BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4818, 31 August 1876, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the Wellington Education Board was held yesterday morning at 11 o’clock. There were present—The Hon. C. J. Pharazyn (chairman), Hon. W. Gisborne, Kev. J. C. Andrew, and Mr. Toomath. BANK OVERDRAFT. The Secretary stated that the bank overdraft amounted to £1877 13s, lid. BUCKLE-STREET SCHOOL, The Inspector (Mr. Lee) brought under the notice of the Board certain irregularities in connection with the collection of fees at the Buckle-street school, and the Secretary was instructed to call upon Mr. Ne wlyn for an immediate explanation, the said explanation, when made, to be referred to a committee consisting of the Chairman and Messrs. Gisborne and Toomath. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Sick leave for another month was granted to Mr. Rowband, teacher under the Board, OHABIU. Letters relating to the Ohariu schoolroom controversy were read, and the whole matter was referred to Mr. Toomath, who was requested to inquire into the matter, and report to the Board. SCHOOL SITES. A letter from the Native Minister was read, asking for plans of tho site at the Armed Constabulary Barracks, The Board instructed the Secretary to state that there was no plan of tho site, but that any portion of it would be suitable for a school, the'position being central. A letter was read from the Deputy-Superin-tendent, stating that tho Government had no reserves at the Thorndon end of the City,

CITY RESERVES. •The : Secretary read some correspondence, relative to the reserves asked for by the Board, the purport of which has already been published. In: reference to the request of the Public Works Committee of the City Council, which was” adopted by the Council, Mr. Gisborne stated that, as the remarks contained in the report of the Public Works Committee. went considerably beyond the Mayor’s statement, as they cast imputations on the Board, and were inconsistent with fact, he would move : '

, 1. That the Education Board submit that transitional legislation on the subject of education should not postpone the allocation in the meantime of part of existing city reserves to the general cause of education. 2. That during the twelve months ended 30th June last,. the Board have expended within the City of Wellington £3193 in salaries to school teachers, and £2571 9s'. 7d. on fichool sites and buildings ; and that, the education rates levied in the city of Wellington during that time amounted to £2593, showing that the statement of the City Council, “that the rate levied upon the city of Wellington by the Education Board has been in excess of the amount spent on . its public schools,” has been made under a misapprehension of the facts.

3. That a serious obstacle .to the efforts of the Board has been the absence of public reserves in the city of Wellington as sites and endowments for public schools. 4. That reserves for such purposes have been made by the General and Provincial Governments and by private persons in the country districts, but none in the city of Wellington. 5. With respect to the allegation by the City Council, “ that ratepayers have not had the least practical control in the matter” of education, the Board point out that the ratepayers of the city of Wellington are enabled by election to the Board, and by the appointment of local committees, to have the same share in the management of public education as is had by ratepayers in country districts. 6. That the education of the rising generation, in a city already populous and rapidly increasing in population, is essential to the highest moral and material interests of the city. 7. That the Board for these reasons again earnestly urge the City Council to allocate a part of the existing city reserves towards the promotion of public education within the City of Wellington. 8. That the Chairman be requested to acknowledge the receipt of the letter of 19th August from the Town Clerk, and to send in reply a copy of the foregoing resolutions. Mr. Andrew seconded the above resolutions, which were carried unanimously. THE LATE EXAMINATION. The result of the recent examination of teachers, as printed, was laid before the Board and confirmed, with the addition of the name of Minette Macdonald as pupil teacher for the first year. A vote of thanks was passed to the various supervisors, as also to Mr. Kenneth Wilson, the hitter being voted an honorarium of twenty guineas as a slight recognition of his services. The remainder of the business before the Board was postponed till Friday next at 11 o’clock. ‘