOO for which an Order-in-Couneil was obtained at the instance of the Public Trustee in September, 1914, Of ■this amount- £3OOO would be in respect of the corresponding sum which the Public Trustee obtained authority to lend (without a corresponding borrowing authority) in September, 1915, and the balance, £2OOO, would be in lieu of the grant as formerly proposed. For the loan of this £2OOO application would of course have to be made to the Public Trustee, who, if he saw fit to consent, would ohtain the additional authority

A communication was received under a later date asking if the Board had yet applied to the Public Trustee for the further sum of £2OOO. When that information was obtained, the Department would be in a position to proceed so as to obtain the Governor's request, The chairman said that the Governinent had promised a grant of £2OOO and now said they would help them to borrow it. They did not say thev would pay the interest. If thev erected the school now they had 110 documentary proof that the Government would give them the £2OOO, when things got normal again and the Board would be iii the positin, not only of paying the interest, but also of losing the rent that the Government were now paying for them. It was considered desirable to obtain some guarantee from the Government, and on the motion of Messrs Fraser and McHardy, a resolution, was passed asking if the Government were prepared to hold themselves responsible for the payment of interest and principal when funds were again normal.

GENERAL. The Education Department notified that a grant of £59 9s 7d had been approved in aid of the cost of science equipment for the Boys' and Girls' High Schools. The secretary was authorised to do the necessary work in connection with the building used for a Girls' High School, as set out in the lease. Accounts amounting to £OO9 4s 7d were passed for payment.