WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 109, 31 January 1908, Page 10

WANGANUI EDUCATION BOARD.

——-—» — INTERESTING ITEMS. '."WE POWER OF RUBBER TIRES." LET TELEGRAPH.—OWN COKRESPONDENT.] Fcilding, January 30. Tho following items arc culled from the proceedings of tho last meeting of tho Wnnganui Education Board: — Thero is an unprecedented number of applicants for accommodation at tho Wanganui Girls' College this year, somo twenty moro than usual having to bo provided for. The Board of Governors have purchased a house and quarter of an aero of land for £1200 adjoining tho collego. Tho following are to go to Wellington Training College: Miss Bailey, Sandon; Miss Carthew, Lytton Street; Miss M'Donald, Himatangi; T. L. Lancaster, Campbell Street. Miss Carthew, ono of tho best pupil teachers in tho Board's service, has resigned her position at Lytton Street to spend two years at tho Teachers' Training College at Wellington. On tho motion of the Chairman (Mr. Fred Pirani), Mr. F. Y. Lethbridge,, M.P., was appointed the Board's representative': on tho Wellington Board of School Commissioners.

Tho following appointments wero confirmed:—Feilding D.H.S., Mr. Ilitchio; Kimbolton, Miss Clemance; Hunterville, Miss Yortt; Pnkeroa, Mr. M'Fadven; Ohingaiti, Miss Sarton; Utiku, Miss O'Brien. Tho following resignations were accepted:— Miss E. C. Riley, liaetihi; Miss Farr, Momohaki; Miss J. M. Fergusson/Makohau; INliss Pitts, Iliwinui; Mr. Opio, Turakina; Mr. Currie, Tokaora; Miss Garrett, Bunnytliorpe. It is bad luck to have wealthy (?) parents. One successful competitor for a national junior scholarship has been disqualified' hy Act of Parliament because his father is possessed of an ineomo of £250 a year. Mr. F. 11. Gibbons forwarded a cheque for £20 to the Board for the Gibbous Scholarship, and asked that that amount be allotted annually. TEACHERS'. COMFORT. The Chairman of tho Board considers that improved residence and accommodation for teachers is more important oven than painting the schools, and ho gavo several instances where large sums will soon be required in this connection. It was decided to ask the Department for an answer to applications made during last year, and to apply for the cost of additions to tho Apiti residence. Tho teachers of two schools where tho Sixth Standard examinations results are bad aro to Sixth Standard examinations aro bad are to bo notified that unless better results are attained at special examinations, to bo held within six months, the respective committees will be consulted with a view to terminating tho teachers' engagements. The Chairman pointed out that tho Secondary Schools were handicapped as well as the pupils by such failures. Apiti wants a District High School. As yet thcro are not sufficient pupils to justify tho demand, although it will not bo long boforo such an advanced step in educationalmatters will become necessary. Tho Palmerston High School dircctcd tho Board's attention to the practice prevailing at some Palmerston schools of keeping pupils at school after they had obtained proficiency certificates, contrary to the agreement arrived at when tho District High School was established. The Chairman explained to tho Board that this was in contravention of the Government regulations under the Secondary Schools Act, and it was decided to inform the teachers in the Palmerston schools that no pupils who had passed the Sixth Standard should bo kept in it primary school within fivo miles of'the High School. , THE WAY TO DO THINGS. Says to-night's Feilding "Star"Somo ton years ago tho -present Chairman of tho Board selected a site for a school at Kanniani, between Ashhnrst and Pnliangina. Particulars were obtained as to attendance, and matters were in train for the erection of a school, when the Government took out of the hands of tho Board the power to erect new schools. Since then the Department, has beon petitioned, deputationed, written to, threatened, cajoled, and deluged with facts ami figures in the endeavour to obtain authority for tho work. At lust Mr. F. Y. Lethbridge conveyed the present Minister for Education to the sito in his motorcar, and thereby vanquished all departmental opposition, for £3.00 has been granted for the work. Great is tho power of rubber tires I

