EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5566, 30 January 1879, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

A meeting of the Education Board was held yesterday. Present—Hon. O. J. I’harazyn, the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, the Rev. J. Paterson, Messrs. Hutchison, Bimny, and Toomath. MINUTES. The minutes of previous meeting were read aud confirmed. BANK ACCOUNT. It was reported that the Board had £3280 to its credit. Armstrong’s case. The Cecbetart reported that in the case of Mr. Armstrong, who had sued the Board for £27, the Resident Magistrate had given a verdict for the sum paid into Court by the Board, £lO, but owing to an informality the Board had been saddled with costs amounting to £5 Bs. THE PURCHASE FROM MR. TOXWAKD, Mr. Hutchison objected that since the last meeting of the Board the Building Committee had improperly paid to Mr. Toxward £SOO on account of the purchase of land in Sydneystreet.—The other members of the Board held that as tho Board had authorised the purchase it had authorised payment of a deposit. The following letter was read from the Thorndon committee:— Thermion School District, C ramittee-room. Wellington. 14th January, 1371). Sib,—Th' c:mmlttea of tho Thorndon School District at its meeting yesterday—the first that has been held since the 21st ultimo—instructed me to address you on the subject of a itatement h.t -p----peared In the Nuw Zealand Times of Decent) ;r 21, purport no to bo a report of tho proceehinos of the Edi’Cifon B>ard at a me< ting held on the preo.ding day, in winch rep at it is said that the Board bad agreed to purchase a pi ce of land in Sydney-street, as the site of a girls’echo el. The committee I h vo the honor to rep eicnt flrds it elf unable to be’iere that this m b a correct r - port of the proceed!- g of tho B .nr '. for the fol owing reasons First, because it would man fot such an ab-olutoly contemptuous dUrega d of the school committee to take such an important shp witho t an» communication with the committee ; second and ran Inly, 1 scams as far ai tho committee can perceive, the Board has no power to initiate sur-h an act. The 77th section of the Education Act 1877, en cts tint •’On tho application of the committee, the Board of the di-.t ict may .elect, pu-cha o, lease, or acquire, a suit tble site or sites lor a choolhonse.' The ap. licafon of tho co-i'inittee Is clearly, tber for , a condition precedent, ami lb 1: quite certain that no such applicat on ha - been made.

It is not irrelevant to remark that in the judgment of the committ.s the plao is so unsuitable for the supposed purpose, that when it was .ugvo.ted to the committee some time ago as a place that mi dit be obtained, it w.is unanimously pronounced to be not worth discussing. I may add that the com-nit eo has in no degree altered its opinion on this su'-jo t. I trust the'efore that I shall re-eivoyour assurance that the Board has taken no such action as was stated in the newspaper report I have referred to.— i have, Ac.. J. Woodward, Chairman of Thorndon School Committee. The Chai man of the Education Board, Wellington.

The Chairman remarked that- as it was notorious the land was in the market, the committee must have known of the negotiation going on. The Board commenced to negotiate for tho land in July last. Mr. Hutchison: They did not know it officially. The Chairman : Oh, officially. Archdeacon Stock, as a member of the committee which recommended the purchase, thought this would be the site for a girls’ high school, which would not be under the control of the committee. He quite disagreed with the statement that the site was not good.

