BOARD OF EDUCATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2842, 4 May 1882, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The following business was unavoidably held over yesterday. WAIMATE. Mr Steward re-opened the Waimate building discussion after the adjournment for luncheon, and stated .that be found the building could be put up by a modified plan at a sum less by £SBO than that originally estimated. Mr Barker objected to modified plans. Ho would counsel : waiting until the Board could build ; a thoroughly good one.

Mr Wakefield thought the question had been closed before the adjournment. Mr Steward moved, and Mr Goldsmith seconded, an additional motion—“ That the architect be requested to modify his plans." The secretary said ho bad gone over the plans with the architect, and had pointed out the alterations that_ it was possible to make without impairing the efficiency of the school. (The architect, Mr Duval, who was in attendance corroborated the explanation of the secretary.) Mr Wakefield thought that if the existing school at Waimate was sufficient, the Board was not justified in expending its money and incurring new liabilities in erecting a new one—which, even if erected on modified plans, would entail some anticipation of next year’s building grant. Mr Wulcot said he was sure Mr Gray (who went away at the adjournment) had gone with the impression that the discussion was closed.

Mr Steward thought that, as so much had been done to hasten it, it would be a pity to drop the idea. Besides, if by putting tho compulsory clauses of the Act in force, the local Committee should bring up tho attendance of all the children of school age, the existing building would prove too small. Ho considered tho request ho had made a very reasonable one. Mr Walcot thought no harm would bo done by two or three months’ delay. Dr Foster agreed to bring forward the motion at noxt mooting on behalf of Mr Steward who would bo up at tho House on that occasion. WINCHESTER. Three painting tenders wore opened, and that of Mr j. D. G ores was accepted at .IMS. TIJJAUtI, A letter was rend from the Timarn School Committee, asking for an augmented incidental grant. Mr Walcot, in support of tho communication, stated that vho Committee

were unable to cany on with the present allowance. He desired that the Board would grant the Committee the profit on the master’s House. He urged the large proportion of the Board’s income derived from the capitation grant, obtained by the Timaru attendance, as a very good ground on which to base a request for fair assistance. Voluntary contributions from parents had so fallen of that the Committee were compelled to come again to the Board. Mr Steward supported the request of the Timaru Committee as perfectly fair and reasonable.

The Secretary stated that he was the occupant of the house, but he was on the point of leaving it. Mr Walcot objected to this as quite extraneous matter. Mr Wakefield said in truth the Board had got no profit out of the Master’s house, its white elephant. It had been so expensive that the £BO left no margin. Mr Walcot said they asked only for the difference between the rent allowance to the master and the rent received for the house. If no profit was obtained, none would bo asked for.

Mr Wakefield said such a sum given to the Timaru Committee would, in truth have to be deducted from the allowances to other schools.

The Secretary explained that there was a margin of £250 to the Board’s credit over and above the scale payments.

Mr Wakefield thought this information should have been supplied earlier. Members were unanimously of opinion that circumstances warrant i. the concession being granted. The only doubt in members’ minds was whether to increase the incidental allowance would not form a precedent and bring in other applications, or whether it was not better to make a special grant of profit on the house as ask 1 for.

It was agreed to grant the Committee the profit on the master’s house. . The Timaru Committee also asked that the Timaru School might be erected into a District High School.

This matter was allowed to stand over as being involved in the scholarship cpie vtion. Some repairs to the roof of the Infant School were asked for and the Board decided to refer the matter to the architect. SOUTH OEAEI. The Secretary said that Mr Thomas had accepted the school, but Mr Thomas had afterwards written withdrawing his acceptance. Ho (the Secretary) had replied that the Board could not enterta;n such an objection. Mr Thomas, however, had stTl declined to come up. The Board saw no way of getting out of the difficulty, but to advertise afresh. MISCEI.IAN.EOUS. Mr Harney wrote offering to give instruction in building and architectural drawing. The Board decided to refer the communication to school committees. The Borough Council, (Waimate) wrote agreeing to accept the Board’s offer, re a street to be formed and desiring that a transfer may be made at once, of the land set apart. It was moved by Mr Steward, seconded by Mr Goldsmith, and carried, “That instructions be given for the transfer to the Waimate Borough Council, of the land set apart for street linos through the Education Reserve.” Messrs Hughes and Wake, schoolmasters, (of Geraldine and Geraldine Elat, respectively), wrote asking the Board to fix uniform holidays throughout the school district of South Canterbury, and also pointed out that the time devoted to sowing now (in the petitioner’s opinion) was in excess of proper limits and was trenching unduly on the other w;ork of the schools. The Board decided that those were matters within the scope of Committees.