TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 98, 23 April 1903, Page 2

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

The Board met on Wedneeday. Present : Mr Allsworth (chairman), Mrs Dougherty, Meeu-s Adlam, MoDotuld, Wade, Mackay, Taylor, and Ftull, Leuvu of absence w&» granted to Mr Morton, the Bjard expressing their *ra ification at the satisfactory progteet - ne is m-kiug towards recovery. The Architect reported that trash tenders had been called for the Pant* *aki fchoo', the teader of Mr Ktrt* iith accepted, and the oontrtot signed. ! Tenders for additions to Tariki and p tinting at Awatuna were submitted. Damages to chimnies by the reosnl were being attended to.

The tenders for additions to Tariki were referrt a to a oamoaitte# consisting of tbe Chairman, Messrs Faull, Mackay, anl Wade.

. The tender ef €ls 8s by Wallaoeaad Maudy, for pointing at Awatuns, wu accepted, the other tender baiag for £2O by J. Bellringer. The Ohiirman reported that, on tilt advice of the Board's solicitor*, fresh tonders had been sailed for the Fanewaka contract. Tenders had also been called for the teehuieal sohool at Btratfo d, and they will he forwarded to th • Deputmeot. He had eanotioned tbe paymeut for the material used in th* horst paddock fence at Stratford, pr«vious'y granted by the Board, ana £3 for printing examination papers. Circular* as to the Opaktt Reserve had b eu fni warded to all publio bodies in Taranaki. Miss Oresswell had been appiint' d temporary assistant at the West *Snd school until Miss Woodhan arrived, Miss Riley temporary assistant at Waitara. - Adopted, and the grant of £3 for printing o nfirmed. The Inspeotors r.port of exami* nations and inspections were read ud ooosiiiertd in Committer Ooe of th* teichers is to be informed that the Board expects more care txeroieed ia the m vtter of keeping sohool reoords In proper condition. Th<) Huitkuma Committee applied f>r enlargement of thp school.—No funds.

An invitation from the Huiakama Committee t > attend tbe price distribution, is to be acknowledge 1 with thanks.

The Tataraimaka Committee reported that some llarrikins had taken the school gate off its hinges, and deposited it in a creek nearly a mile away. The two ou'. offices h id a'so been upset, and had been re-erected on freoh eitee. Tbe account for this work weald be sent to the Boird.—Committers action confirmed, the mittsr to b« placed in the hands of the police. The Kent Rwd Committee applied fjr a new water tank for Upper Kent B)ad School.—Referred to the chairman with power to aot. Ex'eudtd leave of abienoe wu granted to Miss Worm of Tahora School.

ResignVions by Miss Tillie, assistant at Pitiroy, and Mies Forbsc, assistant at Oaonui, the former as from May 30th and tha latter from M»y 21th, were aoccpted. The matter of filling these vacancies and that of an assistant at Waitera were left in the hands of the chairman with power to aot.

A letter was read from tbe OommUsioner st Waibi relative to tbe teaober. —No aotiou at present. A. letter from Mr Sladden with regard to a map of tbe edaoation district was referred to the Reserves Committee to report on. Mr T, H. Penn, Stratford, wrote inquiring his posit on in relation to the *""" collection of the High Sohool fee*.

It was decided that Mr Penn bs appointed on behalf of the Band receiver of all the fees of paving pupils attending the Distriot High School, Stratford, and that be be pud therefor* £5 per annum out of the High Sohool fund', and that he be required when forwarding the quarterly return to M* rait to the Board's Secretary all monies in hand.

The Secretary for Edooation notified that the Minis'er was voable to make a grant for the erection of a sohool at Mikabu. He considered that in all such cists there should bs a report frcrn the BoirrtV Inspector, made sf er visiting the district, and inquitiag fully into the circumstance*.

Mr Mackay moved that a reply be sent ta tin Minister pointing out that to comply with the latter part of the ibsve letter would entail the absenoe of the Board's Inspector for Mvaraldtys from his regular work, and that in any case the Inspeotor is not so well qua'ifi d fo report as ammberof the Board, who is acquainted with the locality and the surrounding circumstanoes. Mr Taylor seconded the motion, which was supported by all the members prtsent, and practically contained an unanimous < xpression of their views on the matter, The motion waa carm d.

