BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 170, 5 November 1880, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Tuesday, November 2. The Board met at half-past ten o’clock. Present—Messrs Seymour (in the chair), I Yard, Parker, Henderson, and Fell. The minutes of the previous meeting Avere read and confirmed. UORRESX’ON DENCR, & C. A letter Avas read from Mr R. Bruce Wallace, of the National Insurance Company, stating that since his conversation with Mr Seymour he (Hr Wallace) found that it would he inconsistent Avitli tariff arrangements prevailing at Blenheim for him to quote a rate of insurance under that at present existing there. The rate stated by Mr Wallace to Mr Seymour Avas 7A per cent. the vacant SCHOLARSHIP. The Chairman read the following letter from Mr Conolly : “ I’icton, November Ist, ISSO. Sir—l beg leave to report to you and to the Education Board officially the fact that my son Walter, the holder of one of the Marlborough scholarships at Nelson College, died oil the 25th October. His illness and death have caused the postponement of various matters of business and it has been consequently necessary for me to make appointments for to-morrow which Avill prevent my attending the meeting of the Board to-day. I regret this because it will prevent my taking part in the deliberations of the Board as to the disposal of the A-acant scholarship Avliich would not, under other circumstances, have been vacant until the end of ISSI. It appears to me that it would he inconvenient to give two scholarships at Christmas next, eacli for two years since it would bo prejudicial to the hoys who shall he found most deserving at Christmas, 1 SSI ; and that it Avould also be undesirable to give a scholarship for one year as a second prize. A third alternative to leave the scholarship vacant for a year would, I think, he to establish a bad precedent. I venture to suggest, and I should propose it to the Board if I could he present to-morrow, that the other Marlborough scholar, E. Robinson, Avhose term expires at Christmas, should be allowed another year in my son’s place if his father Avishes it. No one. as it appears to me, could fairly complain of the Board so disposing of the scholarship Avhich lias so unexpectedly fallen in ; and it Avould he Avell bestowed beyond all question. I therefore hope that this suggestion Avill meet with the approA al of the Board. I have addressed this letter to you and not to the Secretary, since I have felt that it is a matter on which I should avoid communication with Mr Robinson. Ido not even know Avliether the suggestion would meet Avitli bis \ approval since he may have other aucays for : his son.—l have the honor to be, Sir, youY obedient seevant, Ed. T. Conolly. To the Chairman of the Education Board, Blenheim.”

Mr Ward said he thought the scholarship ought to go to the next best scholar to the deceased. He considered that these scholarships should be open to all and not be confined to the Government schools He objected to the Government having a monopoly of education. As regarded Nelson College, Marlborough had never got justice. He had advocated the establishment of a High School at Nelson, Motueka, and Blenheim, but had been over-ruled. The people who came to Nelson in the early days of the Colony took up land in various parts, some of them as far as Kekerangu, and they had every right to participate in the benefit derived from land set apart for education. The present system was called a poor man’s system, but it was in that respect a sham. Rich people, who could afford to educate their children and keep them at school for eight or ten years perhaps, got the benefit. Mr Henderson said it did seem hard to exclude all but those who came from the Board schools.

The Chairman said Nelson College confined their scholarships to boys coming from public schools. He, as a Governor, had suggested that Marlborough should participate, and two scholarships were allotted to Marlborough. Mr Hodgson, the Inspector of Schools, here entered the room and said he had attended this meeting as the Board might wish to put some questions to him. The Chairman explained what had taken place with regard to the scholarship and in reply, Mr Hodgson said his own opinion was, that the wider the field was the better. These Nelson College scholarships were at present confined to boys coming from public schools, and the Government would not give them to boys fromprivateschools. It was in the discretion of the Board, he ap_ prehended, to say in what way the presen

1 vacancy should he ill cd. It might be filled by competition at Christina* if the Board thought fit. j J.t- was agreed that a copy of the regal,a- ---| tioiis now existing as to the scholarships j be forwarded to the Minister of Education in answer to a meiuoraiiduiii from liim. It was agreed to postpone the farther consideration of thcq-iesJoii of filling up the vacant Marlborough scholarship at Nelson College. TIIK INSPECTORS REPORT. In reply to the Chairman Mr Hodgson said on the whole his report would he favorable, but in three cases the of the examination was unsatisfactory, viz., Pioton Lower School, <frove '1 and Blenheim Boys’ second division. There were however, extenuating circumstances, The older boys in the High School passed remarkably well, the IN Standard did badly. | Fie had kept the examination papers and I would hand to the Chairman the hose and I the worst in each Standard at the Blenheim School so that they could judge of the mean. The “ Euclid ” was good bat the Latin was very poor indeed. The V. run! VI. Standards were very good. Spring Creek did well, and so did I'icton Upper School, Waitohi, Havelock, and Canvas Town. He wished to ask whether the Board would like to have his report (which would be ready for the printer by Monday next) immediately, or would wait until after he had visited Kekcrangu, the time of which visit was uncertain.

The Board agreed not to wait for the Kekcrangu repo. t. Mr ][< ndevson said Mr Hodgson in his report for IS7S had stated that the teachers’ staff at the Blenheim Borough School was inadequate. Was he fuliy acquainted with the facts, and was he aware that they had as many at one time as six or seven teachers at tliis school ? Mr Hodgson said in his report of 1579 it appeared that Mr Macklin bad (iO scholars to attend to, which was more than one master ought to have. 40 apiece was a fair

average. Mr Henderson said it appeared that in Nelson the averge was 47 to each teacher. Here it was 34. If Mr Macklin had more than 40 to teach, it was his own fault.

