TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9417, 18 May 1882, Page 3

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

/ jThe monthly meeting of the above . Committee was held last Tuesday ingPRESENT. / Messrs Mackay (Chairman), Hayhurst, Bolton, Mendelson, Brown, Russell and Davis. MINUTES. The minutes of the last ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed . correspondence. A mass of correspondence was read from the Board of Education in reference to the resignation, and subse- ■ quent omission of duties of Mr Edward ' Smith. Further correspondence stated that,M>iSrnith desired to continue his dutiefi tifil the end of his term ; and correspondence from the Headmaster pro tern stated that Mr Smith had now resumed his duties as third teacher. From Mr Smith iu reference to the resumption of his duties. From the Board in relation to the absence from the school of Miss P. Brown.

. From the Board in reference to the Committee's action in reference to the resignation of Mr Harrop, and stating that the Committee appeared to have acted constitutionally in reference to the matter. The following is the Board's letter :

" Board of Education Office,Timaru, May 15th, 1882.

"Sir'—Referring to your letter of April 19th, stating what action your Committee had taken in tlia matter of Mr Harrop's resignation. lam directed to state that the Board expressly mentioned in their resolution conveyed in my letter of April 6th that it was the opinion of the Board that Mr Harrop was still a sitting member of the Committee 'so far as the Board •was then advised of the facts of the case.' The action of your Committee as explained in your letter of April 19th appears to have been constitutionally taken, and the Board sees no reason to question its legality.—l have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant.

"Henry W. Hammond. " Secretary,"

The following is the Chairman's letter to the Board, alluded to in the above:—

"Temuka District School. • f Temuka, 19th April, 1882 :

"Sib.—l have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 6th inst., stating " that so far as the Board is advised of the facts, it is of opinion that the acceptance of Mr Harrop's resignation by the Committee was invalid, and that Mr Harrop is, therefore, still a member of Committee, etc." In reply I am directed to say that notwithstanding the Board's ruling the Committee have decided tl.at Mr Harrop is not a member of Committee, and the Committee have accordingly taken steps to till the vacancy caused by his resignation, and have elected Mr Job Brown to the seat. I am to add that this is not doDe with any disrespect trji&e Board, but from a knowledge that the Committee are doing only what is a legal act, and tliat if Mr Harrop was allowed to resume his seat without being re-elected, h?s resumption of that seat would be invalid: To enable the Board to decide upon the merits of the case I enclose Mr Harrop's resignation and witbdrawal,and the resolution affecting his reelection. The Committee cannot help noticing that before the Board expressed an opinion on the case it should have been in possession of these facts. The Committee are now satisfied that the Board has no power to accept the resigna-

tiou of Committeemen, and that members desirous of resigning must do bo to those ■ remaining in office. The four members who have sent their reS i 'ghapi ms to tlie ba?e tVeixfove vVnifiedTtheir intention 0" ■■e raio'iip in oilioa present. - I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient Sevva.it. "D.M. Maceay, " Chairman. " The Chairman of Board Education." ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amounts of £3 Os lOd were passed for payment, TENDERS FOB FJEL. Two tenders for the supply of fuel were received, and on the motion ot Mr Mendelson, seconded by Mr Davis, the tender of Mr Blvth, coals at £2 per ton, and firewood at £1 per cord, was accepted. .

A long discussion in reference to the above took place, and during it Mr Bolton moved--" That the acceptance of tenders be held over till a later hour in the evening to allow an opportunity being given to Mr E. Brown of making a complaint in reference to the manner of receiving the tenders." Mr Brown seconded the amendment.

Mr E. Brown at this juncture waited on the Committee, and handed in his complaint in writing, and made a long explanation of his reasons for complaining. After the Committee had listened to Mr Brown's statement, they decided that they would, with the exception of informing him that his allegations were incorrect, take no further action in the matter at present. THE HEAD TEACHERSHIP. From the Board of Education enclosing a list of the teachers applying for the head teachership of the school, After mature consideration, which took place in Committee, it was resolved on the motion of Mr Hayhurst, seconded by Mr Mcndelson—- " That Mr John Wood, of Awamutu Sehool, Oamaru, be appointed head master of the Temuka District School, and failing his acceptance of it, the position be. offered to Mr T. A. Walker, Wai-iti School, Timaru." WAYS AND MEANS. Proposed by Mr Russell, seconded by Mr Menclelson, and carried —" That the head master be instructed to ask each child attending the school to pay Id weekly towards the supply of fuel and ink."

VISITING MEMBERS ETC,

Mr Russell suggested that Messrs Hayhurst and Bolton be appointed. This led to an unseemly discussion.

Ultimately it was resolved on the motion of Mr Russell seconded by Mr Davis—" That Messrs Bolton and Mcndelson be the visiting Committee for the ensuing month." Mr Davis spoke in reference to the bell being rung to let the children know the hour of attendance, and stated that he understood it only wanted a clapper. On it being stated that the article in question was cracked, a discussion ensued as to the means of procuring a new one but no decision was arrived at. Some members being in favor of starting a subscription list for the purchase of one and offering to head it, while others failed to see the utility of it. The Chairman stated that in the new schools now being erected by the Board no provision was made for bells,

Mr Bolton asked that the account book be produced at each meeting. The Chairman slated that the vouchers from the Board of Education re the incidentals, etc., were laid on the table at each meeting.

Mr Bolton wanted «to know whether the book would be produced ? The Chairman stated that he was in the hands of the Committee if they liked to pass a resolution to that effect he would do so.

Mr Bolton then moved a resolution %o that effect but it found no seconder, and Mr Bolton stating that he had done his duty, the subject dropped. Some conversation took place as to the duties of. the Visiting Committee, and some suggestions were made in re seeing after the property of the Committee, some slates and chemical apparatus being specially mentioned. The meeting then terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.