EDUCATION BOARD.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8481, 12 May 1893, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs E. G. Wright (Chairman), R. Meredith, J. Joyce, T. H. Ansori, H. W. Peryman, R. Westenra, T.- W. Adams, A. Saunders, and Hon. W. Montgomery. The Buildings Committee reported that Mr Peryman had been elected Chairman for the year. The Department had written that" the Minister could not make a larger advance than £1000, which amount would be remitted, and the Secretary would be instructed to answer the Minister's question as to the need of further accommodation at Waltham. The Committee did not think there was any necessity for enlargement to the infants' room at Greenpark as applied for. It was decided to use gas stoves for warming the Waltham schoolroom. The Committee agreed that when the Board was in funds it would pay £10 of the cost of enlarging the master's house at Rangiora, the School Committee having undertaken to carry the work out at once. It was decided to recommend tiie building of an additional room for infants at Addington capable of holding 100 children. The Amberley Committee were authorised to accept the tender of J. Thomas, £27 19s 4d, for improvements. The Hampstead Committee were allowed £12 towards cost of repairs of the master's house. Certain repairs were authorised to the master's and caretaker's houses at St. Albans. The tender of W. Tolan, £3 16a per chain, was accepted for fencing at Richmond and South belt. A number of applications were deferred for want of funds. The Clerk of the Works was instructed to report in respect of many others, and some minor matters were dealt with. The report was adopted. A letter from the Chairman of the Waltham School Committee concerning the erection of a master's house was referred to the Buildings Committee. The Appointments Committee reported under date of April 26th—Mr Wright was elected chairman of the Committee. Mr John McLeod was recommended for appointment as master at Annat. On the application of the St. Albans School Committee, the appointment of an assistant mistress was authorised. A letter wa3 received from the South Malvern School Committee, asking when they would have a new master. The Secretary was directed to inform Mr Pole that the Board expected him to send in his resignation. The Hampstead School Committee enquired what wae proposed to be done with regard to the conduct of the school after the end of the current month. It was resolved to ascertain whether in the circumstances the Sydenham Committee would agree to release Mr Brock at once. If not, the Chairman was empowered to make the best arrangement practicable. A letter was received from the master at Cust asking whether he had power to demand from parents the reason of their children's absence from school. It was resolved that the master had no power to compel parents to give such information. If the attendance waa irregular the remedy was for the School Committee to put the compulsory clauses into operation. Applications for appointment as assistant-master, and as infant mistrsssat Papanui, and as assistant-mistress at Sydenham, were received and considered. May 10th. —The following appointments were recommended : — Onuku, Mr John Kaiu, master ; Sydenham, Miss M. Morrison, assistant mistress; Greenstreet, Mrs Bowler, sewing mistress. On the recommendation of the Christchurch East School Committee it was resolved to promote Mr R. Williams to the position vacated by the death of Mr C. E. Craddock, and to advertise for an assistant master in his place. Recommendations for the appointment's of infant mistress and assistant master at Papauui were received from the School Committee. As it appeared that the validity of the election of the Committee was in question, it was thought advisable to defer any action till the question had been decided by the Board. A letter was received from Mr Withell, stating thab a room for the aided school at Lowclifte would soon be ready, and that a salary of £65 would be "guaranteed. *He asked the Board to advertise foir ,ffr|;eacher, which it was agreed to do. A'Tetter was received from the Head Master, Southbridge, explaining why the attendance for the last quarter had fallen below the accustomed average. It was resolved to advertise for an Assistant Master. Mr Pole, at South Mai vera, sent in his resignation at three months' notice, which was accepted. The Burnham School Committee asked that the Master might be allowed salary from the day on which he actually began work in the school. It was agreed to make the payment as desired. The Springburn School Committee forwarded a letter from the Master asking for seven months' leave of absence in order to attend University classes in Dunedin. It was resolved that tKe request could not be complied with. In reply to an application for rent allowance for the Master temporarily employed at Annat, it was resolved that it wa3 not the practice to give rent allowance in such cases. In reply to an inquiry from the Glentunnel School Committee, it was resolved that the school at Coalgate would receive children up to the sixth standard. A memorandum was received from the Inspector reportiue on the use of standard cards at Waiau. The explanation was considered satisfactory. A letter from Mr Stycbe, enclosing newspaper correspondence on the subject of home lessons, was received and referred to the Board. Applications for appointment as master at Rolleston, assistant master at Richmond, and assistant mistress at Lytteltoi», and St. Albans, were received and considered.

