GREY EDUCATION BOARD.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 June 1901, Page 4

GREY EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above Board was held last night. Present: Messrs Harris (chairman), Petrie, White, Flynn, Marshall. Kerr, M'Oarthy, Kettle and Byrne. The hon. treasurer, Mr Kettle, reported receipts from all sources on general account for past month to have been £467 4s and expenditure ,feoos Is Ocl. The credit balance at bank was £414 Os lid against which there was £3Ol 9s, leaving a credit balance £ll3 Os lid. The building account was in credit £402 4s against which the payment of Cobdcn School had to bo provided for. In reply to Mr Petrie, the secretary said no reply had yet been received in regard to High School extra payments, and it was resolved on motion of Mr Kettle to send an urgent telegram to the , Minister upon the question.

Prom the hon. Minister of Education stating that the reason of not receiving a reply relative to appointment of Mr Kerr was owing to application having been sent on to the Royal Commissioner and his long absence in Australia. From Captain Lovcday, organising officer, asking how many cadets would be willing to go to Wellington and Christchurch on the occasion of the coming visit of the Duke of York. Mr Kettle moved that the cadets be allowed to go. Mr Kerr seconded the resolution. 11 would 1)0 a great pity if the lads were disappointed. Mr Marshall also supported, holding that it was a movement that would be conducive to training. Mr Petrie suggested that a subsidy of £1 for £1 up to £lO be given towards the lads, and that the three male teachers in the Grey School and Mr de Berry, who was an officer of the corps, be asked to go and take charge of the lads. Mr White favored Mr Petrie’s suggestion, as also did Mr Byrne. Messrs Kettle Flynn and Kerr accepted the suggestion, which was then agreed to. From Chairman of Householders at Stillwater, stating that the usual course had been followed. He said:— “ According to advertised time the meeting started at 7 30, and after dealing with the balance-sheet and outgoing report I proceeded to take nominations. The meeting was a representative one quite as large as any that have been held for the last five years. After receiving ten nominations I asked if there were any more to be made, and upon receiving the reply no, it was duly proposed and seconded that nominations close, and was carried unanimously. After this_ Mr Church entered, and wished to nominate a person who resided in the Kokiri School District. This I refused to accept, After which voting took place and resulted as follows: —W. Shannon (13), J. O’Donnell (12), J. Lumberg (12), H. O’Donnell (10), J. Johnston (10), H. Coop (9), T. Moriarty (9), E. Glen (8), T. Manners (6), T. M'Millan (5). All who voted had the necessary qualification to do so.Mr Church was interrupting the meeting. Therefore, I asked him to respect my ruling, or leave the room ; so he left the x’oom before the ballot was taken.” Mr Marshall said he had a letter from Mr M'Millan’ complaining that no ballot papers would be given out at a quarter to eight. He fancied the better way to have done at last meeting would, have been to cause a fresh election, but now it was too late. Mr Flynn said the report of the Chairman was satisfactory, and he moved that the election bo upheld. Seconded by Mr Byrne. Mr Kettle thought it seemed strange that nominations closed so soon, but apparently it was carried out in good order.

Resolution put and carried. From Chairman Dobson School meeting as follows: — “ At the adjourned meeting of householders held in the schoolroom on the 28th instant to elect.'a committee for the Dobson School, there were ton present, including three ladies. The balancesheet and secretary’s report were approved of. There were eleven nominations. The ballot was ] taken, and the highest number of votes for seven members resulted as follows, and declared by the Chairman as duly elected: —Messrs J. Irving, R. Barnett, J. Temperly, W. Griffiths, P. Curtain, Mrs Teasdale and E. Hill. The newly-elected committee held their first meeting at the close of the public meeting, when James Irving was elected chairman, E. Hill secretary, and Mrs Teasdale treasurer (one lady on Dobson Committee). The Committee hoped that the Board would not forget their promise in painting the school.” Mr Petrie said as there was no protest, and as Tuesday’s meeting was an adjournment of Monday’s meeting, he would movie that it be ratified. Seconded by Mr Marshall. Mr Kerr was not averse to the resolution, but did not want it made a precedent.

