E.—2.

[Appendix B.

CANTERBURY. Sir,— Christchurch, Ist June, 1921. I have the honour to present the following report of the proceedings of the Education Board of the District of Canterbury for the year ended 31st December, 1920: — The Board. —In the month of July, 1920, the biannual election of members took place, resulting in the re-election of Mr. A. Peverill (Christchurch Urban Area), Mr. H. J. Bignell (North-west Ward), Mr. W. P. Spencer (Middle Ward), and Mr. G. W. Armitagc (South Ward), and in the election of Mr. C. S. Thompson (Christchurch Urban Area) and Mr. J. G. Gow (Timaru Urban Area). The members remaining in office without re-election were : Christchurch Urban Area —Mr. E. H. Andrews, Mr. J. Jamieson ; Timaru Urban Area—Mr. J. Maze; North-west Ward —Hon. J. Grimmond ; Middle Ward —Mr. W. A. Banks ; South Ward, —Mr. T. Hughes. At a special meeting of the Board held on the Ist September Mr. E. H. Andrews was re-elected Chairman of the Board. The following standing committees were also set up : Buildings —Mr. Armitage (Chairman), Mr. Bignell, Mr. Maze, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Peverill, Mr. Spencer ; Appointments—Mr. Andrews, Mr. Banks (Chairman), Mr. Gow, Hon. Mr. Grimmond, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Thompson ; Agriculture and Manual and Technical —Mr. Maze (Chairman), Mr. Armitage, Mr. Banks, Mr. Bignell, Hon. Mr. Grimmond, Mr. Hughes ; Finance —Mr. Bignell (Chairman), Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Maze, Mr. Peverill, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Thompson ; Normal School —Mr. Hughes (Chairman), Mr. Banks, Mr. Gow, Mr. Jamieson, Mr. Peverill, Mr. Thompson. Board's Representatives. —During the year several changes took place in the personnel of the Board's representatives on High School Boards. Akaroa : Mr. L. J. Vangioni was elected for the term ending 31st March, 1921, and Mr. A. H. Westenra in respect of term expiring March, 1922. Ashburton : Mr. J. Tucker was re-elected, and Mr. R. Bell was elected in place of the late Mr. W. B. Denshire. Timaru : Mr. J. Maze was elected in place of Mr. C. S. Howard. The representation on other High School Boards remained unaltered, and was as follows : Greymouth —Mr. W. R. Kettle ; Hokitika—Hon. H. L. Michel; Rangiora—Mr. W. A. Banks, Mr. H. Boyd; Waimate—Mr. W. Lindsay, Mr. G. J. A. Shackleton. Boards of Managers of Technical Classes : Akaroa —Mr. J. S. Dodds, Mr. T. Lewitt, Mr. H. Odell; Ashburton—Mr. G. W. Andrews, Mr. R. Galbraith, Mr. F. Watt, J.P, Mr. R. A. Collins ; Christchurch—Mr. C. H. Opic, J.P., Mr. A. Peverill, Mr. G. E. Franklin, J.P., Mr. H. R. Rushbridge, J.P., Mr. W. Jones, Mr. McGregor Wright, Mr. W. H. Cooper, J.P., Mr. W. R. Gahagan, J.P. ; Fairlie —Mr. T. Foden, Rev. A. E. Standage, Mr. J. R. Lack, J.P.; Geraldine— Dr. G. W. Hislop, Mr. T. Sherratt, Mr. T. Hughes, B.A. ; Kaiapoi—Mr. R. Wylie, Mr. R. Dunn, Mr. F. Thorne ; Pleasant Point—Mr. J. Maze, Mr. L. Lawrenson, Mr. W. R. Oborn ; Temuka—Mr. G. W. Armitage, J.P., Mr. G. Thompson, Mr. F. Sanders ; Timaru—Mr. J. G. Gow, M.A., Mr. G. Scaley, J.P., Mr. H. Innes-Jones ; Waimate —Mr. E. H. Hassall, Mr. W. Geddes, Mr. S. I. Fitch. School Buildvngs. —The year 1920 was a busy one in the Board's building department. An endeavour was made to overtake much repair work that had been held up during the war, and as many workmen as could be conveniently handled were employed in the various districts renovating and overhauling schools and residences. In addition the Board largely employed its own workshop staffs in the erection of new buildings. Tender work had become so unsatisfactory that the alternative policy, which had been in operation for some years in a comparatively small way, assumed fairly large proportions. The establishing of fully equipped workshops at Christchurch and Greymouth, similar to the one at Timaru, enabled the Board to cope with nearly everything required in the way of buildings, either brick or wood. The following are some of the more important works carried out or started during the year by the Board's staffs: Amberley (technical school); Owenga and Te Roto, Chatham Islands (new schools) ; Hororata (residence) ; Linwood (additions) ; North Brighton (school); South Brighton (school); Opawa (school); Rokeby (school); Phillipstown (technical school) ; Training College (drill-hall) ; Carcw (additions) ; Hook (school) ; Geraldine (technical school) ; Greymouth (technical school); Waibo (school). Buildings have also been provided by purchase or contract at Heathcotc (residence), Maronan (school), Mount Somers (school), and Willowbridge (residence). New sites or additions to existing sites have been acquired at Burwood, Cashmere, Christchurch West, Elmwood, Leeston, Linwood Avenue, Marchwiel (Timaru), Opawa, Phillipstown, Prebbleton, Shirley, Somerfield, Waltham, and Christchurch (manual-training centre). At the date of this report a new school of nine rooms at Phillipstown is also in course of construction. When completed this building will enable the residents to send all their children to one school, a privilege of which, owing to circumstances outside the Board's control, they have been deprived for many years. The maintenance of school buildings during the past year has imposed a heavy financial burden upon the Board. Notwithstanding the additional grant from the Department, the amount available for the purpose has been quite inadequate, owing to the increased cost of repairs and painting. Owing to the financial stringency and the inadequacy of the grants made for maintenance, the Board is compelled for the present to restrict expenditure to matters of extreme urgency, of which School Committees have been informed. Schools. —The number of schools open at the end of the year was 380; of these twenty were aided or household schools. New schools of the household type were opened at Round Hill (Hakataramea), Slatey Creek (Grey), and Tetaho (Ross) ; at Baxter's Mill (Grey) another school was also started. During the year similar schools at Cook's River, Flea Bay, Glen Alton, Gray's Corner, Maungatiro, and Waiho were closed. Owing to the small attendance in the secondary departments, the district high schools at Kaiapoi and Lincoln were disestablished, much to the Board's regret. At the date of this report similar action has been taken by the Department in respect of Darfield. The following

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