TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81829, 23 August 1906, Page 2

TARANAKI EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Education Board was held on Tuesday evening. Present; Messrs James Wade, G. A. Adlam, G. Tisch, J. D. Morrison, W. Monkhouse, H. Trimble, W. McL. Kennedy, H. Fauil, and A. Morton. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Mr P. S. Whitcombe, Returning Officer,'presided, and after declaring the result of the election, called for nomination of a chairman for the year.

On the nomination of Messrs Faull and Tisch, Mr James Wadt was re-elected .

In returning thanks for his reelection, Mr VYade said this was to him a great honour to preside over the body governing the education of the district, and while at times he felt unable to do all that he wished, the Board might depend on his doing his utmost for education, if the members and officials extended to him in the future the same kindness and consideration that he had received on all hands during his term of office. Several difficult and unpleasant matters had come up for discussion during the past year, but he hoped there would be fewer in the incoming term. Referring to educational matters, Mr Wade said that much of the legislation introduced must have failed to give the satisfaction anticipated for it. One of the best alterations of recent years had been the abolition of the system of building grants, and the substitution of maintenance grants ,by which many requests of outlying schools had been complied with in a manner that would have been impossible under the old system. He hoped that in a short time they would be able to remove the "blot" frrm our education system. The "blot" was apparent in the opening of new schools, settlers being called upon to give their time and labour in preparing and fencing school sites, and other work that did not fall to the lot of dwellers in the towns. He referred to the undue rush in educational matters lately, and hoped for •a little more rost'fulness this year; and that in technical matters there would not bo the same flying- from subject to subject. OPUNAKE SCHOOL.

A discussion took place with regard to the plans of the new Opunake residence, Mr Morton stating- his opinion that bathrooms should be furnished in all such buildings. Mr Monkhouse thought the general-ly-used plan of teachers' residences could bear improvement.

Mr Tisch considered all plans should come before the Board. The Chairman and Mr Tisch were appointed to accept the Opunake residence tenders, the chairman stating his intention of submitting the tenders to the Department so that no dispute could arise over the payment of the promised subsidy. Mr Morton moved that this Board accord to Mrs Dougherty and Messrs J. H. McDonald and G. H. Maunder thanks for' their services whilst members of the Board.

Whilst congratulating th e Board on the accession of new blood, which he thought would strengthen I the Board, ho could not help feeling regret at severing his connection with those members who, in performing their duties, had earned his personal esteem.

Mr Monkhouse seconded ,and the motion was carried unanimously. SECRETARIAL REMUNERA

Mr Faull suggested that "the Returning Officer should be paid for his extra work in connection with the election. The Chairman said the question had occurred to him. He had noticed the secretarial work had doubled of late, and there was a decided need for increment of his salary. To be referred to the Finance Committee. WANT OF PUBLICITY,

Mr Kennedy complained of the ineffective and inadequate advertising of the result of the election, and considered it unfair that 'only the readers of a paper in one centre should be apprised of the figures. Mr Monkhouse endorsed the grievance. The Chairman said it was a question of funds. The result had been advertised in one paper and tho "Gazette."

OAKURA SCHOOL,

Mr Adlarn reported the windows had beon attended to. —The report was received. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.,. The Chairman reported that the following appointments had been made: —Waongona, sole teacher, Mr Cumbenvorth; Stratford, ..first assistant, Mr J. Hunter; Frankley road, assistant mistress, Miss McDermid. Temporary appointments had been mare:—iTututawa, teacher, Mrs Farnham; Salisbury road, assistant, Miss Hamertdn; Stratford D.H.S., assistant, Miss Urquhart; Frankley Miss Ballantyne.; Omata, assistant, Miss Bollinger; Oaonui, assistant, Miss O'Rorke; Central, second assistant, Miss Berry; Egmont Village, assistant, Miss Ballantyne, The boundaries proposed by the new Koru School Committee have been submitted to the Oakura School Committeo for their report, which has not yet come to hand. Mr Adlam considered the boundaries "out of all reason," but discussion was deferred pending receipt of the report of the Oakura CommitMANUAL AND TECHNICAL.

Mr W. E. Spencer, Director of Technical Education, delivered his manual and technical report. Needlework at three schools had been "recognised" by the Department. The sum of £1 12/6 was recommended for payment to the sew. ing teacher at Pungarehu.—Adopted. STANDING COMMITTEE. Standing Committee were appointed :—Teachers' selection committee : Messrs Monkhouse, Adlam, and Trimble. Finance : Messrs Morion, Faull, and iTisch. Reserves : Messrs Faull , Tisch and Morrison. The chairman being an ex officio member of all committees. MEETINGS.

