BOARD OF EDUCATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2690, 2 November 1881, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary meeting of the Board of Education for the month was held today. Present—Mr H. Belfield (Chairman), and Messrs Barclay, Slack, Barker, Goldsmith, and Gray. chairman’s statement. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman made his usual statement respecting the business transacted by him since last meeting. In accordance with a resolution passed at last meeting, he had written to Mr Parker, Christchurch, and he had consented to act as School Commissioner on behalf of the Board to take some steps with regard to scholarships. In June last a Committee was appointed to consider the matter, but the Committee had never met, one reason being that no answer had been received from the Board of Governors of the High School to a letter asking them whether they would be inclined to render any assistance to boys holding the public school scholarships. He (Chairman) thought he was at liberty to say, from his knowledge of the High School Board, that they would not bewilling to render any special assistance. He would advise that steps be taken to fill up the seat on the Board, rendered vacant by Mr Howell’s resignation. The making of this appointment had been delayed for two months owing to a certain action pending in the Supreme Court, but as that action had been dragging on a long time, and there seemed no probability of its being settled yet, therefore he would recommend that the vacancy be filled at once. If the appointment were not made now it could not be made till March next. It was resolved that steps be taken to fill the seat vacated by Mr Howell. A TYRANNICAL CHAIRMAN. Mr Barker asked who was in charge of the North Orari School. The Secretary stated that the Committee elected at the annual election, of which Mr Badham was Chairman, had charge. The school had been closed for some time. Mr Barker said a resident had complained to him that Mr Badham had refused to allow the schoolroom to be used for religious purposes, while he allowed it to be used for electioneering purposes. If it were opened for one purpose it ought to be opened for others. The Chairman said that as there was a Committee in charge it would not be advisable for the Board to interfere. The Secretary said Mr Badham asked some months ago to be relieved of the charge of the school, and he had written to him to send in the keys, but he bad apparently changed his mind as he did not send in the keys. Mr Barclay thought that when the school was closed the functions of th* the Committee ceased, and possession of the premises ought to bo resumed by the Board. The Chairman ought to give up the keys. gapes’ valley. Mr Slack presented a petition from residints in Gapes’ Valley praying for a reconsideration of the question of site for the school about to be built in the Valley, and a deputation of three waited upon the Board to further explain the wishes of the petitioners. They wished the [school to be built about a mile and a half westward of the site selected by the Committee, urging that it would then better accommodate the majority of the children in the neighborhood. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Barclay seconded by Mr Slack—“ That the Inspector take steps at the earliest moment to convene a public meeting of residents in Gapes’ Valley and district to the westward, to consider the question of school accommodation, and report to the Board. A LAND QUESTION. Two members of tne Pareora School Committee waited ou the Board to request their assistance in settling a dispute that had arisen between the Committee and schoolmaster respecting the control of the land belonging to the school. In connection with the school there is a paddock of twenty acres laid down to grass, whieh was mentioned in the advertisement, and the use of which was understood by the teacher to form part of the emolument offered. The only agreement had been a verbal one, that the master should have the control of the land on condition that he kepi the fences in repair. Several of the children had long distances to come and came on horseback, and they had been in the habit of turn | ing their horses into the paddock. The master wished to break up the paddock and crop it, and refused to allow' the children to turn their animals into it. Their parents of course complained, saying that as the land belonged to the school it should be used for the benefit of the school rather than of the master. The Committee then proposed to fence off a couple of acres at one corner, but the master would not agree to give up the use of this portion, though he w’as willing to allow it to be fenced off. The Committee objected to incurring the expense of fencing unless they were given full control of tht land fenced off.

After some discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mr Barclay—“ That subject to the sanction of the Board, the School Committees have control over all lands attached to schools, this control to include distribution of such lands to the exclusive use of the master, or the allotment of playground, and tho cultivation of such lands.” The sanction of the Board is to be sought by placing before it a copy of any agreement or arrangement proposed to bo entered into by the Committee with the master or any other person.

The Secretary stated that he had obtained the reservation of about 40 acres for a school site at Rangitata. The agitation for a school there, which had occasioned his action, had subsided, but the site obtained would be the one most suitable when a school came to be erected there. BOUNDARIES OF DISTRICTS. The Secretary was instructed to proclaim the boundaries of new districts, and where necessary the boundaries of old districts modified by adjacent new ones, TENDERS. Eight tenders were received for the erection of half-a-dozen country schools, but they were all considered too high, and it was resolved to have the specifications revised and fresh tenders called for. Three tenders for supply of school furniture of different kinds were received, but as some calculation would bo required to ascertain the relative total prices of each, they were referred to the Chairman and Secretary, the Chairman to have power to accept a tender if he deemed it advisable. SUPPLY OF BOOKS, &C. The report of a Committee on the advisability of tiie Board importing schoolbooks and apparatus for the use the schools in the district, was read. The Committee estimated that £350 worth of books and stationery, and £250 worth of apparatus would be required during the next twelve months, on which a saving of about £BS would be effected by direct importion. The Secretary said he was decidedly in favor of importing books. The Chairman objected that the cost of the importations would be money lying idle for a good while, if the system of importing were adopted. It was resolved to give the system a trial, and to send for a supply of apparatus for the new schools, and for a quantity of books and stationery, the quantities required to be reported on by the Secretary. In reply to Mr Barclay the Secretary said that the cases of texts books, on which opinions differed very much among teachers, comparatively few such books were required, and they might be left out. It was the books more commonly in use, copybooks and reading books, and slates, on which most money was spent each year and were most wanted. Histories, grammars, &c., might ho left to be chosen by the teachers here. avoollcombe’s dully. A petition was received from residents on Maori Hill and Woollcombe’s Gully, representing over eighty children, asking that a school be established in the Waimataitai valley. The Secretary spoke in favor of the proposal. It was admitted that a side school there would be very useful, but on oceount of lack of funds the application could not he entertained. It was resolved to ask the petitioneers to give some information as to the most suitable site, as the Board considered a school should he erected there as soon as funds were available. [Left sitting.]