EDUCATION BOARD.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9117, 30 May 1895, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

The North Canterbury Education Board met at 11 a.m. yesterday. Present —Messrs R. Westenra('Jhiirman), R. Meredith, J. W. Sawle, J. Munnmgs, J. Rennie, H. W. Peryman, T. W. Adams, and A. Saunders. An apology was received for the absence of the Hon. W. Montgomery. The Buildings' Committee reported among other things that there was no objection to the Kirwee Committee forming a swimming bath as proposed. The Clerk was instructed to attend to the drainage at the South belt school grounds and to the state of the roof at Paillip3t3wn. It was resolved that the application for a school at Rabbit Island should be considered whenever the Board received its share of the next grant for school buildings. A letter was read from tha Department, enquiring what was the cause of the condition that necessitated tbe Board's applica cion for assistance iv the form of an advance on account of the buildings' grant. It was resolved to reply thab the B j_rd was put to heavy expense iv rero /ting with iron many school buildings, the old shingle roots of which were in a state altogether beyond repair ; that the cost of the scuoo-s required at Cheviot had amounted to considerably more than double the sum specially allowed by the Govemmeut, and that, while the iiuancial year began with the month of April, the buildings' grant was nob distributed till October or November. In these circumstances some anticipation of the grant became a matter of necessity.

The following tenders were accepted : — Flaxton, repairs, Boyd and Keir, £53; West Eyreton, repairs, J. Forbes, £44 9s ; Broadfitild, repairs, S. Packer, £48 18*; Greeastreet, repairs, Smith and Son, £26 153 ; Tin.vald, repairs, Browa and McDonald, £14 bs ; Barry's Bay, repairs, J. Archibald, £34 S3 6d ; French Farm, repairs, J. Archibald, £27 14s 6d. The report was adopted.

The Appointments Committee reported under date May 20_i:—"The following appointments were recommended — Barr Hill, Mrs Bayers, mistress, solo charge; Charing Cross, Mrs Sheldon, sewing mistress. On the recommendation of the Christchurch West School Committee, it was resolved to promote Miss Edkins to the position vacated by Miss McGregor and Miss Margaret Morrison to that of Miss Edkins, aud to advertise for an assistant mistress for the position now neld by Miss Morrison. The Courtenay Committee applied for the appointment of a master. It was resolved that the regulation must be complied with, according to which the school had to be in charge of a mistress."

Upon reports from the Inspectors and the respective headmasters, the engagements of the following probationers were confirmed : —Christchurch East, Amelia Hudson, Elizabeth Steeds, Irene Hare, Emily Lake, Ellen M'Rae, Emily Gibbs, Guy Ormandy ; Christchurch West, George Jupp, Rose Smith, Sarah M*Gorman, Fanny Sciineider ; Sydenham, Jessie Picken, Elizabeth Steele ; Lyttelton, Nellie Curtis, Maud O'Brien; West Lyttelton, Lilian Newton ; St. Albans, Thomas Chambers ; Woolston, Lucy Manifold, Christina M'Neill; Alfoid Forest, Herbert Gillman; Harewood Road, Evelyu Wilkinson; Lakeside, Elizabeth Noble ; Loburn, Louisa Brady.

May 27th.—The following appointments were recommended :• —Addingtou, Miss M. Shirtcliffe, infant mistress ; Courtenay, Miss A. Shailer, mistress (sole charge). Tlie resignation of Mr P. Johnson, Sedgemere, who had been appointed first assistant of the Central school, New Plymouth, was received and accepted. On the application of the Lakeside Committee they were authorised to employ Miss E. Noble as sewing mistress for three months in place of Mrs Hicks who was for the time unable to attend to her duties. An application was received from Riccarton with respect to Mrs Wilkinson's leave of absence. It was resolved that the leave granted must be on the usual terms, viz., one month on full pay and a second month on half-pay. The report was adopted. The Normal School Committee reported that the Secretary reported that the sum of £300 had been paid by the Government to the Board's acootint, being a grant for the training of teac__T_r*Te_<_er_ for tbe supply of fuel for the ensuing year were received, and the tender of Messrs White aud Co., 23s 5d per ton Newcastle coal and 30s per cord cut firewood, was accepted. The report was adopted.

A; deputation representing a portion of the householders of Marshlands waited on the Board to support the objections to the election of the Marshlands Committee.

The circumstances were fully considered by the Board, who came to the conclusion that a fresh election was necessary, Mr Meredith moved, pursuant to notice — ,c That the Board make out a list of cases of urgent necessity for the erection of new schools and extensive repairs, with an estimate of the probable cost of same, to be forwarded to tho Minister of Education with the request bhab bhe requisite amount be granted by the Government in anticipation of the next Parliamentary allocation for the erectiou of {.school buildings." He referred to the teachers' residences, additions, and repairs, and new schools at Port Robinson, Hanmer Plains, Overdale, Rakaia suburbs, Hinds, and Rabbit Island, which were necessary, and gave him a reason for the motion.

Mr J. W. Sawle seconded the motion, and mentioned that a side school was wanted at Allington, Ashburton.

Ac the suggestion of Mr Peryman the Secretart read the letter from the Department which stated bhat in each of the last three years the Board bad applied for, and had obtained an advance on account of the buildings' grant, and the letter asked the Board for some further information as to the cause of the condition which appeared to necessitate the annual application for assistance.

Mr Saunders said that a small Committee should be appoiuted to carefully reply to the letter—which was a very insolent oue— and point out to the Government the number of children who, contrary to the Act, could not be provided with accommodation.

Mr Munnings remarked that the Board would not be bound to the list it might supply as even more necessitous cases might be found.

The Chairman saw no objection to the motion ot Mr Meredith beinj< carried, and Mr Saunders' suggestion being, put into effect. He felb thab the letter was an impertinent one and required a strong answer. Tne motion was carried on the voices. On the motion of Mr Munnings, the Chairmau and Messrs Saunders and Peryman were appointed to draft a reply to the department's letter. Mr Sav.'LE moved, pursuant to notico ; — " That the female teacners in all schools uuder the Board be supplied with high chairs for use when teaching certain classes.''" Mr Pekvman seconded the motion on the understanding that it was not given effect to until tbe Secretary had had time to state what number of chaira would be required aud the cost. Mr Adams moved as an amendment— " That on it becoming necessary to supply any school uuder the Board with a new chair or chair?, ordinary or high chairs be sent ai the local Committee may recommend." Mr Meredith seconded the amendment. After ix little discussion Mr Sawie withdrew his motion. The amendment then became the motion and was carried. The Chairman of the Kaiapoi Committee wrote re the expenditure of £_5 on a piano, that the present Committee were not responsible ; that it had no funds ; that the Board had no legal right to deduct the amount from coming incidentals ; that to do so would be a hardship ou the children ; that there was no minute to show which of the previous committeemen were responsible; that the purchase was in good faith as the Committee did not receive a schedule of incidental charges until after the purchase ; and that the piano was a piece of the school furniture and thus legally chargeable on the incidental fund.

The letter was referred to the Board'a solicitor for advice.

The Board approved of the change of the name of Graham's Road School District to Huntington.

The Board met in the afternoon, and approved of a reply to the letter from the Department of Education, received two notices of motion for the next meebing, and then adjourned.