TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1331, 23 April 1885, Page 3

TEMUKA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

monthly meeting of the TJnfuka High School was held last TuesPresent—Messrs Hayhurst (Chairman), Bolton, Brown, Blyth, Miles, G&y, and Lee. ' MINTJTES. £rhe minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE. Correspondence was read from the "Board of Education re salaries. From the Inspector of Schools, requesting the scientific apparatus in the sehool to be sent in to the Board office in Timaru. From the Board of Education enclosing a circular from the Education Department, •which' Btated that £6OO had had been placed to the credit of the Board for building purposes, but that the Board was expected to supplement this by devoting as large a sum as possible of the capitation grant towards the building and repairing of&chools ; also, stating that the residents should contribute a fixed proportion of the cost of maintaining the schools. SCHOXA.ISHI73. From the S.C. Caledonian Society offering a scholarship of 12 guineas per annum on the condition that the scholars competing be other than those attending the Timaru High School, and that the winner Bhall attend the Timaru High School for the two years for which the Scholarship is tenable. The Chairman said that as regards the scholarship offered by the Caledonian society it would be useless in this district. The trains did not reach Timaru in time for the High School, and the £l2 offered would not board a student at the High School.

Mr Gray quite agreed with this. It waß altogether a Timaru nffiir. He would suggest to represent to the Society that they should give it for attendance at the District High Schools. He moved that a letter be written to the Caledonian Society stating that the conditions under which the scholarships was to be competed for would debar echolars from this district from competing, and asking them to alter their conditions so as to read " any High School " instead of "Timaru High School." Mr Brown seconded the motion and it was agreed to. -, HEAD MASTER'S REPORT. tffoni the Head Master, stating that the average attendance was : Boys, 190.5 ; girls, 151 Jj total, 341.5. Strict average attendance jf Boys, 138.5 ; girls, 99.6 ; total, 238:'K He also referred to some repairs which had not been done ; and to the fact that fires were necessary in future. The Chairman remarked that the average attendance was getting much smaller, although the Head Master had not mentioned it in his report. A conversation on this point ensued, in the course of which it appeared that ohe attendance had already improved, and that absence in many cases was due to the prevalence of colds amongst the children. . On the motion of Mr Gray, seconded by Mr BrowD, it was resolved—" That tenders be called for the supply of coal and firewood for the Bchool; tenders to be in by Tuesday, the 28th inst." visitors' report. Mr Miles reported that, with Mr Blyth, he had-visited the school, and found everything satisfactory. The Master had drawn their attention to the falling off in the .attendance, but there was a marked improvement recently. SECONDART SUBJECTS. The Chairman said that three had withdrawn from the High School and one had joined, so that they had lost two. Nothing was done in the matter. - THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. Mr Brown wished to bring forward a continuation of what had been discussed at the previous meeting. He. moved—- " That the present arrangement with the Presbyterians terminate one month from date, so that other denominations may have an opportunity of applying, or the Presbyterians may apply afresh." Mr Blyth said he wished to throw more light on this subject. He produced a newspaper clipping to show the Secretary of the Sunday School had obtained the ÜBe of the school, and that it was granted on the motion of Mr Job Brown. It was made to appear that the Presbyterians had taken forcible possession of it in a piratical way,, whereas they hod got the use of it from the Committee, Mr Bolton said they got the use of one yoom, but they took the other rooms without any authority. Letters from the Secretary of the Sunday School to the Committee were read. One, dated Febiuary 21 1882, asked for the use of the schoolroom for a portion of the pupils ; another, dated September 17 JBB3, asked for a part of the new school, A warm debate then took place as to whether the use of a part or the whole of the school was granted, Mr Blyth held that the Preshyteiuns had worked in good faith, believing they had got the whole of the school.

Mr Bolton held tbey had only one room aud they took the other seven without any authority. Mr Gray su'd the resolution was nonsensical. Tliey must have some motive behind it. VYhat had the Presbyterians done Hint they should be turned out ? Mr Lee said that while the Presbyterians were in possession there was no chance of any other denomination offering anything for the use of the School. It was their duty to get money somehow.

Mr Miles said Sunday Schools were not flourishing institutions, and they ought to foster them. Ihe chance of deriving a revenue from the school was remote, especially as Messrs Bolton and Lee had said that the Church of England was not likely to offer anything for it, but he thought a re-arrangement was necessary. He thought that each new Committee should arrange as to the terms on which they would allow the Presbyterians to retain the use of the school, and also that a charge of £5 should. be made, the amount to go to the janitor. Mr Gray thought they could not enforce the payment of any sum. The Act never contemplated that any charge should be made for the school for Educational purposes. Mr Bolton said the Act was silent on that point. When someone offered tc act as secretary for nothing, Mr Gray had objected on the ground that they ought to take no man's services for nothing, He might apply the same argument, and say they ought not to give anythiug fir nothing, and therefore ought not to give the use of the school for nothing. Mr Miles moved—" That the present arrangement with the Presbyterians terminate at the end of the year, when the present Committee go out of office ; that a charge of £5 a year be made in the meantime, the amount lo go to the janitor ; and that thev be held liable for any damage done." Mr Gray thought the present arrangement should last till the end of the year without any charge being made. If Mr Miles altered his resolution so as to expunge the charge of £5 he (Mr Gray) would second it.

Mr Brown said this was the resolution he had himself moved last meeting, excepting that the money was to be paid to the janitor. Mr Miles consented to this.

After further discussion, in the course of which nothing very new was said, the amendment was put, Messrs Miles, Blyth, and Gray voting for it, and Messrs Bolton, Brown, and Lee against it. Mr Brown's resolution was then put, the same members voting for and against it. The Chairman voted for the resolution and it was carried.

A discussion then took place as to what was next to be done, and Mr Brown moved that the use of the school be granted to any denomination who will give £4 a year for it, and make their own arrangements with the janitor.

Mr Bolton seconded this. Mr Miles moved as an amendment—- " That applications for the use of the school for Sunday school purposes be invited, stating terms." Mr Blyth seconded the amendment.

After the usual amount of discussion, the amendment whs put and lost, only Messrs Miles and Blyth voting for it. The resolution was then put when Messrs Bolton, Brown, and Lee voted for it, and Messrs Gray, Blyth, and Miles against it. The Chairman refused to vote and the motion lapsed. Mr Bolton next moved—" That the Presbyterians be offered the use of the school for Sunday School purposes at the annual rental of £4, and pay the janitor." Mr Brown seconded this.

Mr Gray protested against making any charge, as the Act never contemplated it. Mr Bolton : Does the Act contemplate charging fuel fees? and yet you charge them.

Mr Miles moved as an amendment—- " That applications be invited for the use of the school for Sunday School purposes." Mr Gray seconded this, and, on it being put, the voting was as on previous motions ; but in this instance the Chairman voted for Mr Bolton's resolution, and it was curried.

VISITORS. Messrs Brown and Gray were appointed Visitors for the ensuing month.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts to the amount of £6 13s 2d were passed for payment. The meeting then adjourned.