BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1405, 16 August 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The Board of Education for the district of North Canterbury held their usual fortnightly meeting yesterday, at 3 p.m. There were present Messrs John Inglis (chairman), H. J. Tancred, Rev. 0. Eraser, H. R. Webb, and A. Duncan. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. AKABOA. A letter was read from Messrs Garrick and Cowlishaw, re the title to the site of a house for the master of the Akaroa school, pointing out that it was unsatisfactory, and stating that they would rectify it. ieeston. A letter was read from the secretary of the school committee, enquiring what stops had been taken to have the additions to the school, the shingling and draining of the grounds, and other requirements commenced. Tenders had been invited, and the sum of £4OO passed for the work, and the committee were anxious to have the improvements proceeded with, as the state of the grounds and buildings was detrimental to the interests of the school. The Board decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman, with power to act. ALFORD FOREST. Application was made for a residence for the mistress of the side school. A plan had been prepared by the architect for a house, and it was decided that the size of the rooms should bo increased, and the matter left in the hands of the chairman. COLOMBO HOAD. Mr Lambert reported on the progress of the school buildings, over the erection of which considerable delay had occurred. It was resolved that a penalty of £SO should be enforced against the contractor. governor's bay. A tender for work to be done in connection with the school was approved. BOARD OF EXAMINEES. The following report from the Board of Examiners was read ; The Chairman of the Board of Education: Sir, —I have the honour on behalf of the Board of Examiners to report upon the certificates and testimonials submitted by the Rev. G. Willcs, Mrs Simpson, and Mr George Crockett, with a vie wto their classification. The Rev. G. Willes possesses good te timonials, and has had much experience in teaching. He was also for a time at Cambridge, and states that lie passed with credit a part of the examinations. We recommend that he be placed in the second class, grade for the present undetermined, subject to the production of satisfactory evidence of his having passed as stated. Mrs Simpson has a Dublin certificate (higher division of second class), and Mr Crockett, a Scotch Privy Council certificate (first division, thii’d degree of merit). We recommend that they both receive third class certificates, Mr Crockett takes place in the first division, and Mrs Simpson’s grade to be decided after further evidence of her qualifications. I have the honour to be, sir, Your obedient servant, J. V. Colboene-Yeel. The report was approved. SPECIAL GRANTS.

The following circular was read from the Education Department in Wellington : I am directed by the Minister of Education to inform your Board that the special grant for school committees of 10s per head of average daily attendance will be paid to Boards on the express condition that the whole of the money shall ho distributed among the school commitiees according to a predetermined scale based upon the average daily attendance at the schools under the charge of the several committees, and that such payments should form a portion of the school fund to be disbursed by the committees in terms of the Act.

If your Board has not already done so, I am to request that it may agree upon a scale of payments as so n as possible, and thereafter forward a copy for the information of the Minister. It is considered that each Board, from its in-

timate acquaintance with the special circumstances of its district, is best able to adjust its scale of payments to meet those circumstances, either by paying all the committees at the uniform rate of 10s per head, or by a carefully graduated scale, giving the smaller schools a somewhat higher rate per head than the more numerously attended ones. John Hislop. A discussion took place respecting the amount of the grant, the general feeling of the Board being that the sum fixed was too small for the requirements of the schools, and that the Government had acted with an imperfect knowledge of the facts. It was ultimately resolved that a letter should be addressed to the Government, informing them what items are included in the incidentals of committees, together with a copy of the return showing tho amounts, in the cases of the various committees with calculated averages, and asking under these circumstances how the instructions of the Government can be carried out. KAIKOUEA. A telegram was re id from the Kaikoura school committee, asking the Board to sanction the appointment of a master and mistress that had been made by the committee. The Board declined to sanction tho appointment. LYTTELTON. The Board sanctioned the appointments of three pupil teachers. ASHBURTON. Correspondence was read respecting the re-appointment of Mr Stott as head master of the school, with a strong recommendation for his appointment from tho committee. The Board resolved to sanction Mr Stott’s appointment, provided that tho examiners are satisfied with his testimonials. NORMAL SCHOOL. Application was made by Mr Watkins, the first tutor of the Normal School, for an increase of salary. The application was strongly endorsed by Mr 0. C. Howard, the-head master of the school, on tho ground of Mr Watkins’ scholarship and practical ability, especially in the training department of tho school. The matter was fully discussed by the Board, and Mr Watkins’value, both in tho teaching and training departments, fully admitted, especially in the latter. On the suggestion of the chairman, tho Board went into committee for tho consideration of various questions arising out of Mr Watkins’ application, DRILL INSTRUCTION. On resuming, a letter was read from Mr Walker, the drill instructor under tho Board, asking tho members to be present at an exhibition of gymnastic exercises by the most proficient of his pupils on Friday, the 23rd inst., tho exhibition to take place in tho gymnasium

attached to the Normal School. The Board decided to be present on the occasion. ELECTION OF EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL COMMITTEE. It was resolved that a meeting should be held in the East Christchurch school on September 9th, for the purpose of electing a new school committee, NORTH LOBURN. It was resolved that the locality known as North Loburn should bo proclaimed an educational district. INCIDENTAL EXPENSES. The Board granted various sums to the following schools for incidental expenses : French Farm, East Oxford, and Sydenham. WAINUI. The secretary was directed to communicate with the Wainui school committee and Mr Bates, pointing out that on the occasion of a deputation waiting on the Board, the latter had recommended a certain course of action, with a view of healing existing differences. They now reiterated their recommendation, which, if the committee declined to follow, the Board could interfere no further in the matter. After the transaction of some minor routine business the Board adjourned.