School Committee.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5322, 12 September 1888, Page 2

School Committee.

The Napier School Committee met last evening at 7.30 p.m. Present: Messrs T. Sidey (in tho chair), T. Bear, J. Parker, J. Gilberd, T. Murphy, M. Hebden, and R. Dick.

THK MINUTES OF LAST MEETINtt. The Chairman said before the minutes of the last meeting were confirmed he would like to make an explanation. The members of the committee would remember that last time by some extraordinary promptitude tho meeting occupied only a few minutes, ar.d at the close of the meeting, three members wore in the Wilding, but not actually in the room. The time was not tea minutes to eight o'clock, and he (the chairman) credited those members with. being in attendance, and their names were put in tho minutes as being present. He thought it was only fair that this should be done. Although he was not one who favored unpunctuality, yet under tie circumstances he thought that the names of the members in question might be put on the minutes; he had told the secretary to do that.

Mr Murphy begged to move that the minutes as read be not confirmed. He did not think those who were not present should be credited with being in attendance. It was not proper. The names of those members who had come late should not be recorded on the minutes, and he moved that the names be struck out, and he thought the chairman was exceeding his duty in ordering the names to be put on the minutes when they were not present. Mr Gilberd seconded Mr Murphy's motion. It would be a lesson to those who had come late. The Ohairman thought they should show the members some consideration. Mr Bear agreed with the chairman: it was cutting the straw too fine. Some discussion here ensued as to tiie J-*ht of the members who were absent at tta last meeting voting to ooufirm the mnutes.

Chairman stated that the members who T ere absent at the previous meeting* had aoerfeot right to vote. Mr Murphy _id the chai.»_r. was allowing tbe members to vote when they knew noting about the minutes of last meeting. He did not think it was right that tho numbers should be allowed to vote upon amatv.r of which they knew nothing. Mr Diok s.id it showed a want of esprit decarps amonjtho members. Theyehould allow the n_« to be put on the minutes. The last meetiiiT must have started before naif-past seven.

Mr Parker saii _ far as placing the na ?!_ °\ th< ; m * n <- t( »> that was immaterial, and they had nothing to gain by it. They must como to tho conclusion that the meeting had been hurried through. Mr Murphy: No. Mr Parker; Well, I differ. Mr Murphy: I ask ydu, Mr Chairman, was the business hurried though f The Chairman was disinclined to answer tho question. He ruled the discussion outof order.

Mr Dick then moved aa an amendmentthat the minutes as read be confirmed, and '- Mr Bear seconded the motion. Mr Murphy put the question to the members who wished their names retaincd'on the minutes, whether they were present or

Tho Chairman said that if tho members were present in sufficient time the meetinir could surely take into consideration the circuinstauces. Mr Parker: It was not a quarter to ehrht when we came hero.

Mr Dick: It is rather peculiar. I noticed that three members rushed down the stairs after the meeting. pie Chairman ruled the discussion out of order, as it did not effect the question. Mr Murphy's motion was lost, and tlw amendment carried. Messrs Parker, Bear Dick, and the chairman voting for tb« amendment and Messrs Hebdenf Murphy, and Gilberd for the motion. , MSAYH OF ADSESTCK. ' , r M * Mul P h y woul( i hke to know whether Mr Thomson got permission to leave the Couit.—Pho Chairman said he gave Mr Thomson permission to leave 'the* school. (Mr Thomson came in at this stage.) Mr Ihomson said he gave Mr Sturrock leave of absence, as his position as head-master ncr- J nutted hnn.-Mr Murphy: I understood f that these matters were left to the Visitinsr Committee.—The Chairman informed Mr Murphy if that had been the custom he would certamly not have given tho per- - mission. ibe application for Wye of absence always came to the chairman.—Mr Thomsoni said his instructions were that the teachers should come to him when they wanted leave of absence. If he wanted leave of absence he applied tothe chairman. That was what he had always done, and if he was wrong- they should tel him so, and he would act accordingly.—rho Chairman seated that he had power as chairman of tho school committee tc. grant the head-master leave of absence, and the teachers applied to tho head-master for leave.-Mr Murphy said he was not speaking about the teaching staff: he was talking about the powers of the chairman, lie thought it was a custom that should be altered.—lhe Chairman said whenever he granted leave of absence to the head-master ho always brought the matter before the committee afterwards.—Mr Murphy's impression was that the Visiting Committee with tho chairman should attend to th__e matters. His impressions with regard to the Suiting Committee, then, were all wion*. Ho found that the Visiting Committees wot nobodies.—Tho Chairman moved the discussion entirely out of order. There was no motion before the meetinir The. matter then dropped. THE WHITE-BOAD BELL AND ACCOUNTS It was stated that thero was a balance in hand from the reeeut concert in aid of the r ll l? T - lte road 80hool » amountingto £_ ,s. A motion was carried that the managers of tho local.fir* insurance companies should be written to, askinsr for donations for tho hell. Accounts to the amount of £2 os were passed for payment. Mi SCHOOL ATTEXDANCK.

Mr Murphy wanted to know what their solicitor had none about bringing the parent. of the children who did not attend school, boforo tho Court. He understood that the cases were to have been brought before the R.M. long ago It seemed to him that their solicitor had done nothing, aud if he declined to do so they should engage somebody else. It was a perfect fraSd if no action was taken, now, after all the committeo had done. Mr Diok was very much obliged to Mr Murphy for calling him '< our _li_itor » Ho (Mr Dick) did not know that he was. Ho had volunteered to attend to this matter: and it would, be brought into Court before next mooting H e had been rather busy of late,, with tho Supreme Court and other oases, bummons-t), however, would be out within the week. MB paekek'b arOT-ON. Mr Parker's motion, « that in future iho meetiugsofthocooainitteobo held lnonthlv instead of fortnightly, the chairman to call a special meeting when necessary " carae on for discussion .-Mr Dick seconded the motion.—Mr Murphy .aid he strongly opposed the motion. To meet fortnightly would bo hotter f„ tho state of education in general.—lho Chairman said many of the school eawmittet* throughout the colony met monthly, aud the bosi.ie*. of the schools was j,ust as much regulated us if they met fcrtmghtiy. Tf thoy met monthly he did not ; think anything would- be neglected.—Mr Dick said surely Mr Murphy was not fumw; io say that the school committee actually assisted m the- practical work of edoeaiion Then, Mr Murphy's suggestion was that their meeting there was teaching the children not to he rowdy. He gathered | that from the tenor of Mr Murphy', ro-marks.-Mr Murphy : I _id nothiV of tho sort— Iho discussion began to get very lively, and tho chairman called "Order*'' several times.-Mr Bear said he would support the motion.-Somo further discussion followed, and the motion was earned. Messrs Parker, Bear, Dick, and the Chairman voted for the motion, and Messrw Murphy, Hebden, aud Gilberd apLf tT Mr Murphy then moved, « That any member who was absent, but desired his name in the minutes as being present at a meeting, could do so on applying to tho chairman on tho following morning.- '-The Chairnia_ raoved the motion outof order.-Mr MufrAvaskedbywhat authority--The Chairman. said by his power as chairman.— Mr Diok; wud the resolution was only put to make' the committee look ndiculous.-The matter then dropped. ;

—_ I . W . S ° CO_--_E!i."S EElXffiT. Ihe Visiting Commit..*, reported everything in good order, but a few requisite wero necessary, which it was decided to ° btfll - U V $£W Gilberd and Writer were appointed Visiting Committee for tho ensuing l<y_. The meeting then adjourned.