EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4305, 7 January 1875, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The Board held a meeting at its offices yesterday. Present: —Messrs. Brandon (chairman), Toomath, Pharazyn, Hutchison, and Bunny. The accounts submitted by the Secretary, contained an item of £25 paid into the Investment Society to form a fund to provide for contingencies, the sums named being equivalent to the amount which the Board would have to pay as insurance premiums. Mr. Bunny intimated that the Provincial Government would insist that all buildings' erected out of money furnished by them should be insured. This opinion led to a short discussion, during which a contrary opinion was elicited, several members of the Board favoring the planof non-insurance astheriskof loss was small, and the money paid as premiums could be devoted..±'>-o*l^ r T s!11 'P 0!!es - irmsny, it was decided that the present system should continue. - Mr. Toomath then moved the motion of which he had given notice, to the effect, that the offices of Inspector and Secretary should be combined. . The motion led to the question whether the two officials concerned should-not retire, and a majority of members being of opinion that they should, Mr. Lee and Mr. Graham withdrew. The motion was then debated in an inconclusive manner, and finally its further consideration was adjourned. The Inspector, upon re-entering the room, made a personal explanation with regard to his recent absence, which he understood had been unfavorably commented upon by certain members of the Board. In justice to himself he felt bound to state that he had worked night and day during the past year in the endeavor to perfect a system of public education for the . province, and those exertions he felt convinced would yet bear fruit. He did not apply for any holidays during the winter because he was then busily employed maturing his plans anci examining the masters, this, arrangement being in his opinion most likely to carry out the views of the Board by advancing the educational system which they were pledged to promote. In this way his holidays weredelayed till the summer months, and the Board having already given him permission to inspect the Government schools at Taranaki during his holidays he saw no great objection to his performing a similar duty for the Marlborough schools, which he did at little inconvenience, as he was on a visit to his friends at Nelson at the time. Besides he had communicated that intention to the Board before he left Wellington. Mr. Toomath pointed out that Mr. Lee had not obtained the formal consent of the Board. Mr. Hutchison said that mere courtesy to the Board should have induced Ml". Lee to obtain its permission, before inspecting the ' schools of any province. Ultimately the whole subject was postponed for discussion with Mr. Toomath's motion relative to combining the offices of Inspector and Secretary. The accounts were then passed, and the Board adjourned.