BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6508, 5 January 1882, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. The ordinary meeting of this Board was held in the Education office, Timaru, jesterday; present—Mr H. Belfield (Chairman), Messrs B. A. Barker, M. Gray, and 8. Goldsmith. HIGH SCHOOL BBPBESBNTATIVBS. The minntes t>f last meeting having been read, the first business taken was the appointment of representatives on the High School Board of Governors, and Messrs Belfield and Barolay, the present members, were reelected. . ANNUAL ELECTION OB COMMITTEES. It was resolved—" That the annual meetings of householders for the eleotion of School Committees in the distriot be held on Jan. 23, at 7.30 p.m., the place of meeting to be the schoolhouses in those districts where schoolhouses are in existence, and in new districts at places to be notified." NEW SCHOOLS. Mr M'Kerrow, Chairman of the Committee of the new School District of Beaview, waited upon the Board to ask for a certain concession. The Committee had offered on certain conditions to build a master's residence themselves, provided the Board would bi-ild a school, as well as provide a site. At the last meeting, the Board agreed to vote £2OO for the erection of a sohool-room, bat the lowest tender received for the building was £223. The difference, £23, the Board had asked the Committee to pay, Mr M'Kerrow urged that the Committee had been at great expense. They had already contributed £IOO to prooure a site, and were prepared to build a house for the master, and they hoped that the Board would not demand the extra £23 from them. He had gone over the plans with the Secretary, and found that by usiog stone piles instead of concrete foundations, and by other modifications, the cost could be a good deal reduced, and this reduction being made and all the circumstances being taken into account, the Committee thought the Board might well bear the whole cost.

Mr M'Eerrow also asked whether, if the Committee put up a master's house, they would be allowed rent for it so soon as the sohool reaohed the numbers that would entitle the master to a house, or lodging allowance. This question was a&swered in the affirmative.

On the motion of Mr Gray it was resolved to increase the Board's grant for the building by £lO, and the modifications in plans to reduoe the oost, aB suggested by the Committee, were agreed to. A letter was read from the Gapes' Valley Committee, requesting the Board to reduce the plans in certain directions, and then undertake the whole cost, as the Committee would have great difficulty in raising any further contributions.

The Seoretory stated that he had been in communication with tho Committees of other new districts with reference to reducing plans in some cases, or the intention of other Committees to subscribe the difference between the Board's grant of £2OO for eaoh building, and the lowest tender, £223. After a long discussion, it was resolved—- " That the Chairman be authorised to accept tenders for sohools at Bodoliff, Gapes' Valley, Makikihi, and Seaview, reducing the plans so that they do not oost the Board over £2OO each, except in the case of Seaview, for which a special arrangement was made " Mr Barker expressed great disgust at the high oost of such simple buildings as were called for. He suggested that a reduction in tho cost might be obtained by lining, or at aiy rate coiling, the buildings with canvas and paper, instead of timber or plaster. TBMUKA SOJIOOI/. Mr M'lntosh, head-master of the Temuka Sohool, some time ago met with an accident while engaged in his own business, and was absent from duty 'three weeks. The Board had provided s substitute for two weeks, at an expense of £lO 4>» 6d. It was rfsolved that, under the clroumstances, Mr M'lntosh should be required to boar that expense. PLEABAHT POINT. The attendance at this school having fallen off during the last quarter to a number three below that entitling the sohool to its present staff, tho Committee wrote to ask that no stops should bo taken to reduoe the staff, as the folling-off was due to the prevalence of siokness and compulsory vaooination. It was decided to take no stops in the matter this quarter. OBABI BBIDM. The Committee of tho aided sohool at Orari Bridge having appointed Mr Donald M'Donald teaoher of tho sohool, the appointment was confirmed, subject to the report of the Inspector at the first examination. WAIHAO. An application for £B, for shingling at the

Waihao school, was received. The Board granted 30i. SOOTH OBABI. The Committee of this school wrote that a piece of plaster had fallen down in the sohool, and asked for repairs to be effected. £1 was granted for the purpose. APPOIHTXIItTS AKB MMGHATIOH. The Secretary stated that several appoint • monte bad been made sinoo last meeting, and that Miss Haase, mistress at the Timaru tide sohool, had resigned.