The Board will meet on the fourth Wednesday and the preceding Tuesday, the Tuesday meetings commencing at 7.30 p.m. and Wednesday at 9.30 a.m. An attempt was made to fix S p.m. and <j am., as the starting time. The Board resumed on Wednesday.

ARCHITECT'S REPORT. [ The architect reported that since last meeting- ho had visited Stratford. Salisbury road, Inglcwood, Waitara, Bell Block, Fitzroy, Oaonui and Rahotu schools. With reference to the waste water from the teachers' residence at Stratford, Mr Gardiner, sanitary inspector, objected to it being run into the septic tank drains. Salisbury road residence repairs were completed, but he would recommend further papering'. Latrines at Inglcwood were almost completed, and the painting- at Waitara and Bell Block, and the repairs at Oaonui were finished. With reference to the door cut in the outside wall at Fitzroy, Mr Johnston hda undertaken to have it made good. Steps were being taken to prevent the chimney smoking at Rahotu. On the motion of Messrs Monkhouse and Morton, it was decided that the architect be instructed to prepare plans of four, five, and sixroomed cottages, with bathrooms, for the pu;p'ses of le-ichers' residences, and submit the same to a committee comprising Messrs Tisch, Motikliouse. and the chairman, NGUKF. GROUNDS.

The Ntraire Committee forwarded a letter from Mr Blizzard declining lo stirender his lease of the education reserve adjoining the school now desired to be secured for the school 'pfn'icultuial clns-cs, but offering the free use of a quarter of an acre, provided it is fenced securely ,-t the ovpense of the committee. Ti'c committee recommended the adooiion of Mr Blizzard's off-r. TV V.mrr] approved, and Mr Blizzard will be thanked,

TIKORANGI TEACHERS. The Tikorangi Committee complained of the removal of the temporary assistant, and the dismissal of the sewing teacher.

The Chairman explained that the temporary teacher had declined to continue at the school, and had been appointed elsewhere. Another temporary teacher was now being sent to Tikorangi. A motion was carried, that the Chairman of the Tikorangi Commit lee be informed that the Board regretted the circumstance ,but assured him that it was unavoidable. SCHOOL HOLDINGS. Mr Alf . Gray, secretary of the Teachers' Institute, asked that, in the interests of those teachers who are sitting for examinations, the Board should cxtc|nd the Christmas vacation to February Ist, in order that such teachers might have a chance of visiting the International Exhibition at Christchurch. It was decided that the schools will close on December 21st, re-open-ing on February 4th. This means a week's extension.

STRATFORD REQUESTS. The Stratford Committee com plained that the "tarred and sanded" courtyard had broken up in the recent frosts, and should be asphalted; the letter also asked that the Board reconsider the matter of fencing.

Mr Morison said the tarring was unsuitable in that climate.

Mr Monkhouse was of opinion that with better care at the start the surface would have lasted al; right.

Estimates of cost of re-tarring and of asphalting the courtyard will be obtained, the matter being left with the Finance Committee to report. The Board declined to refund to the teacher the sum of 10/ spent by him at the Salisbury road residence. A TEACHER'S TROUBLE. The teacher at Bird road complained of her treatment by- a hostile section of the committee, and a letter was received from the chairman containing complaints against the teacher. Messrs Morton and Trimble will inquire and report. NEW RESIDENCE. The Huikama Committee asked for the erection of a teacher's residence ,the teacher having to walk three miles to and from school over bad roads in all weathers. —Application will be made to the Department for a grant. WEST END SCHOOL, The West End Committee applied for a length of hose for washing out latrines, cleaning windows, and so ( forth.—.The Board adhered to its previous resolution, declining to furnish the hose, being of opinion the committee should supply, its own cleaning apparatus. BUILDING EXTENSION. The Waiongona Committee asked for extension of the teacher's residence. Plans for an. additional two rooms, and an application will be made to the Department for a grant , NEW SCHOOL. Mrs Payne, of Okau, asked for the establishment of a new school in that district.—Referred to the Chief Inspector for his report. GROUND IMPROVEMENTS.

