BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 121, 20 October 1874, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Monday, October 19. The Board met at the , usual hour. Present: —Messrs 0. C. Bowen (chairman), G, Gould, J. N. Tosswill, and A. 0. Knight. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. BUSINESS DONE BY THE CHAIRMAN. The business transacted by the chairman was read and approved. GUST. A letter was read from the chairman, enclosing names of committee elected, and stating that, at a meeting of the ratepayers, the change of site of the present school and also the site for a branch school, were considered. The meeting had accepted the offer of two aces of land for the new site of the present school, subject to the approval of the Board, and with respect to the branch school, he (the chairman) was requested to apply to the Board to know if a corner of the educational reserve No 712, on the Moeraki Downs, could not be obtainable for a site. Mr Higgins, chairman of the committee, was in attendance,and further explained the action of the meeting. The Board told Mr Higgins that the Government would be communicated with with reference to the land required for the side school, and requested him to ask the committee to send down an estimate of the proposed cost of the removal of the present school, and all the information as to site, and what they contemplated doing. INSPECTOR’S REPORT, A report was read from Mr Restell, inspector, dated from Winchester, reporting with reference to candidates as pupil teachers at the Tirnaru school, that J. Roberts had passed a satisfactory examination, and the committee had requested him to apprise the Board of this, so that Roberts’ position might be established as pupil teacher for the first year. With reference to Mansfield, pupil teacher of the second year, the committee in June last had requested that whereas the inspector had recommended his promotion from the first to the second year, he should be promoted to the third year, and this request of the committee was backed both by the opinions of the head master and second master. He (the inspector) was unable, however, to recommend Mansfield’s promotion beyond the second year, as even at that time (three months later) he was still quite unprepf red in the second year’s course, as he had not had any instruction in the several different requirements for that year. Mr Restell also deprecated the continuance of the instruction of pupil teachers of both sexes together, and suggested that as the female teacher fMiss Forbes) was qualified to impart the required instruction, that the female pupil teachers should be placed under her charge. The inspector mentioned that the hours of school attendance were from four to four and a-half, and made reference to the wish that Miss Chapman’s examina-

tion should stand over until the next examination of pupil teachers. The Board confirmed Roberts’ appointment, and sanctioned Mansfield’s appointment as pupil teacher for second year ; and the secretary was instructed to write that Mansfield has not been taught in his third year’s course according to gazetted directions. The Board also resolved that the female pupil teachers be instructed by the mistress, and the secretary was instructed to forward a copy of that portion of the inspector’s report referring to school hours, and to state that the Board considered the school hours for each day should not be less than five hours. It was also decided that Miss Chapman’s examination stand over until the examination of pupil teachers in South Canterbury, in December. ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. Letters were read from the chairman of the East Christchurch, Hillsborough, Little River, Tai Tapu, Lower Heathcote, Akaroa, Riccarton, Loburn, and Courtenay school committees, stating, that owing to the inclemency of the weather and other causes, no election had taken place of the new school committees and auditors on the date appointed by the Ordinance, and asking the Board to fix’ a date for the holding of the meetings for the purpose of electing the committees. The Board decided to call meetings for the purpose of receiving annual reports of school committees and statements of accounts, and for the purpose of electing auditors for the ensuing year, on Monday next, 2Gth instant, at 7 p.m. HOROBATA. A letter was read from the chairman of the committee, forwarding names of committee t elected, stating that, from the increased attendance, the school required enlarging, and asking permission to erect some fencing. The coat of the additions had been estimated at £2OO. The secretary was instructed to write for a plan and estimate of proposed addition. The expense for fencing asked for was sanctioned. ASHLEY BANK. A letter was read from the chairman, stating that the school grounds had been washed away by the late fresh, and asking that an engineer might be sent up to report. The secretary was instructed to write the Government, to ask that an engineer might be sent as as requested. SELWYN. The appointment