The Board considered, in ommittee, Mr Turner's position in relation to the Punewaka contract, and heard Mr Turnei's explanations. On resuming, it was decided to in* form Mr Turner, that as the matter was now in the bands of the Board'* solicitors the Board could not interfere.

Tbe Inspector reported that desks had been supplied to Whangamoooooa sch >ol out of surplus supply at Pohokura, that the attendacoe at this school •lid not warrant the appointment of an assistant; that the promised top to the chimney was ready to be despatched. The Teachers' Selection Committee (Messrs Maokay, Adlam, and Allsj worth) reported that there were 26 applicants for tbe head teaohenhip at Opunake, one for Dtnbigb Eoad, and two for the West Bod. The following nam< s were reeommended for Opunake: i P. O'Doa 02, J. W. Mail 02, H. Bobson 03, J. Matthews D2, Q. McGuintss D 4. They reoommended the appointments to Denbigh Road and West Bod bj left in the hands of the Chairman with power to aer. Id moving the adoption of the retort, Mr Mack «y explained that tbe Oommittee iu miking the s< (notion for Opuaake, bad been in a great measure <uidd by the hope that before long a disrici Hitfh School would be establis » d at Opunaka. Th« repjrt was adopted. Messrs Mackay and McDonald reported having visited Rugby-road, *nd iuterviewed the Hettlers at the extreme end of the road, but who, with one exception, werfl virtually within the three mile radius. There wsa little prospect of increase of population. Taking all the oircumstunoee into consideraiiou, they could not recommend compliance with the settlers proposals.—Adopted. Toe Chairman's annual report wm read and adopted, with thanks to him for its preparation. In supporting the motion, Mr Mtckay rcfeired to the question of tbe Opiku Reserve, remarking that he waa pleased to find that several publio bodies had already favourably r«p ied to the circular asking for their support* t»nd he hoped that by the next meeting ull the replies would hare ooae to hand.

He had seei >wal of the m'mb-rs of the House for this district »nd that of Wanganui, and was confident tbey would present an united phalanx to confront the Minister next session, and he also felt the settlers would combine to use their influence to secure for»heir children the ben>fits of tbe endowment, otherwise there was a possibility of the revenue being diverted to the large area covered by the Victoria College district, and then there would be very little chance of much of the endowment doming to Taranaki. In acknowledging the vote of thanks,, the Chairman said he considered that the thanks of the Board were more due to the Hecre'ary and Inspector, as thse officers had taken great pains in compiling the valuable information contained in the report. The Inspector reported recommending drill classes for teachers, should be started on Saturday, May 9cb, at the Central School. Also that classes for instruction in bricklaying and carton work, and that Mrs Dowling be appointed instructor in the former subject, and Misß Aitken in the latter, at £5 each.—Adopted. A petition from the Kino Road settlers for a school was referred to Mr Adlam and Mrs Dougherty to report upon.

The Whangamomona settlers are to be informed, in reply to their patition relative to tbe removal of the school, that considering the development likely to take (dice in the near future in that district the Board does not see its way to take any action at present. Messrs Allsworth and Mackay reported on the staffing at the District High School at Stratford and recommended that Miss Ella King, a pupil teacher in the' primary school, be appointed a teacher in secondary subjects, being replaced in the primary school by Miss Coralie Smith. That instead of appointing an additional pupil teacher, £35 a year be added to Mr J. Thomas' salary, as a good assistant was considered preferable to a weak assistant and a first year pupil teacher. Tbat A. Coleman be appointed teacher of shorthand and book-keeping at .£2O a year for four hours' teaching per we k. —Adopted. The Truant Officer reported on a ease at Opunake when a charge was made against the master.—Referred to the chairman to deal with. The list of unlet reserves was referred to the Reserves Committee to report upon. Accounts were passed as follows: Ordinary £1413 0* 9d, building £39 18s 6d. The Board rase.