EDUCATION BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1876, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

A meeting of the Education Board wai held thia morning. Present— The Hon. 0. J. Pharazyn (chairman), Hon. W. Giß. borne, Messrs. Dalrymple and Bunny. The Inspector's annual report was laid on the table. The leport Btated :— That the progress of the past year had been as satisfactory as could be expected. There was a gencralgadvauce, attributable to various causes— the improved accommodation, the careful selection of teachers, and the conscientious and efficient discharge by them of their duty, the spirit of emulation excited among the children ?by the system of examination. These and other causes had raised the whole standard of education throughout the province. The number of children present at the year's examinations was 3470, of whom 2998 were examined; of these, IG6G passed Standard L, or 48 per cent., an increase of 2 per cent on last year, when the percentage was 4G. That result was fairly satisfactory, and showed a steady increase. In Standard 11. the result was very gratifying 657 having passed it, as compared with 445 last year, or an increase of 50 percent. In Standard 111., 11l passed, as against 45 last year ; of these 80 were new candidates. In Standard IV., the highest of all, the following seven candidates — 6 boys and 1 girl— passed :— (1) W. Paterson, Turakina ; (2) J. M 'Donald, Kaitoki ; (3) H. E. Blythe, Kaitoki ; (4) K. Webb, Thorndon ; (5) J. Hawke, Greyiown ; (6) J. Ludwig, Thorndou ; (7) Annie Shreupf, Porirua Ferry. Copious schedules are appended to the report. On the motion of Mr. Gisborne, the report was ordered to be printed for circulation among the members, and the reading | was postponed until Wednesday, 26th instant. The Inspector's report on the correspondence with Mr. Hurley was ordered to be sent to that gentleman, with the request that he would furnish to the Board an j explanation of his previous statements. The Secretary stated that only £2548 of rates out of £8000 had been received yet, owing partly to the holidays. A letter was" read from his Honor the Superintendent, pointing out that the Board had already received more than half the sum voted by the Provincial Council, and that it would be necessary that the Board should cousult with the Provincial Government before undertaking expenditure beyond their means in hand, as th« Council's vote only could be paid as the revenue accrued. In the present case a warrant had been'signed for a further sum of £1,000. Mr. Bunny thought they were bound to push on with the necessary works with all possible expedition. There would be no difficulty in getting money to the extent of the balance of the £6000 voted by the Provincial Council, which would be paid j within the due time, but after that the Board need not expect any further assistance from the Provincial Government, bnt must look to the General Government for any aid that was required, as the Provincial Government would not be in a position to assist the Board. The Secretary was instructed to inform his Honor that the liabilities of the present Board was contracted by their predecessors. In reference to the complaints relative to the Ohariu school-house having been used by the Wesleyans for their Sunday service, the Board sawnoobjection to the schoolroom being used on Sunday by any religious denomination. A letter from the Teachers' Association was referred to the Inspector to report on. The Secretary was directed to inform Mr. A3hton, the late Collector to the Board, that his arrears of £300 must be forthcoming immediately. Tenders were accepted for new schools j at Mauriceville, Morrison's Bush, and West Masterton. Mr. Dalrymple as requested to report on that for Palmerston. Mr. Monteith was not present to report on the Hutt school, bnt it was understood

that a piece of land there offered by Mr. J. Martin was not thought eligible. A large amount of routine business was got through, and the Board adjourned to Wednesday, the 26th instant.