BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1274, 18 April 1878, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The Canterbury Board of Education held a meeting at their Board-room yesterday afternoon. Present —Mr John Inglis (ihairman), and Messrs H. Duncan, W. Montgomery, H. E. Webb, T. W. Hall, and W. Eolleston. After the minutes of the last meeting had been read and confirmed tho Board went into committee. NEW BUILDINGS. On resuming the sitting some time was spent in examining plans of schools and masters’ houses for Amberley and Governor’s Bay south, the Board’s architectexplaining the details. AGRICULTURAL CLASS BOOK. Mr Duncan called the attention of the Board to a copy of an agricultural class book, published by tbe Commissn ner of National Education in Ireland. Ho thought such a work, rewritten for New Zealand, would be specially serviceable in a district like Canterbury. Mr Montgomery thought the book should be brought under the notice of tho Minister of Education. The chairman would not advise the Board to take any action until they knew the value of this book. TENDERS. A number of tenders were opened, and the lowest in each case accepted, subject to the approval of the architect. chairman’s report. The chairman’s report of expenditure sanctioned and made, and of appointments made since the last meeting of the Board, was read aud approved. DEAF MUTES AND BLIND. The following memo, from the education department was read : I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 28th nit., submitting a resolution of the Board as to tho advisability of the establishment of an institute for deaf mutes and for the blind, and to state that the matter is under the consideration of the Government. E. 0. Gibus, CADETSHIPS. The following letter from the Lyttelton Borough school, dated April 16ih, 1878, was re id: — Sir,—l have the honor, by direction, to submit for the consideration of the Board the following suggestions in re tho desirability of offering cadetships in Government departments for CO'i petition at district school examinations, aud trust that, should the matter find favor in tho eyes of tho Board, no effort will be spared to induce the Government to carry out the same : That cadetships in the several departments of the Government in this provincial district be offered to boys between the ages of thirteen aud sixteen, who have regularly attended any district school in Canterbury for at least one year, aud have successfully passed an examination proving their fitness for tho office thev elect to join. Such cadetships to bo competed for every year at the usual examination, and the terms of holding a tenure of such cadetships by the successful competitors, the amount of salary, together with the name of tho departments in which there are vacancies, to be made known some time previous to the date of competition, say six mouths. The Lyttelton Borough school committee are of opinion that this mode of rewarding diligent aud attentive scholars will be of great aud lasting benefit to hoys of good character and ability, who attend these schools, aud whose parents are unable to afford them the advantages of a high-class education, I have tho honor, &c., C. A. Rich, Secretary. John Inglis, Esq., chairman, &c. Mr Duncan approved of the suggestions, because he considered the Civil Service ought to be open to any boy from the public schools. There was an impression out of doors that only the sons of wealthy parents could enter the Civil Service, that influence outweighed merit, an impression for which there was some foundation. Boys who could pass the necessary examinations should have at least one or two cadetships open for them to cHim as a right and not a favour. He hoped tho Board would endorse the application of the Lyttelton Borough School. The Secretary stated that tho Chief Postmaster had called upon him about a fortnight ago, and said he would be glad to have suitable boys recommended to him from the schools. He, the secretary, had informed the headmaster

of the East Christchurch school, who had re* commended one boy, whoso name had been sent in to Mr Dick.

Mr Duncan did not sec why the same thing should not be done in the other Government departments. Mr Eolloston, from his experience, thought tho cadetships -would not bo very much sought for ; many would prefer to go into business. Mr Montgomery did not think that any member of the Board would like to put a clover son into the Government service. Ho thought however the suggestion might be productive of good, and the Board would do well to recommend it for the consideration of tho Minister of Education. Tho Board agreed to recommend the suggestion to the Government. annual report. The Secretary said lie had di-trihuted about 300 copies of the annual report. Many more had been applied for, and were lie to give to all who asked for them, 1000 copies would be required instead of 500. He asked for instructions us io the distribution of those on hand. The matter was left to his discretion. SACRED HISTORY AND PUPIL TEACHERS. A letter was read from tho Akaroa committee asking whether or not pupil teachers were expected to pass in sacred history. I he Secretary said that the Government had approved of the Board's regulations for the pupil teachers’ examinations, and he was instructed to reply to tliat effect. PUBLIC LIBRARIES. The Secretary referring to the division of tho grant for public libraries, asked if donations could be counted as voluntary subscriptions to public libr. ries. Some committees could show amount of donations twice as large as subscriptions. The Chairman pointed out that if donations wore to be con-idcrcd as voluntary subscriptions newly formed libraries would be entitled to a larger share of the assistance than tho#a who were keeping up old institutions. Mr Hall said that at Timaru most subscribers were life members. Mr Montgomery considered that 10 per cent, of a life member’s subscription should be considered an annual subscription. The Secretary believed that all the applications had not yet come in. The Board might establish the principle as to donations and subscriptions, aud extend the time for applications for a week or ten days. Mr Rollcston asked what the sum was that had to he distributed. The Secretary said £IOOB. The total of voluntary subscriptions upon which subsidy had been claimed was £1295 15s 9d, and he estimated that there would he about £ll7 more. Some small libraries, of the exist ncc of which lie knew, had not sent in applications. The Chairman asked if this matter should not be left to the incoming Board. The f-c rotary thought it should be dealt with by tho present Board. The -übsidy would come to about 13s 4d in the £. There was a difficulty in the matter of borough libraries. They could have no claim unless they were open to the public. The Lyttelton library, for instance, was not open to the public. Mr Hall said neither was that at Timarn. The Secretary said the circulating library in Christchurch was open, but books could not be taken out. He would write to the borough libraries and enquire what their practice was. The Secretary said that in some cases, if donations were excluded, £l2O shown now would be reduced to £3O. Mr Montgomery thought that donations could not bo accepted as subscriptions, but that life memberships could, at 10 per cent. The Board agreed to this, and also to extend the t me for receiving applications to the 24th inst., instructing the secretary to communicate with all known libraries in the district. The chairman was empowered to distribute the subsidy on the above system. MISCELLANEOUS. A letter from the Kaikouras Committee was read. It asked for information about tho schools, and also to have their school inspected. The application was postponed for the consideration of the now Board. The 18th to the 29th April was fixed as the period for the Easter recess at the Normal School. It was decided to allow the East Christchurch school another pupil teacher, and to raise the salaries of two at present in office by £lO r. year. With reference to the resignation of the mistress of the Kaiapoi Infant School, the Board declared that the committee could not receive it, the Act requiring a month’s notice to be sent to the secretary of the Board and to the chairman of the local committee. The Board, however, had no objection to the mistress leaving at once. The secretary stated that there was an available balance to the credit of the Building Fund, of £17,998, and a Government grant to come of £IO,OOO, making a total of £27,908. The liabilities amounted to £19,454. A considerable amount of business was disposed of in committee, after which the Board adj ourned.