Taranaki Education Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 779, 23 March 1905, Page 2

Taranaki Education Board.

MONTHLY MEETING. The' Education Hoard met on Wednesday. Mr J. Wilde presided una there were also prudent Mrs-Dougher-ty,Messrs Faull, Maunder, Muckay, McDonald, Monkhouse, Morion and Adlum.

Mr Maunder, tire newly-elected member, was welcomed to the Hoard on taking his seal.

—Selection llomniittce. — The te.xlier.s .selection committee recommended that (1) As- the committee of the Kiaauai school has sent a letter to the. board asking that Mr J. Hocock, E. 5., be appointed to that school, and as Mr Jlvc. Ck is dul.\ ■ltialilied ior the position, his name be forwarded to the committee. (2, That of the five candidates for Pungarchii the following n-.'.nie? 1 e s-.ib-mitted to the Pungarehu committee for selection :—K. J. Humphries D.4, and H.B. Huddleston E.2. (3) That of tlie seven candidates for I'pland Koud the following names for so lection l.e submitted to'that comiuilt.«. :—A. G. Hatcher E.K, E. •'• Humphrey D.i, and Violet E. S. Smith L. (1) That lor the position of assistant mistrcHS at Toko, the names of the two candidates for the position he forwarded to the Toko Committee for selection, N. E. Smith L, Miss .1. Adamson. (5) That as regards Makahu the Hoard be consulted as to the advisability of making that school and Punewhakau half time schools and appointing the present teacher at l'ltnewhakau as the teacher of both ; and should the board (If. Ide against half time schools proposals, as your committee hopes it will, the appointment of a Teacher at, Mfukuhu, either temporary or otherwise, be left in the hands of the chairman-

The report was adopted. There was considerable discussion with reference to half time schools. Several members expressed their very strong disapproval of having half time schools. The chief Inspector (Mr Spencer) was of similar opinion, but thought there would bo difficulty in getting a teacher fof^Makahu. It was eventually decided that the school at Makahu be a full lime school.

—Finance CommitUJe.— The finance committee reported : Makahu .-Seven tenders were received for the erection of the school buildings, and the committee accepted the lowest tender, that of Messrs Anderson and May at £249 15s. Stereoscopic Views.—The committee recommended that one set be procured and placed in charge of the inspector for distrulmtioa among the schools of the district. Central school.-On March 9 the Department offered £IOO m final settlement of the Board's claim for reinstatement, but a full I^"' 6 " 1 ™ again asked for. On March 18 the Department wrote fully, repeating their olTir of £IOO and attcr. consideration the committee recommended thae the offer be accepted, thus leaving a sum of £BO Us 5d to be charged to the Board's maintenance Koad.-Tho committee had replied at length to the Board s •etter, pointing out that the schoo,oom was too small. It was resumed by the Present committee that the architect visit the school and report to the Hoard. Lower Wlfangainomona.-lho Wi anre committee recommended that, the request dC the local cominiUee to ire the funds granted foi purchasing a store, to make alterations to the temporary schoo-room he granted, the amount not to execed Koru —The school committee having reported to the Board that the school and offices were destroyed hv fire on the 13th inst., the architect had been i list ruetod to haye them re-built, and a claim would be cut to the Department. Omuta.—The finance committee recommend.d that the necessary repairs to the school and residence be effected) that the' school ho re-desk-ud. and that the interior of the school and residence be painted. Ratnpiko.—-Recommended that in answer to the committee's letter they \v. granted a subsidy towards the cost of levelling and draining the grounds. Inmlewood.—Recommended that the application that the Board defray the coft of a pole for fnkinlg oh-obs-r\aiinn of shadows cast by the sun l,e re'vrred to the inspector to report on. Stratford District High School j.Ves.—The IViard recouimendod -how the fo-.'S should ho apportioned among the teachers. Opu'nake.—Recommended that the application of the local committee for a grant of £1 for science apparatus bo referred to the inspccloc to report upon, and that with regard to the. letter of March 18 re pits under outi-ofßcos, the committee Ixs informed that tho school funds were for the purpose o': doing such work and that they be expected to havo |it properly carried out. Further reI commended that in answer to the committee's request that the Board subsidise towards tho cost of conveying children from the Optia Road to the Opunake school, they be informed at the amount authorised by the Department's rogulaltions for |that purpose. Midhirst.—Recommended that the application of the committee for more infant desks he referred to the inspector to report on. Printing Regulations.—The tender of J. Hooker at 8s 6d per page was recommended lor acceptance. Mr Monkhotise moved the adoption of the report, Mr Mackay, in seconding, contended that the Department should pay the £BO lis 5d- in dispute. After discussion the committee's report was adopted.

