THE EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 2909, 15 June 1872, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BOARD.

The following business was transacted at yesterday’s meeting : It appeared that the people at Limestone Plains were very anxious that their children should be educated. A suitable site for a school building had been fixed upon, and reserved by the Provincial Council. There were 23 children of school age, and 22 under school age. It was resolved to establish a side school there. Application was made for a school in the Waihemo district, and it appeared that if one were opened it would be attended by 23 children during the first year. The settlers had, according to a subscription list produced, subscribed about L7O for the erection of a school building. It was decided to sanction the opening of a side school there. A school was asked for Pine Hill district. It appeared that there were 20 children under four years, and 45 between four and four*

teen, living at too great a distance from any of the present schools. The aplicatiou was deferred, in order to ascertain whether there was any public land suitable for a school site. A side school, which it appeared wonld be attended by 28 children, was sanctioned for Oreti. Appointments of female pupil teachers to Otepopo, Blueskin, and Riverton district schools, were sanctioned. Application was made for a pupil teacher for the Weth rstones side school. The application stated that the present sewing mistress was insufficiently paid for the amount of work she did, and asked that in addition to her present appointment she should receive that of pupil teacher. The application was declined, pupil teachers being allowed only to main schools. The Committee of the Kyehurn subsidised school had, it appeared, appointed to the office of master Mr Johnson, a Dublin University man, but who had not been certificated under the regulations. It was resolved that meanwhile no objection be made to Mr Johnson’s appointment; but that it be not sanctioned or otherwise, until the Inspector had reported upon the school. Letters were read from Adam’s Flat, Waiwera, and Clark’s Flat, asking the Board to reconsider their decision relative to the status of these schools ; but the Board resolved to abide by the regulations and their former decision.

Applications from West Taieri, Buff, and East Taieri, relative to the payment of salaries, the granting of which might have the effect of making a reduction in them, were granted. The case of Mr Robertson, of the Awaraoko School, was considered. The report of the Select Committee of the Provincial Council, and the petition of the settlers in that locality, were read. Mr Robertson, who has been a schoolmaster for the past eight years, being in ill-health, Mrs Robertson had, it appeared, been appointed to the school by the Education Beard ; the School Committee of the district now protested against the appointment, saying it was their right to appoint. Mr Hislop said when he had advised the Board to take this course, he was under the impression it would prove an acceptable arrangement to the district, but now Mrs Robertson's appointment in her husband’s stead was opposed on the very strongest terms. It was resolved to give effect to tho recommendation of the local School Committee, and the Board accordingly resolved to cancel Mrs Robertson’s engagement at three months’ notice, and empowered the School Committee to terminate Mr Robi-rt-

son’s engagement if they so desired, in terms of the Ordinance. The appointment of Mrs Kobertson, his Honor remarked, had been made with a kind intention, and those who objected to it could have little of the milk of human kindness in them.

The resident governess at the Girls’ Provincial School having sent in her resignation, Mrs Burn wrote stating that a competent governess could not be obtained here, but she hoped, through the assistance of her friends in Melbourne, to be able to get one there, and asked the Board’s permission to do so. The present payment, LBO ard board was insufficient; the salary of a competent resident governess ought to be LfOO, and she could not expect to get one for less. The Board sanctioned Mrs Burn’s recommendatious.

It was resolved that it was expedient that the site of the main school at the Kaikoral should be the spot indicated hy the Inspector, near the Drill Shed, and the matter was referred to the Executive.

A number of claims from various districts were approved of, and referred to the Executive.

Some business concerning education reserves was disposed of.