Thames High School.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3579, 16 June 1880, Page 2

Thames High School.

A meeting ot the Governors of the High School Board was held in the Mayor's room at the Borough Council Chambers this morning. Present: L. Eurenfried (Chairman), Dr Kilgour, and Jas. Marshall. Letters and telegrams sent and received since last meeting were read and from them it appeared that the application lately made to the Minister of Education for assistance was likely to be successful, the reply stating that Government would place a sum on the Estimates for that purpose. As regards the survey of the endowment Mr G. T. Wilkinson wrote stating that be had had meetings with the Aroha natives during the last few days, and the result was they had agreed to withdraw all opposition to the survey of the outside lines of the Omahu and Wairakau reserves, and that the survey could (so far as any opposition on their part went) now be gone on with. Applications for the post of teacher of music and singing were then considered. They were six in number, and came from Mr B. A. It. Owen, Mr J. Grigg, Mr C. H. Steward, Miss Belcher, Mrs Alexander, and Mrs Bruce.

Or Kilgour briefly reviewed the merits of the various applicants, and the methods of teaching practised by them He said the tonic sol fa system was in bis opinion unsuitable for a School, and the progress made by pupils was not such as to warrant its introduction by them. The old notation system was infinitely preferable. He thought it would be a good idea to have two teachers, one a male and the other female, and he considered they could not do better than engage Mr Owen and Miss Belcher. He had known them both for a number of years, and they were a long way better qualified for the Sisition than any of the other applicants, c proposed that Mr Owen and Miss Belcner be engaged on the terms men* tioned by them in their application. Mr Marshall had great pleasure in seconding the proposition; From what he knew of the capabilities of each, he had little doubt they would give every satisfaction.

Carried unanimously. ■ . The Chairman then brought up the question of scholarships, and on all his suggestion it was decided that persons giving them be informed that the money must be paid before they were competed for, so that in the event of any donor leaving the district or any other cause, there might not be any difficulty in the matter.

The question of purchasing a piano was then considered, and the matter eventually left to the Chairman to advertise for one. "

A number of ordinary accounts were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated. '