The Chairman moved, and Mr Joyce seconded, the adoption of the report. Mr Saunders raised the point that the first clause in the report was wrong in point of fact. Mr Wright was not elected Chairman. The proposal was made, but not put. That was perhaps not an important point, but it was important whether it was desirable or expedient that the Chairman of the Board should be Chairman ot the Committee.

Mr Joyce said the election was proposed, and if not put it was agreed to in the minds of members. There waa no formal protest against it. He had spoken upon precedent. Mr Anson had been Chairman of the Board, and was elected Chairman of the Committee. Had Mr Saunders been Chairman of the Board he would have moved his election.

The Chairman, in answer, said that the omission was in the secretary not having put the question. There was this to be said, Mr Joyce moved, and Mr Westenra seconded the election, and as he (Mr Wright) was the person affected there were three votes in favour out of four.

Mr Westenra spoke to the question, after which Mr Saunders rose to reply. The Chairman ruled him out of order, unless he was prepared to move a motion. Mr Sattndebs "then, moved.—" That tho minutes of the Appointments Committee as contained in the report are. inaccurate, and that the line referring to Mr Wright's appointment as Chairman be struck out." He then spoke at. .some length on the desirableness of the Chairman pf the Board not being Chairman of .Committees. Mr Mebbdith seconded the amendment on the ground of irregularity in the procedure of the election..

The Hon. W. MoxTqoMEBY and Mr Pebyman having spoken,..the amendment was put and lost. Ayes, Messrs Meredith, Adams and Saunders; noes, Hon. W. Montgomery, Messrs. Joyce, Anson, Peryman, Westenra and the Chairman. The report was then adopted. The Board then proceeded with the consideration of the annual report of the Inspectors, prior to which, however, a discussion ensued on the. Chairman's action of withholding a certain notice of motion by Mr Sannders from the reporters.

On the motion of Mr Adams, seconded by the Hon. Mr Mostgomkry, the consideration of the report was postponed, and it was decided to elect a Select Committee to con-' aider whether two Inspectors are sufficient fcr the proper examination and inspection of the schools in the district, and to take evidence and report folly to the Board. The Appointments Committee, with the addition of Mr Adams, were made the Select Committee.

Mr Meredith moved, pursuant to notice— "To relax the regulations of the Board respecting the appointing of teachers." Mr Pjsbyman seconded the motion pro forma. It was discussed and negatived. A report of the discussion appears in another column.

A number of letters were received reepec-

ting the illegality of School Committee elections, or their incompleteness. It was decided that fresh elections should be held in respect of Opawa and Papanui; Medbury and Baling were postponed for further information, and elections mast be called for Oxford West, Sedgemere, Alford Forest and Broadfields, which districts had failed to elect Committees.

A letter was read from the Department, enclosing a communication from Longman and Co., asking an opinion on a proposal by that firm to publish a new series of school books suitable to New Zealand.

The Board decided that it could not entertain the proposal The North Canterbury Education Institute wrote asking the Board to re-consider it 3 decision to publish in the schoolrooms a copy of the regulation on corporal punishdent.

The letter, with the reasons for the request, were referred to the Appointments Committee to report. Mr Peryman gave notice to move that the annual meetings of householders for the election of School Committees shall take place at 7.30 p.m. After dealing with a deal of routine business the Board adjourned.