HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 19 May 1925, Page 4

HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING Tho monthly mooting of the Timoru High Sciiool Hoard or Governors was held yesterday. ITcsent: —Mr J. Bitch-t-iicr, ALP., (chairman), Mrs B. H. Low, Messrs AV. E. C'lievcrton, AV. L>. Lovell, T. Lyon, H. H. Eraser, AV. D. Campbell, L, Unvin, L. J. McGregor, Drs. G. E. Gabities, and L. S. Talbot. CHAIRAr AN’ S STATEAIENT Tho ehairmau said that acting on his instructions, tho secretary had already written a letter to Mrs Massey and family' expressing tho sincere sympathy' of the Board with theni in their bereaverment. Ho felt that liis action would meet with the unanimous approval of tho Board. Little had occurred during tho month to call for notice, and the work of tho school had proceeded as usual. He thought that vhe matter of additional ground for playing fields at tho Boys’ School should bo discussed in committee .Ho congratulated Messrs AV. D. Campbell, W. D. Rovcll, and AV. F. Cheverton, on their .re-election to tho Board. Mrs Low raised tho question of providing adequate accommodation for bicycles at tho Boys’ School. After discussion it was decided that tho matter be brought under tho notice of the Director of Education when ho visited tho school. RECTOR’S REPORT Tho rector (Air AV. Thomas, AI.A.) reported that owing to tho death of tho Primo Alinister tho school was closed on Alonday of last week, and also on Thursday, tho day of the funeral, when tho whole school attended the memorial service held in tho Theatre. After long weeks of enforced holiday tho school had reopened on April 20th. In tho meantime, however, several boys who had signified their intention of returning to school had accepted positions, so that in spite of the large enrolment of new hoy's the roll number was slightly smaller than had been anticipated, though still largo enough to secure tho appointment of a new teacher. There were 332 pupils in tho second ary department and 60 in the preparatory department, 130 being I boarders. On tho whole the results of the corresoondcnoo lessons had been very ..gratifying, 94 per cent of tho pupils having done most of the lessons assigned. The rector hoped that through this work tho school would bo in its ordinary state of efficiency by the end of tho year. Following the suggestion of the Education Department tho opj0 p j weeks of school time remaining had been divided into two terms of nearly' equal length with a fortnight’s holiday in between. Alessrs Parr and Kidson, secondary school inspectors, would bo, in the school on Wednesday of this week and will remain for three days. It might expedite < matters if the Director of Education could be- persuaded to obtain a report from tho inspectors as to the advisability of adding two more rooms to the new block. The report was adopted.

VISITING COMMITTEE Air AY. D. Campbell, as chairman of the Visiting- Committee, -reported that considerable progress had been made with tho additions at tho Boys’ School. The attention of tho Public Works Department’s inspector was drawn to tlic question of deadening the floor between the top arid bottom storey'. Tho specifications provided for deadening by laying a thick carpet, of felt beneath tho top floor. That, tho inspector considered to bo quite satisfactory. The visit of tho Director of Education had not yet been made. The grounds at both schools wero in excellent order. _ CORRESPONDENCE Tho Education Department’ advised that grant of £l9 9s had been approved for tho purchase of now furniture. Tho Department commended tho action taken by tho Board in placing t-iie order at a timo of temporary slackness ir. the joinery trade. It must point out, however, that it could not hold itself liable for any commitments made by tho Board without first obtaining its authority. Received. A letter was received from tho Audit Office in connection with the bank overdraft incurred with tho Preparatory Account. The sanction of the GovernorGeneral for a general overdraft could not be interpreted as conferring authority to disregard the statutory provision that tho preparatory department must bo self-supporting and not a charge on any other funds.—Received. The question of the appointment of a now teacher for the Girls’ School was left to tho Appointment Committee.