BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 933, 21 June 1877, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Wednesday, Junk 20. A meeting of the Board wis held at the Normal School at 3 p.m. yesterday. Present— Mr J. Inglis (chairman), Hon. E. W. Stafford, Messrs H. R. Webb, A. Duncan, and W. Montgomery. CONVERSAZIONE. A request was read from Mr C. C. Howard asking for the »se of one of the rooms of the Normal School for the purpose of holding a conversazione in connection with the training class of the school. The request was granted. A request was also made by Mr Howard for the supply of an instrument to be used in demonstrating the theory of music to the more advanced pupils. It was decided that Mr Howard be requested to report to the Board as to the kind ind price of the instrument required. COLOMBO KOAD. A deputation from the Colombo road school committee waited pn the Board with refer*

ence to the introduction of the new scale of salaries. It was contended that the Colombo road school had been unjustly treated as regarded the salaries paid to their teachers, which were below those of the other district and borough schools. The deputation comprised the Kers J. S. Smalley and H. B. Cocks and Messrs Allison, Whitelaw, and F. C. Hall. The arguments used were that an unsatisfactory feeling had been caused in the minds of the teachers in Colombo road school, as higher salaries were paid elsewhere. The committee also were put to great inconvenience by the teachers leaving them in consequence of superior inducements held out at other schools. It was felt that the Colombo road school, costing some 10s per head less than many of the other schools and 15s less than some, the committee had fair ground of complaint. The Chairman said that the new scale had been adopted by the Board and only waited for the assent of the Governor to become law in Canterbury. So soon as that assent was obtained the scale would beat once put.in force. The Secretary read the new scale as adopted by the Board, showing the alterations made in the salaries of the teachers, by which additions were made to the salaries now paid. The Chairman pointed out that though this scale proposed to increase the salaries of the teachers, it did not follow that it would come into force at once. The matter would have to be brought under the consideration of the Board.

Mr Duncan suggested that the secretary might give the deputation the gross figures which would be paid as salaries to the Colombo road school under the two scales. The Secretary said that under the old scale the sum of £1099 was paid for salaries pure and simple to the Colombo road school. To this would have to be added £ll2 for bonuses, lodging money, &c, making a total under the old scale of £l2ll. Under the new scale the school would receive atotal sum of £1351. The deputation thanked the Board, and withdrew. It was decided that Miss Connell be appointed as second mistress at the school. PAPANUI. The question of the resignation of the Papanui school committee was considered. The Secretary said that in February last acircular was issued, asking schools to forward a statement of their financial position. The Papanui school committee did not send in an account, and in going over the accounts there was found to be an overdraft of £B4 at the Bank of Australia. This was brought under the notice of the chairman of the committee; but his absence at Wellington prevented a reply being had. Some time after this a new chairman was appointed, and finding the Board did not pay the overdraft, the committee resigned. About £35 was due for building accounts, and the deficit balance, some £43 odd, had arisen from the committee not applying for any funds for incidentals. The committee had issued cheques for payments without considering whether they had any money or not at their credit. Hon. E. W. Stafford thought that it was inadvisable that these resignations en masse should take place. It would be as well if the Board paid over at least the £l6 which was due to the committee as being authorised by the Board, and thus reduce the overdraft by that amount. Mr Montgomery asked whether the committee of the Papanui school had applied to the Board for money for incidental expenses, which had been refused by the Board ? Also whether the committee had asked the Board to pay off the overdraft, and had been refused ? The Secretary said that the Board had not refused to supply the committee with money for incidental expenses, nor had the Board refused to pay the overdraft. All that the Board had done was to ask for information as to how and why the overdraft had been incurred. The Chairman said that the conduct of the committee had been marked by a great deal of carelessness. Mr Montgomery moved —" That the Board pay the overdraft at the Bank as incurred by the school committee, and that £IOO be voted for that purpose," which was agreed to. It was also resolved —" That the committee be also informed that after the explanation given the Board regrets that they should have resigned, and that they be requested to withdraw their resignations. LOBURN. A letter was read from the chairman and members of the school committee, tendering their resignation on account of a letter sent to the Union Bank of Australia by the Board respecting overdrafts of the school committee at that Bank. It appeared that by some mistake the sum of money of which the committee were advised had been paid into the Bank of New Zealand instead of the Union Bank of Australia. It was through this mistake that the overdraft was contracted. A letter was read by the secretary, which had been sent by him to the chairman, explaining the matter, and asking that the resignations might be withdrawn before the meeting of the Board on the 20th June. To this an answer was returned, stating that the chairman had not been able to consult with his colleagues on the subject of withdrawing their resignations. It was resolved that the Board express regret that the mistake should have occurred, and request the committee to withdraw their resignations, and continue to act. LEESTON. A letter was read from the committee of this selmol, pointing out that the large increase of attendance at the school at Leeston necessitated an addition to the building. What they required was an addition of some 60ft. to the present building. It was resolved that the committee be requested to send to the Board an idea of what they required either in shape of plans by an architect of their own, or the Board would provide a plan from their own architect. The Board then adjourned.