WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 312, 13 April 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

The following extracts are from Chronicle report ; ’ . The first meeting of ‘the Wanganui Education Board was held in the office of the Borough Council* Wanganui, o vMj Friday last." Present : The Hon W. Fo*» M.H.R., J. Bryce, Esq, M. H. R., Hif Worship the Mayor, W. H. Watt, Esq., the Rev J. Boss, and Messrs J. Duthie, W. Williams, 11. Sanson, H. T. Jones, and Dalrymple, being all members of the Board. Mr Watt was elected chairman, Messrs Byrce and Duthie refraining from voting. The election was declared unanimous.

Mr A. A. Brown was installed as secretary temporarily, until permanent appointment could be made.

Amongst correspondence was—Letter from Mrllansard, stating that Mrs Hansard was able to act no longer as assistant teacher of the Waverley school, and would resign her post on the 30th instant* Letter from A. W. McKutchin, applying for employment as teacher. Letter from W* Gowcrn, stating that lie would supply all information and returns with reference to the Patea Education Board. Letter from R. Fouliss, applying for office of Inspector.

Resolution was passed to ask Wellington Board for full statenent of scholars, properties, and requirements of the Wanganui district, also statement of accounts, debts* liabilities, contracts, securities, &c., to enable agreement to be arrived at under section 39 of Education Act.

The question of whether or not the Board was legally constituted, was raised by lUr I’ryco. and a resoJutfon passed that the’chairman should enquire, and act So fat as necessary. The Hon Mr Fox said they must assume that the committees were duly elected, and that the Board had the power to moke new districts, and appoint a day for the election of the new Committees* which must be done at once.

Mr G . 8. Bridge appeared as a deputation* to ask for additional accommodation for the Waverley school, which was altogether too small for the number attending it. Ho read a return of the scholars attending, from which it appeared that for the year ending Dec. Slat* 1873, when it was built, there were 17 children in attendance; 1874* 32 ; 1875, 50 ; 187G, GG ; 1877, G8 ; 1878* 94 ;to March 1878, 100. The room was , now utterly unlit to accommodate the number attending ; and the school was fast becoming one of the most important in the district. The Chairman said this matter would have to stand over a littlei while until they got into working order. At present they had no funds,- but wheri they bad.- the Board would do all they ' could for the outlying districts. Resolved that the Chairman and Mr BL I. Jones be-appointed to sign the cheques with the Treasurer, the signature of either with the Treasurer to bo sufficient.” ' The Board authorised the Chairman and Treasurer to pay teachers salaries for current month at previous rates. Notice of motion was given that the Hon ' Mr Fox be Commissioner for the Education District of Wanganui. Mr Heslop, who was in attendance from Wellington to give what information be could as to working of new Act, called attention to the provision which had been made for the establishment of libraries, and said that £550 7s bad given to the Wellington Povincial district* of which Wanganui formed a part,- and £lO4 15s to Taranaki, in which Patea wag included. Of these two sums, the present Wanganui district would receive a share in proportion to population. Mr Heslop said the Wellington Board had appointed Mr Hayman, from Canterbury, as the new Inspector. He was art able and thoroughly efficient man, and was expected in Wellington in about a fortnight, and he would then frame regulations for the future examination of teachers. It would in a great measure be a general scheme, and would be provided for by the Minister forEducatiou. The Minister of Education was to be asked to grant free railway passes for use of members when on Board’s business. Mr Lee to be asked if he was desirous o£ receiving office of Inspector, and on what terras.

The last Wednesday in each month was fixed upon as regular day of meeting. The meeting adjourned to the 24th April.