The Eov. J. Paterson said the matter had been discussed for months, the site was considered as excellent, and the only obstacle in the way was the high price. Mr. Bunny and Mr. Toomath strongly urged the purchase. He confessed he was sorry the Board had not communicated with the committee on the subject, but it was felt that it was desirable to keep the projected purchase quiet. It was resolved to reply, stating that while the Board held it had a perfect legal right to make the purchase, and believed the site a good one, it regretted the committee had not been informed on the matter. NEWTOWN. A petition was received from forty residents requesting that tho suburb of Newtown should be erected into a separate school district. It was pointed out that the school district could not be divided till next January. Kef erred to the Mount Cook school committee. A deputation waited on the Board, asking that a school should be erected at Newtown. It was a long way for the children to travel into town to.achool, and if one were put up it would be attended by 300 or 400 children. The Board recognised that it was desirable to proceed with the erection of a school as soon as possible, and decided to communicate with the Mount Cook school committee with a view to getting a site. BIDDIFORD. A letter was read from residents at Biddiford, in the Upper Tauera, asking for information as to the conditions on which aided schools could be established. The Secretary said ha had given all information on the point. The Board resolved to give the usual allowance, £4 per head. It was stated the attendance would be about twelve. PETONI. The Lower Hutt school committee stated they could not give any information as to the desirableness of erecting another school at Petone, but suggested that the matter should be left open for another six months. The master of the Lower Hutt school wrote expressing his opinion that the proposed new school would he unnecessary. There would not be an average attendance exceeding 10, and if this school were established the Korokoro school must be closed. Several members thought the letter of Mr. Willis reasonable, but the Board decided merely to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, as they did not consider it desirable that teachers should mix themselves up with these questions. The whole matter was referred to the Petone memorialists. KAIIOEI. Mr. O. C. Graham, chairman of the local committeee, wrote drawing attention to the fact that the ground surrounding the schoolhouse was becoming covered with gorse. It was resolved to request the tenant, Mi 1 . Jordan, to clear the land. The committee alsoappliel that certain alterations and additions to the school might be made. They claimed that as the ground around the school had been let at a good rental the work ought to be done.—Mr. Toomath held that the land around the building had nothing to do with the Karori people. It was reserved as a site for a teachers’ training school, should such ever be required.—The Inspector said the schoolhouse would never he a very good one, but these alterations were desirable. It was resolved to vote £3O. JOHNSONVILLE. A letter was received from the Johnsouville committee calling attention to the bad condition of the schoolhouse, and hoping that at least £OS should be spent in repairs. Mr. Toomath said the building had been put up at the instance of tho late local committee, and it would be well if the Board had fuller informatiou from their architect in regard to the state of tho building. The building had cost a good deal of money.—The Inspector stated that the timber used in the building had not been sufficiently seasoned, and had shrunk considerably.—After some discussion it was resolved that £65 be expended, Mr. Toomath dissenting. OREYTOWN. It was resolved to allow the committee to utilise the proceeds of the sale of the old building in the erection of a new one. The committee applied for £2 for assistance employed by them, and £8 8 for house rent paid. The Board had not authorised the expenditure, but agreed to refund the £2, declining to do so in regard to the rent, because Mr. Wakelin had been paid the usual allowance. REPORT OF BUILDING COMMITTEE. The following report was read : Thecommittee agree that the site atKaiwanu should be surveyed by tbe site committee. Resolved,—That plans similar to the Maungaroa school be sent to the small Farm Settlement, Pabautanui. to Ekotahuna, and Park Vale. Ecsolved,—That the plans for tho Upper Hutt be modified according to sketch handed in by the secretary. The committee resolved that the question of tho new buildings for Thorndon aud Xe Arc should fcc brought before tho B0«<1 at its

next meeting ; and that It should then be determined whether designs shoulder should not be open to competition, Mr, Toxward was instructed to call for tenders for the furniture (desks) required for the nevr class rooms. Mount Cook girls school, r, .^9 vras instructed to inspect the new building at Maungaroa when completed. The committee of tho Oreytown school were to be consulted as to the new residence for the teacher. The committee resolved that iron ties for tho school, Waingawa, ihould be made and fixed under the direction o I the school committee,

Tho Secretary stated that roost of the matters mentioned had been attended to. As to the furniture for Mount Cook school, it was ordered on January Bth, and was in the school two days after the opening day, so that the committee had really made a great deal out of nothing in reference to this matter. Mr. Hutchison regarded the document read as no report. It was merely a record of business done by a body independent of the Board altogether, aud he entirely objected to it. Archdeacon Stock thought it would save a good deal of the time of the Board if morematters of detail were left to these committees. The Board was constantly occupied for hours with business which ought never to come before the Board,

