MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 989, 2 February 1882, Page 2

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A special meeting of the Committee was held last evening at the Institute to consider communications received from the Education Board. The members present were Messrs Boddington Feist, Hogg, Jago and Payton. fa ' Thefirat letter read recommended the appointment of Mr John Kay to the second'assistant mastership of the school, and the Committee, were unanimous in confirming this appointment. The next communication stated that the Board considered it advisable to appoint two pupil teachers-Miss Elizabeth Marshall and Miss Isabella&nro—instead of an unclassed asßißtljwfcffifcJier, and stating that Miss Mar/Ml had, Vy gaining a scholarship, aspJMcliiira for consideration, " ■>-•

The applications of MiBS Munro and Miss Marshall were enclosed, also an application from an unclassed assistant teacher, '

The Chairman stated that the late Committee were strongly of the opinion that an assistant teacher should be engaged in place of two pupit teachers, and this fact coming under the notice of Mr Lee, the Inspector, he withdrew the advertisement, inviting applications for the pupil teachers and substituted one for an assistant teacher, The Chairman then asked the Head-master to express his § view of the subject, T" • Mr Grundy explained that if he were to accept two more pupil teachers the staff would consist of four adult teachers and five pupil teachers, and would, in his opinion, be weakened, They would be working too, in the future, under different conditions to those they had been under in the past. In the old building, he bad been able to keep pupil teachers under his eye, but in the new buildiug under the class-room system this was impossible, If the Board found another master to take the sth and 6th Standards off his hands he would be free to supervise the work of pupil teachers, but with the charge of two large classes he could not do so, and the School would Buffer. When the classroom system was introduced into America it was found that the pupil teacher system had to be abandoned. From a pecuniary point of view he was benefitted by every pupil teacher, but he would not be doing his duty by the school to earn a bonus from this source at the expense of the general efficiency of the classes. Mr Payton moved the following resolution : That the Committee respectfully request the Board to reconsider its decision re the appointment of pupil teacher*-, on the ground that the School cannot be satisfactorily worked on the class-room system with a majority of pupil teachers on its staff, Mr Jago seconded the resolution. He. and other parents had for some time felt that pupil teaching was the weak the Sohool. Prom little things which had come under his notice he was convincei that pupil teachers had nut sufficient power over children to control them. In reply to Mr Hogg, Mr Grundy stated! that hitherto there had been four teachers, and four pupil teachers in the School, but several of the latter were experienced and tit to take charge of a class-room L It would bo an absurdity to put a new pW teacher In charge of a class-room, though it would have to be done if Miss Marshall and Miss Munro were appointed, Mr flung feared that if pupil teachers were not encouraged in a legitimate manner, it would be found difficult to supply the staff, While admitting that the late Committee had done its duty in representing the requirements of the sohool to the Board, he thought that it was not worth while taking up an antagonistic position and exposing themselves to a polite suubbiug from the Board. Without there was great aggravation oh the part of the Board he deprecated a conflict. Mr Feist, after the explanation he had heard, did not inteud to oppose the resolution, but regretted that publicity should be given to appointments before they were absolutely completed. The Chairman pointed out that tho Board would not respect the Committee any the less because it discharged its duty by expressing an independent opinion when it was formally consulted. Mr Hogg moved as an amendment— / That the appointment of Miss Mar-)» shall and Miss Munro as pupiK' teachers to the school be confirmed. It would almost, he said, amount to a personal insult to the applicants to reject them now matters had gone so far. Mr Feist seconded the amendment, expressing his regret that a full meeting of members was not present, The amendment was put and lost, the original resolution being carried by Messrs Boddington, Jago, and Payton, against Messrs Hogg and Feist. The following resolution, moved by, Mr Payton and seconded by Mr Hogg, was carried : That the Board be informed that the Committee do not'doubt the fitness of Miss Munro and Miss Marshall for positions as pupil teachers, and would gladly see them added to the staff of the school, as soon as they can be placed without increasing unduly the proportion of pupil teachers, A letter was read from tho Board re school sheds, declining to make further improvements until' the"L4oo promised by the Town Lands Trust was paid. It was resolved— That the Town Lands Trust be informed that the Board had stoppod improvements in the school grounds . pending the payment of the L4OO, and that the Board be notified that the debt of L4OO was not incurred by the Committee; that the ' children should not be made to /' suffer for the shortcomings of ■ > another body, and that the Board, be asked to reconsider its deoision. A letter was received stating that (iii' answer to an application from the Committee to increase tne salary of the first assistant teaoher to the rate paid in other schools of a similar size) the Board proposed to make a special allowance to first assistant teachers In Bohools where the average attendance-exceeded 250. W' .The Headmaster submitted a Dalßknf ablueßerge uniform with white suitable for the school Cadot Oorp£* |Sk ■ • Committee. „ approved --'of the umformr suggesting only that colored facings should U be adopted. The? also voted a sum of : : Ll2los, which jvill, pjobabjy, with assis-- {': 'i tauce from other- quarters,' enable 60i ; >■"'..: Cadets to beat once provided with suit- !i • able military attire;-.;. ; , The meeting theft adjourhetfr'"''" !

