SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 97, 22 September 1874, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

CHRISTCHURCH WEST, The ordinary meeting of the West Christchurch School Committee was held on Wednesday evening at seven o’clock. Present — Messrs Tancred (chairman), Bird, Brown, Craig, Harris, Hawkes, Thornton, and McNie. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The following letters were read : From the Board of Education, sanctioning the appointments of |French and drawing masters at Lincoln road school, on the understanding that the fees for extra subjects cover the salaries. From the Secretary for Public Works, stating that the Government regrets that it cannot comply with the request of the committee to take a quantity of gravel from the Lincoln road p.ts, as the whole of the gravel is required for special purposes. From Mr J. B. A. Acland, hon sec to the Diocesan Education-committee, requesting to be informed if the committee had takea the matter of religious teaching into their consideration, and if so, what determination had they arrived at. Letters were read : From Mr E. Armstrong, rate collector for West Christchurch district, recommending several persons to the committee for exemption from the education rate on account of poverty. From Board, enclosing copy of letter from Mrs Janet Craig, asking to.be excused from paying the education rate. From Mr 0; Hull, accepting his appointment as drawing master. From Rev J, Gumming, T. S, Foster, J. W. Thornton, J. R. Wilkinson, Mrs Cutler, Miss Mackett, and Miss Kestoveu, acknowledging and accepting their respective appointments at Lincoln road school, Mr Foster pointing out that his salary would be slightly reduced after the Ist of October. From Miss Stothard, wishing to be informed of the nature of her appointment as head mistress. The chairman mentioned that he had received a letter from the provincial auditor, enclosing a form of abstract of receipt and expenditure of district school committees, and stating that he purposed auditing the committee’s accounts on September 25th. The chairman was requested to see the provincial auditor on the matter, and call his attention to the 46th clause of the Education Ordinance, also, to inform him that the committee will not be ready with their accounts on the date named, as they must be made up to the 30th instant. With reference to Mr Forster’s remark as to his salary ; the secretary was directed to inform him that the committee had no intention to reduce his salary, and would ask the sanction of the Board to increase it to £225 per annum. In reply to Miss Stothard, the secretary was directed to inform her that she is appointed head mistress of the school for girls over seven years of age, and that she will have sole control as regards the actual tuition in her classes, but that Mr Gumming is responsible to the committee for the general conduct of the whole school, including all arrangements for teaching extra subjects. The secretary reported that Mr Restell had seen him with reference to the Durham street school, which owing to the severe illness of Mr Elwin was without a head master, and mentioned that there were two masters recently arrived from England, who were at present unemployed, and who could take charge of the school until Mr Elwin’s recovery. He had accordingly consulted with the sub-committee, and with their sanction had asked Mr Restell to be good enough to provide temporary teaching power for the school as suggested. The committee approved of this arrangement. Mr Harris again called attention to the large amount for which the district waa charged for the Normal school buildings, and thought that the committee should protest formally to th-» Board against it. The committee concurred, and a letter was drawn up requesting the Board to reduce the amount by one-half, so that the contribution of the district would not exceed a total of £ISOO for the following reasons ;—First, That the committee could have provided school accommodation in the northern part of the district at an amount not exceeding one-half the sum charged to the district for the Normal school. Second. That the amount of the rate proposed to be levied in the district, added to the already heavy charges upon property, would press very hard upon the ratepayers. The consideration of the matter referred to in the letteiTof the hon secretary to the diocesan education committee was, at the request of Mr Hawkes, deferred to next meeting, and the secretary was directed to inform Mr Acland to that effect. Mr Harris moved his resolution, which was seconded by Mr McNie—“ That the bath at Lincoln road school be open to the public from 5 to 8 a.m., and from 5 to 8 p.m., at a charge of 10s per annum.” The feeling of the committee being decidedly against the motion, Mr Harris, by permission, withdrew it. The committee decided to recommend that the persons named in Mr Armstrong’s letter be excused from paying the rate, and the secretary was directed to forward a complete list of the persons who have applied for ex-

emptions to his Honor the .Superintendent, with the committee’s recommendations that they be excused. The sub-committee for Lincoln road school were authorised to procure a set of models required by the drawing master. After passing sundry accounts the committee adjourned.