BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1149, 8 March 1884, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the Board of Education was held on Thursday. Present Rev. G. Barclay (Chairman), Dr Foster, Messrs M. J. Gray. W. J. Steward, E. Wakefield, S. W, Goldsmith, andJ. Talbot. The Secretary submitted statement of accounts for the year ending December 31st, 1883, from which it appeared that the receipts from all sources, including a a credit balance to general account of £1075, were £18,456 7s lid, and the expenditure, £18,362 2s sd, leaving a credit balance of £94 5s 6d.

A statement of the present condition of the building fund, with an estimate of the requirements of the Board under this head was also submitted by the Secretary, these data being required by the Education Department. The income from all sources was estimated at £2528 10s 2d, and the amount required at £14,647 8s lOd. Of this ..mount, £11,647 is put down for the cost of new buildings, reconstructions, etc. It includes estimates for additions to new teacher’s house at Opihi; teacher’s houses at 'Gapes’s Valley, Makikihi, Albury, Redcliff, Kingsdown, Geraldine Flat, Orari Bridge and Sutherlands ; new teacher’s houses at Winchester and Milford ; new houses at the new schools at Waimate, Temuka and Waimataitai ; new schools and residences at Geraldine, Waihao Forks, Kakahu Bush, Kerry Town, and Gannington.

The Chairman stated that at Geraldine a new and very suitable site had been secured from the Lands Department free of cost, upon which new buildings should be erected when funds would allow, as the present buildings were becoming dilapitated, and the site was being rapidly washed away by the river Waihi. The Architects’ report for the month was read. It referred to the tenders for the Belfield school, repairs to Waitohi Flat school, and furniture for Temuka school.

The Chairman had accepted the lowest tender for the Belfied school, £206, and it was resolved to accept the lowest tender for repairs to the Waitohi Flat school, £7B. Accompanying the report was the present Architects’ first account for work done. This contained an item of £lO 3s 6d for commission on furniture, on which a discussion arose. It was understood when the change of Architects took place that commission on furniture was not to be allowed in future. The agreement with the Architects being read, it was seen that they were entitled to commission on all expenditure with which they have anything to do as architects to the Board. It was agreed to refer the claim to the Chairman to deal with.

The Inspector’s reports on several schools visited since last meeting were presented. The report stated that two of the rooms in the new school at Temuka ought to be fitted with galleries, and some maps and other apparatus were wanted.—Owing to the state of the building fund the matter of galleries'had to be deferred. I 1 - 1 . the other things will be supplie I. The Committee requested to be allowed to retain the services of Miss Bertha Brown, who has completed her course as pupil teacher.—Referred to the Chairman and Inspector for inquiry and report. The Chairman stated that at last a site had been offered for a school at Kakahu Bush by Mr Clark, who would not sell, but would allow the Board to occupy the sice free of charge until they could get a more convenient one, and would then allow them to remove all buildings. The Committee having offered to erect a school themselves, if the Board would grant them £SO to purchase materials, it was resolved on che motion of Mr Wakefield, seconded by Mr Goldsmith—“ That the proposal of the Kakahu Bush Committee be acceded to, and that the Chairman be requested to take steps for seeing if satisfactorily carried out.” A petition eigne I by the majority of the pa»ents in the Kakahu school district was presented, praying the Board to allow Miss Meredith to remain as pupil teacher at the school. It appears that a little time ago the Committee requested the Board to appoint an assistant mistress in place of the pupil teacher, and now that the assistant has been appointed, the parents wish Miss Meredith to remain too.

The Geraldine Committee asked for a grant to enable them to cover the roof of the verandah with iron, the old shingle covering leaking badly ; also for half-a-dozen chairs for the use of the Committee, who at present have nothing but forms to sit on when they meet.—The application for chairs was rejected ; the application for roofing was allowed. This Committee further requested that instead of appointing an assistant master in the place of Mr Bethune, who has resigned, two pupil teachers should be appointed. -This application was granted subject to the approval of the Chairman after enquiry. The Secretary stated the result of the election of three persons to fill the places vacated by Messrs Steward, Barker, and vValcot, who retire by rotation. The voting was as follows ; —Mr R. A. Barker, 25; Mr W. J. Steward, 24 ; Mr G. G, Russel], 23; Mr James Bruce, 11; Rev. D. Gordon, 10 ; Mr J. 0. McKerrow, 9 ; Mr W. Balfour, 4 ; Mr A. Sherratt, 2. For the extraordinary vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr Walcot, Mr James Bruce was the only person nominated, and three Committeee voted for him for that vacancy. The first three candidates were elected to fill the ordinary vacancies, and Mr James Bruce the extraoidinary one. It was agreed to hold a special meeting at 4,30 p.m. on Tuesday next, to receive the report on the Scholarship examination and the report on the book depot. The meeting then terminated.