EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 269, 14 November 1901, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The Board met on Wednesday. Present: Mr McAUum (chairman), Miss [ Hey wood, Messrs Adlam, Wade, Alls-j worth, Mackay, Kennedy, Faull, and Hignett. The Architect reported on work in hand. He stated that he would in- ! spect the drainage at Stratford school (during tho coming month. , The requests of the 0 ku-a, Oa diff, I and Katipiko committees re repai;s I were referred to the Architect.

The Pohokura Committee applied for payment of amount, 255, authorised by the Board for earthwork, etc. The amount will be paid, with an amount for new gates, subject to the Architect reporting favourably. The Salisbury-road Committee wrote asking the Board to carry out its promise to enlarge the school by lengthening the room 12 feet. If the work was carried out during the Christmas holidays the cost to the Board would only amount to .£34 16s 6d, the committee providing £l2 in addition, The work bad been on the urgent list for a long time, and the committee's offer of £l2 would remain open till 31st January, 1902.

Mr Mackay supported the urgency of the work.

Mr Allsworth pointed out that in eomeeasps the circumstances governing them altered, and a matter which was urgent at one time may prove less pressing later on. Mr. Faull said that while recognising the urgency of many required improvements to existing schools, there were still outlying districts where there were no schools at all, and these were surely ! entitled to some consideration.

Mr. Mackay moved that the matter will ba considered as soon as the building grant for the present yeir is received.—Seconded by Mr. Hignett, who thought all claims should be dealt with accordiog to their urgency and priority of application. The motion was cirried.

The Cardiff Committee wrote that in reference to the Ringer's report re clearing fern, etc., on the school grounds, the committee had no funds, and the work would cost about £6. It was further explained that the attendance during the past few moßths Had been affected by tbe prevalence of influenza, but was now improving, so thit. the services of the pupil teacher should be retained.—The matter of the ground was referred to Mr. Mackay to report upon. Regarding tbe pupil teacher, no change will be made if the attendance improves sufficiently. The Rttapiko Committee inquired if the Board's offer of £ for £ for a range at the teicher's residence still held good.—The Secretary reported that the Architect had instructed the builder to put in a colonial oveu.—The letter wai referred to the Architect, with power to act.

The same committee's request for a teachei's residence was placed on the list of urgent works.

TheUruti Oammittee wrote that the toacher bad been ill, and tbe school closed for a fe»v days, The committee had expended about £l2 towards cost of improvements to the grounds, and nsksd for a subsidy from the Board. — The committee's action in closing the school was confirmed. The Boird has no funds for work done in tbe direction indicated.

Mr. Brownlee, pupil teacher, applied for leave of absence owing to ill health. —Granted. The Chairman's action in appointing Miss Bicheno to the position temporarily was confirmed.

The Tututawa Committee's action ia granting leave of absence to the teacher in order to attend examinations was confirmed. In accordance with committees' recommendations, Miss Isabel Blackest was appointed second female assistant at the Stratford District High Sohoel, and Mr; Jas. Robertson teacher at Rowan-road.

Miss Has wrote resigning her position as teacher at Kaimata, as from the end' of the year —Accepted, and usual steps will be taken to fill the vacancy.

Mr. J. T, Campbell wrote asking why his name had not bean forwarded to various oommittese, when the Board was filling vacancies.—The Bwd does not; feel ca'led upm to explain its reason* for making its selections of teachers.

The teacher at Fitaroy wrote in reference to the committee's complaint of want of discipline at the school. He forwarded correspondence between himself and the committee, and also the Inspector's report. The Inspector reported on the request of the committee for an exchange of teachers. It would be somewhat difficult to arrange a transfer, but it could probably bejnanaged. On Mr. Paull's motion, seconded by Mr. Adlttm, the chairman was authorised to arrange a transfer.

Mr. Hill, Stanley-road, wrote objecting to his transfer from that school to a smaller one at Huirangi, though be would not object so much if he were sent to a school of similar size to Stanley-road. A petition was read from Ssanleyroad residents asking the Board to allow Mr. Hill to remain. The committee also forwarded a resolution couched in similar terms. The Chairman said that in accord ■ ance with the Board's resolution a transfer wis ai ranged, and on Monday 11th November, Miss Lilley of Euirangi went to the Stanley-road school and found Mr. Hill in possession. He declinsd to leave, and Miss LU'ey then communicit d with the Board. j

Mr Faull moved that Mr Hill be informed that the Board cannot reopen the ques'ion, and thit he must comply with the Board's requir. megts, failing which he will receive notice of dismissal.—Seconded by Mr Kennedy, and carried. The Chairman of the Toko Committee wrote explaining action taken by him in connection with a meeting of householders, at which the qu- s'ion cf an infant school for Toko was considered.

