N.P. HIGH SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1921, Page 5

N.P. HIGH SCHOOLS.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEET. The monthly meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Plymouth High Schools was held last evening. Present: Messrs. L. C. Sladden (chairman), H. Trimble, J. S. Fox, S. G. Smith, M.P. t F. W. Atkinson and L. A. Nolan. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. A. E. Washer, E. P. Webster. A. Morton, and Dr. Fookes. The general manager of the New Plymouth borough (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) wrote stating that the council would connect “Montosa” with the borough water supply only on the condition that the board paid the whole of the cost.— The Board thought the cost excessive and the matter was meantime deferred. In compliance with the Fire Inspector’s report, arrangements have been made for the erection of fire escapes and the installation of fire extinguishers at the boarding s’chools. THE GIRLS’ SCHOOL, Miss J. R. Barr (principal of the girls’ school) reported that the school opened on February 10. The roll number had increased considerably and an additional part-time assistant would be necessary to cope with the extra work entailed. An extra class-room was very urgently needed and it was suggested that the matter of building for the preparatory school should be gone into again. The preparatory classes had been reduced to standards 3,4, 5 and 6, so that they now occupied only one class-room. The secondary department this year opened with a roll number of 152, as compared with 129 last year. In the preparatory department there were 41 pupils, as compared with 48 last year. The boarding school was taxed to its utmost for accommodation and numbers of applications had to be refused. The chairman stated that either the girls’ preparatory school must be built

apart from the secondary school or the preparatory school must be abandoned, as there was no room and, further, the board’s funds did not permit of the building of a new school.• Further consideration of the subject was deferred till next" meeting. THE BOYS’ SCHOOL. Mr. W. H. Moyes (principal of the boys’ school) reported that school work was started on February 10. The school roll was practically the same as last year. It was deemed inadvisable to crowd the dormitories further, and the number of hoarders had therefore been limited to 170. Thus the school was badly handicapped through want of boarding accommodation, and things must now remain at a (standstill until such time as another building, capable of housing 60 boys, is erected. On the re-opening of school two new members had joined the staff: Mr. A. Papps (of* King’s College, Auckland), and Mr. G. Pope, who has taken charge of the preparatory department.