—Architect's Report.— The architect reported on various schools as follows ; llurford Road.—The painting is finished, and the contractor is entilled to payment as per certificate. Omata,.—The resMence rckpjiies painfirg inside, aind papering. the sohool and residence also require painting outside and some repairs. The estimated cost is as indicated in niy report to the finance committee.

Waihi.—As instructed by the chairman some, necessary repairs are being done.

Inland School.—The painting here is completed, and the contractor entitled to payment as per certificate.

Not folk Road.—The repairs here are being attended to. K-oiuiu.—The painting will be completed to-day,-KaiinaUi.—The painting here is not trjulte completed, a chimney pot is required, and a leak in the leanto roof requires stopping. Salisbury Road.—l received a letter from Mr Goodman not to proceed with the ventilation until further notice, as indicated in niy report to the finance committee.

Makahu.—The contract for the erection of tills school has been signed, and 1 will be at Toko tomorrow for the purpose of inspecting the timber. Slraitford.—Plans of the septic tank's and fencing al the 'technical School! are almost ready.

Fil/.roy.— The contract for this work is proceeding satisfactorily. West V.m] School.—The contract will be completed for the school opening at the end of Uk.' Fasten holidays. The contractor is entitled to progress payment, as per certilica'te.

'flic report Ras rereived ami adopted.

Mi' Win. Phillips, chairman at Iluiroa, reported that Mr King had been out, to llulroa, attended to the windows, and removed the offices on lo a new si lu. The la Iter work! had not been done to the committee's satisfaction ; ih.:, ollices should have been at least a foot higher off the ground. 11 xx as decided to defer consideraj lion until receipt at a report from the architect. --Chairman's. Report.— The chairman reported that as nhe Fii/roy School ComraiUee had undertaken lo pay tho rate if water was laid on to the school, and the archile-t -having slated that the sax■jng or. the tanks xvoukl more than cijwr the cost of connection, he had given authority for the xvorlt to be carried out. The architect -had been instructed to proceed xvith additions to the Tututaxva school to the extent off a lean-to 26ft. by Bft, at a cost to the Hoard of not more than£2.->. tho schooil committee undertaking to find the labour. Instructions ha'd also been given for repairs at Waihi school at a cost of £5. A ltarlock typewriter costing £2-1 had been purchas-ei for the office.- As Mr Hoylc had resigned his position at tl}« Stratford tchc-oj soffe

meat for carrying on the work of the school had to be ruado, and tho chairman suggested leaving the matter in his hands. The matter of laying on the wulei to the FiUroy schooU was defen-ed till tho next meeting. The chairman and Mr Monkhouse were appointed to deal with tempor ary arrangements at the Stratforl High School, pending the appointment of teachers t« till the present vacancies'.

—Hoserves.— 't \>-iis recommended '" lnc ll '' Serves committee's report that the lease of section 27, blocK 2, about five acres at Upper Wait-ua, which had been cancelled, be granted to Mr Harry McKcnzio for ten years at (is |.er i-.cro per annum, and it scve:i \eir.'" lease of 'O-tion -7, 'uock i. 'l.-> acr-s. Omona, to Mr I'. Ho'dih in. tlw Hoard reserving tlu right tu r - enter on the whole or an;.' I'.' l "' <- ! the section if required for school purposes. The report was adopted. —MoB inpt.— It was agreed to hold the next meeting on the Friday preceding ' sood Friday. —(Janui Sthool.— A deputation consisting of Messrs* Malcolm and Youmr, representing the nnnui School Comnjitteo. waited on the Hoard, and askeJ tliut increased accommodation be provided at that school. The seating accommodation, it. was stated, was severely taxed, the room was not lofty, and there was Scarcely any space in which to stand the blackboard. The IncK of accommodation was both inconvenient to the teachers and scholars, and unhealthy. The chief inspector stated that the school space was 30ft by 22ft, and according to the Department's 1 rcgu> lations this should accommodate 60 scholars. The averago attendance at the end of December Inst was 59.t. It was mentioned in discussiort that there was a proposal to erect a school at Kina Road, and when erected eletvcn pupil's of the Oaonui school would attend it. The deputation were informed that the Board had to apply to the Department for grants to new schools, but the Deiiartment rqti'uired 'to be satisfied as to the urgency of the work. The deputation also reuijiosled a subsidy towards the cost of erecting n fence round the head master's residence. On the motion of Mr Mackay it was resolved to make application to. the Department for a grant for a new school at Kina Road, and that consideration of the enlargement of the Oaonui school be deferred till the Department's reply was received. —Auditor.— The secretary, Mr Whitcombe, was appointed auditor of school committees' accounts for the \ear ending March 31. —Dudley Hoad School.— The school committee wrote drawing attention to the need of painting the Dudley Hoad school buildings, also the. leaky, state of the windows. The letter was referred to the finance committee. —lnsurance. — Mr Oscar Johnson,, master of tho Fit/rov school, wrote protesting against the value, £3OO, put upon the Fiteroy schoOlhouso by the Hoards architect for insurance purposes. He had obtained the valuation of two experts in tho •building trade, and both agreed that £2OO was an outside figure for the building, for which sum he had it covered. On the motion of Mr Faull it was resolved that Mr Johnson be informed that the Boar* Insists on all residences under its iuriwliction being insured to their full value heforo being leased by the teacher to whose school they are aUacfcfcd, and relies on its architect to h* the value.

