TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1123, 19 July 1883, Page 3

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting pt the above Committee took place in the schoolroom Temuka, last Tuesday evening. Present—Messrs Gray (Chairman), Brown, Bolton, Blyth, OTlalloran, and Kirk, MINUTES, The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. THE HEAD MISTRESS. The Chairman stated that in accordance with a resolution passed by the Committee at its last meeting he had waited on Mrs Howe, and she stated that she was very glad to fall in with the views of the Committee and would commence her duties on the Ist August next. She desired to thank the Committee for the consideration they had shown her. CORRESPONDENCE. The following correspondence was read : Outward—To the Head master re leu ting of house, and religious instruction in school. To the Rev Mr Hamilton in reference to religious instruction in school. To the South Canterbury Board of Education re the planting of the new school grounds, and stating that the Committee were prepared to plant K &s soon as the ground was fenced. To the same in reference to a map of Africa and other matters. To Mr B, D. O’Halloran, informing him that he had been elected a member of the Committee? To Mr D. M. Mackay expressing the loss file Committee had sustained by his removal from the district. Inwards —Prom the Board of Education (1) stating that £SO 15s had been paid to the credit of the Committee for salaries for the month of June ; (2) re franking of correspondence with the Board, all communications in future to be addressed to the Secretary ; (3) enclosing amount for the Headmaster for services rendered in educating pupil teachers ; (4) re High School fees ; (5) re planting of new school site. From the Rev Mr Hamilton, for the Ministers of various denominations, accepting the offer of the Committee anent religious instruction in the school, with thanks, and stating that they had decided to impart such instruction from 9 to 9.25 a,m. every morning, the ministers to take it by turns every week. Prom Miss Henderson, the acting Head mistress, staling that she would he unable to teach in the school after the end of the present month, having accepted an appointment in North Canterbury.

HEAD master’s REPORT

The following Is the monthly report on the school:

Boys. Girls. Total. No, on 801 l 204 190 394 St’ict average attendance 36 208 244 Working average ... 144 114 258 Highest attendance, June 20th .. 162 117 279 Wet weather and colds amongst the pupils have reduced the attendance considerably. As requested, I enclose a list of pupils whose attendance during last quarter has been irregular. I have also to report that the school ink is almost done. THE NEW SCHOOL. Mr Kirk staled that ha had visited the new school as a member of the Corn, mittee, to see how the work was progressing, and see the, plan, etc. On asking the Clerk of Works to show him the plans, he had informed him (Mr f —Kirk) that a few days ago Mr Duval, the architect of the Board, had come out and asked to see the plans, and, on them being placed before him, he had put them under his arm and taken them

away, remarking they were his property. The consequence was that the work was almost at a standstill ; the workmen being engaged in hanging the doors, etc. The Clerk of Works said that he did not really know how to proceed. Mr Brown thought that the attention of the Board should be drawn to the matter.

The Chairman thought that the Com mittne had nothing to do with it. The building had never been delivered into their hands, nor had they anything to do with its erection. It was the Clerk of the Works’s duty to inform the Board of tire matter.

Mr Blyth concurred in this view, and Mr Bolton was of opinion that the Board knew all about it.

Proposed by Mr Kirk, seconded by Mr Brown, and carried— ■* That the Secretary write to the Board of Education stating that the architect having taken possession of the plans of the new school it Is feared by the Committee that delay may take place in the finishing of the building,’ TREE PLANTING. The letter from the Board of Education re tree planting, etc., was ns follows “ The sum of £2O granted in 1880 was for fencing and planting the new school site. The Board is not in a position to carry out the planting this season, but will increase the original grant of £2O to £3O on condition that your Committee fence the whole reserve. If any planting could at the same time be carried out, there is of course no objection to its being done.”

A discussion took place on the matter, during which one of the members remarked that it would take £l6O to fence the grounds,

Ultimately it was proposed by Mr Kirk, seconded by Mr Bolton, and carried unanimously—‘That the Board of Education be written to asking that the Board’s architect be instructed to prepare a plan of the proposed fencing in of the school grounds, in order that an estimate of the cost might be arrived at,’

master’s house

At the last meeting of the Committee the Secretary was directed to write to the Board stating that the house at present occupied by the head master was small and unsuitable, and that the Committee had now the offer of a suitable residence, the rental being £1 per week. The Board now replied that they would favorably consider the application but would get more particulars on the matter.

Proposed by Mr Kirk, seconded by Mr Bolton, and carried —‘ That the Board be asked if they have obtained the further particulars alluded to in their letter, 9th July, paragraph 3, and that this Committee desire to point out that this house is the only one suitable for the purpose, owing to its being adjacent to the school and of a convenient size ; also, that the Committee would be pleased to have definite instructions in this matter lest the building be secured by another applicant.’

THE HIGH SCHOOL, The Chairman stated that he -had been led to believe that the Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Education would have been present that evening to interview the Committee on matters connected with the school being ranked as a High School, and he was disappointed , This was the more to be regretted as many parents were anxious for information on the nTatter, Mr Kirk thought that the Chairman and Secretary of the Board were not so much to blame, as a short time ago they had paid a visit to Tevnuka for the express purpose of seeing the Committee on the subject, and he had tried to get up a meeting of the Committee hu 1 was unsuccessful.

It was explained that the visitors had given such shoit notice of their intention to come to Temuka (two days) that most of the members were unable to attend, having made other engagements.

It was decided to allow the matter to stand over till more information had been obtained. TESTIMONIAL. The Secretary was instructed to write to Miss Henderson accepting her resignation and testifying to the ab'lity with which she has discharged her duties during the term she had been here, and wishing her similar success in her new appointment. ACCOUNTS. A number of accounts were passed for payment, On one from the Board of Education coming up exception was taken to ah item of 7s 6d charged for 500 notices to parents, the Committee holding that the Board had agreed to supp’y these free of charge. The account was passed less that amount, and the Secretary was instructed to write to the Board on the subject. VISITING COMMITTEEMr Kirk reported that he had visited the school and found everything going on right. The entrance to the grounds, however, was almost impassable, and this i he had had remedied.

Messrs Brown and O’Hallo ran were appointed visitors for the ensuing month.

The meeting terminated vv'th a vote of thanks to the Chairman.