The Board's committee also present: d a repoit on the question. Messrs Taylor and Mines waited on the Board, and presented a pe'itiou from the householders of the Toko digtr;ct, asking that nnother room be buile at the Poko school. There wer*j 103 Dames on the roll, nod the preseot school was only hw'lt to accommodate 70 pupil?, It was necefsaty for the health of the children that s •meihiug should be done, arid if the Board was short of funds, the settlers wera prepared to guarantee the money until the next building grant was received. Fifty-seven names were appended. Mr Hioes explained what bad taken place at the meeting of h useholder<>, when some discussion took place as to whether they should approach the Boird direct, or through the committee, The chairman of the committee seemed oppjs d to the householders' desires,

Mr Taylor urged that a school be erected at once in Toko, and if not, that the present school be enlarged. He had thought the Board's committee had dooH with the matter finally, but this r!l 1 not appear to be the case. The school should have be6n enlarged long ago. The settlers wanted the school, and were prepared to assist the | Board by advancing the requisite money, and waiting, if necessary, until) the year after next for repayment. A ■ number of people in Toko wished to see the school removed to Toko, but failing that, they wanted to see the present buildiDg enlarged. They wished the whole under one roof, without any separate infant school. The deputation then withdrew, Mr MacKay moved that the documents re enlarging the Toko school, and the proposal to erect an infant school in the towoehip of Toko be referred back to the Board's committee (Miss Heywood, Messrs Adlam and Hignett) for their further consideration.—Seconded by Mr Wade, and carried, Mr Kennedy being the only dissentient.

The Okato teacher, Mr Mcintosh, wrote in explanation of certyn paragraphs in the recent Inquiry Committee's report, dealing with the Inspector's report on the work of the school.

The Okato Committer also wrote, forwarding a resolution expressing satisfaction with Mr Mcintosh, and dissatisfaction at the report of the Board's Inquiry Committee, and also exonerating Mr Mcintosh ftom any connection with the circular sent out by the Okato Committee to other committees in Taranaki regarding the Inspector. The whole matter was referred to the Chairman, with power to act. The Ca rington roud Committee asked fo • a grant towards a library. - A subsidy was gran'ed, not to exceed £3.

M'sara Govett and Quilliam wrote in reference to lands vested in the Board, giving lists of such and their titles.

Mr Allssvorth thought the solicitors had done good work in searching titles of the Board's reserve*, as it placed matters on a firm basis. '

Mr Hignett moved that the letter be acknowledged and the solicitors' accounts passed for payment; and that the Government be asked to remit fees on Crown grants. Seconded by the Chairman and carried. The list of names was referred to the Reserves Committee.

The Education Department wrote stating the responsibility of Boards in the event of a school property being destroyed by fire. The Police Department wrote in reference to correspondence on the subject of police-quarters at Pukearuhe, which the Board was using as a schoolbuilding. , The Inspector recommended six pupils from Ngnre (Harry Morison, William Walsh, Margaret Morison, William Treeweek, James Colemao, I and Thomas Walsb) for free tuition at tbe Stratford District High School, He also iepTted on school furniture in hand, and referred the Beard to certain of his reports on schools. Tbe Finance Committee reported under date 4th November; Your committee beg to report that they have fully reconsidered the matter of monthly meetings, and after cire fully reviewing the bu?ineps of the Bourd are of opinion that fully 60 per cent, of 'he i'eons upon the orderpaper arf> of routine n«ture, and consequently debit with according to preoedent, or necessitate a reference to the officers or a committee of the Board before the Board is in a position to doal with them. This estimate does not involve nriy which wo'ild commit the Bonrd to any expenditure until the decision of tbe Board has been arrived at, as your committee recognise the soundness of the principle that the Board alone should control such expenditure. We therefore adhere to our recommendation of the 30th September last, that in future, instead of fort nightly meetings the Board should arrange to meet only once a month, and that an executive committee should ba appointed ro deil with financ|«l and other special matters. Pending the passing of the "Teachers' Rilaries Bill," whioh is before the House, and whioh involves the whole question of revenue and expenditure, we are not in I a position at present to report definitely on the larger question of the general expenditure of the Board, with the object of making further reductions without impairing efficiency. For the same reason we are als? unable to make any recommendation with regard to the spplioation of the Stratford Sohool Committee for increased capitation. We would suggest that these questions he referred back to your oommittee for further inquiry, when the exaot position of the Bard is definitely known, after the passing of the "Teachers' Salaries Bill."

The report was adopted, after a brief discussion, Messrs Faul), Kennedy, and Wade opposing monthly meetings and the leaving of too much work with an executive committee. Mr Wade could not see how the expenses of meetings would be reduced; while Miss Hey-1 wood favoured monthly meetings if the J Board sat till it finished the work. ,

An amendment by Mr Faull, to eliminate the claus? referring to monthly meetings, was lost on division, only Messrs Adlam, Kennedy, and Pau'l voting in its favour. | The new arrangement will come into foroe as from Ist January, 1902. Accounts were passed for payment. The Reserves Committee reported on a site for a new sohoo) at Pukearuhe. Mr Southey Bftkar was willing to dispose of a suitable piece of land.— The report was adopted, and the committee were authorised to arrange the matter with Mr Baker.

Mr Adlam repotted on the request of Kahui-road settlers for a school. Tbe settlers were willing to give an sere of ground an 4 sreot a school, if tbe Board would find about £ls. But the sett'ers objected to the fchool ban* made a half-time one. - Mr Adlam wns given time to bring up another report. After discussing several matters rrliting to pupil teachers' examination' and school books, with the Insprotoi, the Board agreed to the Inspector's recommendations.

A petition from settlers on the Brewer and Tahore-roads, re a new ecbool on the latter, was referred to Mr Kennedy for his report. The Board adjourned at 5 p.m.