EDUCATION BOARD.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 773, 23 March 1910, Page 11

EDUCATION BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. . The Wellington. Education Board niofc yesterday. ■■ Present.: Messrs. R. Lee (chapman), J. Kebbell, H. R. Elder, W. Allan, J. G. W. Aitken, A. W. Hogg, M.P., and W. Field, M.P. •■•' CAPITATION. ' . The two Petone School Committees asked tho board to support an application to the Minister for a special capitation fee of 9d. Mr. Aitkeji moved that the request be forwarded, and ■ endorsed by the board, with, the intimation, that tho same was desired for all schools. • A member: Tho grant: for free school books would have, more than covered it. ' " Mr. Aitken: But it would not be such ft. good, advertisement. • EXAMINATION QR SELECTION? Chief-Inspector Fleming asked the board to authorise him to confer with tho Department on the question of the ■senior. , board scholarships. An. alteration of the pfinciple of awarding tho scholarships was desirable,' 'because some of tho scientific and practical work could riot be properly gauged by examination. . '■ The chairman said he would welcome such an. alteration as' had been indicated, and they might see in it the beginning of a great change.. It would be better, .for the most suitable pupils, to be selected for scholarships, rather than jo award them to those wio could most'successfully cram for examinations. "■■■ ■• ~.....,- . : :,,... ■> HIGH SCHOOL FOR HUTT VALLEY. ; A: committee recommended the board t<i ask the Minister for Education to graiit the board a private interview on the question. of a high ■school: for. tho Hutt Valley. The-question is whether tho, school .should bo 'located at Lower Hutt or Petone.. : ".". ' Mr. Hogg suggested that the interview should ,be public'. It was derogatory to tho board's dignity to - seek a private .interview, with, a- Minister;. and tho matter, was of great public interest. . '/" .;'.- '. ;.' . ' ■ The word "private" was struok ,out', and tho report was then adopted;.' ■•''.. WORKS. ■'. The Tioard aproved of expenditure' for water siipply at "VVaikanae, ventilation ■ftt.-'Te Horo, fencing'at Paraparaumu (provided that half is paid by adjoining owner), urgent repairs at Mangatainoka, roof repairs and painting at aland'. Bay,; sump and drainage nt Mount Cook, modified drainage proposal ai Bideford, and tank.; and roof repairs at 'Whakataki. Residence -repairs at Pahiatiia and Taueru were deferred.- ■ [In regard to.the claim of. F. Khpuri, in.respect of .tbje loss of light at Thdrndon, 'the board resolved to disavow any liability. :■ ".'••'. '' ■■■ .': ' ■•/ ' ;Tho board resolved: "That the. Commissioner of- Police, be.requested arrange Ifof.ah" official inquiry, on behalf or the board, into the origin of- the. fire'which'destroyed the school'build-' ings at Pahiatua on Saturday March ; ;It. i was.rpsoived.;'."That'a grant for increased accommodation at Paraparaumu bo applied'for, provided the additional .evidence, to be submitted by the .cdmmittee justifies it. , ? . , ' • /In regard to the proposed school on ■jtlie Camngteu Settlement, the boanj 'rosblve'd: "That application ', for. grant be conditional on the settlers providing a! suitable site." •■;■'..

;Ih this connection it was further re--solvedy -on," the, 'motion of'Mr; Aitkeri,"' to ask; the 'Governitient to set aside on every ; future/Settlement' a site for a Bchooli ' ■"■• ' ■ "■'-, ■'".'■ . •••■ :,; ~■ .■-•■•■•■ tenders; : ,. ' -.. .:'. The following tenders were accepted: •Waihakeke, H. Trotman "(new latrines); Ithandallah, extension of room. Parkin Bros, and Smith; Muritai, additional room, Brown and Johnston; Kaiwaiwai renovation of room, 0. and T. Skipago; Tenuiy repairs to residence and school fencing, John Hose. . . -.•-. I-;:-" /-TBUANCY. ' '; ' O". ,The truant-officer: (Mr. J. ' .Dineen); in ;his report, referred to chicken-pox and whooping cough as causes of a good many absences from the schools.: When visiting some of the houses in the' country, ho • found that milking • was responsible for a very unsatisfactory attendance in the case of at least six families at Mangarama, Nireaha Mangamaru, and Hamua. He had found some very, bad truants at Masterton, and tnqir homes were also Bad. He" had therefore brought the matter, under tho notice of the police, who had promused that.; if the children did not do better they, would take proceedings to have them committed as neglected children \, After relerring to a case in-point! the_ officer remarked that he often met with cases m-town, where ho thought doptors certificates wcro too easily obtained. ■.. ;■,■■■■ - ' ■■■■■■■ ' ■ , v The report was adoptsd. , ■ • : ' MISCELLANEOUS. The contractor for the conveyance of pupils from Poroivtawhao to Levin hav:ng complaiind that tho remuneration or bd. a naad waa inadequate, tho boara' resolved to write to the Education Dopaitment pointing tiiia cut. The board hlso resolved that it could riot see its way to supplement the Government a]-' lowance. it was-stated that the-car-riage could not.bo effected for'less than 10s., and that thero were 17 children . It was decided to instruct the board's solicitors to take. tho necessary steps to protect the rights of tho board in regard to tho Levin leases. Tho establishment of miniature rifle ranges at Bay and Northland wero sanctioned, but it was pointed out that pei mission should have beon asked for activo stops wero taken. The resignation of Miss M. Hughes assistant teacher at Newman; was accepted. . •, ' ■ .

.'lho principal of-Wellington College recommended that the tenuro of the Junior..National- , '-. Scholarships of F. 'locker and O. Borer be extended fo' one year. This was agreed to. It was reported that the tenders of Messrs. lloso and Mason had been accepted for tho erection of woodwork rooms at l'ahiatua (£lO5 10s.), Greytown (£lO4 10s.), and Cartorton (£lO3 10s.), and the work was in hand. Tho South Wellington School Committee was granted permission to establish a riflo club.