EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5413, 2 August 1878, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

Thursday, August 1. The Board met at half-past 11, all the members being present, the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn in the chair. Tire minutes of the previous meeting were road and ooufirme I. FEATHEUSTON SCHOOL. An application was received from the local school committee to constitute the Featherston school a district high school. On the motion of Mr. Toomatk, it was resolved that the, matter be referred to theRevision of Rules Committee, to report to the next meeting. school teachers’ certificates. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Beetham, that a committee should be appointed, to assist the . Inspector in examining the certificates of candidates for appointment to any of the Board schools, with power to raaks provisional appointments in cases of emergency; such committee to consist of the Yen. Archdeacon Stock, the Rev. J. Paterson, and Mr. Toomath. To meet on Monday next. new school district. , An application from settlers near Carter’s line, for a meeting to be called for the purpose ot constituting a now district, was considered, and it was resolved that the application be forwarded to the Carterton school committee, for them to suggest and arrange as to the boundaries for tbs proposed new district. A letter was read from the Mount Cook school committee relative to the distribution of prizes. It was resolved that the Inspector bo instructed to reply, giving the information required as far as he was able. An application was received from Mr. S. Levy for some recognition being given to his son for having obtained the highest number of marks in Standard 111. at the school examination for 1877. No resolution was passed on the subject. REVISION OF RULES. On the motion ot Mr. Pharazyn it was resolved that the report of the Revision of Rules Committee be printed, and a copy sent to each member ot the Board ; tho report to bo considered at the next, meeting; and that the salaries be paid at present on the old scale, any additions to take effect from the Ist July ; the committee to continue, and to revise the report after its being printed. correspondence, &o.

A letter from Mr. Wakelin, iu reference to a recent unfavorable report on his school, was referred to Messrs. Beetham and C. Pharazyn to report upon.

PROPOSED NEW SCHOOLS. The Inspector, Mr. Lee, brought up the following report ;

Gentlemen, —Acting upon instructions received from, the Board yesterday I have the honor to report ' 1. That as a case appears to bo made out for the establishment of a school In the Mnngaroa District, on tlie main line of road, about four, miles north of the present Upper Hutt school, I recommend your Board to Instruct me to visit the proposed site, and to report more particularly to you at the next meeting of the Board on the merits of tho case, on the suitability of the proposed site, and on the size of the building required. 2. That I have already visited, by direction of the Board, the Small Farm Settlement near Pahautanui, where about twenty-eight children were mustered. Mr. Abbott offered a suitable section of land, situated about two and a half miles from the present Pahautanui school. I understand the offer has been since withdrawn Supposing the offer of the land to be renewed, and other conditions to remain the same, there is, I think, a case for an assisted school, supposing th > distance from Pahautanui is not considered too little. 3. I am of opinion that the present Upper Hutt school property is fairly in the centre of ths district,' and that a new schoolroom should bo built on tiro half-acre lately acquired by the Board, tho old building being removed from the back of the teacher's residence and attached to tho new building. 4. ’A larger and more convenient school building is required for Tawa Flat. I beg to recommend your Board to make tho new schools and additions, which will afford large and increased accommodation to any at present existing, a first charge upon the building fund Such, for instance, as th s proposed now schools at Thorndon and Newtown, and the additional classrooms to the Mount Cook girls’ school, .DOHERTY V. THE BOARD. In reference to this case the Chairman Intimated that be was not anxious for a new trial, but would like to have the opinion of the Supreme Court on ths matter. He would like to hear what Mr. Bunny had to say. Mr. Bonny said he would like to hear what Mr. Brandon, the Board’s solicitor, had to say on the matter, and fully expected to hava seen that gentleman present. He gathered from the reports which had appeared in the papers in reference to what took place in Court, although, of course,’ he did not know whether those reports were correct or not, that his Honor Judge Richmond had somewhat modified his opinion on the matter since he presided at the trial of the case, as to letting the question of “ gross misbehavior” go to the jury. The Hon. Mr. Pharazyn said that in his opinion there really was nothing else to go to the jury, as all the other questions at issue were withdrawn. Before deciding whether the Board should proceed further with the matter he thought the opinions of their legal advisers should be taken. Mr. Hutchison said from what had been told him by a gentleman present during the argument in banco on the case he understood that his Honor Judge Riohmood had openly stated that although he had said Mr. Gordon Allan might take a rule nisi he (the Judge) was against him so far. Tho Rev. Mr, Paterson was opposed to the case going any further, in view of the verdict of the jury. Archdeacon Stock was also in favor of not proceeding further in the matter, but desired that the present Act should bo amended, so as to give the Board power to dismiss a teacher summarily for “gross insubordination.” The feeling of tho public had been against the Board on account of their considering that “gross misbehavior” meantimraofal conduct. Mr. Gisborne expressed himself opposed to proceeding further with tho case. Mr. Too'math said iu his opinion the Board was quite justified in dismissing Mrs. Doherty, whose conduct was insubordinate and subversive of discipline. When the question of Mr. Doherty’s dismissal was put to the Board, the votes were 8 to 1, Mr. Hutchison being the only dissentient. Mr. Hutchison said that was the case.

Mr. Gordon Allan (barrister)’ here made his appearance, and said he came as the confidential adviser of the Board, therefore ho objected to reporters being present, who might take down every word that dropped from the Ups of counsel, and he should not speak iu the presence of the reporters. At the request of the Chairman the. reporters withdrew, and the learned gentlemen and the Board were left to deliberate on the matter.

On the re-admission of the representatives of the Press it was stated that the matter would be further considered on Monday next, to which day the Board adjourned.