THE EDUCATION BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 229, 20 June 1872, Page 6

THE EDUCATION BOARD.

At the special meeting of the Board on Friday, there w ere present : — The Superintendent (in the chair), Messrs Reid, Bradshaw, and Bathgate. A. good deal of business was transacted, but we have only room in today's issue for the following : — Two deputations from Kaikorai appeared in connection with the disputes which have arisen in that district. By the acceptance of the appointment of schoolmaster at Queenstown by Mr Macklin, the late teacher, and the expurgation from the minutes of all reference to that matter, it was agreed that that subject should be dropped, and the attention of the Board was given to the remainingn g question, whether or not Mr Greig was Jegally a member of the Kaikorai school committee. After some discussion, it was resolved t the Board should communicate with Mr Greig, with a view to ascertaining whether he held property and resided in the district ; andit was intimated that, if he did not, the Board would hold that he was not legally elected. The Secretary to the Dunedin School Committee wrote, bringing under the Board's notice the desirability of the Government contributing to the three Dunedin schools the same amount as they have hitherto done, at least until the fate of the proposed Education Bill is decided by the General A asembly . "To make up," continued Mr Hardy, "the additional sum required to carry out the Board's resolution would compel the committee to raise the school fees, a course which they would much regret taking, for the space of probably a few months." The Board resolved to adhere to its regulations. The following letter was read ; — "You will already have gathered from my ' telegram that the application from the High School for affiliation to this University, which, as you inform me, was sent more than six months ago, has never reached me. It would perhaps be well to ascertain the date of the letter and the mail by which it was transmitted, and then to make enquiries at the Post Office as to the reason of the neglect. " I fear that the present meeting of the Council will have come to an end before tnat body can have before it the particulars required for enabling it to come to an immediate decision upon the application, and that therefore the question must stand over until next meeting. " The Council has in the meantime been informed of the wish of the High School to be affiliated, and, in anticipation of the application being acceded to, there has been out of the funds available for aiding affiliated institutions, set aside a snm of three hundred pounds (L 300) for the purposes of any institution that may be affiliated in Dunedin. " On the Dunedin High School, therefore, beconring affiliated, it is proposed to pay over the above amount on account of the current year, without prejudice to its claim for the next year, so that should the affiliation not take place during the current >ear, a sum of six hundred (L 600), in place of three hundred (L3OQ), would be payable during next year. 11 There are, however, two points to be borne in mind in making any engagement on the faith of these proposals :—: — " First, the authorities of the High School should satisfy themselves that the institution is now capable, or at least will, when the application comes under consideration, be capable of fulfilling the required conditions of affiliation. " The object for which the grant is made being to increase the efficiency of the various affiliated institutions, the Council will feel bound to inquire from time to time how far the assistance afforded may have had this effect, and to make the continuance of the subsidy depend upon a proportionately higher standard of teaching being established an! maintained. Should it, therefore, be found that no substantial improvement is effected after a reasonable time is allowed for making new arrangements, the Council would probably consider it to be its duty to withdraw, if not the whole, at least some part of the grant. "I should be glad, in reference to this point, to be furnished with a full account of the subjects at present taught, the lecture rooms and appliances now available, together with information as to the additions and improvements which the proposed addition to the resources of the Institution will enable the authorities to effect. "Secondly, it must be remembered that the regulations under which the Council is empowered to make payments have force only till the 12th day of October next, the Governor having been advised to impose this limitation on his approval. The Council has during the present meeting, passed new regulations, generally to the same effect as those to which His Excellency's approval has been given, to come into force as soon as the existing regulations expire : so that the sammode of appropriating the funds at the disposal of the Council will be continued after the above-named date, if these new regular tions are confirmed. "It rests however with the Government to determine whether His Excellency shall be advised togive his approval to this renewal, and enable the Council to continue to assist the affiliated institutions. One difficulty rather of a technical nature requires to be removed before the Council can proceed to consider the question of affiliating the High school. The Council should be made acquainted with the constitution and functions of the governing body, uuder whose superintendence that school is conducted, as it will be necessary that all correspondence with this University should be carried in through such governing body. I have, &c, , Henry John Tancred, Chancellor. Mr Bathgate : I do not recognise the New Zealand University. Consideration of the letter was postponed. It appeared that the people at Limestone Plains were very anxious that their children should be educated. A suitable site for a school building had been fixed upon, and reserved by the Provincial Council. There were 23 children of school age, and 22 under school age. It was resolved to establish a side school there. Application was made for a school in the Waihemo district, and it appeared that if one were opened it would be attended by 23 children during the first year. The settlers had, according to a subscription list produced, subscribed about L7O for the erection of a school building. It was decided to sanction the opening of a side school there. A school was asked for Pine Hill district. It appeared that therewere 26 children under four years, and 45 between four and fourteen, living at too great a distance from any of the present schools. The aplication was deferred, in order to ascertain whether there was any public land suitable for a school site. A side school, which it appeared wonld be attended by 28 children, was sanctioned for Oreti. Appointments of female pupil teachers to Otepopo, , Blueskin, and Riverton district schools, were sanctioned. Application was made for a pupil teacher for the Wethcrstones side school. The application stated that the present sewing mistress was insufficiently paid for the , amount of work she did, aad asked that in

addition to her present appointment she should receive that of pupil teacher. Tbe application was declined, pupil teachera being allowed only to main schools. The Committee of the Kyeburn subsidised school had, it appeared, appointed to the office of master Mr Johnson, a Dublin University man, but who had not been certificated under the regulations. It was resolved that meanwhile no objection be made to Mr Johnson's appointment ; but that it be not sanctioned or otherwise, until the Inspector had reported upon the school. Letters were read from Adam's Flat, Waiwera, and Clark's Flat, asking the Board to reconsider their decision relative to the status of these schools ; but the Board resolved to abide by the regulations and their former decision.

Applications from West Taieri, Bluff, and East Taieri, relative to the payment of salaries, the granting of which might have the effect of making a reduction in them, were granted. The case of Mr Robertson, of the Awamoko School, was considered. The report «f the Select Committee of the Provincial Council, and the petition of the settlers in that locality, were read. Mr Robertson, who has been a schoolmaster for the past eight years, being in ill-health, Mrs Robertson had, it appeared, been appointed to the school by the Education B»ard ; the School Committee of the district now protested against the appointment, saying it was their right to appoint. Mr Hislop said whoa he had advised the Board to take this course, he was under the impression it would prove an acceptable arrangement to the district, but now Mrs Jttobertaons appointment in her husband's stead was opposed on the very strongest terms. It was resolved to give effect to tha recommendation of the local School Committee, and the Board accordingly resolved to cancel Mrs Robertson's engagement at three months' notice, and empowered the School Committee to terminate Mr Robertson's engagement if they so desired, in terms of the Ordinance. The appointment of Mrs Robertson, his Honor remarked, had been made with a kind intention, and those who objected to it could have little of the milk of human kindness in them. The resident governess at the Girls' Provincial School having sent in her resignation, Mrs Burn wrote stating that a competent governess could not be obtained here, but she hoped, through the assistance of her friends in m elboume, to be able to get one there, and asked the Board's permission to do so. Tho present payment, LBO ar.d board was insufficient ; the salary of a competent resident governess ought to be LIOO, and she could not expect to get one for less The Board sanctioned Mrs Baru's recommendations.

It was resolved that it was expedient that the site of the main school at the Kaikorai should be the spot indicated by the Inspector, near the Drill Shed, and the matter was referred to the Executive.

A number of claims from various districts were approved of, and referred, to the Executive.

Some business concerning education reserves was disposed of.