MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1996, 21 May 1885, Page 2

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of tho Masterton School Committee was held last evening. Present.—Messrs Boddington, Chairman, Lowes, Girdwood, Hogg, Woodroofe, Reese, and Payton. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported a credit balance of £l6 0s 9d. Correspondence was read from the Education Board declining the recommendation of the Committee to give Mr Kay an increase of salary. From Mr Finlay Bethuno resigning his appointment as assistant in order to take up a position in a South Island School. From Mr G. M. Park suggesting that a horticultural class in connection with the School by the erection of a greenhouse for the use of the children be formed, and that Mr Collotte would give the necessary instruction gratis to such a class. Re Mr Kay's claim for an increase of salary, it was resolved that the Chairman submit reasons to tho Board for reconsidering the matter. The Chairman referring to Mr Bethune's resignation stated that they had every reason to believe that he had been an efficient teacher, and he had also displayed

commendable interest in the outdoor amusements of the children. It was "resolved that the Committee express their regret to Mr Bethune in losing his services, and that their best wishes be. conveyed to him for his success in his new sphere of labor.

Mr Park's letter was then discussed, Mr Lowes moved that it be acknowledged,:.as he failed to see its practical utility when they had other more necessary instruction to provide for. Mr Hogg seconded Mr Lowes' motion. The Chairman suggested that a carpenters' workshop would be a more useful addition to the school. < Mr Hogg said he would sooner see the children taught how to grow wheat and potatoes than instructed in the cultivation of flowers.

Mr Woodroofe suggested that Mr Park should give horticultural, lectures to the children.-''.

Mr Girdwood thought Mr Park's suggestion neither practical nor practicable. Mr Payton considered that -if a horticultural class could be formed' in connection with the school, it would be a good thing. Mr Park's letter had already done : good by.suggesting to their Chairman a further idea, viz., that of a carpenters' shop, If there were directions in which they could move with advantage to the school, why not set to work, He would move that a committee be appointed to report upon introducing technical instruction into the school.

Mr Hogg thought that a night school had a prior claim upon them. Mr Lowes suggested that they should wait for the coming proposals of the Minister on technical education, Mr Hogg said he regarded Mr Park's proposal as one of the biggest absurdities that could be attached to a school. It was a hair-brained idea.

Mr Payton's resolution not being seconded lapsed and Mr Lowes' motion was carried on the voices.

Mr Girdwood complained of the delay in opening a side school. The matter appeared to be shelved by the Board and they had nn reply to their communicaitons upon it. Mr Payton said if a suggestion he had previously made "to appoint a sub-com-mittee to look after the interests of the side school" had been carried out there would have been a standing body which would have been in a position to deal promptly with eveiy difficulty and delay which arose in inaugurating this new enterprise.

Mr Girdwood moved that the Secretary write to the Board to enquire when the side school should be opened. Mr Woodroofe seconded the motion.

Mr Payton moved as an amendment that a sub-committee be appointed to arrange for opening the side school at as early a date as possible.

Mr Hogg complained that the delay arose from the constitution of the Board, which only allowed it to move once a month Through the red tape system under which it worked, it was thoroughly inefficient.

Mr Lowes thought the machinery of the Board moved fast enough for the money they had available for expenditure.

Mr Girdwood's resolution was then put and carried.

The Headmaster's report was then read. Number of children on roll, 522 ; average attendance, 411.

The following accounts were passed for paymentW. Sellar, £4l7s; Institute, £3 2s; Mr Shepherd, 17s Gd; Mrs Shepherd, £2los; S. Kingdon,£4 lis; J. fiansome, 9s: Smith and Hogg, £2 10s; Whitfc and Donaldson, £los (id. The meeting then adjourned.