AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 58, 2 December 1907, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

November 29. School Examinations. The Headmasters' Association waited on the Auckland Education Board to ask that Standard VI. examinations should in future bo hold in December, so as to bring tho primary and secondary school years into conformity with each other. A report on the subject from tho Chief Inspector was as follows: —"The Board's Inspectors do not in any way disapprove of tlio proposal to make the school year cud in December and make tho, promotions from class to class take place at the beginning of each year. No ono disputes the advantages which this arrangement would naturally secure. The proposal to hold all Standard VI. examinations in December, the pupils being required to attend for examinations at certain convenient centres, stands on a different footing.. I do not consider this proposal practicable under the existing regulations, if tho examinations at the centres aro to be supervised and conducted by the inspectors, . and if the marks to bo given for reading aro to be awarded then. " There aro only some fifteen school-days in the month of December. It would, in my opinion, bo quite impossible for tho inspector to conduct examinations at all tho needed centres during these fow days, some of which, moreover, would have to be dovotecf to moving from ono centre to another. Attendance at the convenient centres would certainly require groat numbers of pupils to stay for one night, or even two nights, away from their homes, and this would involve inconvenience and expense that are not consistent with a free system of elementary education. I omit other obvious considerations that might bo adduced in this connection. To give effect to tho alterations which tho Headmasters' Association desire amended, regulations for tho inspection and examinations of schools are really needed. This has been recognised for a long time past, and amended regulations have been formulated by the Department and have been considered, and with some variations approved by a committee of the Teachers' Institute, and by tho confer-, onco, of inspectors and principals of training colleges that met in January of the present year. For some reason or another, probably owing to the absence from tho Dominion of the Inspector-General of Schools, these new regulations have not yet been issued. As they provide working arrangements that will allow of the school year ending in December, and of class promotions being made at the beginning of the year, I would recommend the Board and the Headmasters' Association to urge tho. Minister .to liavo the new regulations issued and brought into force, from the beginning of thq year 190 S. This will be infinitely better than to do violence to the existing regulations, to meet objects that, wore not recognised as .important or uigent when tho regulations were drawn up." After .discussion, the Board referred' tho matter to a conference of inspectors and the headmasters, requesting them to bring up recommendations". Trades Council's Letter. The snub which was administered last week by the City Council to tho Trades and Labour Council by refusing to receive a letter from the latter body, on, the ground that it was not couched in proper language, came in for some discussion at the meeting of the Trades and Labour body. A motion wiw submitted endorsing the action of the secretary (Mr. Arthur Rosser) in adding tho note ho had appended in conveying the Council's resolution to the City Council. Several members spoke in support, one speaker pointing out that the letter was read by the secretary at the previous meeting and received approval. The president (Air. H. W. Brookes) said that, had ho been present at the last meeting, he would have objected to Mr. Rosser convoying his own opinions in a letter sent on behalf of tho. Coun'cil. Had ho wished to ventilate his' own views on tlio matter, no should have done so in a separate lettor under his own.namo to the City Council, or through tho Press. Mr. Rosser spoko in support of his action. The motion was passed, the president dissenting. Fires. Suspicious fires have occurred oil tho last two consecutive nights at the railway premises. Tho second outbreak took place at tho railway goods shed shortly before 11 o'clock at night. Tho blaze was discovered by some railway employees, who immediately sot to work to extinguish it. Tho fire brigadewwass s summoned, and they had the fire under control soon after ,their arrival. The fire itself was confined to a number of empty packing cases and a side of a building. On tho previous evening a shelter shed situated only a short, distance away was destroyed.", A window noir tho spot where the Jast fire eriginatcd was bioken, and it is considered by many that some evil-disposed person did this in order to facilitate the setting of tho building on lire. Home Missionaries. " We are paying our homo mission men less than declared Mr. T. W. Jones, at thor Methodist Synod during a discussion on a suggestion for tho increase of a home mission stipend. Tho sum allowed was £100, but Mr. Jones pointed out, as the recipient was a marrisd man and paid £25 for house rent, jt loft him only £75 per year to livo on. "We must' 1 either give this "man a little bigger allowance, or withdraw him From tlio work," added Mr. Jones. "I will not vote for any mi'jr.vkd man having to live oil £75 a year." The Rev. J. Dukes said the agent reforrod to had been quite prepared to. receive £90, and ho was not, moreover, entirely dependent on his stipend. The Rev. W. Gittos created a hearty laugh by declaring emphatically that he would sooner black boots than bo a home mission agent. After some further remarks, tho matter dropped without any action being taken.