EDUCATION BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of this Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs Barnicoat, Campbell, Graham, Wastriey, Dencker, Rout, Malcolm, Suephard, Bishop of Nelson. J. W. Barnicoat, Esq., was unanimously re-elected Chairman of the Board for the present year. The minutes of the last two meetings, ordinary and special, were read and confirmed. The Boards solicitors were instructed to prepare conveyances of the site of the Girls' School at Richmond, purchased from Mr Hodder ; and of the school site at 88 Valley, purchased from Mr G. Parks. Neither of these properties were to be placed under the Land Transfer Act. Mr Eout was requested to confer with the Board's Solicitors as to the terms on which the site of the new school at Haven Road was purchased from Mr G. Harley. Resolved-That the Board' cannot entertain Messrs Jennings and Fields application for an allowauce beyond the amount of their tender for excavating at Haven Road. Resolved—That Mr J. Scott's account for .£258 14s 6d be paid, and that the Secretary be instructed to- obtain from Mr Scott a statement in full of all his claims against the Board to date on account of plans and supervision, including cost of complete plans and specification of Haven Road school. Messrs Rout and Malcolm were requested to inspect the new school-room at Foxhill. The Committee allowances for the current half-year were fixed at £333, and a cheque for that amount was drawn. A letter from the Spring Grove Committee was read, suggesting alterations in the teaching staff at Brightwater and River Terrace Schools. The further consideration of the question was postponed for a month. Mr Dencker reported that he had made arrangements with Mr Goodall for the supervision of the new buildings at Riwaka and Lower Moutere at a remuneration of 2£ per cent. Several tenders for the addition to the teacher's house at Ranzau having been submitted to the Board it was resolved, That the lowest tender, that of MrH. Baigent for £138 17s 6d, be accepted. The Board of Examiners having reported on the applications for teacherships at Collingwoodand Central Buller it was resolved, That the report be adopted, and that the Collingwood and Central Buller Committees be informed that the Board purpose appointing Mr H. G. Blyth master of the former, and Miss Coveney mistress of the latter school. Resolved, That Miss Laura Blyth be appointed assistant at Upper Wakefield, the Committee having been first consulted ; also that Miss Kate Newton be appointed third' assistant at the Toi Toi Valley Girls' School, and Mis 3 Eugenic Desaunais assistant at Tasman-stre'et School, both of these appointments being made in accordance with the recommendations of the Town Committee. Also that the temporary assistant.at Tasmanstreet be informed that her services will not be required beyond the Bth instant, when Miss Desaunais will be expected to begin her'duties. Resolved, That £10 be allowed to defray tbe cost of additional outhouses at Tasmanstreet School. Thirty-five applications for the post of Secretary were considered. Mr Stead Ellis was appointed at a salary of £250 per annum subject to three months' notice on either side, the Board further stipulating that the office should be kept open during tbe ordi nary Government hours from 9.30 to 4.30. Resolved, That Mr Ellis' application be entered on tha Board's minutes and pub lished. Resolved, in reply to an application from the Waicnea West Committee that the Board should remove the master of the North school at Waimea West, That the Board does not see sufficient reason for removing the teacher. Resolved, in reply to a letter from the master of the North school at Waimea West, That the Secretary inform him that the Board is of opinion that it would be for the interest of that district if his connection with the Waimea West Committee was severed, in accordance with the terms of his letter. Tue Secretary was instructed to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Reefton Committee, commenting on • the late appointment of a Secretary to the Board. _ The further consideration of the following applications was postponed for a month :— 1. Grant for fencing, at Neudorf.' 2. Grant for repairs, at Charleston. 3. Giant for well and pump, at Rockville. 4. Increase of salary of teacher of Lower Wakefield Girls' school. Resolved, That on the application from the Fox Hill Committee for a grant for spouting be not entertained. Resolved, That in May, tenders be invited for supplying the Board with books and material, the contract to extend over two year 3. Resolved, That a sum not exceeding £16 los be allowed for painting the school buildings at Lower Wakefield. . Resolved, That Mr A. Brown be informed through the Westport Committee that the Board recognises no claim on his part for increase of salary. The Secretary wa9 instructed to furnish the Westport Committee with a copy of the correspondence between Mr Brown and the Board on the subject of his salary. The Addisons' Plat Committee having complained to the Board of the unsubordiuation of the mistress of Addisons' Flat school, the Secretary was instructed to point out to the mistress that the tone of her letter to her Committee is discourteous and unbecoming. Resolved, That the Riwaka Committee be authorised to expend a sum not exceeding £60 in building an addition to the'school at Brooklyn. Resolved, That a subsidy be allowed to the school about four miles from the present, school at Dovedale on the usual conditions. Resolved, That Messrs Rout, Graham, and Campbell be authorised to open and accept tenders for (he new school at Haven Road on Tuesday, April 20th. Copy of Mr Stead Ellis' application for Secretaryship:— Sydenham, Christchurch, March 18,1880. Ta the Nelson Education Board. Gentlemen,— * * .'* * * I shall be happy to accept the appointment even at the reduced salary, if the Board can permit me to follow my profession to such an extent as I may be able; without interfering with or neglecting the duties : pf Secretary to the Education Board. , .....'•' '/' I thought it very possible that there might be Borne little work of" an architectural character that the Board itself would have to do, and which might be done by me in the manner suggested, and the commmission on which and on similar private work would render the income of the Board's Secretary more commensurate with his position than it would b& with only the moderate salary offered.—l am, &c, SteadEllis. Architect.