BOARD OF EDUCATION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2871, 7 June 1882, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

An ordinary meeting of the Board was held to-day. Present —Mr Belheld, (Chairman) Dr Foster, Messrs Barker, Walcot, Goldsmith, Steward, Gray. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. APPOINTMENTS. The Chairman stated that he had made certain subordinate appointments since last meeting. SOUTH ORARI SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The Committee wrote recommending that applications for employment as school masters bo forwarded by applicant direct to Committees. This, the Committee thought, would save time. The Committees then would forward the applications to the Board after they had themselves perused them and made their * selection. It was moved by Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Goldsmith—“ That in future the Board will, in advertising for teachers, give the address of the Chairman of the Committee interested, so that the applications can be sent in direct, to be passed on to the Board after the Committee have selected two or three to be presented in order of preference to the Board for final approval." It was suggested that such a course as was proposed, placed the Board in a secondary position with regard to Committees. Mr Barker, speaking to his motion, said that was not his idea or the desire of his Committee ; it was simply to savo time. Mr Walcot preferred the existing arrangement, as the Committee thus had the benefit of any remarks on the applicants by the Inspector, who naturally knew the qualifications of applicants. Mr Goldsmith supported the motion strongly. The Chairman thought the existing arrangement preferrable. He and the Inspector had now had a great deal of experience in sifting applications. Ho would beg Mr Barker to withdraw his motion.

Mr Gray thought there was among Committees some discontent with, the present arrangement. Mr Goldsmith said in the cage of applications for Waimate, no remarks had been made by the Inspector, and that was certainly not in conformity v ith the spirit of the resolution. The Chairman thought the Board’s old practice of sifting the applications, and sending to committees only the eligible ones, should be adhered to. There was no danger of local influence being brought hero upon selections. Mr Barker said necessary comments should accompany every application sent to committees, otherwise the committees should be allowed to make the first selection. The motion was lost. FIRE INSURANCE. A letter was read from the Education® Department, stating that Government proposed to do %way with insurances on school buildings, by ro-building schools that might be burned down, at Government expense; The Secretary stated that the Board had already insured all their school buildings to 31st January, 1883. It was decided to see whether Insurance offices would grant a refund of premiums for the time now unoxpired, in order that the Board might place its schools under the Government, as pro posed. ANNUAL REPORT. The Secretary laid on the table the annual report, with tables, &c. The Chairman explained that it had boon customary, hitherto, to forward the Board’s report to the Minister immediately it was compiled, without waiting for a Board meeting. The same course had been followed in this instance, as it was merely a formal matter of figures and statistics.

BUILDING ESTIMATES. The Secretary reported that the Board’s Estimate had been forwarded to the Department; and he read the various items which the Board had asked for under the head of building grant. The total amount asked for was £16,970. BOOKS AND APPARATUS. The Secretary submitted a statement of what had been done in the importation of boohs and apparatus from England, which the Board considered satisfactory. The prices at which books &c., were to be distributed to Committees was then considered. Nothing bad hitherto been issued, pending instructions from the Board. It was moved by Mr Barker, seconded by Mr Walcot and carried “ That all books apparatus &c., imported by the Board be supplied as ordered by Chairman of Committees at 15 per cent under the Sublished price in England, the Board educting the amount of each order from the incidentals j and that a circular be sent out from time to time, setting forth the notice of books in stock.” SCHOLARSHIP REPORT.. Mr Walcot mofed the adoption of the Report as it embodied a recommendation «f a principle, viz. ;—the permission to hold higher scholarships for allonger term than one year. Some discussion ensued, Mr_ Gray entirely disagreeing with the principle of making sholarships tenable for only one year. Finally the Report ns amended was adopted. The amendment consisted in an unimportant verbal alteration. Mr Steward asked that the Board would proceed with the erection of Waimate , school buildings—he wished to point out that one of the tenderers had made a mistake in the wording of his tender. The Secretary detailed certain amendments in the specifications, bringing the amount within £3OOO. Mr Steward moved the acceptance of Mr Philp’s tender. Mr Barker moved, as an amendment —“That the original resolution re Waimate School bo adhered to.” He thought such haste and expenditure needless.

Mr Gray seconded this. Mr Steward, speaking to the amendment, understood that the Board had really intended to push on the work. Ho thought his resolution was quite in keeping with the Board’s intention. Mr Gray thought it was absurd to spend money by anticipation. The amendment was lost and the motion was carried. Mr Goldsmith did not vote. He would not vote against the district, though he did not approve the scheme. The Chairman hesitated to exercise his deliberative vote, and he would not exercise his casting vote. Mr Barker thought the proposal unjust towards other schools. The Chairman having deliberated, declined to give his vote and declared the amendment lost. The original motion was carried. TIMARU INFANT SCHOOL. The Secretary submitted plans and specifications from the architect, of certain alterations in the lighting of this school. The Board decided to have the specified alterations carried out. TEMUKA MASTER’S HOUSE, The Secretary said the house was in a most dilapidated state, and the new master (Mr Wood) bad refused to take possession of it. The Committee had been letting the house for 6s per week, as the late master had been residing for some time past on his own farm. The house was very old. The Committee had obtained a temporary residence for Mr Wood at 12s per week. It was suggested that the Board should pay over to the Committee the difference between the amount per week the Committee were expending on behalf of the master, and the amount of rent they were drawing from the Master’s house. The matter was ordered to stand over to next meeting, the Inspector to report upon it. Some minor applications for grants in aid of repairs were dealt with, and some unimportant business. After expressing approval of Mr Steward’s draft Bill re election of School Committees, granting that gentleman leave of absnce to the end of the session, and passing accounts to the amount of £63 Is 9d, the Board rose.