BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. The usual monthly meeting of the Board was held in the Education Office, Timaru, yesterday ; present—Messrs Belfield (Chairman), Postlethwaite, Goldsmith, Inwood, Tate, and Revs. Barclay and Gillies. The Chairman reported that tenders had been accepted for a number of school buildings in different parts of South Canterbury, and that they were now being proceeded with. Since last meeting a question had arisen as to who was to pay the cost of auditing the School Gommittee’s accounts, and he had decided that the Board would pay an auditor’s fee of £1 la in all schools where the attendance was under 300, and £2 2s where the attendance was oyer that number. With regard to the Fairlie Creek school site an offer had been made of fire acres, at £25 [>er acre. Mr M'Lean •at present owned the and. The Inspector had reported that the site referred to was a suitable one, and much better than one of two acres at £4O per acre. Some difficulty had arisen in the matter of arranging a site for the Opihi district school. It appeared the School Committee had fixed upon a site, and that Mr Howell, who was acting for the Board, had decided upon a different one. The contractor for the erection of the school was instructed to use the latter site, but the Committee objected. After & good deal of consideration, he (the Chairman) had decided to agree with the Committee, and had oonsosequently given directions to have the building erected on the site chosen by the Committee. A difficulty again arose, as Mr Orbell, the manager of the Levels Station, who had promised to give a school site, disagreed with the Committee’s selection, and approved of the selection made by Mr Howell, It would be necessary for the Board to decide at once what should be done, as the contractor was waiting to get on with his work.

A letter was read from the Education Department, suggesting several alterations in the draft regulations for scholarships. After some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of the Eev <3-. Barclay, that the alterations suggested by the Government be agreed to. A letter was read from the Secretary for Education stating, in reply to one from the Board, that the Minister of Education had no objection to the Board expending the vote of £BO in any way they thought proper for *and training of teachers. The Chairman said the Minister had been asked to allow the vote to bo expended in extra clerical assistance in the office, so that the Inspector, who was also Secretary, would be able to visit all parts of the district periodioally, and attend to the training of teachers. The Inspector pointed out that £6O had been paid within the past six months, for a the places of teachers in the different s,who were absent from illness and other causes. He suggested that in appointing olenoal assistance the Board might insider M-SKsaffariw* porary vacancy that might Occur. • ft g ?? d dea L°* consideration it was ° ~S e vf oti ? n of Mr PosUethwaite , i* a ©xtra master be enraged •W 0 p* Rnfau ®. who whm nob engaged in school work, shall be employed as olenoal assistant in the office." P y A^lSf a ? l i! Wai, i i read , from Colonial the room for the use ,D th ® p , ubUo building, to bo , u 2 a . rUi would be 60ft long by 16ft wide, and that it would be ready for omudution in about nine Months. 7 upft £° m the Chairmen of X*” 1 “° nt and Pareora School Cora. , tha t at the time appointed for the annual election of School Committees

In their districts, there were not * sufficient number of householders present to go on with the elections. , , . ,- The Secretary was instrnotedto give notice of another meeting for the election ofSonool Committee* in the Claremont and Parcora districts. .- The following nomination* were received from the School Committee tor the election of three member* of the Board, visjMcssre Herbert Bolfleld, Edward 'fl. Tate, Ofement William Tanoredj KeithForbe* Gray, James Barber, James Campbell, Tipton Slack, and the Bov George Barcky. ~ ■ It was decided bn the motion of Mr Gilhe* —“That the election of member* of the Board take place on the .flrstWednesday in March, and the Committed be informed that all nomination* must be sent in before the end of February.” ; The Secretary read some cbrWSjKmdenco from the Fairlio Creek School Committee, stating that they preferred the five-acre site offered by Mr M'Lcah at £25 per acre. . The recommendation of the Committee was adopted, and the Secretory was directed to take the necessary" measures tor having the* land conveyed to the Board. V. . Mr Postfeihwaite gare notice of his intention to, move at next meeting a resolution rescinding thb phe authorising :the yemoyal of the Waihi Bush : School. ' ( < The Mr\ ; Gillieit pointed out that no sale or exchange of school sites could take place without the consent'of the Minister for Education. ' '