Resolution carried. From Miss Macdonald, asking for three months’ leave of absence owing to ill health. A doctor’s certificate accompanied the application. Mr Marshall favored the additional throe months leave of absence. Mr Kettle seconded, holding that under the circumstances it was an act of grace that the Board could well afford to give. Mr Kerr warned the Board against going too far in regard to such matters. The finances of the Board were a bit strained, but ho would not oppose. Resolution carried. From Nelson Creek Committee asking that a teacher’s residence be erected, the present house being dilapidated and almost uninhabitable. Mr Kettle moved that the committee be asked for an estimate of cost. Seconded by Mr Marshall. Mr Petrie said the building was in a very bad condition, and the Board must face the question at once. Mr White said the Board was unfortunately not in a financial position to undertake the work. The resolution was simply misleading the committee. Mr White moved that the Committee be asked to sell present buiding and hand money to Board, the latter to provide house allowance. Amendment carried against resolution. Ultimately upon motion of Mr Petrie, seconded by Mr Flynn, the question of selling tbe bouse and granting allowance be left to the Committee to decide after consulting the teacher. Upon the application of the Nelson School Committee to have Miss Barnhill appointed assistant teacher, the Inspector said she had not yet completed her pupil teachership and was not yet qualified for three months to come, Mr Kettle moved that the Committee be informed that Miss Barnhill, not having completed her term, is not eligible till January. Mr Kerr seconded the resolution which was carried. , Letter from Chairman Cobden School election Committee as follows : “ After the outgoing committee had read their report and balance-sheet, I was voted to the’chair. There was a Lt of persons present who In ray opinion had no right to vote, namely boys under ago, ladies whose husbands were present, and

persons who had not been in the district three months, and a person from Barrytown, also a young man who owns a cottage, but has a tenant residing in it, who was present and recorded his vote. This young man is living at homo with his father, but he held that he was entitled to vote, which I ruled he could not do.

“ After rending the School Committee Election Act, and asking all present who had not resided in the district three months to leave the room. I was asked the question if a man and wife could both vote. I decided the husband was the only one entitled to vote unless ho was dead or absent from the Colony when the mother or guardian could then vote. The ladies present then left the room. I note that the petition mentions a person was present and voted who was not in the district three months. I have seen this person since, and asked him it that was true. The only satisfaction I can get from him was that at the time of the election he had paid sixteen weeks rent, and reckoned ho was in tho district over three months; also ho tells me that he signed the petition to upset the election, which I see is true. I may also mention that he was appointed one of the scrutineers, and no one objected. After clearing the room of all persons who had no vote, I wont on with the election, and called for nominations, and after balloting I declared tho seven persons who had received the highest number of votes duly elected, namely—Messrs Jas. Poulter, W. Williams, J. Skeats, J. T.(Nolson, E. Nelson, Thos Willis, and T. Ford. Election on motion of the Chairman seconded by Mr Flynn that election be declared legal.

Mr Petrie asked why a vote for a range for Totara Flat Schoolhonse had not been paid. The secretary said the matter had been overlooked, and it was agreed to pay same if found correct.

Mr Petrie desired to sec the subjects for Scholarships in the Grey District made similar to those for the Victoria College Scholarship so as to give pupils in the district a better chance of competing for such Scholarship. The Inspector said the subject chosen was practically one of those set forth by the Victoria College. Mr Petrie contended that this was scarcely so. It would be much better to adopt the Victoria College science syllabus, which would give candidates from the district a better chance. They would not be tied down to one subject, but teachers would select one for which tbc pupil had an aptitude. The Inspector pointed out that last year the booksellers got the books bo had set forth, and it was partially in fairness to them that the selection was made.

Mr Petrie thought the advantages to be gained by the pupils should come first.

Mr Kettle moved that Messrs Petrie, Kerr and the Chairman be a committee along with the Inspector to draft a schedule.

Mr M'Carthy seconded the resolution which was carried.

The following applications were received for No Town School; —Misses Moriarty, M'Laughlin, Malone, and M'Manners.

It was resolved to forward applications to the committee for recommendation.

It was unanimously resolved that the Chairman and Secretary proceed to Wellington during visit of the Duke of York, the opportunity to he embraced of interviewing the Minister of Education relative to Cobden School.