BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2531, 19 May 1882, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

An ordinary meeting was held yesterday of the Board of Education for North Canterbury district. Present —Mr John Inglis (chairman), the Rev. O. Fraser, and Messrs Cunningham, Farr, Booth, Peryman; and Webb,

The Secretary read a statement of business done by the chairman since the previous meeting. A report was read from the principal of the training school that it seemed desirable that some of the pupil teachers, who had been in attendance for some time, and had failed to pass the examination, should not be allowed to attend any longer, these teachers showing no aptitude for teaching. Adopted in several instances.

Mr May, of Papanui, wrote asking that he might be credited with the training of a pttpil teacher, he having given her preliminary instruction. The Board declined to comply. Mr Just, Bast Christchurch, wrote requesting increase of salary. Resolved—“ That such increase should date from the time when the intimation of his obtaining a higher classification had been gazetted.” Mr Tippler, Bast Christchurch, wrote asking for recommendation for promotion. Bequest to be forwarded in the first instance to the inspector. Mies M. Wells was appointed mistress in the room of Mrs Field, resigned. The master, Southbridge, wrote, asking that an exception in regard to salary, Ac., might be made in favor o' Miss A. Carr, pupil teacher, who had suffered from ill health. The Board declined.

Mr Dickenson was appointed master at Seafield.

A deputation, composed of Messrs Banks, Sparks, Mills, and Wright, waited on tha Board with a petition signed by the fathers and mothers of 340 pupils attending Lower Heatboote school.

Mr Bants stated that the parents, having heard that the Bev. Mr Wilks, head master, was about to be removed, begged to say that if he was removed they would be afraid and unwilling to allow their children to continue attending the school. He (Mr Banks) urged that the parents felt that Mr Wilks had oome forward as a protector, and that they highly approved of what he had done. At the same time, they knew nothing as to the formality of Mr Wilks’ action, as far as the Board was concerned. The parents alluded to wore surprised that the Board did not support Mr Wilks. Mr Peryman asked if there was a feeling adverse to Mr Wilks as well as in his favor.

Mr Banka said, as a private resident, he would rather not go into that question, which was properly one for the Board. The Chairman intimated that the Board would deal with the petition. The Rev. Mr Fraser said he understood that the parents of the elder girls thought a protector was needed, nor would this be lost sight of when the question of appointing a successor to Mr Wilks came on.

Mr Banks stated that the parents regarded Mr Wilks as a protector. Mr Farr hinted, incidentally, that those concerned might deem it proper to convene a public meeting, but such a suggestion could not be made by the Board without due deliberation.

The deputation withdrew. An application from West Christchurch for the appointment of an assistant mistress was referred baok to the local committee. Mr Booth’s motion—“ That a return be laid before the Board of all moneys paid as architects’ commission during 1879, 1880, and 1881 ” —was agreed to. The Rev. Mr Fraser moved—“ That a short statement of finance under the several heads of expenditure be laid before tho members at each meeting.” The Chairman said there could be no objection to this. In point of fact, such statements had been submitted, for example, on 2nd February and 2nd March, with regard to funds. The way would be to take a balance after the statements were made.

Tho motion was agreed to. Mr Farr, as a new member, would like to be placed in possession of the balance sheet. Tho Chairman said it was in the printers’ bands. Tho Rev. Mr Fraser moved visiting committee of the Normal school be appointed, consisting of the chairman and two members of the Board.”

The motion was seconded by Mr Cunningham, and was carried, Messrs Booth and Peryman being chosen. An application was received for a school at Winslow, twenty families residing there, having forty-five children of school age. The secretary’s report was read, approving of the application. The Willoughby committee offered no objection. Approved by the Board.

In the matter of an application from Maivern, for a side-school in the western portion of the district, the Board took no action, the local committee objecting. Consideration of an application for a fuelshed for Flaiton school was deferred.

Various applications were dealt with, from Prebblaton, East Oxford. Kaikoura, Broomfield, Pendatvss, Willoughby, and Lseston. A memo, from tho Educational Department was read, that Government regarded schools ns national property, which should be rebuilt at the expense of Government, in the event of fire.

The Board went into Committee at five o’clock.