—Mahoc School:— Correspondence was read from th« Malioe School Committee regarding their previous application to the Board for additions to this schoo.. and their request for a committee of delegate of the Board to view for themselves the overcrowded and un.healthy condition that nccessariij followed. Forty-nine or fifty children were crowded Into a totulh inadequate low-roofed building. A request was also made for desks ar.d forms, as there was only accommodation for 34 chlldreu. The Hoard recognised the need for more accommodation, and on the mot ion of Mr Monkhotise it was decided that an application lie made to the Department for a grant for the enlargement of the Mnhoe school. It was agreed that the necessary forms, etc.. should be obtained from the Cardiff school at once, as there were surplus supplies there, —Stratford Examinations The Stratford School Committee forwarded the following resolution : "That the attention of the Board be drawn to the groat disparity in the marks obtained by the pupils of> the higher divisions of tho High School nt the annual examination by the board's inspectors and at. the matriculation examination of the (diversity in the subject of arithmetic—both examinations being on the same programme of work—the inference being thai the paper .sot by the Board's inspectors was unduly difficult, the results of the matriculation examination being in every Instance satisfactory ; and that the cdmmittce of the Stralford Districl High School considers Ihe report on the annual examination unduly harsh, and in the face of Ihe high success of the school in the public examinations at tho end of 1904, is thoroughly satisfied with the school's efficiency and has complete confidence in the staff." The chief inspector was directed to furnish the Board with a report on tli« subject. —New Plymouth Matters.—

The Xew Plymouth Central School Committee drew the attention of the Hoard to the fact that the drains at tho Courlenay Street school had not yet received attention ; and also Informing the Hoard thai the committee regretted that Hie inspectors-' reports wore so brief, which did not allow of just consideration of the year's work, and suggesting that reports containing more detail be fuiv nished in future. The architect wns instructed to attend to the drainage work at once. Regarding reports, the Inspector submitted a statoment showing that the length of reports aopended upon circumstances, and In this case a long report waa not necessary. It was decided to reply to this effect. —Opaku Reserve,—

Mr C. E. Major acknowledged receipt ajf a copy of resolution passed at last meeting. Tic would be prepared to promote the passage of any measure in connection with the Opaku Reserve that would be In the interests of the Tnranaki district. —Scholarship.—

It was resolved that Master Waller McCaul, of Pihama, be granted the National Scholarship for tha Taranaki district for the year I'.Kio, to be tenable at tho W'ungnimi College. —Appointments, Resignations, Kite,— The following appointments were confirmed :—Miss Iterthu Hlack, first female assistant, New Plymouth Central School, to date from April -1'; Miss.l. liradje, assistant at Tariki ; Miss 11. K, l'tfinpsey, assistant at ltahotu ; Miss .1. M. llrennan. assistant at Pihama ; Miss McCarthy, teacher at Cardili : Mr Hewlett, teacher at IMrangamoniona from April 18 ; anij Mis» J'". Wllincr, teacher at Albert Road from April 10. Tho following I'csjignaUions were accepted, to lal.V effect ou March :1J: —Miss E. C. Wiley, teacher at Knlanui : Mr .). Hoylc. first assistant at Stratford District High School: Mrs Cooper, sewing teaelar «t Klthani Road. The usual steps were ordered to be taken to fill the vacancies.

The matter of appointing a sew-x ing mistress at Ma'noe was left in j,hc hands of the chairman. Miss Ljiley was granted tlireo months-' leave <;(:" absence from her duties at Stanley Road, and the appointment ot a temporary leach, r xvas left in the hands of the chairman.

Mr 0. W. Potts, master at llc,U ll|ockl. xvas granted leave to employ, at, his oxvn expense, an assistant upprovpd of by, the Hoard until Dec. 3J. next. On the recommendaition of the committee the chairman reported -having appointed Mrs lloby sewing mistress at Bell Mock. —Accounts.— Accounts amounting to X20.il l!)s Td xvei'i pa<*ed for payment'. The Hoard adjourned nt t.Jill p.m., after a four and a 'half hours' ' sitting-.