CENTRAL SCHOOL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 9, 8 December 1926, Page 7

CENTRAL SCHOOL

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of Central School Committee was held last night, Rev. Harold l 1 'Peat presiding. Others present were Messrs W. R. Mayes, W. B. Willoughby, H. J. Canton, A. H. Mills, F. Pycroft, R. C. Reay and A. H. Fisher (secretary). Advice was received from the Wanganui Education Board that committees were now exempt from the payment of stamp duty on cheques and receipts.—The secretary reported that he had already made arrangements for securing the special cheque books issued by the board. The Y.M.C.A. Swimming Club was granted the use of the baths on Tuesday and Thursday evenings (an hour each night) throughout the present season, as in the past two years. In regard to a request made bv the committee concerning the roof or the infant department, tbe Education Board advised that its architect had been authorised to attend to the matter. In regard to a claim made by the committee for a subsidy on moneys expended in 1923, the board wrote advising that, after carefully going through the accounts submitted, it had decided that, as most of the amounts claimed were for repair work at the school baths and for installing lighting, and for general repairs at the school, it could not see its way clear to pay over the subsidy claimed, as these items had nothing to do with the work of improving and draining the school grounds. In another letter the board intimated that tlio Government had now approved of the subsidy amounting to £36 3s Id on voluntary contributions received by the committee towards the cost of laying down lawns at the school. Other advice from the board was to the effect that, if the attendance during the current quarter increased sufficiently, any adjustment in the staff that might be necessary would be made at the beginning of the new year. An application by the Girl Guides’ Association for the use of the school baths on February 19, 1927, for the purpose of holding swimming sports was granted.

HEADMASTER’S REPORT. The headmaster (Mr L. F. de Berry) , reported that the average attendance tor the month had been 781.8, and that the roll now stood at 825. At the recent teachers’ examinations the probationers at the school had done excellently. Misses Callaghan and Neumann would both leave tlie staff at the end of the year and enter the Training College. Visitors during the month had included Dr. Gunn, Nurse Fisher, Mr Elliott (of the department of dental hygiene), Mr Hodge (architect to the Wanganui Education Board) and Inspector Crawford. He had to acknowledge the gift of material from Mr L. H. Colfinson. Seven pupils from the school were at present at the health camp at Turakina. Standard 11. B, under Mrs Bristow, had given a very interesting concert in the school hall, and as a result £7 had been banked for the school library fund. The school would close on Friday, December 17, and re-open on Tuesday, February 1. The breakingup ceremony would take place on Friday-, December 17, and the annual concert four days prior to this. Concluding, Mr de Berry on behalf of the school and staff, extended Christmas greetings to the committee and thanked that body for its co-operation during the year. The report was adopted, and the secretary was instructed to write congratulating the successful probationers at the teachers’ examinations, and to thank Mr Collinson for his gift. Congratulations were extended Standard 11. B on the success of the concert they had given. GENERAL. In regard to the Turakina health camp, it was decided to make a donation of £5 towards the funds. Arrangements for the annual concert were then made, the secretary and chairman being deputed to apportion the work to be done by the various members of the committee.