A discussion then took place as to the question whether Mr. Toxward should do the work, or whether the plans indicated in the report should be thrown open to competition. Archdeacon Stock moved, and the Rev. James Paterson seconded, that the plans be thrown open to competition, the design chosen to be carried out by the successful competitor. This was agreed to, Mr. Toomath strongly dissenting. It was resolved that tho Thorndon school committee be informed of the sites at the disposal of the Board, and requested to advise the Board as to where the different proposed schools should be placed. The report of the Building Committee, as a whole, was confirmed. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS’ COMMITTEE’S REPORT. This report was read. It was to the following effect Mr. Austin, of Kawaivvai, to be first assistant in the To Aro school; Mr. Cumberwortb, of Christchurch, to bo assistant master of the Feathersfon school; Mr. Gordon, of Greytown, to be assistant master of the Masterton school; Mr. T. Wakelin, of Greytown, to be master of tho Kawaiwai school ; Mr. Kilpatrick to be master of the Gladstone school. Tho Secretary stated that some of the changes had taken place. Mr. Wakelin had declined to go to Kawaiwai. The report was adopted. SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE’S REPORT. The following was read : 1. The Scholarship Committee recommend that the scholarships be open to all children of school age, and wherever receiving their education. 2. Recommend that seven scholarships be given annually, and tenable for two years, of the annual value of £l5O ; they appropriated one of £3O for the city, one of £3O for the Wairar&pa, and one of £3O for the country districts, tho remainder, one of £2O, two of £ls each, and one of £lO. open to all comers, 3. Recommend that the scholars attend during the term of two years any educational institution under the control of the Board, or under inspection by the public school inspector, and where the higher branches of education are taught. If, during the term of two years, the holder of the scholarship cease to attend such institution, he forfeit the remainder of the scholarship. 4. Scholarships held subject to good behavior of the scholar—Recommend that the subjects of examination be those prescribed for Standard VI. (Sec Act, clause 81.) 5. Recommend that the scholar must gain at least two-thirds of the possible number of marks in order to gain the scholarship 6. Money not used in any one year to be funded and carried forward to credit for succeeding year. 7. Recommend that tho governors of the Wellington College be asked to allow the College to be under, inspection, in order to come under the foregoing provisions. The report waa adopted. A CLAIM FOR FENCING. Messrs. Krull and Co. claimed £BO for half share of fencing laud abutting on an educational reserve. The justice of the claim was admitted, but as the reserves had been handed over to the school reserves commissioners with all liability, the Board held that the commissioners must pay. The commissioners, on the other hand, said the liability had been incurred before they took the reserves, and they would not pay. After some discussion it was resolved that the Chairman of tho Board should see the Chairman of the School Commissioners on the subject. SCHOOL FURNITURE. The Secretary stated that he had received lists of improved school furniture lately patented at Home, and would like authority to expend £SO or a £IOO in procuring specimens. He had recently authorised Mr. Lewis, one of the Board’s teachers, who was visiting Melbourne, to bring back with him specimens, and he had done so to the value of about £l3. These would come iu for practical use, and would be valuable as showing the improvements being made in school furniture. The Board approved, authorised the payment of Mr. Lewis’ account, aud agreed to allow the Secretary to expend £IOO, SCHOOL COMMITTEES. The Secretary made certain explanations as to the action he had taken iu regard to the Board elections, first meetings of local committees, &o. The Board entirely approved his action. THE HOLIDAY QUESTION. Mr. Hutchison complained that iu the matter of the holidays the rules had been broken. The rule provided that the schools should reassemble ou Monday, January 20, but the Secretary had extended the holiday to the 23rd. The Secretary explained the circumstances, and painted out that it would have been impossible for him, in the interests of the Board, to have done otherwise. Mr. Hutchison contended that the rule should be strictly adhered to. The Rev. Mr. Paterson thought a man would be a fool who would adhere to rules when common sense showed that compliance with the rules would be fraught with great inconvenience. The Board approved the action of the Secretary. SCHOOL committees’ reports.

A discussion on these was proceeding, when the Board adjourned for want of a quorum.