BOARD OF EDUCATION

Temuka Leader, Issue 1137, 9 February 1884, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION

The ordinary monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education was held on Thursday last. Present—Rev G. Barclay (Chairman), Dr Poster, Mr S. W. Goldsmith, and Mr R. A. Barker. Messrs Gray, Talbot and Stewart sent apologies for their absence. A letter from Government was read stating that a sum of £50,000 had been divided among the several Education Boards in proportion to population, as grants for school buildings, etc., and the amount payable to the Board was £2230, which would be paid at the end of March, but any vouchers for amounts owing on account of buildings would be paid in the meantime.

The Chairman said the Board would have no means to erect new buildings this year, however great the need of them, the amount allocated to the Board having been spent in advance. The amount voted by Parliament was £70,800, but the Government appeared to have deducted £20,000, for what cause he could not say, unless it wes some attempt at retrenchment at the end of the year. In connection with this matter lie had asked the Secretary to prepare a statement of the building fund account. This showed that the account was indebted to the maintenance account to date £1328 18s 4d, that is, the maintenance fund had been drawn upon to pay accounts due from the building fund to that extent, and the amount ought to be refunded. Among the claims against the building grant were: £SO to the Kakahu Bush Committee for timber to build new school ; £2O to the Temuka Committee for planting ; £63 to the Waitohi school for necessary repairs ; £52 19s for school furniture for the Gapes’ Valley and Waimataitai schools ; £6 to Gapes’ Valley ; and £l7 for fencing at Temuka. The whole of the claims amounted to £1647 14s lOd, and deducting this from the £2230 granted, only £602 6s 2d remained.

It was resolved —“That the Board, from the building grant as announced, namely £2230, recoup the maintenance fund in such sum as would leave (after allowances for other outstanding accounts as set forth in the Secretary's statement to-day submitted) a sum of £IOSO, the latter sum to be expended as follows ; £SOO in part liquidation of the Waimataitai claim, £3OO to the Sutherlands Committee, and £250 in the erection of a school at Belfield, including furniture ” A number of applications for master’s houses were received, and it was resolved —“That in view of the reduced amount of the Government building grant now announced, the Board is obliged to declare, with deep regret, that it will be unable to attend to any applications for master’s houses during the current year.” A general report by MrGurr on his examination of the schools of the district was submitted, and portions read. 42 per cent of the children attending the schools were below the standards. 2040 children were presented for examintion in Standards, of whom 1494, or 73.2 per cent passed,—a rather lower proportion than last year. It the 6th Standard 84 were presented and 68 passed ; in the sth, 176 presented, 112 passed; in the 4th, 354 presented, 195 passed, in the 3rd, 421 presented, 257 passed ; in the 2nd, 474 presented, 379 passed ; in the Ist, 632 presented, 483 passed. The Secretary’s statement re the stationery depot showed that a profit of £59 had been made since its commencement. A letter was read from the Kakahu School Committee explaining the low percentage of passes at the late examination, and asking for a fresh examination to be held in March. It was resolved that the explanation be accepted, and that it was not necessary to anticipate the annual examination. The Head Master of the Temuka District High School having been informed that, in accordance with a resolution of the Board, he must obtain a University degree within a time to be approved by the Board to entitle him to continue as Head Master of the High School, replied that he could not say how long a time he should require, but suggested that be should he allowed three years. After some discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Dr Foster, seconded by Mr Goldsmith— “That Mr Wood be informed that the Board will expect him to go up for examination for his degree in the usual course, namely, for his first examination in November next, and for the second at the time fixed ; and that the Board w 11 not be desirous to interfere with his present position in the meantime.” Mr Barker said if Mr Wood declined to agree to this course he would have to leave the school, and that would displease the househo’ders as Mr Woo l was giving great satisfaction and was much liked. Dr Foster thought there was no hard*

ship in so fixing the time. The first examination was a very trifling one. The Committee of the Orari Bridge school wrote re the low percentage of passes gained by their school at the recent examination ; and Mr Westropp, the master of the same school, again wrote re the holidays. He had only been given three days at Christmas and understood there was to be no harvest holidays. His letter was referred to the Committee.

A report on the state of the Waitohi Flat school buildings was received, with an estimate of cost of repairs required, about £63. The matter was referred to the Chairman and Secretary. A proposal having been made to the Committee of the North Orari school lo change the name to South llangitata, the Committee replied that there were a great many names already of which “ Rangitata formed part, and suggested the nati j name of the Rangitata creak, (C Kapitihi, as an appropriate name for the district. It was resolved to ask the Committee to select a name suggestive of the locality. The Secretary read the names of persons nominated by the Committees for election to the Board in place of Messrs Barker, Steward, and Waleot, who retire by rotation. They were—Messrs R. A. Barker, Jas. Bruce, A. Slierratt, W. Balfour, J. C. McKerrow, G. G. Russell, W. J. Stewart, and Rev. D. Gordon. Mr Jas. Bruce had also been nominated to fill an extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Waleot. The votes of the Committees are to be taken during the present month, and the result of the election will be made known at the next meeting of the Board.