WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 473, 5 November 1879, Page 2

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Wednesday last(says the Chi'onide ); Present—W; H; Watt (iri the chair), Messrs Sanson, Baker, McGregor, Duncan, Halcombe, Rev W. Ross, and Sir William Fox. . ,

The minutes of the last rrieetiug were read and confirmed;

The Fokton Committee requested to have the sexes separated in the Foxtou school. The Inspector expressed a decided opiniori against the separation of the sexes in ariy school. Experience had proved that the co-education of the sexes is more advantageous than separation. A letter was read by the Secretary, which had been sent to all the members of the House of Representatives (Major Atkinson, Major Willis, Messrs' Bryce, Ballance, and Johnston), asking them to use their influence in obtaining £4446 for the Building Fund, in addition to' the £6OOO already voted. Mr Bryce sent a reply to Hie effect that he had put the views of the Board beford the Minister of Education, and he had stated that £175,000 had been put on the estimates, £BO,OOO of which was an extra grant, and of which Wanganui would obtain £SOOO. He would continue to press the matter on the attention of the Government. . .

Sir William Fox pointed out that that was only the estimates of the previous Government, which bad not yet been passed. At present it was not certain that the Government would adopt those estima f es.

After some further conversation, the matter Was held over.

The following letter was read from Mr W. F. Russell, manager, of ,the Bunk of New Zealand, in answer to the one sent by the Chairman, who had stated that it was discreditable of the Bank to charge interest on overdraft when tlie Bank hold £4OOO on' deposit :—’ - “ Dear Sir, —I have received your letter of the 29th ultimo. Pressure of business prevented my replying before,. You express a wish that your letter under reply may bo considered satisfactory. It certainly is not satisfactory, and only withdrawal of your charges or proof of it will ho considered satisfactory. You say your Board did riot see any necessity for an investigation into the working of tlie bank account. It is a pity it did not, because your management would have been immediately observed. You also say the matter of overcharge for interest remained were it was, I presume you intend to infer < hat the Board was overcharged interest by the .Bank; I deny that any overcharge for interest was ever made. With regard to your charge of “ discreditable action ” against me, .you say the Board has made inquiry, and finds no reason to alter its opinion that your charge was correct. I can hardly believe that tbe Board mould have formed an opinion' on your evidence alone. You seerii to have been myaccnser, 1 a false witness against me, arid my judge, while I never had afr appnrtuiiity of pleading guilty or not guilty. Your charge against me of discreditable action is a lie and vile calumny, ami you know that well, and if you have any idea of fair pipy or gentlemanly feeling,yon will withdraw it fmiriediately,—-Yours, &c, (Signed) W. F. Russell.” ■

Mr Baker said be was of opiniori that the less notice taken of such letters the better, and moved a resolution to the effect that tbe Board decline to receive any more letters of a like nature. Sir William Fox said that did not settle the matter. Mr Russell had asked for an investigation, 1 and it would bo unwise to refuse it. ■ .. . Mr Sanson thought the matter might be dealt with by the Finance Committee. : Mr Watt said that he bad only expressed an opinion that the Bank charging them interest in the way they had done was discreditable, but it was his opinion only.

After some further discussion, ,it was resolved to ask Mr Russell to attend at the Board at two o’clock, for the purpose of explaining the circumstance which led to the use of the words used by the Chairman of which he complains, A reply was received from Mr Russell, declining to attend the Board, and requesting that the Chairman would put bis charge in writing, and be would reply. Mr Baker thought that Mr Russell had been ottered the opportunity he asked for in his letter to be heard, but as he had declined to wait on the Board, they should decline any further coirospondence. He moved, “That Mr Russell be referred to the Chairman’s letter of the 14th August, 1879, and while the Board is willing to receive any verbal explanation from Mr Russell, declines to enter into further correspondence.” Seconded by Mr Sanson. Mr Halcombo thought such a grossly insulting letter as Mr • Russell’s should receive some veiy strong expression of opinion by the Board. Other members of the Board having expressed similar opinions, the resolution was put and carried. The following- is the letter of the 14th of August, referred to : Dear Sir, —I have to acknowledge the receipt of yours yesterday, and in reply have to state that I am not responsible for any statements that appear in newspapers, or for any allegations they may make. My remarks • referred to the fact that your Bank had charged .interest on the Board’s account, while it held £4,000 to its credit, on which interest was not allowed. The word I used was “ discredit-

able,” not“dishonorable,” and roferrred to the Bank and not to yon personally.— Yours, &c., W. H. Watt.

The Normanby School Committee wrote complaining of the teacher’s residence being too far from the school, arid asking that a residence might be erected near the school.—The Inspector said it was highly necessary that the master should have supervision over the playground. Ho could point out other schools where the interests were jeopardised, In' the teacher being absent during play hours. The Central Department had sent a circular on the subject, and he urged on the Board to take steps if possible to ensure proper supervision. After, some discussion, .it was decided to allow £8 to divide the playground, and the question of the residence was held over till-next meeting; iri the meaii time, Mr McGregor to report. The. Hawera Committee asked, a grant * for painting.—Sir William Fox suggested that Haematite paint might be tried. It would save a considerable amount to the Board; and it was decided to obtain information as to cost; &c; A vote had been allowed for £25 for a

ghed arid tank at Manutahi; which was exceeded by £8; Resolved to pay amount to the Committee; "