BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1209, 18 January 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

An adjourned meeting of the Board was held yesterday at the Normal School, at 3 pm. Present —Messrs Tancred, Duncan, Webb, and Hall. In the absence of the chairman, Mr Tancred was voted to the chair. ESTIMATES. The Secretary said the previous meeting had been adjourned to allow of the estimates being framed for the current year, as required by the Act. A few of the returns had only been received that morning, and the details were not, therefore, as closely given as he would have desired. The average attendances from 1873 to 1877 were as follows:—1873 — 4903; 1874—6207; 1875—7444; 1876 9189; 1877—10,183, These returns showed an average increase in attendance of 20 per cent. The estimated average attendance for the present year would be about i 2,246, which at the 'Government rate of allowance, £3 15s, added to the capitation tax of 10s, would give £52,122. To this amount would have to be added £IOOO for scholarships, if it could possibly be obtained. A farmer sum of £2OOO woidd be required for the Training Department. The estimated expenditure might be stated as follows: —Salaries, £37,000; scholarships, £1000; incidentals, £6000; odice, say. £2500; inspection and drill, £1600; training, £2OOO ; examinations, £3so—total, £50,450. To this total there would be added £IOOO for the Timaru schools, and say £3500 for new schools and expenses through increased attendance. After considering the estimates submitted the Board approved of them as a whole. Mr Inglis here entered the room and toot the chair. INSURANCE OE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

The secretary stated that the payment of insurance on school buildings could be met this year out of incidental expenses. After some remarks as to the necessity of insuring the schools, the majority of which were erected of wood, the Board decided to insure them at least for the current year. ST. ALBANS. Mr J. L. Wilson, as Chairman of the St. Albans School "Committee, waited on the Board with reference to a letter saying the committee had one teacher in excess of the allowance, and that it would be necessary to dispense with tire mistress at the side school at her present salary, and substitute a junior teacher. Mr Wilson stated that the average attendance at the main school was 24!) pupils, and at the side school 38. To teach this number there were only seven teachers. It was eventually resolved to recommend the committee to dispense with a second master at the main school, transferring the present teacher at the side school to the former; a teacher at £BO per annum to be obtained for the junior school. Mr Wilson said ho would submit the recommendations of the Board to a meeting of the committee to be held the following evening, and then withdrew.

The Board approved of the above recommendation, and decided to allow £IOO for a second mistress at the main school, and to suggest that two pupil teachers should be appointed. WORK DONE BY CHAIRMAN. The work done by the chairman since the last meeting of the Board was approved. EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL. A letter was road from the committee, in reply, saying it was not their intention at present to fillup the vacancy of head-mistress, caused by Miss Bolton’s resignation, that the teacher of each class w'ould report direct to the head-master, and that the arrangements would be perfected before the school reassembled. SCHOLARSHIPS. A letter was read from the Education Department, saying the question of scholarships was still in abeyance. EDUCATION ACT. The Secretary stated that he had received an advice that 100 copies of the new Education Act had been forwarded, but up to the present time he had only received one copy. He had been repeatedly written to by committees to forward copies, but had been unable to comply with their request. AUDIT, The following telegram was received from the Secretary to the Education Department; —“ Ro audit, Order in Council will I hope be made next Tuesday under section 103.” FINANCIAL. The Chairman said a telegram had been received from Wellington saying a voucher for £15,000 had been passed on account of the Board. COLOMBO ROAD. The committee again wrote asking'that the name of the school should be altered to u Sydenham Borough School.” Xb was decided to comply with the request

if it can be legally done. The chairman to take the necessary stops if found practicable. FURNISHING RETURNS. Remonstrances wore read from several school committees on the amount of labor involved in filling up the returns required by the Government., and complaining of the undue quantity of work which devolved on the chairman of each committee. LOWER HEATHCOTE. An account for £MS was sent in by a contractor for work done at this school. The secretary was instructed to ask the chairman of the school committee by whose authority tlae work was performed. TIHARU. The appointment of a second-class teacher for this school, at £l2O per annum, was authorised. ASHBURTON. The secretary was instructed to reply to a request, that the Board could not supply forms for the election of school committees. KAIAPOI. The district commit tee wrote, asking authority to appoint an enumerator to collect the required statistics. It was resolved to ask the committee for an estimate of the cost, the chairman to then authorise the appointment if deemed desirable. A letter was read from the Kaiapoi committee covering a memorial from Mr John Matthews, teacher at the school, and asking the Board’s favorable consideration for it. The memorial stated that he (Mr Matthews) was sixty-three years of age, had been a teacher for thirty-five years, and had taught in Kaiapoi for the last sixteen years. He was alilicled with partial paralysis, making teaching very difficult for him. If an}' allowance were to bo granted under the new Act for worn-out teachers, he would beg of the Board to use their influence in his favor. It was decided to forward the memorial to Wellington, asking the favorable consideration of the Government thereon. LYTTELTON. A letter was read from Mr Cane, architect, saying the’elllorescence on the walls of the infant school at Lyttelton was not salt, but magnesia, which sometimes appears on brick walls, according to the nature of the brick earth.

After transacting further general business, the Board went into committee.