S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2342, 12 April 1892, Page 4

S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education was hehl on Thursday! Present—Messrs J. W. Goldsmith (chairman), G. H. Rhodes, W. Storey, W. B. Howell, and Rev. T. Jasper Smyfche. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs Pearpoint, Jaekcon, Talbot and Gray. In liia opening statement the Chairman mentioned that the resignaiion of Mr Aitken of Geraldine had been accepted, and steps taken to fill the vacancy. The committee, recommended Mr Farnie of Temuka. Miss M. McGowan had tendered her resignation as mistress at at Silverstream. He had received an anonymous letter on a certain subject, which he would read in Committee. The Temuka Committee haJ recommended Mr B. Lowe as second master, and he had sanctioned the appointment. The meeting being a small one it was agreed to postpone the election of chairman. The matter of the anonymous letter dropped, without it being read. The Board's annual report to the Department was la'd before the meeting. It shows that the personnel of the Board remained the same during the year with two exceptions, Mr W. Storey taking the place of Mr R. A. Barker, deceased, and Mr G. H. Rhodes the place of Rev. G. Barclay, resigned. The twelve regular meetings of the board had been attended by an average of 7.17 members. At the beginning of the year there were 56 schools in operation, and three were added during the year. Of the 59 .schools at the end of the year, 17 had under 25 pupils, 2G from 25 to 50, nine from 50 to 100, five from 100 to 300, one between 300 and 500, and one over 500. Sixteen of them were " aided" schools. The aggregate daiiy attendance for the year was 4030, an increase of 142 on the previous year. The average roll number was 5014 against 4885 the previous year. The number teachers at the end of the year was 135, an increase of nine during the year. The building account showed a credit balance of £474 18s 7d, to undertake all necessary work on buildings during the current year, the estimated cost of which is over £1200; the balance must be defrayed from the maintenance account, which was in credit £950 10s 5d at the end of the year. The board gave a bonus this year absorbing £SOO. One school had bee:i built, Te Moana ; four enlarged ; nine repaired and painted ; and minor grants had been made to eighteen. The board approached the Government with a protest against the sinalluess of the last building grant but without avail. Six new scholarships (senior) . were granted, tenable for two years, total value, £124. Thirty seven pupil teachers were examined and nine, candidate-! for employment as pupil teachers. Of the former four, and of the latter three, failed to pass. A full table of the number of schools and of teachers, numbers on rolls and average attoi;dance, for the several quarters of each year trom 18,78 to 1891 inclusive, is given in the report. Mr Howell, for Mr Talbot, moved that the resolution of February 4th, re system of painting schools, be rescinded.--Carried. Tenders for painting were accepted as follows :—A. Clinch, Raugitata Station, £ll. T. Sullivan, Orari, £lB 5s : Woodbury £2O. J. Cooper, Upper Otaio, £l7 ; Blackburn, £ll. No tender was accepted for llangftata South. SJ.;W SCHOOL DISTRICTS. The inspector reported on a visit, on the sth inst., to Ashwick Flat, to meet the householders. A committee was elected with Mr It. Allan as chairman. There were 53 children under lo hi the pro- '

district, 30 of them of school age, and 23 under 5 years. None of thorn wore within reach of the nearest existing schools, being C to 10 miles away. The Government had given a site, a section of 48 acres. The householders were not prepared to contribute anything towards the cost of the buildings. The inspector thought a school was urgently needed in the district. Resolved—" That the usual steps be taken to proclaim the Askwick Flat Educational district"; and " That the Board are prepared to supply a teacher at Ashwick Flat, if the residents find a school building, as the board are not in a position to build a school this year, but will favourably consider the case when they are in funds." The inspector reported the results of the late teachers' examinations. There were, he mentioned, three uncertificated teachers in the employment of the board ; one has a license to teach, a second is employed under exceptional circumstances ; the third had been two years in a large school.—lt was decided to ask the committee in the last case if they had any reenmmendation to make. committees' correspondence. Temuka asked the board to consider whether they could afford some additional scholarships for pupils attending the Temuka District High School.—Deferred for consideration at next meeting. The same committee asked the board to approve of Mr McLeod's application for leave to practice in the school without pay.—Approved. Pleasant Valley recommended Miss McGowan as ais'stant. Her appointment was approved, provided the attendance for last quarter warrants it. Master T. McKibbin, a scholarshipholder who has been attending the Temuka District High School, asked permission to change to the Timaru High School.—Granted. The board then in committee considered the subject of making registers on wet days, and the meeting terminated.