S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2786, 9 March 1895, Page 2

S.C. BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Education was VH on Thursday. Present Messrs W. B. Hoiwell, J. Talbot,, and G. H. Graham, Revs. 6, Barclay and J. White. On the motion of Revs. White and Barclay Mr Hoi well was moved to the chair, to act as chairman till the annual meeting next mouth. Apologies were made for Messrs Jackson, Pearpoiut, and Gray. OFFICE STATEMENT. The chairman read the following statement :—Since the last meeting of the board we have been called upon to deplore the unexpected decease of our late chairman, who since 1885 had filled this chair at every meeting of this board save on two very recent occasions. Perhaps the board will put on record its sense of the loss sustained by the death of Mr Goldsmith, for record among its minutes, and as a mark of condolence with Mrs Goldsmith in this the early days of her great bereavement. The expression of sympathy from the various school committees had been very general, and there are a few letters which require to be read. The following resignations have been received:—Mr John Smyth, head master of Waimate District High school; Mr B. H. Low, second master of Temuka District High School, but there is a subsequent request that he may be granted eight months’ leave of absence to attend the lectures at Canterbury College this session. Miss Jones, pupil teacher at Pleasant Point, has resigned, her school time being out. Mr E. B. Burns has resigned Kakahn Bush, on accepting Hilton. Mr A. £. Jones has resigned Sutherlands, on accepting Pakihi, whither ha went on the 4th, relieving Mr Y. Graham. Mr G. B. McAlpiue is acting as locum temns at Sutherlands, and Miss Jones at Kakahn Bush. The Orari Gorge committee hsa agreed to abide by the board’s aided schools regulations, and the agreement as to the transfer of the Orari Gorge School to the board has been completed and signed by Mr Tripp. Miss Amy Fifield, of Woodbury, has been compelled to to go away for a time on medical certificate, and Miss G. Bates, of Belfield,- is acting for her. The Makikihi committee has recommended Miss Goodall as sewing mistress. The Waimataitai committee his deputed the chairman and Mr Bowie to interview the board on the subject of finding more space for the increasing numbers attending that school. The building committee met during the mouth, and accepted the following t enders:—For roofing at the Otaio, Mr Phillips, £39 15s; for fencing at Waimate, Mr Gaitt, £22 11s. The lowest tender for the residence at Rangitata Station was that of Mr J. H. Dean, £149 10s. THE LATE CHAIRMAN. Letters of regret and sympathy for the death of the late chairman were read from Rev. Jasper Smytha (a former member of the board) and the Waimataitai school committee, and many other committees sent similar expressions. A letter was also read from Mrs Lewis on behalf of Mrs Goldsmith, thanking the members of the board for the sympathy they had shown for Mrs Goldsmith and the family. A letter was also read from the late Mr Goldsmith, dated February 16th, relating to the business of the board, and tendering bis resignation of the chairmanship, as he feared his state of health would not permit him to attend to the duties of the office.

At a later stage the following resolution, moved by Mr Barclay and seconded by Mr Talbot, was carried unanimously— That the Education Board of South Canterbury sincerely regrets the recent demise of Mr S. W. Goldsmith, one of its members from its first foundation, and its chairman for the last ten years; that it bears cordial testimony to Mr Goldsmith’s amiability, impartiality, and ability in both aspects, and that it re* spectfnlly tenders to his widow assurances of deepest|sympathy in view of her loss.” CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. In view of the small attendance at the meeting, Mr Barclay asked leave to postpone his notice of motion that the Catholic schools be examined by the board’s inspector. CIRCULARS. Circulars were read from the Education Department, with copies of a swimming animal ; and from the New Zealand Railways, n; railways excursions for children, asking for the board’s cooperation in arranging them. architect’s report. The architect, Mr Blake, reported that the contracts for works at Timaru, Pleasant Point, Temuka, Woodbury, and Arundel schools, have been completed. TENDERS, Tenders were received as follows ; Shifting school at Orari Gorge Higgins, £6B 14s 6d; W. Waters, £54 10s; - McCliutock, £34 l»s (accepted. Two tenders were received for fencing at Winchester—Boston, £10; Richardson, £0 16s (accepted). Two tenders ware received for painting and papering at Milford Richardson, £8 I (is ; Cooper, £0 15s (accepted). i >n the motion of Mr Barclay it was als > resolved that the roofing at Raugitata Island be gone on with, the lowest tender in to bo accepted, Mr White, who had visited the district for tho purpose, reported very fully on the need of a master’s residence at Rangitata station. He recommended and it was resolved, that the building be* erected as proposed by the building committee. tarried unanimously. The lowest teuder was £149 10s. that of Mr .1. H. Dean. v

BOARD ELECTIONS. The secretary reported that the result of the committees’ voting in the election of memb.rs to the board was—Barclay 31, Jackson 26, Seddon 26. Several of the commi'tees’ voting papers were sent in too late. DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. Mr Gow submitted a report on hia examination of the District High Schools of Temukn and Waimate, in the special work of these schools. Twenty six scholars were examined at Waimate, and five at Temuka. The subjects of examination at Waimate were English, 18 pupils; French,!; Latin, 15; euclid,ll ; algebra, 17. At Temuka—English, Latin, algebra, and euclid, the five pupils taking the four subjects. The inspector’s remarks on the work in each subject were full of approval, and mem bers concurred in the opinion that so far as the education was concerned the report was satisfactory, but the numbers of pupils were not at all satisfactory. APPOINTMENTS. Mr B. H. Low, Temuka, had sent in his resignation, and then later, in place of resigning, applied for eight months’ leave of absence to allow him to attend Canterbury College—After a good deal of consideration it was decided that the request could not be granted. It was considered that the time asked for is too long. The Cave committee recommended Mr T. B. Strong as master. Mr Strong is now at Temuka school, and in view of the resignation of Mr Low, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr G. Barclay—“ That the appointment of Mr Strong to the Cave be postponed for the present, and that in the meantime he be asked to take the position of locum tenens at Temuka, in room of Mr Lowe, resigned.’’ This arrangement leaves a locum tenens at Cave for the present. Mr Jas. Gillespie (Rangitira Valley) was appointed to Seadown, Miss B. Strachan to Winchester, Miss W. Cotter to Timaru Side school, Mr C. Meredith to Hazleburn, Miss Goodall as S.M. at Makihihi. committee’s cobbspondbncb.

Arundel asked for 50 tos paint the old part of the school.—Granted. Geraldine aaked for a grant in aid of procuring gymnastic apparatus.—The board has long given op supplying gymnastic apparatus. Reply to be made accordingly. Te Moana inquired whether a committee can legally pay 2s per annum, the subscription to the (school Committees’ Conference, out of the incidental fund. —The members laughingly refused to give legal advice.on such a momentous question. The same Committee asked for £4 ss, half cost of fencing addition to site.— Granted.

Pleasant Point recommended a candidate for a pupil teachership, but the master and mistress protested against the selection as unsuitable, and the chairman of the committee supported the protest. After a good deal of discussion it was resolved on the motion of Messrs Barclay and Talbot, that the committee be requested to reconsider their recommendation, the board not considering it the most judicious possible. The secretary, Major Bamfield, was appointed to audit the school committees’ accounts. . Mr Howell was placed on the building committee, in place of the lute chairman. The meeting then terminated.