THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1959, 16 November 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1874.

The Central Board of Education met at Hokitika on Friday last in the Court House, and we are indebted to a private source for the following account of its proceedings. Mr Patten was elected Chairman \yro tern, and after the meeting had been duly constituted G. G. FitzGerald, E-q . was appointed permanent Chairman. Af;er a short conversation as to the first business to be entered upon, Mr Robinson ; rose and stated that he wished, on behalf i of the Government to make a few remarks on matters affecting the working of the new Ordinance for the guidance of the I Board ; at the same time disclaiming any intention of dictating. He stated that in the opinion of the Government the Board would do well to devote their attention to the establishment of one good efficient school in each large centre of population, and should also discourage the establishment of more schools than are absolutely necessary, and that great care and discretion should be exercised in the choice of an Inspector. In calculating the amount likely to be collected by rates, the Government had taken as the basis of their calculations the number of census papers issued, viz., 4900 They calculated therefrom that £4000 woald be available, with an additional £1000 head money for children between five and fourteen years. This, with a ,£IOOO subsidy from Government, would make a total of £6000. There would be a set off against this of moneys remitted to schools under the 40th clause of the Ordinance. The Government estimated that the proportionate amounts available for each district would be somewhat as follows : — Hokitika ... £750 Greymoath 750 Kanieri .. 550 Ross and Donoghue's ... 400 Okarito ... 150 I'ive-Mile 150 South ... ... ... 150 Stafford .„ 250 GoliiuboTOugb. 150 Greenstone 150 Maori Gully 150 . Maori Oreek 150 Marsden 150 Brnunerton ... 150 Total £4050 Add contributions under 40th clause 600 £4050 School materials 500 Inspector 300 Travelling expenses do ... 200 Repairs to buildings ... 500 £6150 And the Government in addition proposed setting aside .10,000 acres of land-^-rural, suburban, and town— aome part of which

to be selectee! was likely to bcimmudialciy productive of revenue. After a^iJie discussion, it was proposed by Mr Seddon and carried — " That a Committee of three, consisting of the Chairman, Mr Patten, and Mr Robinson, be appointed to frame a code of bye laws, and to choose a design for the seal of the Board, the Committee to report at the next sitting of the Board." The Chairman then stated that as many of the members were not prepared with a report of the requirements of their <listricts, through not having had suini;i«-.i>*. time to consult with the Local Com nittccs, it would be advisable to adjourn the consideration of the matters referred to by Mr Robinson until the next meeting. This was agreed to. After some discussion, the Board proceeded to consider the advisability of calling for. applications for the posts of Inspector and Secretary. Mr Seddon, in a long speech, proposed that the offices of Inspector and Secretary be separate. This was opposed by the Chairman, Mr Kenrick, Mr Gibson, and others, and eventually it was decided that the duties of Inspector and Secretary should be combined. After some discussion, and various resolutions and amendments had been proposed, it was decided that the salary should be £400 a year with travelling expenses. The Chairman was requested to advertise for applications for the office in all the principal papers in. the Colony and in Melbourne, telegi*aphing to the more distant papers ,• applications to be in on or before the Ist January next, accompanied by testimonials, &c. Two letters that had been handed to the Chairman were then read ; they were from Messrs A. E. Tennant and R. E. Eyton, applying for the post of Secretary to the Board. It was decided to appoint a Secretary at once, to hold office until the appointment of Inspector and Secretary was made. Mr Seddon proposed, and Mr Robinson seconded, Mr Eyton ; Mr Revell proposed, and the Chairman seconded, Mr Tennant ; and, on these resolutions being put to the vote, Mr Eyton was declared elected. The salary was fixed at £4 a week. Mr Robinson stated that the sum of i>2so, being the balance of the vote of last year for educational purposes, was still unexppnded, and that the Government were prepared to hand the sum over to the Board. •Mr Robinson was requested, as Provincial Treasurer, to open an account in the name of the Central Board of Education with the money. Mr Mueller stated that it would be wise to take advantage, of the Government proposal to reserve 10,000 acres of land. He would therefore propose that the Waste Lands Board be requested to reserve 10,000 acrc j s of land for educational purposes forrhvvitb, the same to be selec u</. Aft«r some discussion the mover agreed to ulier ihe resolution to 20 000 acres. It was then unanimously passed. Mr Ktttirick said that at the request of the Local Committee of his D sr.rict he iiad interviewed his Honor the Superintendent and his Executive that day, with the view of obtaining the use of the Provincial buildings in Greymouth (at present used by the General Government as a Resident Magistrate's Court), for School purposes in that District — there being no other suitable building available even for temporary use in the town. His Hanor and Oie Provincial Secretary had entered into the question fully, and had consented to the request, undertaking to communicate at once with the General Government on the subject. His Honor had. suggested that a request for the use of the buildings in question should be made to him by the Central Board. Mr Kenricfc therefore moved — "That it is advisable to obta,in the buildings now uaed aa a Resident Magistrate's Court at Greymouth for school purposes, for the Greymouth District." The mover pointed out that with tho sin ill amount of funds at the disposal of the Board for the erection of school buildings, it would be a boon to all the Districts to obtain these buildings, seeing that a large part of the sum required for buildings in Greymouth would then be available for other Districts— and that now was the right time to urge the request, as the General Government had recently purchased the Hospital reserve and buildings in Greymouth for public offices, &c. Mr Revell seconded the motion, and spoke in favor of the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A lengthened discussion took place as to the advisability of striking an educational rate. This was strongly opposed by one or two members, and eventually Mr Reveli proposed and MrKeurick seconded, that his Honor the Superintendent be requested not to strike the rate until requested so to do by the Board ; this was carried. The Board then adjourned until Thursday, the 26th inst.; at 8 p.m.