WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 360, 28 September 1878, Page 2

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

F uom the Chronicle report wo glean the following : The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held at their office, on Taupe Quay, on Wednesday morning. Present—The Chairman, Rev Ross, Messrs Sanson, Jones, Duthio, Peak, and Dahymple. Correspondence included—Letters from the Education Department, stating that Government would not become responsible for any over-draft exceeding the vote for building purposes, that Government was unable to make special grant of £SOO, that Bill re establishing High School at Wanganui, would receive attention; letter from Chairman of Normanby School Committee, about site ; from W. Cowern, enclosing list of title deeds in his possession ; from Chairman of Kolii School Committee, re fencing and buildings, also urging Board to confirm the appointment of Mr M’Comish; from Maxwelitown, asking Board to accept the only tender received for erection of school ; from Waverley Committee, for additions and requisites for school ; from Chairman of Hawera School Committee, re the establishment of a High School, and asking the Board to defer the establishment of a High School for, say, 12 months; from same, re conferring with Mr Cowern, in reference to the closing accounts of tire Patca School Board. Discussion occurred as to attitude of Government about overdraft, and to the wording of circular, the Chairman contending that exceptional demands had been made upon the Board in the way of expenditure, which entitled it to exceptional treatment.—Mr Duthio said that tho Board had already received very exceptional treatment from the Minister of Education, who had given them double what they were entitled to. Wanganui and Wellington had both been specially favoured by Mr Ballanco, who had given between them £IO,OOO out of the £50,000 appropriated to the whole colony. After considerable discussion on the reply sent by Government as to speeijri grant of £SOO asked for by (bo Board, it was resolved that Messrs Watt, Duthio, Jones, and Peak be appointed a correspondence committee to detail the very exceptional circumstance of the Board district with regard to teachers salaries, building fund, and Bank overdraft. Mr Kenah, chairman of the Kolu School Committee, was introduced to the Board, be having come as a deputation from the committee to urge upon the Board the confirmation of the appointment of Mr McComish. Mr Ken ah boro testimony to the high efficiency of Mr McComish, under whoso tuition the pupils bad made rapid progress. The parents were entirely satislied with him, In’s whole deportment since Ids residence among them having been such as to win him their esteem.—The chairman stated that while the Board were anxious to meet in all respects the wishes of their committees, it was at the same time incumInut on them in the interests of education, to appoint only such teachers as were above reproach.—Mr Ross had no doubt that the Board would bo perfectly willing to leave matters as they were, ami thought the teacher’s appointment would not bo confirmed, yet he did not think any attempt would be made to remove him, so long as bo continued to give the same satisfaction as now.—Mr Kenan stated that this would exactly meet the wishes of the committee. —After some further conversation on the subject, ho thanked the Board and withdrew.

Discussion followed on the requirements of the Foxton School, also as to establishing- High School at Wanganui. The fol-lowing-resolution was moved by Mr Duthie, and carried—That a reply be made to Mr Hoslop’s memo, 75G, to the effect that the Board desires the establishment of a District High School at once, with the view that it should merge into a High School so soon as such can be established ; and further that the Board regrets such language being used as is unnecessarily employed in Mr Heslop’s memo. The Chronicle report concludes—[TO dk coxtintied.]