WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 345, 7 August 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Further extracts from Chronicles re- ~ port of late meeting' Proposed by Mr Sanson, seconded by Mr Ross, and carried—-That Messrs' Williams and J. Dnthie, be authorised to confer with the Waitotara School Committee, respecting the acquisition of, two acres of ferry reserves referred to ■ Mr James Stent’s letter to of Education, and to report at the next meeting. A letter from the Wanganui School Committee, on the subject of establishing a girl’s High School in Wanganui, caused considerable discussion, and it was proposed by Mr Sanson—That the Waste Lands Committee be applied to for three acres of the Queen’s Garden Reserve, situated in the town of Wansranui, for a girl's school building site. M otion carried. The Secretary read a resolution of the Wanganui School Committee, requesting the Board to take the necessary steps to convert the common school of Wanganui into a High School, in accordance with Clause 55 of the Education Act. It was decided that the matter be not dealt with at this meeting, and Mr Ross gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting of the Board—That this Board take the necessary steps to convert the Grammar School for boys’ and girls’ into High Schools. Mr Dalrymple gave notice of motion for next meeting of the Board as follows —that the appiopriation of the Rees Bequest be rescinded in order to apply the money to the establishment of a High School in the town of Wanganui. It was agreed that £BO be granted for necessary improvements at Mnxwelltown. The request of the VVhenuaknra Committee for £l6 for necessary improvements Was •*

Printed forms of tlie compulsory Clauses of the Education Act, were ordered to be printed and supplied to Local Committees to enable them to carry out the provisions of.the Act. A long discussion took place on the question of remuneration to teachers, scale on which payments were to be made having boon prepared by the Inspector and Mr Delhi-*. The following* amendments were proposed, That the annual allowance to schools, averaging less than twenty-five, he £4 ; over tweny-five and under thirty-five, £3 Iss; from thirty-five to forty, £3 10s. Mr Dnthie contended strongly for paying teachers in proportion to attendance, as a sure way of rousing them to action. Eventually the scale of payments originally submitted, was adopted without alteration.

The following estimates of expenditure for next year, wen-: agreed to : Mars Hill— £2so, teacher's residence ; Foxton £3OO. teacher’s residence; Palmerston North £2OO, teacher’s residence; Marton—£2)o, for school extension; Wanganui—£(>oo, teacher’s residence ; ! Denlair residence; Warren gate—£2so, school building; Mataongonga—£2so,teacher’s residence. Also £SOO for two schools near Fielding. Action wae taken to petition Parliament for further reserves. The Inspector said he had a very pleasing statement to make to the Board in connection with the increase in the attendance at the different schools during the last quarter. On the Ist May, 1878, the number of scholars on the roll was 1,630. On the 30th June, the number had increased to 2,446. During the month of July another hundred had been added to the roll, thus making the total number, now at the present time, 2.546. Thus showing an increase of 907 daring the quarter. Very general satisfaction was expressed on hearing this statement, which was felt to be very encouraging. A number of recommendations made by the Inspector, were agreed to, and several minor matters having been arranged, the Board adjourned.