RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2413, 29 December 1881, Page 3

RANGIORA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

The first meeting of the Board of Governors was held at the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday at .3 p.m. Present—Messrs A. H. Cunningham, G. L. Leech, O. E. Tribe, and J. L. Wilson. The circular convening the meeting was read and the notification of the same. Mr Leech moved that Mr Andrew Hunter Cunningham be elected chairman of the Board, referring to the exertions made by that gentleman in obtaining the Board. Mr Tribe seconded, alluding to Mr Cunningham's interest taken in education matters generally. Mr Wilson, who endorsed what had been said, added it was the unanimous wish of the Board that the gentleman nominated should be elected.

The motion was unanimously agreed to. The Chairman eleot, in thanking the Board for the honor conferred on him, expressed the pleasure it would give him to continue the work he was oredited with having begun. He alluded to the steps which had been taken to secure a High School for Bangiora. In 1874, on opening the district school, Messrs Maude and Bowen, who were speakers at the meeting then held, expressed the opinion that the cause of education must flourish and that the opening of the district school was a step in the direotion of superior education. Some eighteen months ago more active efforts were made to seoure the High School Bill, with the assistance of the promoters and the recommondation of eight district schools, as well as the endorsement of the Board of Education, the Bill hod been promoted, and by the energy of their late member, Mr Bowen, it had been successfully piloted through the Legislature. The reserves available for the High Schools were now to be apportioned, and land yielding a rental of £197 was available for Bangiora. It was leased for fourteen years at an increasing rent after the first seven years. The school was not to be established out of opposition, but in a spirit of emulation, to provide a higher education/open to at least 1500 children in the district, who could more conveniently attend at Bangiora than elsewhere. A letter was read from the InspectorGeneral of Schools, forwarding reports of secondary schools for 1880, and final report of Riyal Commission on superior sohools, containing important expressions of opinion on the constitution and scope of secondary schools. He stated they had full power to engage premises for the school, engage teachers, and make regulations for the same. On the motion of Mr Leech, seconded by Mr Tribe, itwasdecided "That four members of the Board form a quorum at meetings." On the motion of Mr Wilson, seoonded by Mr Leech—" Mcßsrs Tribe and Johnston wore appointed to draw up a code of regulations for the conduct of the business of the Board, to report at next meeting." Mr Wilson thought that before going into the question of establishing the school, it would be necessary to get definite informa tion of the income of tho Board. His opinion was that the Bo;rd was fairly entitled to all tho rents which had accrued in respect of the reserves mude whilst they were in the hands of the Commissioners of Reserves aa trustees, less a sicall percentage for management, and he moved—" That, as it is desirable steps should forthwith be taken in the establishment of the High School, the chairman be requested to obtain information from tho Commissioners of Reserves as to tho position of the reservss allocated, the accrued rents, annual rent, and other particular* respecting the same for next meeting." Mr Tribe seconded, pointing out that when this information wus to hand the Board would have a. foundation for its future plans. A ballot was taken, which resulted in tho Union Bank being appointed the bankers of the Board. The meeting was then afljourced till Wednesday, January 12th, at 7 p.m.