• The Secretary said that tenders for. the ereotibnhf the school on the now sit® were in for acceptance at the present meeting. , On the motion ■of the Rev' G. Barclay, it witij resolved—" That, the sanction of the Ministerfor Bdueatiofa; be hiked to the sale of the Waihi Bosh school site and hmldihge.” A letter was read from the Kakahu School Committee,' stating that ’ they had amwinted Mrs Sumner sewing mispress, and asking the •Board to sanction the appointment of a Secretary at a salary of £5 a jar. . , Several memberi expreised "a very decided opinion to the effect that a secretary was not necessary for small schools, and' that the amount of money allowed for incidental expenses would not justify them in paying secretaries’ salaries. It was resolved, on, the: motion of Mr In* • wood, seconded-by Mr Postiothwiiit'a—"'That the Board have no funds for the payment of secretaries.’’' - ■

Mr Gillies pointed Out:, tliat the appoint*, ment of'teachers bad hot' been'made under, seal of the Board, as required bj' law. It was decided that in future all appoint*" ments be made under sea!. The appointments of Mr Sumner as master of the Kakahu school. and 'Mr’Crockctt as master of the Otaio school, .were confirmed. Letters were read from„theGeraldine and Scotsburn School Coinniitlees, applying for certain alterations and additions to school buildings. ’ . J . It was decided, on' the, motion of the Key Mr Gillies, seconded by Mr Postlethwaite, —“That the application of the Geraldine School Committee re buildings be. received, and the amount, applied: for be placed bn the general schedule.; the question pf .proceeding with the works to be. considered by this Board along with others.” The Chairman pointed out that the Geraldine and Scotsbum School Committees had been duly provided for. in the schedule of amounts for additions to school buildings. After the usual luncheon adjournment, Mr Howell took his seat, and, in reference to the Opihi School site, stated that the one selected by him was more suitable than the one recommended by the. Committee. He did not consider the Beard should have asked him to decide upon a site if they did not intend to agree with the one he had selected. He should urge the Board to accept the site he bad chosen.

In reply to the Chairman, the Inspector said that as a site the one chosen by the Committee was, in his opinion, decidedly the best for a school. After some farther discussion it was decided on the motion of Mr Tate, seconded by Mr Inwood—“That the Board confirm .thechoice of site for the Opihi School selected by Mr Howell and gifted by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company.

An application from the Timaru High School Board to be allowed to hold their meetings in the Boardroom, was granted. A letter was read from Mr Clayton, asking for pajment for extra work he had done at the Claremont school, and the Finance Committee reported that in their opinion Mr Clajton was not entitled to any money for extras. The report of the Committee was adopted, and Mr Clayton’s request was consequently declined.

The following tenders were accepted:— For alterations to Pleasant Point school, R. Spurway, £196 ; for Wai Iti school-house, in stone and wood, R. D. Sibly, £1,256 3s; for Waihi Bush school-house, C. 0. Cowburn, £1,040. A tender for fencing the Timaru school ground was declined as being too high. On the motion of Mr Barclay, seconded by Mr Howell, it was resolved that the Committee and teachers be informed that the Board’s new scale of teaching staff and salaries will come into, operation on June J, 1879; that the Committees be requested to reorganise their teaching staff accordingly to such scale, and report such reorganisation to the Board’s meeting in April, including information as to the members of the regular staff willing to remain in the employment of the Board.

Mr Gillies strongly objected to the latter portion of the resolution, as he considered it was unfair to put any such question to teachers. He, personally, advised teachers to keep their own counsel and not answer any such question. If they chose to continue their services let them do so, and if they did not they could give a month’s notice at any time.

Accounts amounting to £212 were passed for payment, and the Board adjourned.