TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1919, Page 6

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Education Board was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs R. Masters (chairman), H. Trimble, P. J. White, H. J. Eaves, S. G. Smith, MP, T. Buchanan, and H. H. Grayling.

TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS. The chairman reported having made the following temporary appointments: Te Roti, head teacher, Misa T. Sage; Matau, sole teacher, Miss M. Guilford; Rawhitiroa, assistant, Miss N. McAloon; Mahirakau, sole teacher, Mias M. Trewin; Piko, sole teacher, Miss A. Longley; Radnor, sole teacher, Miss Breen; Puniwhakau, sole teacher, Miss M. Rodgers; Tarurutangi, sole teacher, Miss D Brown; Norfolk, assistant, Miss M. Sanderson; Ratapiko, assistant, Miss E. Norris; Waitara, assistant, Miss B Frost; Eltham, assistant, Miss R. Surgenor; Otangiwai, assistant, Miss M. Meredith; Waitara, assistant, Miss A. Hamerton. He also reported that the whole of the junior teachers and probationers provisionally appointed by the Board at its last meeting, with the exception of one who failed in the medical test, and two who failed to obtain the necessary examination qualifications, had taken up their duties. The appointments were confirmed and the report adopted.

TEACHERS' SELECTION COMMITTEE. The Teachers' Selection Committee made the following appointment recommendations:—Radnor, sole teacher, Miss Mary E. Rodgers; Puniwhakau, sole teacher, Miss* M. Sanderson; Tarurutangi, sole teacher, Mr A. Huse (on satisfactory medical certificate being received); Te Roti. head teacher. Miss I. Edwards; Norfolk, assistant, Miss E. Leech; Ratapiko, assistant, Miss M. Thompson; Waitara, 2nd assistant, Miss Alberta Berntsen, 3rd assistant, Miss G. Rawlinson, 4th assistant, Miss Jessie Merron; Eltham, sth assistant, Mr M. J. Smith. The report was adopted. OVERSEER'S REPORT.

The overseer reported that the work at Normanby and Vogeltown is progressing steadily. The stone wall at the Central School is completed and a good job has been made. The fence has been put up again in the old position to safeguard the children; eventually, when funds are available and the ground consolidates, I recommend putting up a permanent fence close up to the stone wall. This would complete the work and make more space for playground. I hope to have boys' ground ploughed next week ready for the laying down in grass. General—repair work: I have had to hold over some of this work owing to shortage of labor. Plans: As instructed I have prepared plans for reinstating the Opunake School. The Department suggests in regard to Waitara that four new rooms be erected instead of three, they also suggest cutting down the corridors to ten feet. In respect to the headmaster's room I hope the Board will request to still have this in the front, near the entrance, instead of, as suggested at the back. The advantages are quite obvious. The supervision of playground will be exercised from the teachers' room. I have placed this in a able t>nd permanent position, and it will allow for any additions to the school that may be required. I submit a plan showing the four rooms as required and also outline,of future extensions. It was decided that strong representations be made to the Department for n 14ft corridor in the Wartara School, and that the headmaster's room be placed in the front of the building, as shown on the plan. The question of the improvement of the grounds of the Hillsborough School tva3 referred to Messrs White and Smith. ** The overseer stated that the work at Okaiawa would be gone on with as soon as that at Normanby was completed. The overseer's plans for a new school at Opunake were approved, and it was decided to apply for a grant for the same.