HARBOUR BOARD . NEW WHARF. INTERESTING DISCUSSION. An ordinary monthly meeting of th'o "Wellington Harbour Board was held yesterday afternoon. Present Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald, AI.L.C. (chairman), Hon. T. W. Hislopj Messrs. T. M. Wllford, M.P., W." T. Wood, M.l', F. H. Eraser, J. M'Lellan, 11. Fletcher, G. ShirtclifFo, F. Townseiul, C. E. Daniell, and H. Bcaucliamp. Tlio Chairman romanced with satisfaction that there was, for the first tinio for many months, a full attendance of members. • FINANCE. The financial report showed; — Bank Pass Books.—Current account, credit balance, £17,261 19s. 9d.; imprest account, credit balance, £967: on lixed deposit, £60,000. 1 " Payments amounting to £18,794 16s. wero approved. WHARVES COMMITTEE.- . Tho Wharves and Accouuts Committee recommended tho Board: (1) to canceKForeshoro License No. 63,. held by Mr. John Kimnuns, of boat-shed and dwelling at Waterloo Quay. (2) To cancel Foreshore License No. 70, boat skids at Petone, held by Mr. C. R. Ralph. (3) To issue a foreshore license to Air. F. S. Greenshields for boat skids; at Balena Bay, subject to approval of the plans by tho Marino Department. v (4) That tho Board extend the boiler house and coal store at' V\ aterloo Quay pumping station in nc-, cordanco with tho plans laid on the table. (5) That a joint letter having been received from tho shipping companies drawing attention to tho largo number of fires that havo occurred lately on board ships, and seeking tho Board to put a stop to all smoking on tho wharves, a by-law be prepared for that purpose. Tho report was adopted. PIPITEA WHARF. Plans for the' proposed Pipitea Wharf, whichjt is proposed to construct parallel to tho King's Wharf oiitsido Waterloo Quay, wore laid on the table. Tho proposed wharf is to bo of forro-concrete, and is estimated to ; cost £125,000. Tho length shown on tho pjans was SOO feet on one side and 650 feet on tho other, and tho width 166 feet. It is to comprise two two-story sheds, each 310 feet long by 45 feet wide. Th'o wharf is intondod to bo ono of a series of similar and parallel wharves, of which tho others are to. bo constructed later. Tho authority of tho Board was sought to forward tho plans to the Marino Department for tho approval of tho Governor-in-Council. Mr. Shirtclilfo raised tho question of whether forro-concreto was tho best material to use, in view of tho possibility of a need for removing tho wharf later on! Mr. Ferguson said,tho Board had instructed him to uso ferro-concreto, and there-was no likelihood of having to remove tho wharf. iHo mentioned that wood' piles would bo driven, and would bo cased with concrete. Mr. Fletcher contended that tho wharf ought to be longer and wider, and tho sheds wider. The wharf should bo 880 feet to 900 fefet long, and should bo of wood. A ferroconcrete wharf should bo built further oil. "Mr. Ferguson said ho would havo had tho wharf, longer but for the depth of water. Wider sheds would cost very much more, and therefore the two-story • sheds, as proposed, would bo' the most feasible arrangement, and would bo sufficient for all reasonable needs.

Mr; IWiisend said that- s Mr. Ferguson's success in designing, other'" works for the Board entitled him to confidence. The Chairman said the scheme was urgent. The officers of the Board were put to awkward shifts to find berthago for the ships that wcro coming in. It was foolish to talk of caution and going slow in such a position. Mr. ShirtclifTe: "llavo we got the money?" The Chairman: "No, but .wo will get it. Wo shall seek authority from Parliament for the money required for necessary works." Mr. Shirtclilfa said that tho members, who recognised the general need for caution, realised *>hat this work was urgently needed. The resolution approving of the plans was carried. valedictory; Mr. Beauchamp said that, as this was' tho last meeting of tho Board that he would attend, he would like to say a few words to members. Ho .had. been a member since Juno,-1895, and had been chairman for nearly three yoars. With .the exception of Mr. Fraser, he was tho sonior member of tho Board. Tho Board had inado gigantic strides during the period covered by his membership. Mr. Beauchamp proceeded to quote figures illustrative of the progress of tho port since 1894. During tho next few years the work would greatly increase, and lie hoped that tho members would be carefully chosen. He had had a pleasant time on the Board, and ho carried away no illfeeling towards members, including those with whom he had sometimes had little sparring matches. His personal relations with members had been most friendly. Mr. Fletcher, with whom ho had sometimes been in conflict, was now quite an old friend of his. Ho hoped Mr. Fletcher would be re-elected to his seat. Mr. Fletcher reciprocated the friendly sentiments expressed by Mr. Beauchamp, and the Chairman also made some appropriate remarks. ' ADJOURNED. _ Soveral important motions, of which Mr. Fletcher had given notice, , were deferred, and tho meeting was adjourned until Monday next at 2.15 p.m.