amounting • to £U 16s 3d wore then passed fur payment for m,t\:< '<■< hand and coinploted, and for supplies.—lundera for the following works wjro then oponod Riid let ;-Trimming ind cleaning ditch, Udy's line, 65 chuins, T, Zillwood, at 16a per chain ; metalling and formation, White's line, 24 chains, J. Hart, at 25a per chain; wire fencing, Nik's line, 13 chains-, G.' Butler, nt 15s oer chain; metalling, Olliver's line, 40 chains, R. Robinson, at 26s per chain; metalling and formation, Wuterscn's line, 10 chains, M. Jesen, at £1 14s per ohiiin.-Fresh tenders were directed to he called for foiling and sturnpiug 30 chains on Josoph's Jine, Matarawa.-Mr W. Booth was to arrango with Messrs Sayer 'T*"KI Hart for metalling the continuation flKnold's line, formed last autumn <"j™ff*regard to tho settlement of accounts hetween this and tho Carterton Local Board, Mr Booth said ho had deferrod leoing Mr Fairbrother until he had laid the facts of tho case before the Wardens. Some yeavs ago they had agreed to hand over to the Local Board certain ratos amounting to about 119 per annum. When the railway was opened the portion " of the Belvidoro road between it and the main road was cloared of all stumps and re-metalled. Portion of tho money expended came out of tho toll-gate fund, and he Local Board not having funds at their disposal at the timo to meet the paymont of their proportion of the cost of the work, the whole amount was paid by this, Board, leaving the Local Board indebted to them to about £65 or £G7. If, therefore, they could find when the last payment of the rates allowed was made they could easily find out tho position of tho two Boards.—On,reference to the books, the last payment appeared to have been made in June, 1880.—After some little discussion it was agreed that the matter should be left in tho hands of Mr Booth, to consult with tho Chairman of the Local Board, and report at next meeting. —Mr Parker reported that Butler had not quite completed his contract on tho Hinau Gully road, hut tuggested the amount due should be passed, to be paid over to Butler on his passing tho work. —This was agreed to.—lt was further resolved—That all future specifications Bhould rcquii'i! parsons tendering to pay a deposit of 10 per cent, on the estimated amount of their contract, or provide sulllciont sureties Messrs Jones and Coloridge applied to know if there woro roads laid off on section 138, Taratahi Plain ' Mock, and if the Board's Surveyor could furnish them with reliable plans, as they wero about to subdivide the section into allotments.—The Clerk was directed to inform them that roads were laid off on the section, and they could take tracings •'• and all particulars from the large map of '"' tho district in the office.— Mr C. Phillips having applied for a reduction of amount due for rates levied in the past years, tho Clerk was directed to inform him that the |i Board regretted that it was out of their if™ power to remit such rates.—Mr Meenken applied to have the trees that had fallen across his line removed and ditch made, and to have the road re-christened.—The matter was referred to Mr Boys, to report at the next meeting, as he thought the road was one that had been abandoned, and formed part of his private property. '. ■"7 If he found it to bB a public road, he was to have tho trees cleared away. -Ip—Mr flodder made an application for road to railway siding.—Mr Welch having pointed out that £27 had only hecu spent last year in giving him a roadway to the main street, and that the work asked for would cost 130 or £4O, it was rosolvedThat Mr Hodder bo informed that the Board cannot entertain his request afl present.—From Matarawa settlers, offetfl ing to put in bridgo and culverts on Waterson's line if Board would undertake the formation of the portion of the road referred.—The offer was accepted on the 'representations of Mr Welch.—ln reply to their letter, the Clerk was directed to inform Messrs Beckett and Co, that the Board had not any advertising to dispose of, but any printing required would be given to thorn.—A lettter was ' received from the Board's solicitor, stating . that the conveyance of the gravel pit. from Mr Francis to the Board was in hand, and detailing the only terms on which Mr Osborne would deal with them for the use of a gravel pit on his property, —On discussion it was resolved—That Mr j Osborne be informed that the Board could F not accept his terms, and that unless he accepted the offer of the Board they would have to take the portion of his property required by arbitration under the power conferred on thm by the Act.—Mr Booth drew the attention of the Board to the damage done to tho Belvidere road and adjoining lands by the overflow of the water through private parties having fallen trees into (ho Mungatariri river and adjoining creeks, They had not the . same power to cause the parties doing so to clear the impedient away as they had where trees fell from private lands on 'to roads, and he thought it was absolutely necessary ilwt the matter should at once he d<"io by them.—This, after eome discussion, was agreed.—Mr Hooper attended, ' applying for compensation for damage done to his buggy throngh a dray having been left with the shafts tipped up in the main road near the old Pioneer hotel.—The Board considered they had no responsibility, and referred Mr Hooper to the owner of the dray for compensation. —Tenders were directed to be called for Beveral works (particulars of which will in due course he found in our advertising columns),-Mr Welch was authorised to have alterations made in a culvert on Moffatt's line, which the contractor on the road had undertaken to do for £3 10s, and for which Mr Gallon had offered to give all the "timber,— Mr Vile was also authorised to have new k culverts put in on Nix's Line, at a cost not exceeding.£s, and to have deviation \ P e 6o e( l °ff I'J a surveyor for the construction of a bridge on Vile's Line, and have that and road constructing near Nix's Linej marked off on plan of district, The Clerk was directed to write to the Sur-veyor-General, Mr Marchaut, requesting liira to furnish tho Board with plan of roads laid off near the Waingawa river, during the last two years, and have the same place on tho District map by Surveyor when received. An adjustment of nsseittents between Nos. 2 and 3 Wards, kojHt a long but vory towy meeting to ajjKfe about 5 o'clock p.m.