The Reserves Committee reported that letters were received from the Public Trustee and the Lepperton School Committee with reference to the purchase of additional site for school horse paddock, it was resolved that the matter be referred to Messrs Buchanan and Grayling for a report. It was recommended that Mr Gardner be informed that the Board is prepared to extend his tenancy of portion of the school site at Riverlea for a further six months from termination of present notice; that Mr H. Cook be informed that the Board is prepared to waive the conditions of his lease relating to ploughing and sowing; that the condition of lease of the Waitui School grounds with respect to ploughing and clearing be extended for one year in accordance with the recommendation of the Director of Agriculture.—The report was adopted, TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT. The truant officer reported that he had sent out 115 notices for irregular attendance of children attending primary schools. A number of children stayed away the first day or two after re-opening, but are now attending regularly. At the Pungarehu and Puniho schools the Maoris are not atending too well, owing to special Maori meetings and so much visiting; they affect the attendance at these schools (and others) very much. The following schools were visited and the attendance reported satisfactory: Opunake Convent, Opunake, Oaonui, Eahotu, Warea, Awakino, Mahoenui, Marakopa, Mokau, Tongaporutu, Ahititi, Okau, Uruti, Central, and West End. Since last report three parents of five children have been summoned and fined for their children's irregular attendance at school. The report was adopted. VOGELTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT. It was decided that a meeting of ; I'ouseholders be called for the purpose of electing a committee and arranging i'oundaries of school district for Vogeltown, the meeting to be held on March -'4. Messrs White, Smith, and Grayling were appointed to represent the board. SUPPLY OF SCHOOL BOOKS. A circular was received from the Department with reference to the consideration o< the question of establishing a system of purchasing school stationery in bulk for distribution to schools. The Finance Committee had considered the communication and a resolution was passed stating that the Board would be prepared to favorably consider the question of co-operating with the Department in purchasing supplies of stationery, books. »*«.. provided the conditions

are placed on a sound business basis. A short discussion took place, the tone of which expressed a want of confidence in the Government in the matter of commercial trading. On the principle of providing cheap books for the children the matter was approved. The Board adopted the committee's report. MISCELLANEOUS. A special report on the Kaimata school grounds was submitted by Mr. Trimble, and it was decided to grant the teacher the use of IJ acres of the ground, on the condition that it be kept in proper order and on the understanding that the board had the right to resume occupation at anv time.

It was resolved that plans he prepared and an application be made for a grant for the erection of additions to the school at Tokaora, also that further representations be made to the department with a view to securing a grant for additions to t*\e Kaponga school. It was resolved to close the schools in the district on April 10, as a number of the buildings were required for the purposes of the licensing poll. It was also to communicate with the Matiere Committee regarding the removol of the old school and the erection of a shelter shed as agreed to by them. It was resolved to call the attention of the committees to the state of the grotmds at the Mahoenni, Upper Mangorei, and Waiongona sehools. The overseer was insmcted to report on the cost of the removal of tie Ahitiki school to a high and drier site. It was decided to apply to the department for permission to dispose of the old residence at Durhara Road, and also to use that portion • the Matau school partitioned off for t residence as a shelter shed, and that house allowance be granted the teachers of those two sehools. . The appointment of Mt. JL W. Baxter in place of Mr. B. J. Mcßeth on the Egmont Village Committee, and Mr. W. I Roto as commissioner with Mr. .T. Coventry at Turoto. were confirmed. The matter of the blockage of drains at the Auroa school residence was referred to Mr. Saver, with power to act. The question of lack of accommodation at Mere Mere was referred to the senior inspector f<ir a report, and the matter of hedge plants for the same school was referred to the agricultural instructor to report on. It was decided to inform Te Waksrae Committee that the board would subsidise the cost of erection of a shelter shed on the basis of £2 for £1 up to £2O.

It was resolved to inform the Opunake Committee that as the hoard had prepared plans and submitted an application for a grant' for a new school, it is not prepared to spend any further amount on the public hall as requested. Matters relating to the following sehools and residences were referred to the overseer to report on: Okoke, Ratapiko, Kina, Carrington, Whakamara, Hniro.i, Mokoia, Mere Mere, Kaponga, Frankley Road, Tarata, and Okato. The action of the Kahui Committee in closing the school on account of the epidemic was confirmed. Tt wan decided that the department be informed that, in reference to the suggestion that the. children concerned in the application- for the establishment of a new school at Arawhata be conveyed to the Oiionni school, the board is of opinion, after taking into consideration the special conditions of the locality, that the proposal is not practicable.

The suggested amendments to the regulation l ! relating to the grading of teachers, forwarded by the Hawke's Bay Board, was referred to the senior inspector for a report. Authority was given to the Oaoniri Committee to remove the pine trees on the north side of the school grounds, and they are also to be informed that the board regrets it cannot make a grant. It was decided to thank the New Plymouth Borough Council for its action in granting the ii, acres of land at Cutfield Road as a site for a new school. Messrs Smith and White were appointed to confer with the borough in the matter. The board's solicitors were instructed to prepare the necessary clause for insertion in the Public Reserves and Domainß Act of next session.

Accounts amounting to £6485 were passed for payment.