Masterton School Committee.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2955, 20 July 1888, Page 2

Masterton School Committee.

The regular monthly meeting of tho School Committer was held last night, Present: Messrs MoEwen, Galloway, Prangnell, and Hogg. The Seoretary read an apology from Mr E. Feist, who was unable through indisposition to attend. Mr McEwen was appointed chairman.

The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed, and the Treasurer reported a credit balance of £23 8s 2d, The Mowing circular was read from the Secretary of the Education Board:—"To the Secretary School Committee, Maaterton.—l am directed to call your attention to an article in the New Zealand Times of the 10th June, containing some grievous charges against the morality of the Board Schools, and improper conduct on the part of teachers, Committee, or.the Board, in hushing up scandals. The article in question, copies of which I regret loannot now obtain, does not state who aro tho parties or bodies involved, :but; it states =that ■" the 'intellectual ! improvement has " been accompanied in some degree " by moral depravation. * * * That "some very deplorable facts have " been brought under the notice of the "paper by a grieved parent, who "shrinks from the humiliation in- " volved by publicity, * * * and that "the boys and girls are herded " together." I shall feel extremely obliged if you xau give me any information you possess on the Question referred to, and your opinion thereon, before Wednesday next, in order that I miy submit the matter to the Board on that day, with tho fullest information available.—A. Dorset Secretary. The Secretary explained that as the time for sending a reply would expire before that meeting, Mr Grundy had written by authority of the Chairman stating no irregularities were known ofinMasterton.

The Head Master reported the nunv bor of scholars on the books to be 670; with an average attendance of 4091 The highest was 466 and the lowest 261. The low average was due to the holidays and exceptionally wet weather. The report further contained a notification of the fact that Miss Gray had resigned her appointment as pupil teacher, and a recommendation that the Board be asked to fill the vacancy forthwith.

Miss Keeling reported on the Infant School that seventeen scholars had been translated to the higher school. The number on tlia roll was 112, the highest attendance being 104, the lowest 84, with an average of 00.

On the motion of Mr Galloway, seconded by Mr Frangnell, it was resolved that the Board be requested to advertise for an infautmistress for the main school.

The following accounts wore submitted:—W. J. Morrison, repairing harmonium, 1818s; Treeu, labor, 6s; Secretary, £3lss {cleaning the school £3 13s 4d.

Before the accounts were passed, Mr Hogg said he must take the opportunity of recording his objection to the action of the Chairman in employing the man Morrison to repair the harmonium at the public school. He thought it a scandalous thing such a notorious character should be engaged. Their funds should not be used to support such a scoundrel as that—a man, according to the police record, with a ; number of aliases and notoriously immoral. He. b«4 heart that a

man bearing the description of the fellow Morrison was workhv at the Public School, but he thought it couldnotbeso afterwhat had occurred, and the notoriety given to it. It was an extraordinary piece of work on the patt of whoever waß to blame to allow the man to enter the school at all. The Secretary explained that at a meeting of the school committee held two months previoaßly, instructions were given him to invite applications from competent persons for repairs to the school harmonium. He had done so, and the loweßt tender, that of Morrison, was accepted. .This was before any doubt had arisen as to the man's character. The man Morrison

had been to him to know when he was to go on with the work and he had referred him to the chairman, who, having no option, instructed him to proceed therewith. The. work had been done and the contract price paid to him. ■".''..

Mr Hogg said in the absence; of the Chairman he would not touoh further upon the question.-He only wished his objection placed on record. The accounts were then passed for payment. • ■.-..

The Chairman, Sepretary, and' Mr MoEwen were appointed to fix.: a Bite for an Abyssinian pump at tho infant sohool. ■■ ■■■; '■"-..' ■':■'.' '

Referring to the low average attendance at the schools Mr Hogg thought the erection of a second school should again be brought forward. '.Many children were kept back' from school because of the distance they had! to travel, They got soaked through and had to sit in their wet clothing for hours thereby ondangeringtheir health, He moved that the Education Board be reminded of the urgent necessity of proceeding at once with the erection of a second school at Masterton for the convenience of the large population at the north end of the Borough, Mr Prangnell seconded the motion which was carried. Mr Hogg was appointed visiting member for the ensuing month.