BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 8, 9 June 1874, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Monday, June 8. The Board of Education met yesterday, at three p.m. Present—Messrs C. C. Bowen (in the chair), G. Gould, A. C. Knight, Inglis, J. N. Tosswill, and W. Montgomery. UPPER ASHBURTON, Mr Walker attended as a deputation from the Upper Ashburton, asking the Board to take the necessary steps for having the Upper Ashburton proclaimed an educational district. The Board decided to take the necessary steps. TEMUKA AND MILFORD. Dr Rayner attended the Board and complained that the salaries of the masters at Temuka and Milford had not been paid in some cases until six weeks after they were due. The Chairman said that the Board would consider the matter, and see whether the cheques could not be forwarded in a more direct manner. Dr Rayner suggested that in the case of a vacancy in a school committee it should not be left as now to the committee to fill up, but should be left to the ratepayers the same as in Road Boards. The Chairman said that when it was proposed to re-consider the Education Ordinance, the Board would be happy to give Dr Rayner's suggestion consideration. The secretary was directed to go to the treasury and ascertain what steps could be taken to pay the teachers' salaries in the outlying districts. MASTERS' HOUSES.

The Chairman drew attention to the fact that several masters' houses wera now in the course of erection, and he thought that the Board should make some general rule on the subject,

The secretary was directed to communicate with all committees building masters' houses, requesting them to put the house and grounds into proper condition for occupancy, and to make an agreement with the in-comiriir master that he shall keep the house and premises in good repair. PAEEOEA. A letter was received from the Pareora school committee announcing their resignation in consequence of the action of the Board in erecting the school-house. The secretary was instructed to inform his Honor the Superintendent that there was no school committee at Pareora, and asking him to convene a meeting of the ratepayers to elect another meeting. KOWAT BUSH. The adjourned application from the Kowai bush committee asking the Board to confirm the appointment of Mr J. B. Turner as master was considered, and it was determined that if Mr Turner come up and pass his examination the Board would confirm his appointment. LINCOLN. It was decided that Miss Percy, who had been appointed to the Lincoln school, and who holds a Nelson certificate, should come up and for examination in January next. PLEASANT VALLEY. A letter was read from the chairman of the Pleasant Valley school committee, recommending that the tender of Mr Whittaker be accepted to erect a schoolroom and master's house for £SOO, provided that he was allowed to substitute native timber for Baltic, and totara shingles for V.D.L. shingles. The secretary was directed to state to the committee that the Board did not object to the proposed modification, but in the event of that being determined on, the Board recommended that fresh tenders be called for. The Board would, however, prefer Baltic timber being used for the floors. No tender to be accepted until the site was conveyed. CHEISTCHURCH EAST. A letter was read from the committee, stating that an owner of land was willing to sell a piece containing one acre twenty-four perches for the Bingsland school for £IOO. The Board decided to approve of the purchase. In reply to another letter from the same committee, the secretary was directed to state that the Board would grant sixpence per child annually for the purchase of prizes. THE NORMAL SCHOOL. It was decided to instruct the architect, Mr Farr, to provide for laying on gas in all the rooms in the Normal school. TALDHUEST. A letter was read from Mr F. G. S ted man asking the Board to take the necessary steps to have a new educational district, to be called the Yaldhurst district, proclaimed, and sending a tracing of the boundaries of the proposed district, which contained forty householders and fifty children. It was decided to forward the application to the Riccarton and Templeton districts for their suggestions on the subject. WAINTJI. A letter was read from the chairman of committee, stating that Mr Speight had resigned as master, which had been accepted. The Board requested the committee to take steps to procure another teacher. KAIAPOI. A letter was read from the chairman of the Kaiapoi Borough School, in reply to one from the Board referring to the committee a complaint made by Mr Powrie against the master, Mr Matthews, and enclosing the following resolutions passed by the committee ; —" That the committee re-affirm the resolution of the special meeting, May 22nd, finding that Frederick Powrie was guilty of impertinence, and cannot be re-admitted unless he apologise to Mr Matthews, but that the committee expresses its disapproval of Mr Matthews's conduct in dismissing the boy without informing the parents that he could be re-admitted on making an apology ; and further, that Mr Matthews failed to report this matter to the committee at the next ordinary meeting. And as the committee now discover, for the first time, that there was a considerable discrepancy between Mr Matthews's report to the committee and his cammunications to the parents, Resolved— That whenever any teacher considers it desirable, under clause 67 of the Education Ordinance, to exercise his power of suspension for any cause, that he shall without any delay inform the chairman of the fact." A letter was read from Mr Powrie, stating that he had taken his son back to the school, and he had apologised to Mr Matthews, and inquiring whether the schoolmaster was warranted in dismissing the boy for one act under section 67 of the Education Ordinance.

It was resolved " That the Board hoped the action of the school committee would prevent the recurrence of such matters, and that so far as reported to them the action of the master appeared to be unwarranted under section 67 of the Education Ordinance." WEEDON. A letter was read from the school committee, stating that they had agreed to lengthen the schoolroom, and enclosing a plan thereof. The Board approved of the proposed addition, and suggested to the committee whether it would not be better to build chimnies instead of using stoves. DOYLESTON. With regard to an application for a side school at Doyleston, it was determined that, seeing there were two schools within a mile and a half of Doyleston, the Board see no reason for the establishment of a side school at Doyleston, which would only tend to weaken the main school of the district. EAST OXFORD. A letter was read from East Oxford recommending the acceptance of Mr D. Keist's tender for the erection of a master's house, and inquiring why the inspector had not visited the school since May, 1873. The Board decided to approve acceptance of the tender, and to make the necessary inquiry of the inspector. The Board then adjourned.