BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1274, 6 December 1884, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education wan held on Thursday. Present—The Rev. Geo. Barclay (Chairman), and Messrs S. W. Goldsmith, J. Talbot, M, Gray, and W. J. Steward, A note was received from Mr G. G, Russell, apologising for nonattendance.

After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting, the Chairman made his. usual statement, in the course of which he said that during the month notices of resignation had been received from Mr Wood, of the Temuka school, Miss Strong, of the Pleasant Point school," and Miss Kippenberger, of the Timaru High school. A locum tenons was - at present in charge of the Geraldine Flat school. Unfortunately the teacher selected by the Committee to take the place of Mr J. S. Cooke, who h id taken charge of Winchester school, was not qualified to teach the secondary subjects required, and the Committee would have to make another selection. During the month he was sorry to say one case had occurred calling for summary action on his part, but as it would come before the Board in due course he would not now further allude to it. The Lands Committee appointed by the Board some time ago to deal with unoccupied lands, the property of the Board, had finished their labors, and having invited and received tenders for the land, the same would be laid before the meeting. Later on during the meeting, the Chairman explained, in reply to Mr Gray, that the locum tenens at the Geraldine Flat school was qualified to leach the secondary subjects required, and, being nest on the lists of applicants, had been offered the situation. He, however, requested two or three days to consider the subject. A letter was received from Mr J. Hislop, in reply to one sent by the Board, stating that Government had not yet come to any decision regarding the distribution of the vote for school buildings. The gross amount of the vr 3 was £50,000, but at the time of writing Mr Hisiop was not in a position to state how much would be available for buildings in South Canterbury. Resol vcd—“ That the Minister for Education be further communicated with, and that it be represented to him that the Board haying numerous urgent claims from various carts of the district for the erection of

master’s residences and other necessary works, some of which Imre been standing over for years, it is very desirable that it should be informed at the earliest possible date what is the appoximate amount which will be allocated to this Board out of the vote for school buildings, and when such amount will be payab'e, and that the Minister be asked to advise the Board accordingly at his earliest convenience.

In his report the architect recommended that the Geraldine Elat school have a new roof of iron put on and some minor repairs carried out, and expressed himself as well satisfied with the work that had been recently done at the Temuka school. The repairs to the Geraldine Elat school were authorised, the work to be let by tender.

Dr Anderson, the Board’s Inspector, submitted reports to the Board of the examination made by him on the following schools -.—Temuka District High School, Waimate ditto, Waituna Creek, Hook, Hunter, Makikihi, Otaio, Upper Otaio, Waihao, Redcliff, Geraldine Flat, and Winchester. The Board had written to the Temuka School Commit tee for any remarks in reference to the report on their school they thought fit to make, and they had forwarded a reply to the Board stating that the report had been handed to tlm head master for his explanation, _ This not having been received, the consideration of the report was deferred till next meeting. The report on the Geraldine Elat school was satisfactory, and on the Winchester was fairly satisfactory. The Inspector reported on the application of the residents of the Upper Waitohl Plat District for a school. He considered the application premature.—Mr Talbot disagreed with the decision. He thought the Board should establish a school there in a similar way to that which had been pursued in the case of the Kakahu school. He thought a site could be easily secured, and had written to the Steward of Reserves about one and hoped to get a favorable reply shortly. He thought there would be no harm done in proclaiming a school district, and would therefore move that the necessary steps be taken to proclaim a school district at Upper Waitohi Flat. The proposition was agreed to unanimously. The Chairman intimated that Messrs Gray and Talbot and Dr Foster had to retire by rotation but were eligible for re-election. The election would taka place in January. The tender of Mr Cunningham for an acre section of land in Geraldine at £5 per annum was accepted ; 9 acres in the Belfield school district were let to Mr J. H. Taylor at 16s per acre per annum. The tender received for 25 acres in the Belfield school district was thought 100 low and was not accepted. No tenders were received for the other lots. The Board then went into Committee to consider correspondence received from the Second Master of the Timaru Main School, and on resuming ordinary business a resolution that Mr P. B. Ligerfwnod’s resignation of the post of Second Master at the Timaru School be accepted was confirmed. The Board then discussed mat ters re the Timaru School for some time, and ultimately came to the following conclusion That Ur Foster and Messrs Wakefield, Talbot, and Goldsmith _ be appointed a Committee to enquire into and report upon the condition of the Timaru school, and submit such recommendations as they may think fit, and that they be empowered to confer with the Timaru High School Committee; three to form a quorum, and Mr Wakefield to be convenor of such Committee.” Another letter was received from the Gapes’ Valley School Committee with respect to the capitation grant, but the Board, after consideration, declined to alter their former decision given at last meeting. It was resolved to grant a small sum to fence a portion of the Belfield school site ; that the Chairman be requested to have some urgent repairs effected at the Winchester Schoolmasters' house, and that the Waimataitai Committee send in an estimate of the cost of the fence required by them, A long discussion took place on the applications received from Committees for repairs, master’s houses, etc., and a Committee was appointed to go fully into the matter. The Chairman and Messrs Goldsmith and Talbot constitute the Committee.