BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2707, 3 January 1872, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Messrs W. Montgomery (chairman). T. W. Maude, R. J. S. Herman, and J. Inglis.

The miuntes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. TIMABU SCHOOL. The following letter from the Chairman of the Timaru School was read :— "Timaru. 16, 1871. '« Sir, —I am directed by the committee to forward for the information of the Board. ihe following copy of a letter received from Mr Jaggar in answer to my letter offering him the appointment of assistant master in the Timaru School, at a salary of £140 per annum, and to Mm Jagger the appointment of mistress at a salary of £60 per aunanr" " School House, Timaru, " 13th December, 1871.

<•' Sir.—l have the honor in stating in anwer to your letter of the sth instant, tha' I am not aware of any circumstance connected with tbe school why I should relinquish my present position. •' Yours, < ; H. JAGGAR." May I request the Board's early attention to the above. The committee would also like to have tho opinion of the Board on a demand recently made by Mr Jaggar for a sum of £51, alleged to be due to him for arrears of salary for three quarters ending 30th June last. Mr Jaggar, it appears, rests his claim on the ground that whereas in 1864, at his first appointment to the school, he then received the whole of the Government grant, together with all school fees, he can claim the same now, he not having received intimation from any governing body of the school since his appointment of any alteration of that scale of payment. I may mention, for the information of the Board, that the sum claimed by Mr Jaggar has been used by the committee for various incidental expenses, and that Mr Jaggar has been paid for the year ending 30th" September the sum of £228, and further, that Mr Jaggar did not prefer his claim till October of the present year. The Board will observe that Mr Jaggar has been paid far in excess of what the Educational Ordinance lays down. It is absolutely necessary for tbe committee to retain certain sums for incidental expenses, and the question arises whether the committee erred in retaining a portion of the Board grant for that purpose, at the same time handing over to Mr Jaggar the whole of the school fees. I have, Sec, H. Belfield, Chairman of School Committee

After some discussion, during which it was pointed out that the Board was asked to decide a question which might probably come before a court of law, it was finally resolved to inform the committee "'That the Board cannot give an opinion on the question as it is at present before the Board ; but if both parties agree to refer the question to the Board, it will be prepared to decide thereon.

With reference to Mr Jaggar*a position in the school, some discussion took place, and finally the following resolution was moved by Mr Inglis—" That if Mr Jaggar will not accept the terms offered by the committee, if those terms be in accordance with the resolution of the Board, the Board will sanction his removal."

Mr Maude seconded the resolution

Mr Loughnan moved—"That before making any order on the question, the resolution be reconsidered, with a view to bringing it in .perfect accordance with Clanses 56 and 57 of the Ordinance." The amendment was not seconded. The resolution was carried. The Board then adjourned till Monday, at 3 p.m. ■ ■ -- -. - -..