EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4336, 11 February 1875, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

A special meeting of the Board of Education, to consider the Inspector’s report, was held at the Board’s offices yesterday morning. There were present—Messrs. Brandon (in the chair), O. J. Pharazyn, Bunny, and Toomath. Before the meeting proceeded with the business for which it was specially called, it confirmed the election of several local committees which had been made by the settlers in various districts of the province. A COMPLAINT. Mr. Ellis, chairman of the Maxwelltown school committee, attended to complain to the Board of the manner in which the school of the district had been examined by the Inspector. A letter had been sent to the school committee by the Secretary, stating that Mr. Lee would visit the Maxwelltown school on a certain day, and the scholars were accordingly collected for the purpose of being examined Mr. Lee did not arrive till late in the day, when all the scholars had been dismissed and were on their way home. The Inspector appointed the following Wednesday as examination day, when he would be returning through the district. On that day he did not arrive till after three o’clock. It had been raining hard, and his son, who had ridden nine miles to school, caught a severe cold. The examination of the scholars was not concluded till near dark. The next morning Mr. Lee shot through the district, although the committee were prepared to point out to him the proposed site for the new school, and also furnish him with valuable information concerning the district. The settlers felt annoyed, and held a public meeting on the matter. They thought some of the time which the Inspector spent at Hawera and Patea, districts outside the province, might have been devoted to the affairs of Maxwelltown and Kai Xwi.

The Inspector,,, who was present at the meeting, said he could not understand the cause of complaint. He was, unavoidably, too late in reaching Maxwelltown on the day appointed to examine the children, and met them coming out of school. As he would have to return through the district, he decided to postpone the examination till then. The day, unfortunately, was very rainy. Mr. Bunny thought a great deal of the difficulty would be removed 6n the erection of a new school at Kai Iwi, plans and specifications of which had been forwarded to Mr. Ellis, who, on his return home, would no doubt find them at his residence. The new building would obviate the necessity of a long ride to reach a school. The Chairman pointed out to Mr. Ellis that Mr. Lee had done all that was required of him. At the time of his visit to the district in which it was proposed to erect the school there was no school committee formed, and it was not for the Inspector to hunt round for the settlers, Mr. Ellis then stated that a Mr. Goodison had offered to lend to the Board a cottage for the purposes of a school till the new building could be erected. He hoped the Board would accept the offer, and appoint a master. The Secretary stated that the Board had at present no available teacher for the school. Mr. Ellis then withdrew. inspector’s report. The Inspector’s Report, dated Ist August last, was then considered. The only portion which excited any discussion was the clause regarding the appointment and examination of pupil teachers, and the remuneration to be paid to masters who instructed pupil teachers after the ordinary work of the school had been finished. The Board decided that masters of schools should receive £8 per annum for the first two pupil teachers who successfully passed the standard specified in the report, and £3 each for every additional pupil teacher. Masters would bo expected to give pupil teachers onehour’s instruction each day, or five hours per week. The Inspector would recommend to the Board those ho considered fit to become pupil teachers. - The report, with these alterations, was passed. EXAMINER. The Inspector stated that the Principal of the Wellington College, Mr. Kenneth Wilson, bad signified his willingness to act in conjunction with the other examiners of the Board. The Board recorded its gratification at the announcement.

NOTICE OP MOTION. —THE OFFICERS OP THE BOARD. Mr. Brandon gave notice that he would move at a future meeting that the resolution recently arrived at by the Council—“that the offices of Secretary and Inspector be embodied in one office " —be rescinded. Mr. Bunny having stated that the Provincial Council would be called together about tbe end of April, that period was considered the most eligible time to get a full meeting of members together to discuss the motion. The Board then adjourned.