of Mrs dagger as mistress, at £6O a year, was confirmed. KAKAHU AND WEEDEN. Letters were read from the chairmen of these committees, stating that no auditors had been elected at the election of school committees, and asking that a meeting might be called for that purpose. The Board fixed Monday, 26th instant, at 7 p.m I, to hold meetings for this purpose. WEST EYRETON. Monday, 26th inst, at 7 p.m., was appointed for holding the meeting of ratepayers, to receive the annual statements of accounts and elect auditors. GERALDINE. A letter was read from the chairman of the committee, enclosing names of new committee, and asking that Mr Grimmer, who had been appointed secretary, might, in view of his increasing duties, be permitted a salary of £lO per year. WOODEND, A letter was read from the chairman, stating that the committee had appointed a secretary at £5 per annum, WASHDYKE. A letter was read from the chairman, asking that three-quarters salary might be sent to the secretary, for services rendered by him. ’ The secretary was instructed to reply to these letters—that the Board could not sanction the appointment of secretaries, except to large schools in boroughs. TEMUKA. A letter was read from the chairman of the committee, stating that Miss Ferrier had tendered her resignation as mistress. The Board sanctioned the acceptance of Miss Fcrrier’s resignation. LAKESIDE. A letter was read from the chairman of the committee, stating that they had received tenders for school buildings and furniture and library, and had accepted Mr Rankin’s tender subject to the approval of the Board. The secretary was instructed to write that the Board sanctioned the acceptance of Mr Rankin’s tender, but that no steps could be taken until the site was conveyed. Also to state that the Board have nothing to do with the cost of a library building. MILFORD. A letter was read from the chairman, stating that he had forwarded money to the amount of one-sixth of a levy in mistake (this amount being additional to the special rate), and asking the Board to authorise the return of the money. The secretary was instructed to ask out of what money the chairman had paid this amount, whether personally or otherwise. WAITOHI FLAT. A letter was read from the chairman enclosing names of new committee, and stating that tenders had been accepted for fencing, sinking wells, &c, subject to approval of the Board. The Board sanctioned the expenditure asked. PREBBLETON. The appointment of Mrs Comerford as sewing mistress was confirmed. HALKETT. A letter was read from the chairman stating that the increased attendance at the school required an additional teacher, and asking that Mrs Cheyne might be appointed as mistress, and again referring to the necessity for an addition to the school. The Board sanctioned the appointment of Mrs Cheyne at £SO per year, the salary to be increased to £6O when the average attendance is over fifty. LINCOLN. The plans of the new school at Lincoln were,submitted to the Board. The plans were sanctioned, the windows to be altered to sash windows to open at top and bottom. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr Halkett and ask whether it would be possible for the committee to obtain another acre of land, KAIAPOI ISLAND, A letter was read, enclosing names of school committee, asking that the boundaries of the district might be altered, and requesting that an amount of £6 be sanctioned for preparing the ground for next year’s planting. , The expenditure asked was sanctioned, ana the secretary was instructed to write the committee to define the proposed boundaries.

LYTTELTON. A letter was read from the chairman of the committee, stating that the contractor hold a certificate for payment of £l5O on account for school furniture, and which had not been made according to specification, and asking how they should act. The secretary was instructed to reply that the Board makes no payments on contracts entered into by committees without the sanction of the committee. ASHBURTON. A letter was read from the chairman of this committee, asking the Board’s consent to add a wing to the present schoolroom, as this was made necessary by the increasing attendance, and forwarding sketch plan of proposed addition. The secretary was instructed to write that, in the prospect of increased population in the district, any alteration in the school ought to be on an improved plan : and the Board recommend the employment of an architect, and suggest that if possible the site should be enlarged. THE LATE EXAMINATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. The chairman mentioned that he had selected Ogilvie’s Illustrated Dictionary, complete, in 2 vols, as a prize from the Board to Master Charles T. Partridge, of Christ’s College, who had been only five marks behind the successful boy in Class A at the late examinations for scholarships. The Board approved of the selection, and a label containing the particulars of the presentation, signed by the chairman, was affixed to the cover of the first volume. The Board then adjourned.