BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1236, 6 September 1884, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary lu.mth y meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Bducat'on was held in Timaru on Thursday. Present Rev. G. Barclay (Cuainuan), Dr Foster, Messrs J. Talbot, S. W Goldsmith, M. J. Gray, R. A. Barker, and G. G. Russell. la his openi g statement, the Ghairui m stated that Miss Brown had been appointed pupil teacher at the Milford school. A pupil teacher had not been appoint'd for Oran Bridge, but a young person had been put forward, and the Inspector had been requested to ascertain whether her attainments were sufficient, Mr Graham had been appointed master of the Belfield school, and had entered upon his duties. Th j Committee appointed for the purpose reported on the subject of dealing with unoccupied lands of the Board. The report showed that these consist of 45 acres, half a mile from the Rangitata railway station, on the east side of the line; 9a 2r 27p at Belfield ; 6 quarteracre sections in the centre of Geraldine ; also, 16 quarter-acre sections in the Geraldine township, on the South Town Belt. With regard to the first and second lots it was recommended that tenders be called for leasing them for a term of seven years, the lands to be left in good English grass and surrounded by a live fence at the end of the term. The central sections in Geraldine it was recommended should be offered on lease for either building or paddock purposes, the questions of time, rent, and compensation for imp nvuments to be left to the suggestion of tenderers in the first place, and the approval of the Board afterwards. The other sections in Geraldine, which had been recently acquired by the Board as a suitable site for a new school, it was recommended should be let only as a paddock, for three years, the Board _ reserving the right to resume possession, if required, on giving six months’ notice. There were also 30 acies attached to the school at Belfield, and it was considered advisable that the Committee should make some suggestions as to modes of utilising it. The land was not fenced, and it was suggested that the larger portion should fe !°let, one of the conditions being that the remainder, about the school, should bo well fenced off, as well ns the whole enclosed by a ring fence. In all cases tenders to be invited publicly ; questions of sub-letting, transfer of interest and other matters, to be considered later on. The report was adopted, and the Committee was requested to call for tenders and report again. The Chairman and Mr Talbot, the Committee appointed to inquire into the origin of the fire in the-Board's stationery depot, presented their report. It appeared that the Secretary occupied the room on the preceding day and had a tiro in the fireplace, which had no grate. When he left the room at about 11 p.m. there was one piece of wood alight in the fireplace. From the appearance of the mantlepieco, the Committee concluded that it must have caught fire near the floor, and gradually 7 spread upwards.— The report will be communicated to the Government, and a vote of thanks was passed to the Fire Brigade for their prompt action in extinguishing the fire. The Inspector’s report on the special examination of the Winchester school was read. In summarising the results he said the attainments of the pupils were far below a fair medium. After some discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Talbot, seconded by Mr Gray—“ That the usual steps be taken to obtain a new staff of teachers for Winchester school ; in the meantime the present staff to be retained until the new teachers are appointed.” The Inspector in his report on the Kakahu school said that, though no subject and no standard stood very high, none had been quite neglected, and on the whole he thought the attainments of scholars could bo considered fairly satisfactory. The discipline was poor. -The report was ordered to be sent to the Committee. The Chairman said that a deputation from the Geraldine Flat School Committee bad waited on him representing that their school afforded insufficient accommodation for the number of children attending. Twelve of the children properly belonged to the Kakahu school. —lt was decided that the application for the enlargement must be postponed. A letter was read from the Geraldine Flat School Committee offering to build a master’s house if the Board would guarrantee to pay the interest on cost of construction. The Board ware now paying £3O per year as rent. The Committee offered to send a deputation to discuss the matter with the Board, and it was resolved that the Board would receive the deputation at its next meeting. The Chairman made a long statement in reference to the Timaru Main and Side Schools. To reorganize the side school as proposed by the Timaru School Committee would entail an additional expense of about £2OO a year. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Gray, seconded by Mr Barker— “ That the report re Timaru Side school be adopted, and that no change in the organisation of the school be made. The meeting then terminated.