EDUCATION BOARD.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9434, 4 June 1896, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

An ordinary meeting ot the North Canterbury Educatiou Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs H. W. Peryman (Chairman), J. W. Sawlc, J. Manning*, K. Westenra, T. S. Weston, T. W. Adams, A. Saunders, and the Hon. W. Montgomery. Au apology was received for the absence of Mr J. Rennie. The Buildings Committee reported that Mr Sawle had been requested io report as to the improvements to the teacher's, house at Hampatead. The Little River Committee were permitted to use the £2 graut towards a floor in the te .cher's house;

R-ikai* Soutii were allowed £5 towards certain improvements; the draft of the solicitor's letter was approved re the purchase of a strip of laud on the South lielt from the Executors of the estate of the Jaie W. Maiming. It was decided te reconstruct t.'ie drain through the East, Christchurch {school ground. It was decided to inform tbe Dartield Committee that they could not expend any surplus incidental -Allowance on a swimming bath until certain school repairs had beeu effected. It was decided to place a certain quantity of clear glass in the windows at the Riccarlou School. The Lyttelton Committee forwarded a copy of Dr. Pairman's reply in defencs of his previous report on the condition of the scnool. The Committee also advised tho .Board that in accordance with instructions from the Borough Health Office:-, Dr. Pairmau, who had placed the responsibility on them, the lower class room, • ccupied by Standard 11., had beeu ciosed. It was resolved that as regards the notice to close the clasi room the matter be left fur the _ oaru's consideration. Correspondence ia reference to the removal of the Pendarves School was referred to the Board. The Opawa Committee were granted £ for £ up to £10 for fencing ; the Coalgate Committed were allowed £_ Mr Sawle reported that ne had agreed with Mrs Crisp for the purchase of 2£ acres for £42 10a per acre for a school site at Allenton; and that the Hinds and Rangitata residents had purchased two acres from Mr Ferriman as a site for their side school. Applications from Cust, German Bay, Balcaim, Kaugioia, Malvern, Ashworth road aud Springburu were deferred. Applications from Hocuby, Rolleston, Lyttelton West and Woolston were refused. The Clerk of Works was

instructed to report on applications from Addington, Duvauohelle'd Bay aud SummerhilJ. Those from Mackenzie and Lismore were granted. The

following tenders were accepted : —Templeton, new roof and repairs, Petrie and Co., £85 ; Darie, painting school, R. J. Gee, £5; 15s ; Rakaia South, repairs to school, K. J. Gee, £55; Lauristou, repairs to house, G. A. Mfzey, £15. In the case of J3arr Hill, there being only one tender for the repairs to the school buildings, it was resolved to call for ftesh tenders. The report was adopted. Correspondence was read concerning the closing of the lower class room at the Lyttelton school, on the report of the local Board of Health Officer, Dr. i'airmau. A deputation, consisting of Mr Willcox and the Revs. Murray aud Treadwell, waited on the Board in respect to the question. For the past two or three montha six had been absent from the room from illness, and before tha room was closed there were twelve. Three cases were reported in one day. The number of children away from sickne3S exceeded the average. The room was originally designed for a Committee's and master's room. It was really not at a>l suitable for teaching purposes. The Board was asked to make suitable permanent provision to meet the present difficulty. The deputation asked that more accommodation should be provided as the school was now overcrowded. There was t. desire that a deputation from the Board should visit the school.

Mr Saunders pointed out that this was a question of money, a thing which the Board badly wanted, and he advised the Committee to Btrengthon the Board's hands by putting into writing the demands that were necessary. Mr Weston said that the amount voted for education by the Government) was altogether too small, and either it must be increased or education must suffer. He knew that additional accommodation was necessary at Lyttelton.

After the deputation had withdrawn, the Chairman and Messrs Munnings, Weston and Westenra were appointed a subCommittee to visit the school and report, and if necessary make provision for tern* porary additional accommodation.

The following appointments were recommended :—Kyle, Miss Jane Hempleman, mistress; Akaroa, Dora Nichplle, pupil teacher.

On the recommendation of the Lyttelton Committee, approved by the headmaster, it was resolved to promote Miss Olliver to the position till recently filled by Miss Milsom, and Miss Lewis to that at present held by Miss Olliver. The question of permanently appointing another teacher was allowed to remain over till after the examination.

The reports of the Inspector and principal teacher being satisfactory, the engagement of the probationer, Ruth Hodgson, at the Sydenham School, was confirmed. The View Hill Committee wrote in rexerence to the Board's scale of staff and salaries so far as it affected teachers in schools with an average under 30. It was resolved that there was nothing in the circumstances of the View Hill case to justify any alteration in the Board's regulation. The maßter at Bromley wrote admitting that he had stated at the householders' meeting that the school ground was in an untidy condition, but denying that he had used the expression attributed to him by Mrs Wise. He was informed that the Board strongly disapproved of teachers taking a prominent part in the eleotions. Applications for appointment as master at Rabbit Island, as master at Clarence bridge (aided), and as mistress at Port Robinson were received and considered.

The Appointments Committee reported under date May 19 th:—The proposal to lengthen the pupil teachers' term of service was furcher considered. By request of the Committee the Board's Inspectors attended, and submitted their views with regard to the several points that had arisen when this question waa previously under consideration. It was resolved to recommend James Irvine for appointment as assistant master at the Christchurch West school. May 29th—-It was resolved that the Committee cannot advise any extension in the pupil teachers' term of office, but recommend the Board to increase the minimum age at which candidates shall be eligible for appointment from fourteen to fifteen years. The report was adopted. The Normal School Committee's lepott, adjourned from the last meeting, was adopted with some amendments, and the Board decided not to take up the queation of Continuation schools.

Messrs T. J. McKay and W. J. Stoddart were appointed to the vacancies on the Willowby School Committee. The Dromore election for a School Committee waa declared valid. Ib was decided to bave fresh elections at Bromley and Maudevillo Plains. The dispute about the Okain's Bay election was referred to the Board's solicitors.

Correspondence was read concerning the proposed removal of the Pendarves school, aud the Board decided that the work of removal should proceed. The late caretaker at the Lyttelton school (Mr P. Hewitt) wrote, askiug for compensation for long service. The Board decided that it had no power to give compensation. It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Board on Tuesday next at 11 a.m., to consider the question of manual training.

The Board went into Committee and on resuming adjourned.