The Makahu Committee asked for a £ for £ subsidy of £4 for the purpose of cleaning and ploughing, and erecting a gate.—Granted. A £ for £ subsidy was made to the Kaimata Committee for the improvement of the grounds. The Midhirst Commitee was granted a subsidy of £2 towords cost of ground improvement. Their requests regarding manual and technical work were referred to the Chief Inspector. The chairman of the Lepperton School Committee wrote that the grounds were very small, only an acre in extent, the horses being placed in a piece of land a chain square, and the boys compelled to. trespass in order to play their games. Th« teacher was anxious, to have school gardens established, but there was no room.—Referred to the chairman. SCHOOL BOOKS.

The Inglewood Committee asked the Board to forward to the Minis-

ter for Education their letter asking that a uniform set of school books be established throughout the colony. .1

tl was decided to forward the letter with the Board's favourable recommendation. NGARIKI ROAD.

The Ngariki road school was reported to be in need of repairs.— The committee will be asked to ascertain the cost of conveying the children to the Oaonui school. GENERAL,

The Awatuna School Committee wrote that the shelter shed had blown down during the recent rains. —The Board will contribute ,£lO towards cost of a new shed, as a £ for £ subsidy. The tender of Mr W. P. Taylor was accepted for lease of reserves at Stratford.

The matter of a smoky chimney at Makohu was. referred to the architect.

Mr Monkhouse ga,ve notice to move that the resolution re travelling allowances passed on August 22, 1594, be rescinded, and that in future members' travelling expenses be paid at the rate of 6d per mile, with a minimum of 10/, where the meeting is held on one day only, and 1/ per mile, with a minimum of 25/, where the meeting is a two days' meeting . A MAHAKA REQUEST.

The Mahaka Committee requested that the school be made a fulltime school as the attendance warranted the change. The present attendance was 20 or 21, and th'c-re were 21 under school' age} while new families would arrive in the district shortly, making the school number over 30.—i The matter will come up again at the October meeting, when the Chief Inspector will report. IRREGULAR ATTENDANCE.

The secretary of the Rahotu Committee was astonished at the nature of the inspector's report on irregular attendance. Neither the committee nor the master had power to compel attendance. The committee had every confidence in the teacher. The committee will be informed that the Board considers the committee should take steps to remedy the unpunctuality in attendance in the mornings, and that with regard to tho irregularity of attendance, it is the duty of tho committee to Jjring this to the notice of the truant officer, with a view to his taking steps to remedy it. LEPPERTON. The matter of appointing Commis sioners at Leppcrton was referred to the chairman. THE WAITARA DISPUTE. The dispute between the truant inspector and the Waitara School Committeo was referred to Mr Faull. CHILDREN'S 'HEALTH. The Chief Health Officer submitted a scheme for the inspection ol children by a medical man, the teachers to n'oto tho children wht appeared to suffer from any defect at all< Resolved, "That the consideration of the matter be deferred till next meeting."—Carried. DEPARTMENTAL. The Education Department asked that certain statistical reports be forwarded.

The Chairman said it was impossible to keep pace with the growth of Departmental work. Referred to the Finance Committee.

The Department wrote that the conveyance of children to the Oao nui school not having been author ised, the Board's claim for payment could not be considered until a statement of the case had been furnish ed.—lnformation will be sent. The Department wrote: There seems to be a considerable numbei of schools that have not availed ihemsHvcs of flip Government's offei of n New 7ealand ensign. Can nothing be done in the matter? Of course, the condition is that the ;M, w l 51,,-,!| provide itself with a flagstaff.

A letter was received from the Department relative to the claim j&» I

a refund of £l9 17/6 paid on account' of temporary accommodation during the alterations to-the Fitzroy school No authority having been obtained for this expenditure, the Minister regretted that lie was unable to accept the liability.—Further applicationfto be made.

TECHNICAL SCHOOL. The New Plymouth Borough Council wrote that owing to the questioned legality of the payment, the Council had to rescind the resolution granting ,£IOO towards the cost of the technical school.—Referred to' the Finance Committee for a report at next meeting. MATIERE. The Matiere Committee's letter regarding shelter shed and fencing N was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration.

DOUGLAS. * The architect was instructed to > supply a tank and plan of outhouses at the Douglas school TEACHER'S HEALTH. Mr Monkhouse gave notice to' Vj move that the Board's regulations be amended giving the chairman power to call for a medical certificate from any teacher in the Board's employ-, ment. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £1939 7/5 were passed for payment. \ The chairman and secretary wer«' re-authorised to syjn cheaues.