EDUCATION BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 350, 26 February 1902, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

GISBORNE MATTERS. GISBORNE DELEGATES' INTERVIEW. j Special to Times. [ Napier, last night.

The Makauri examination was postponed until October. Mr Bolton’s resignation was accepted. The Frasertown application for a teacher's residence was refused on the ground of no funds. The Ormond proposal to erect a cottage was abandoned, the lowest tender being

excessive. For Tolago Bay, fresh tenders are to be called for the erection of a school. Gisborne matters occupied a lengthy period of the meeting, and the Board did not rise till late in the evening. The Chairman said that in connection with the somewhat clamorous attitude taken up by the Gisborne Committee with regard to the various matters, he had thought it advisable to invito them to send a delegate to meet and consult with the Board. Mr W. Morgan had come down from Gisborne, and yesterday there had been a long consultation between him, the Inspector, and the speaker. Mr Morgan was also in attendance at that meeting of the Board. The Chairman's action was approved of.

The Chairman said that the whole of the applications for the position of headmaster at Gisborne had been sent to the Committee. This was contrary to the Board's policy. The system they had always adopted was to forward only the names of those who were considered suitable for the position. It was decided that the action of the Selection Committee in forwarding all applications should not bo regarded as a precedent. The Gisborne Committee complained that a Mr Wells had been sent to their School, instead of the teacher chosen by them.

The Chairman said that the toacher selected would not go, and that the best man that could be got was sent in his

place. Mr Morgan said that- what the Committoo objected to was that they had no voice in the appointment of Mr Wells. He might bo the best man in tho district, but the Committee had not been given an opportunity of seeing his testimonials. It was explained that Mr Wells had been sent to the School as second assistant.

Mr Hill said if tho new classification was adopted, it would bo oompotent for the Board to appoint Mr Wells third assistant, and invite applications for the position of second. Mr Morgan said tho Committee would accept Mr Hill’s suggestion. Mr Tanner said there was no reason why Mr Wells should not be rotaiued as second, and applications called for the position of third. Mr Morgan said the Committee would not accept that. Captain Russell said perhaps it would voluntarily accept him for the position of third assistant. If not tho Board would be bound to sustain his appointment as second, although he might have a rough time. Mr Tanner thought that the Gisborne Committeo were men of too high a character to make things uncomfortable for tho teacher, whatever they might think of tho Board for making the appointment. It was decided to send a letter of explanation to the Committeo, together with an intimation that applications would be called for the appointment of third assistant. It was reported that the Gisborne Committee and District High School Board Governors, having applied to have their school brought under the amended regulations of the Education Department, a rearrangement of tho conditions between the Governors, the Committee, and tho Board had been necessary. A Committee of the Board had mot, and with Mr Morgan had prepared an agreement which was submitted for approval. Mr Morgan said ho could not accept the agreement on behalf of bis Committee until he had seen the now regulations. At a subsequent stage he announced that tho new regulations had been considered, and the agreement could now do dealt with. One clause confining pupils to residents of Waiapu and Cook County was objected to by Captain Russell on tho ground that Wairoa County should not be excluded. He thought the agreement should apply to the whole of the Hawke’s Bay Educational district. Ho moved an amendment to that effect. Mr Morgan said that ho could not accept the amendment without consulting his colleagues. He could only accept tho agreement subject to the reservation. The amendment was carried, and tho remainder of the agreement was adopted. The Gisborne High School Governors wrote complaining that Gisborne scholarships had not been awarded. The Chairman said that ho would not take the responsibility of sending on the names till the Board understood their position under the new district high school regulations, which made tuition free. The question was, should scholarships bo allowed to children resident in a district where secondary education is free '! Mr McLernon moved, and it was seconded by Mr Westall, “ That the scholarships gained by the Gisborne candidates be awarded for a period of twelve months.” Mr Morgan was heard on the subject, and urged that it was the duty of the Board to grant scholarships to the Gisborne pupils who had complied with the conditions and bad been successful. The motion was carried, and it was decided to ask the Department whether the money should be paid to the children or to the Gisborne High School Governors. The question of opening a side school at Gisborne was bell over, pending Mr Hill’s report as to how the different sites proposed would affect the attendance at the main school, and it was decided to hire a room to relieve the congested state of tho school.

; By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, last night. At the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay : Education Board to-day a lengthy discusi sion took place on matters connected with the Gisborne school, and Mr W. Morgan, 1 a delegate from Gisborne, was present to explain the position. The Chairman’s action in agreeing to the presence of the delegate was approved, as was that of the : selection committee in forwarding all applications for the position of headmaster of the Gisborne school direct to tbo Gisborne committee, but it was agreed that the action of the Board in this case must not be taken as a precedent. With reference to .the Gisborne committee's complaint that the Board had sent a teacher (Mr Welis) in Mr Cole’s place without consulting them, it was decided to send an explanation to the committee, pointing out that the best man had been sent for the position, failing Mr Wilson’s acceptance of the vacancy originally, and that applications would be invited for the position of third assistant. With regard to the Gisborne High School, and the question of scholarships gained by children in that district, it was resolved that the Gisborne scholarships this year be for a period of six months. A statement of the case is to be drawn up and submitted to the Department for its advice whether the Board should pay the scholarship money to the Governors or to the children. The Gisborne Committee of the District High School having applied to the Board that the School might be brought under the amended regulations of the Education Department dated Bth Janu- ' ary, 1901, dealing with the District High School, a rearrangement of the conditions existing between the Education Board and the Governors of the Gisborne High School was found to be necessary, seeing that the Governors of the High School assist in the maintenance of the teaching staff employed in the secondary classes at Gisborne. Mr W. Morgan, Chairman of the Gisborne High School Board of Governors, was present by invitation, and as representing the Governors and the District School Committee of Gisborne. After a full enquiry into all the circumstances, the following points were agreed upon as forming the basis of an agreement between the Board and the Gisborne High

Ichooll. That secondary classes of j ho Gisborne District High School br i pened as from January Ist, 1902, as free I lasses under regulation 6, to all pupils , rithin the Hawke’s Bay Education Dis- i rict who have passed Standard YI -f the primary school course, and who i uake not less than SO par cent, oi j he possible attendances during each , [uarter the classes are opened. 2. That , inder section 9 of the i’ublic School ] L’eachers’ Salaries Act, the Board, with i he sanction of the Minister (section 8 ol he Act I agree to provide and maintain a caching staff for the instruction of the lecondary pupils, subject to the condition hat if tho sum payable to the Board mder the district- high school regulations, md estimated at £6 per head ou the iverage attendance, is insufficient for the payment of tho salaries of tho special staff, the Governors of the Gisborne High School undertake to make up auy deficiency, so that the school may be carried on without pecuniary loss to the Board. 3. That the staff of tho secondary classes are subject to tho control and general direction of the headmaster in the same way as the staff and the primary classes of the school. 4. That all the rules and regulations of the Board relating to the district schools operate in the caso of are engaged in the secondary classes. Mr Morgan, on behalf of the Gisborne governors, said he could not accept the substitution of “ Hawke’s Bay Education Board District ” for the “ Cook and Waiapu Counties ” in Clause 1, and he must consult his colleagues ou tho matter. It was decided to forward the Board’s decision to tho Gisborne Governors, asking them to reply for tho next meeting of tho Board.

Tho questions of free and paying pupils and of the £65 held by the Board are to be referred to tho Department for advice. A sub-committee was appointed to further confer with Mr Morgan on Thursday morning.