Mr Hodgson said his report was correct. The head master of the Nelson town school, an Oxford graduate, taught 32, Euclid, algebra, and Latin. Ilis salary was L 270, but lie had no house.

Mr Henderson taid by the report of 1579, it appeared that it cost LSG4 Ss4d to teach 100 boys. Taking all the schools it appeared that here each pupil cost L 3 ISs 1 Id but in Nelson it was only L2 7s 3d. This Blenheim school was about the most expensive in New Zealand, and he did feel dissatisfied with the report referred to. Mr Hodgson repeated that his report was absolutely correct. Mr Henderson referred to a clause in Mr Hodgson’s report of 1870, in which ho says “more than one attempt has been made, both by the teachers and by a portion of the outside public, to muzzle inspectors, either bj* causing detailed reports of each school to be treated as confidential, or by suppressing them altogether.” He should like to know who that referred to. Mr Hodgson said those words were obviously general, and not meant to apply to Marlborough only. Mr Henderson said it appeared in a Marlborough report. Mr Fell said he knew how things would he twisted and turned, and hoped Mr Hodgson would answer very explicitly. Had any here attempted to “muzzle ” him, or get his reports suppressed. Mr Hodgson said, No, certainly not. It was better organisation at Nelson, which made the cost of teaching less per head. Mr Henderson, referring to Mr Macklin’s salary, said it was a pretty comfortable one. He could not find anyone els* so well off. Mr Fell said Mr Macklin did not support Mr Henderson in politics ; that was what the matter. Mr Henderson said he objected to such remarks. The Chairman said the remark was not in order. The Board having no further questions to put'to the Inspector, he left the room and returned to the inspection of the Blenheim Girls’ School. KEKKRANCU. It was resolved to have plans prepared for the erection of a new school house at Kekcrangu, on land to be leased from Mr Aitkin, as agent for Mrs Symons. 1! EX WICK TOWN, It was agreed to appoint a sewing mistress at L2O a year, at Eenwick Town School. LEAVE OF AISSEXCE. Leave of absence from this meeting was granted to Mr Conolly and Mr Dive. TENDERS. The following tenders wore read : For furniture, Havelock Suburban School—R. Jones L4O 3 Gs, C. F. Horton L 35 14s Dd (accepted), D. Wemyss L 63 los, V. Vcmiimore L 29 iOs, exclusive of Venetian blinds. Additions to Waitohi School —C. Nieol L 75 10s, M. Johnson L 74 14s Cd, A. Peddie L 77, Long Bros. LG9 (accepted), D. Wemyss LB2. The tenders for Picton School were ordered to stand over until next meeting. SALARIES. As the teachers’ salaries for the month were about to bo voted, Mr Henderson said he would like to know what the salaries were, and how made up. Mr Macklin’s, for instance, what was his classification ? The Secretary said Mr Macklin’s was the highest class; Mrs Macklin was appointed at a fixed salary. She was in Class 11, division 3. Mr Henderson said lie thought it would be well to have a committee appointed to go into the matter. The Blenheim school was costing too much, and if they did not retrench they would find that their income would not meet the expenditure. The Chairman said he did not entertain the same opinion. He thought they would be able with care to carry through. Mr Fell said he agreed that it would be well to have a committee appointed. He should be quite willing to assist in revising the regulations. Mr Henderson said having ventilated the question of salaries he would not further press the matter at this meeting. The salaries of Inspector, Secretary, and teachers for the past month were then passed for payment. The following accounts were also passed for payment: —H. Wilson, building closets. Blenheim, L 33 10s, R. Jones, Havelock Suburban School contract, L 100; Elfceck, stationery, LI 16s 3d. HAVELOCK ,SUBURBAN'. The Secretary was instructed to inform the Committee that the Board will pay L 3 per pupil for average attendance, besides their payments to the Committee. JIR coxolly’s letter. The Chairman said he would reply to Mr Conolly’s letter re the vacant scholarlarship, informing him that the further consideration of the question was postponed until next meeting. This concluded the business before the Board,

WAIRAU HOAD HOARD. Wednes/GM Nov, 3, | The Board met at 2 o’clock. Present — | Messrs Ward (in the chair), Coulter, ! Avery, and Watts. The minutes of the previous meeting i were read and confirmed. conn eh no sd e x uk, &c. A letter was read from Mr T. Bartlett, notifying his attention to apply fora slaughtering license to kill large and small cattle | OU section 20, North bank of Wairau. Mr E. Barker wrote to the Board offering terms for a road to he carried through bis property. The Secretary also explained Mr Mortimer's views as to the best way of carrying the road to Fabian’s Bush. The Inspector was authorised to visit Fabian’s Valley, and make arrangements with Mr Barker &ml others as to compcn- ! sation for fencing in a road through sections fill and 26. TENDERS. A tender was sent in offering to undertake the work of repairing the road from Leetiekl to the Avon .Saddle for L 69 10s, ( but it was unsigned, the tenderer having I apparently forgotten to append his name. 'The Board agreed to accept the tender if it can be discovered where it comes from. VACANCY. Mr Watts moved, and Mr Avery seconded, that steps be taken to hold an election of’a member to fill the scat vacated by Mr Williams, of Birch Hill. This was agreed to. WAIRAU VALLEY ROAD. The Inspector was instructed to examine a protionof the Wairau Valley Road between Dead Horse Creek and Stoney Cutting, and execute any temporary repairs that may bo required. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment—Furness and Boundy L 3 Is Gd, J. Higgins L 25 Is, 11. G. Bell L 4 Ids, H. C. O’Leary L 5 os, J. Dudley LI Is. STAMP DUTY. The Board agreed that in future they, and not the contractor would pay the stamp duty on contracts. The Board then adjourned.