BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1324, 7 April 1885, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The annual meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education took place on Thursday last, Present—Rev. Geo. Barclay (Chairman), Dr Foster, and Messrs W. J. Steward, John Talbot, G. G. Russell, S. W. Goldsmith, R. A. Barker, and M. Gray. The Secretary, Major Bamfield, was in attendance. The minutes of tho last monthly meeting having been read and confirmed, the Chairman made his monthly statement. In the course of it he said that applications for pupil teachers had been received from the Seaview aud Winchester School Committees, and as they wore both entitled to pupil teachers, appointments should be made. With regard to the Timaru School, he said that Mr Murray had declined to accept the appointment of head master of the Timaru School, and the Committee had now accepted Mr Wood (late of the Temuka School) for the position. His action in various matters having been approved of, Mr Barclay vacated the chair, which was taken by the Secretary, and tho Board then passed the following vote unanimously :—" That the thanks of the Board be tendered to the Rev. George Barclav for the pains taken by him in the conduct of the Board's business during the past year, and for his urbane and courteous conduct in the chair, and that the same be recorded on the minutes." A proposition was then made that Mr S. W. Goldsmith be Chairman for the ensuing year, and an amendment that the Rev. Mr Barclay be re-elected was also moved. The resolution was carried, and Mr Goldsmith then took the chair. A circular was then read from the Education Departm' %*, Wellington, stating the Board had been granted a further sum of £6OO in aid of tho Building Fund, The circular also stated that the Board should, out of the ordinary Hoard fund, make payment for purchasing, erecting, fitting up, or improving schoolbuildings, just as much as for the payment of teachers' salaries, and the Board's departmental or other expenses.—lt was decided to send a copy of the circular to all the School Committees.

A general statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ended Dec. 31st, 1884, was laid before the Board. Among the receipts were Government grants for buildings, £2230 ; other amounts received for buildings, £lO6 13s 4d ; Government statutory capitation, £9447 3s 6d ; special capitation, £769 8s 9d ; and payments by School Commissioners for primary education, £2288 6s 3d; the whole of the receipts being £15,577 8s Bd. The chief items of expenditure were teachers' salaries, etc., £10,606 8s 4, incidental expenses £1053 3s 6d, buildings £1713 Is 2d, office, staff salaries and expenses £6Bl 4s 7d, departmental contingencies £326 4s, the whole showing a credit balance of £935 Is 7d on " general account.

In their report tho Architects to the Board (Messrs West and Barber), reported that the erection of the mastor'a residences at Geraldine Flat and Orari Bridge were in progress. They also submitted plans for a master's house at Upper Waitohi. With regard to the site of the Orari Bridge School, regarding the suitability of which there appears to be a divesiity of opinion, the Board decided as follows, after some discussion ;—" That Messrs Barclay, Barker and Talbot be requested to enquire into the matter, with power to act if found expedient." Dr Anderson (the Board's Inspector), presentsd a draft of his report on the schools in the district for the past five months. In the course of it he said there were two matters on which the adoption of some rule mi'ht be considered necessary —(a) the conditions under which children may be presented for the first standard, and (b) the number of extra subjects the teachers must take up. He thought that all children of eight years and six who had made a total attendance of 500 hilf days should be presented for the first standard. He thought that elementary science should be taught in every school where more than one teacher is employed. He also draw the attention of the Board to the pressing want in the schools of illustration of natural history. The Chairman, Messrs Barclay and Gray were appointed a Committee to report on the recommendation contained in the report. The Rev. Geo. Barclay, for the Scholarship Committee, submitted the report on the scholarship examination for March, 1884. The followicg are the results: —Class A (possible marks 400).—James Colbert, Geraldine, 262; Theresa McShane, Geraldine Flat,. 250; William Morton, Temuka, 246 ; Richard Stonehouse, Geraldine, 225; Henry Woolstein, Seaview, 221; Gertrude Brown, Timaru, 210 ; Lilian Tavers, St. Andrews, 151; Jane Gray, St. Andrews, 148 ; Annie Gray, St. Andrews, 109. Class B (possible marks 440). —Amy E. Fiefield, Woodbury, 298 ; Cecil Townsend, Timaru, 285 ; Montague P. Cooke, Winchester, 282 ; Lucy Hawke, Winchester, 239 ; Barbara Strachan, Timaru, 233; Thomas Haig, Waimate, 230; Bridget Earl, Geraldine Flat, 194 ; Margaret Miller, Hook, 190; Sarah McShane, Geraldine Flat, 188; John Bennett, Pleasant Valley, 139. Class O. (pyssible marks 480).—0h as. J. Golds'one, Pleasant Point, 334 ; Alexander Bell, Geraldine Flat, 328 ; Alice Meredith, Waimate, 309 ; Elsie Grant, Waimate, 289; Isabella Rennie, Timaru, 287; Herbert Colbert, Geraldine, 252; Chas. Collins, Timaru, 242 ; Emma Campbell, Timaru, 226; Georgo Loney, Timaru, 212; li'ibina Baxter, Waimate, 202; Tlieo. B. Strong, Waimate, 202 ; Stephen Wilson, Timaru, 171 ; Elizabeth Barr, St. Andrews, 93. Class D (possible murks 725). Annie Bruce, Waimate, 381; Francis Hawke, Winchester, 372. The Rev. Mr Barclay then moved that the following receive scholarships: - In Class A, J. Colbert. T. McShane, and W. Morton, of £l2 each ; in Class B, A. E. Fiefield, C. Townsend, aDd M. P. Cooke, of £l2 each ; in Class O* C. J. Goldstone, and A Bell £l2 each and £25 allowance for attending a High School, in Class D F. Hawke, £l2, and if she attends a High School £25 allowance. With regarded to the Waimate Board of Governors' scholarships, he recommended

that A. Meredith in Class (J, and T. Haig in Class B, be awarded them; scholarships. —Carried, A letter was read from tlio Secretary to the South Cartel bury Caledonian Society, stating that they had decided to establish at cbe Timaru High School a scholarship tenable for two >ears of the value of twelve guineas per unnnrn, open to all pupils in South Canterbury other than attending that school. It wa3 resolved, on the motion of Mr Barclay—- " That this Board hoar with pleas aw of the intention of the Caledonian Society to establish a scholarship, and that they will be glad to learn particulars of conditions respecting age, qualification, and examination ; and also that the Board will be glad to give publicity to the .natter." The ventilation of the Timaru School was reported by the Rev. Mr Barclay and Mr Russell, who had visited the school, to be not eo bad aa represented. The Board sanctioned the appointment of Mr Wood as head master and Mr McNaughten as. sixth teacher. With regard to school matters at Gapes' Valley, it was decided that the matter stand over tili next month, when Dr Foster will bring the subject up again. After considering matters relating to the Upper Waitohi Flat School, it was resolved that the Architect call for tenders for building master's house, tenders to be in by next meeting. It was resolved that the name of the Kakahu school district be for tho future known as '• Hilton " school, district so as 1 to preveDtthe Bame clashing with Knkahu Bush. The Kakahu Bush School Committee wrote drawing attention to the insufficient size of the school, and, Mr Barclay having satisfied the Board it was too small, it was decided to enlarge it so that forty children might be accommodated. Mr Barclay submitted a list of grants for repairs, but as it was not quite complete it was resolved that the Chairman, Messrs Barclay and Barker be a Committee to report on the matter. A letter was received from the Pleasant Valley School Committee giving the reasons why their teacher should be dismissed, and, after the Board had considered it, it was decided to give the master the usual notice. Mr Talbot handed in a notice of motion re scholarships, and the Board adjourned.