CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1920, Page 4

CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

The Board met at Christchurch on Friday last. Present—Mr E. H. Andrews, (Chairman), Hon J. Grimmond, M.L.C., Messrs O. H. Opie, W. P. Spencer, T. Hughes, A. Peverill J. Jamieson G. W. Armitage H. J. Bignell, 0. S. Howard, and J. Maze. The Appointment Committee’s report contained the usual list of recommendations for appointments and leave of absence, and of resignations received and accepted. Having considered the board’s by-laws regarding the publication of inspectors’ reports, the committee recommended that it remain for the present unaltered. A letter had been received from Mr M. C. Earwaker, resigning his Gammack Scholarship owing to illness. It had been agreed to express the Board’s regret at the circumstances, with a hope for Mr Earwaker’s speedy recovery. In regard to the Taunihiwi school, the Deparement had written stating that it was unable to authorise a staff in excess of that allowed by the Act. It had been agreed to ask the Department to arrange for the Inspector of Native schools to meet the chairman of the board in regard to the school. The report was adopted. The Agricultural and Manual and Technical Committee’s report recommended the appointment of Mr F. CRoberts as assistant woodwork instructor, Normal Centre, and stated that Miss Mills had resigned her position as cookery instructress, and Miss Mclntosh as commercial instructor at Greymouth. A grant of £350 had been agreed to by the Department for the erection of a woodwork room at Amberley. Tliereport was adopted. A report of the inspection, of. school gardens was received, the general tone .of which was appreciative, and after various members had. expressed their opinion of the importance of this class of work, it was decided that copies of the report should be sent to the school committees interested.

. The Grey branch of the Educational Institute wrote in reference to newspaper reports of work done by the board in committee, stating that the reports had caused pain any annoyance to teachers and their friends. A similar letter was received from the Otira committee. It was decided that the board should endeavour to prevent any recurrence.

A letter from the Wellington Education [Board in regard to uniformity in the matter of school holidays was referred to the Appointments Committee. A report was received from Mr White, (Truant Officer, West Coast,) to the effect that during the month he had received 37 lists from schools; 4 notices of a final nature had been issued and 33 ordinary notices. A number of schools had been visited and S visits paid to the homes of pupils.—Received It was agreed to ask the Truant Officers to tabulate in their reports for the succeeding months results of the issue of the final notice.

For the lease of the Grey Offices, Messrs Fogarty and Cb. offered £32 per year. It was resolved to offer the lease at £4O per annum, the tenants to pay the rates. Mr J .Evans offered to purchase old school and reserve at Aickens, but did not wish to lease them. Resolved that the reserve be offered to Mr Jackson at a rental of £1 Is Od per annum. The application for a new school at> Oobden is to be renewed.

Inspector Valentine recommended that the teacher’s residence at Okuru be converted into a school. Resolved that the foreman be authorised to carry out the work recommended by the Inspector. The Foreman’s attention to be drawn to need of renovations to buildings and fences at ower Kokatahi.

The Committee to be written regarding broken panes in windows at Otira. Somje discussion took place with regard to the clearing of the site set apart for the Technical School at Greymouth. It was finally agreed that the matter be left in the hands of the Chair

man of thje Board, (who proposes visiting the West Coast shortly), and the West Coast members with power to act. The Hokitika Borough Council wrote stating it is unable to reduce the water charges for the school.—Received. Resolved that as the Board’s old offices are included with the school charges, the Committee be asked to pay £3, the Board meeting the balance of £5 ss. APPOINTMENTS. Appointments recommended, included.—Mr H. H. Allison, headmaster at Greymouth. RESIGNATIONS. Resignations accepted included: — Miss T. B. Malone, assistant mistress at Greymouth.

Mr T. N. Wylie, sole teacher, Jack’s Mill. Miss E. K. Donovan, sole teacher at Okarito. Miss N. B. O’Donnell, sole teacher at Rotomanu. Miss A. Leamy, sole teacher, Swedes Mill. Commercial instructor, Greymouth, Miss Mclntosh. Inspection reports received included, Mr Valentine, Rewanui. APPLICATIONS. Applications for appointments included :

Blue Spur, sole teacher —Annie K. Gillooly, Margaret J. Hareourt, (C.), Cecilia M. Jones, (D.), Thomas M. Wylie, —. Hokitika D.H.S., assistant, secondary department.—Grace M. Aitken, (O.), Margaret J. Hareourt, (C.) Kumara Junction, sole teacher. Grace M. Aitken (C.), Claude M. Harford, (—). Annie E. Kelly (P-O.), Cecilia M. Jones, (D.), A. P. Sherlock (—). Swedes’ Mill, sole teach,er —Mrs O. Johnson, ( —), Nora E. Kelly, (D.), Catherine Kerr (C.), Grace G. Maloney, ( —), Margaret A. D. O’Donnell (D.) Mrs M. Warner (D.) Greymouth D.H.S., assistant, secondary department.—No applications.

REPORT. Mr Ridley, assistant agricultural instructor reported for December —I have continued teaching at District High Schools, Hokitika and Greymouth on Mondays and Tuesday up till 16tli inst. and have visited the following primary schools:— Greymouth, Hokitika, ißarrytown, South Spit, Paroa, Ross, Swedo’o Mill, Te Kinga, Moana, Aratika, Kokin, Ahaura, Haters, Ngabere, Tayloryille, Cobden and Runanga. Balance

of regulation reports on same herewith. Including some schools more frequently visited this completes a 2nd round of working gardens excepting Kokatahi, Lower and Upper, and Koiterangi.

As stated in my report for November and in my interview with your Chairman I considered there should be more intimacy between myself and your Eastern Watershed Instructors before fresh developments were attempted. Mr Chief Instructor Martin notifies me that he will visit this district in February and discuss matters then outlined.—Received and adopted. It was agreed that West Coast Members of the Board should be asked to visit Schools in l the West Coast district taking agriculture as is proposed to be done in the case of South Canterbury, and as was done in the case of North Canterbury. As Mr Ridley, according to his report is to be in Christchurch at the end of January, it was decided to aslc him to remain in Christchurch till the February Meeting for the purpose of interviewing the Agricultural Committee of the Board.