MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8120, 14 April 1906, Page 5

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Masterton Sahool Committee was held on Thursday evening. There were present—Messrs J. 'Carpenter' (in the chair), E. Praguell, E. H. Waddingtdn, J. Heyhoo. aud G. Townseud. Trie Treasurer rtportnd a credit balance to date of £i'J 3s 2d. The Eduoation 13oard wrote statin)? that it ir.itfbt bo necessary to. delay for some littla time. the trauafor of Mr C N. Haelam, of Carterton, to the position of first assistant at tho MnHterton District High School. A letter was also received from the Education Board, expressing satisfaction with tho earnest way in which the scheme of instruction in elementary agricult fcure was being supported by the Committee and other Mastertou residents.

The Secretary for Education wrote stating that with reference to the proposal to introduce a fire prevention service at tho Distract High School, ho waa directed by the Minister of Education to'inform the Committee that the Government was unable to deal with the question of works at public schiois except through the Eduoation Board. The Education Hoard notified that the Board ban decided to comply with the Committee's request to grant £ for £ of the cost of the work of asphalting the yard at the school.

A letter was received from Mr A. N. Burns, 8.A., acknowledging the receipt of the congratulations and good wisbo . He wished to express his appreciation of the Committee's kind feeling towards him, and liis thanks for their courteous treatment during his term of service in the Masterton School. The Committee, by its considerate treatment of teachers, did much to further the interests of education. 1

Accounts amounting to £lO 5s Id were passed for 'payment. . , A statemont was submitted by the Secretary showing that tho receipts for the year had been £3lB 103 9d. A credit balauce ot £i 7s 5d was shown for the. ycari

It was decided to place 011 record the Committee's high appreciation ot Rev. D. J. Murray's work while a member of the Committee, and his services in the cause of education generally, and regrettijg hia departure.

Tho visitiug members appointed were:—Messrs G. Townsond, E. H. Warklington and R Brown. The headmaster's report stated, inter alia: Attendance Main School: Roll 655, average atendance 608, percentage of attendance 92. Side School: roll 171, average attendance 157, percentage of attendane 92. Secondary Classes: roll 76, average attendance 73, percentage of attendance 96. Bad weather was experienced on four half-days. In spite of this, however, a good percentage of attendance for the month has been made. 1 am particularly pleased with the excellent attendance in the Secondary Classes. The Board's Truant Officer has visited the homes of a number of the truant cases ou the list, and summonses have been prepared by him, I understand ho is holding these summonses over in some cases in order to "see if there is improvement during the next three months. Miss E. Williams, 8.A., commenced duty as third assistant in the Secondary Department on the 2nd instant. This department is now staffed on a new scale, determined by the average attendance in the secondary classes. In order to en - title thesohool to three secondary assistants, the average attendance must be 71 nr over, in the Secondary Department. Every effort is being made to maintain the required average. To supply the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr Burns, Mr D. M. Poison has been sent by the Board to fill the vacancy till, the end of the month. lam pleased to report .that ■ progress is being; made in tho preparation of the ground for the sohool garden. The site has been ploughed and harrowed and the first outcrop of stones and houlders picked off. As scon as the ground has been worked to a greater depth with cultivators, and the second crop of stones jemoved, the section will be ready for fencing and laying' out. The asphalting work is now nearly completed by the borough staff, under the supervision of tho Borough Engineer, and is an excellent pieco of work, and a splendid improvement. The Board's new oookery teacliar, Misa Talbot, ha 3 visited tho school, and I have made arraugomouts fur classes to commence at once.