SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 114, 12 October 1874, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

CHRISTCHURCH WEST. The usual meeting of the West Christchurch School Committee was held on Wednesday evening, at seven o’clock. Present : Messrs Tancred (chairman), Bird, Brown, Craig, Harris, and McNie. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Letters were read from the Board, stating that the contribution of the district would be reduced by £ISOO, that the Board could not sanction any alteration of the scale recently fixed for the salaries of teachers in the Lincoln road school, and forwarding reports on the ventilation, &c, of the district schools. A letter was read from Mr J. W. Treadwell, requesting the committee to contribute towards forming the private roads, leading from the South Town belt to the Lincoln road schools. A circular from the Assistant Provincial Secretary was read, forwarding regulations for the election of a new committee on Monday next. The secretary was directed to inform the Board that the ventilation of the schools was being attended to. It was decided to forward Mr Treadwell’s letter to the Board, with the committee’s recommendation that the proposal be accepted, provided permanent access can be guaranteed to the Lincoln road school by the roads referred to. The report of the architect of the Lincoln road school, on the completion of the buildings, was read and considered, also the builder’s account for balance of contract and extras.

It was decided to recommend the Board to pay the builder’s account in terms of the contract, the architect’s report to be forwarded for the Board’s information.

A letter was read from Messrs England, Bros, asking that the clause of the contract requiring that 5 per cent of the amount of the contract should be retained for a period of three months from completion of the buildings—in this case £l79 —should not be enforced, but that instead the sum of £SO should be retained.

The secretary was directed to reply, that the committee, , cannot recommend any departure from the,terms of the contract. Letters from teachers at the Lincoln road school were referred to the head master for fuller information,

A letter- was read from Miss Stoddart, acknowledging and accepting her appointment as head mistress.

The quarterly returns from the district schools were laid before the meeting, and signed-py, the chairman. In reply to the letter of the hon secretary to the Diocesan Education committee enquiring what had been done in the matter of providing facilities for religious teaching in the district schools, the secretary was directed to state that the committee had considered the matter, and that the first half hour of each day is set apart for bible lessons; also, that the committee are willing to make arrangements to allow the use of the schoolrooms to any clergyman who desires to instruct the children Of his denomination after school hours.

The following resolution was unanimously agreed to—‘ The committee desire to put on record<at this their last meeting, previous to a new election, the high sense entertained by them of the services of Mr M‘Nie, the honorary secretary; and further are of opinion that his valuable assistance and the accuracy with which he has performed the work undertaken by him, entitle him to the warmest'thanks, not only of bis colleagues, but of the whole district.” The secretary acknowledged the compliment. After a vote of thanks to the chairman for his services during the past year, the meeting terminated. KAIAPOI. The borough school committee held an adjourned meeting on Friday evening last. Present—all the members, Dr Dudley (chairman) presiding. The report of the sub-committee appointed to average the salaries of the teaching staff was brought up. It stated that the staff proposed was to manage a school of 400—viz., boys, 200 ; girls, 120 ; mixed, 80, For the boys’ school— Head master’s salary, £3OO ; house- £ rent, £SO 350 Second master’s salary, £2OO ; houserent, £2O 220 Assistant master 120 Two pupil-teachers at £25 and £2O ... 45 £735 For the girls’ school— Head mistress’s salary, £100; houserent, £2O 120 Assistant mistress 50 Pupil-teacher * 25 £195 For mixed school— Second mistress 80 Pupil-teacher 20 £IOO The total amount per annum for salaries would thus be £IO3O. The mixed department, they suggested, should be placed under the supervision of the head mistress, the head master to have charge of the buildings and premises. The report was adopted, and referred to the Board of Education for its approval. The letter from Messrs Prudhoe and Cooper, contractors for the new school, ask-

ing for an extension of time within which to complete their contract, of ten weeks, was considered and acceded to, no penalty to be enforced for the delay which had taken place. It was resolved that the Board of Education be requested to appoint J. Veysey, R. Wake, and Elizabeth Monk as pupil teachers.

The applications for head master were inspected, and it was unanimously resolved to appoint Mr Raynor, at present in charge of the Temuka school, subject to the approval of the Board of Education. RANGIORA. This committee met on Friday evening, at the Road Board office, all the members being present. The Chairman read copies of several letters forwarded to the Board of Education, but stated that, in consequence of the meetings of the Board having been so frequently postponed of late, no replies had been returned, and the accounts had not been passed. A resolution was tabled to the effect that the accounts for planting and fencing be paid out of the funds in hand, and that the Board be requested to refund the same to the committee, but after an animated discussion, in which it was stated that the men who had done the work were in want of the money, not having expected to wait two months for payment, the resolution was withdrawn, on the chairman undertaking to write immediately to the Board urging prompt payment of these particular accounts. Tenders were opened for the formation of paths and road in and around the school ground, and the lowest was accepted, viz, that of Messrs Atkinson and Brooks.

A tender for the necessary school furniture, &c, from Messrs Boyd and Keir was also accepted, subject to the approval of the Board of Education,

No tender being sent in for shingling the paths, &c, it was resolved that fresh tenders be invited.

Sundry accounts for cleaning school rooms, &c, were passed, and cheques signed.

The chairman stated that through a stress of business ho had not been able to compile a report for the annual meeting in time to submit it to the committee at this meeting, but asked the members to meet him at the school-room t.t six o’clock on Monday evening, by which time it should be prepared. The committee then adjourned.