GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2087, 19 August 1890, Page 2

GERALDINE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of this committee was held on Friday evening last. Present—Messrs E. H. Pearpoint (chairman), A. White, W. S. Maslin, J. Williams, J. W. Pye, and G. E. Shefratt. ' TEACHEBS’ SAL ABIES. , Mr Maslin. drew attention to the fact that owing to the attendance having fallen off, somewhat consequent upon the school having been opened in the Volunteer Hall, the salaries qf the teachers bad been lowered, and also the incidental allowance. He understood that it was especially, agreed before the school was opened in the hall that neither the salaries nor the incidental grant should suffer. Members had understood.the same. The chairman said it must be a mistake on the part of the office in Timaru, as it was absurd to lower the salaries and amount for incidentals under such exceptional circumstances; Before the removal he had spoken to the secretary and inspector to .the board, and they agreed that no notice should be taken of a temporary lowering of the attendance under the circumstances. He would enquire into the matter when he next visited Timaru and see that the usual Salaries and incidental expenses were paid. COBBESBOITDXNC*. Correspondence was read and dealt with as follows : From the S.C. Board of Education; advising the committee of the sum ef £8 7s 6d having been lodged to their credit for incidentals. i; ■' -

From the same,’ stating that the Minister for Education hadrefused to entertain the reguest to false the * status of the school to that of a district, high school. From the same; stating that their' architect and inspector would,visit the . school for the purpose of seeing what new. furniture was required; also stating that the sum of £lO had been voted for repairs to fences, and for gates, Ac. A letter from the head master to the : board was submitted to the committee for their endorsement if approved of. In it the master pointed out the needV there was for a residence on or near' the new sshool grounds, in order that master might be able, to keep an eye. ;on the school building. He furtherpointed out the extreme and unhealthiness of the present master’s residence, to which he attributed in some degree the amount of sickness prevailing in his family of. late. —The committee were decidedly - of opinion that the present was seardely fit to live in, and it was unanimously decided to endorse the I letter.

The master,,through the chairman, also pointed out that if a portion of the grounds; were fenced off for a master’s residence he would be considered by the committee to be entitled to it for his use. He asked this com* mittee to grant him the use bf such piece of ground now, so. that when, ho , rode to the schoool he might bo able to put bis horse up. tie agreed to fence it off so that his horse would not interfere with the children.—lt was decided to grant the request. chairman’s statement. The chairman detailed what had been done with regard to the new grounds, Messrs White, Bberratt, and himseif had made an estimate as - to what was required in the way of; ; fencing, etc., and bad reported to the board. The latter had refused to entertain the proposal to plant a macrocarpa fence round the school. Mr Hall-Jones, the contractor to the board for supplying school furniture, bad visited the school, and estimated the cost of new furniture .would be about £9O. He (Mr Pearpoint) had done his best to get the school properly furnished, but the board would not spend that amount, and had. decided to send out their architect and inspector ' with instructions to. , make .the best, arrangements they could, repairing and using the old furniture as much as possible. As authorised by the board, a tender had been let for shingling the school grounds. The contractor for repairing and making the furniture would require the old furniture for four or five days, and as bath he and the contractor for shingling bad also had stated the inconvenience it would be to have the children about while they were carrying out their contracts ho (the chairman) had thought it advis* able to grant a week’s holiday. He bad not been able to call the committee together but had seen one or two of them, and they thought that course was advisable. He believed everything would be completed by Monday 'week, when the school would reassemble in the new building.—The . action of the chairman in the several matters was approved of. f After discussing the question of;', fencing, etc, it was decided, on the proposition of Mr Maslin “That tenders be called for repairing thQ

fence and that separate tenders be invited for making and fixing proper gates, and that’ the chairman and Messrs White and bherratt draw up specifications and accept a tender.’’ The class of gates to be hung was left with the sub-committee appointed. They were also authorised to make the Becessary arrangements re the scavenging.

The chairman further pointed out the necessity of having a pump fixed on the well. The lavatories were supplied with water laid on from irentanks, but these tanks had no taps outside, consequently the children, when outside, would have te go inside to get water. Should no rain fall before the school was opened there would be no water, even in the tanks, so that a pump wao an absolute necessity,. The board at its last meeting had refused to grant a pump, but he would again bring the subject before them, and endeavour to get one. He had pointed this matter out to the inspector and architect when they visited the school and they had agreed that a pomp was indespensible. THE JANITEEBS.

Mr Maslin out that the present janitresa. could hardly be expected.to clean out the new school, which was a great deal larger than the old one, for the same remuneration as she was at, present receiving.—lt was decided to . ask the janitress to look over the»new: building and make an offer for doing the work ; if the committee considered the offer satisfactory they would accept it, if not they would invite fresh applications for the post. TIBITOBS. The visitors’ report was considered satisfactory. Messrs Maslin and Pye were appointed visitors for the ensuing month. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £1 2b were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated. .