EDUCATION BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9760, 24 June 1892, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

NORTH CANTERBURY An ordinary meeting ok the North Canterbury Board of Education was held yesterday morning; present—Mr T. H. Anson (Chairman), Messrs A. Saunders, E. Meredith, E. G. Wright, J. Joyce, E. Weatenra, W. Montgomery, T. W. Adams, and H. W. Peryman. BUILDINGS COMMITTEE. The report of the Buildings Committee was adopted. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. The Appointments Committee reported as follows“ The Wakanui School Committee applied for approval of the appointment of Mrs Amos as sewing mistress, at the Eivereide school; It was resolved to recommend the Board to approve. On the application of the Richmond School Committee, three weeks’ additional leave of absence was granted to Mr Howard, Another letter was received from the master at Gough’s Bay, relative to the dispute about his accommodation. The Secretary reported that Mr Heavy had called upon him with reference -to the subject. It was resolved to let the matter stand over, pending an attempt among the persons concerned to come to some arrangement. A memorandum was received from Dr Anderson, in answer to the enquiry made by the Committee at its last meeting. It was resolved that the Inspectors take their month’s vacation immediately after the completion of tbeir annual report and returns—probably about the middle of February. Miss Helen Powell wrote to explain why she had been obliged to find employment in another district, which she hoped would not influence the Board against her upon her applying for an appointment in Canterbury. It was resolved that, in the circumstances. Miss Powell should not be prejudiced in her application for any appointment for which she possessed the requisite qualifications. The resignation of Miss Martin, of Barfield, on account of ill-health, was accepted. The Lakeside School Committee applied for the appointment of a mistress. It was resolved to defer the matter till receipt of the quarterly attendance return. The Glentunnel School Committee applied for the appointment of a pupil teacher, giving reasons why the assistance should be allowed, though the average attendance, as shown by the quarterly return, was slightly below the required minimum. It was resolved that, considering the exceptional circumstances in which the school was conducted, and the fact that the average would have been above the required number if the children who come in by train had been able to attend on Thursdays as well as other days, the appointment of a pupil teacher should he authorised. On the application of the Little River School Committee, a month’s leave of absence was granted to Miss Ansley. A month’s leave of absence was granted to Mies Barlow, pupil teacher at Tai Tapu. It was suggested that one of the older pupils might be employed temporarily in her place. A letter was received from the Weedon School Committee, stating, in reply to the Board’s letter of April 21, that they had no recommendation to make. The Ladbrooke's School Committee applied for rent allowance for Mrs Prebble. It was resolved that the Board could not entertain a claim for the whole period of her service, but in consideration of the circumstances stated would make the usual allowance for one year. Joint reports from ’the two Inspectors were received on Christchurch West and Addington. The Rokeby School Committee reported that from among the applicants whose names were forwarded to them, they had chosen Mr E. Lsraman as master. The Board was recommended to make the appointment. A letter was received from Mr Lelievra, stating that the Gough’s Bay Committee desired the appointment of a mistress. They were requested to give information as to the reason for the proposed change, and as to the accommodation that could be provided for a female teacher. At the request of the Inspectors, it was agreed to defer the interim examination of Wakanui main school till about the time arranged for the examination of the Ashburton school.” The report was adopted. NOBMAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE. The Normal School Committee reported as follows:—“A letter was received from the solicitors advising as to the powers of the Board with regard to the enforcement of the compulsory clauses in the case of children who were irregular in attendance at the Normal school. The report of the head master of the Normal School for the year 1891 was received. A medical certificate was received from the caretaker. It was resolved to allow him full pay during the first month of his absence and half-pay during the second month. As Mr Saunders was going to Wellington, Mr Anson, Chairman of the Board, was requested to undertake the necessary arrangements for providing for the discharge of the caretaker’s duties. Reports were received from the three principal teachers. The attendance returns for the last three weeks wereßoys—roll number 370, average 304,; girls—on roll 368, average 309} infants—on roll 377, average 279; total toll number, 1115; total average 892. It was resolved to refuse to receive any longer into the school three boys reported as incorrigible truants. The Clerk of Works was desired to have soma hollows under the gymnastic apparatus filled with fresh tan, and screenings spread at the entrance of the path into the boys’ playground. It was resolved to obtain a report from the Clerk of Works as to the grading of the asphalted part of the playground, on which the water was found to lie in wet weather. Mr Meredith reported that in the course of a recent visit to the school he found one of the lavatories upstairs in bad condition; also that the hot-water pipes were not working well, the pipes being heated in some places insufficiently or not at all. It was resolved to ask the Buildings Committee to look into the matter.” The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE: A letter was read from the Hurunui School Committee concurring in the appointment of Mr Hydes as teacher. The Board decided to appoint Mr Hydes. A letter was received from a number of residents of Coalgate, requesting the Board to establish a school in that township, pointing out that the train arrangements rendered it inconvenient for children to attend the Glentunnel school, and caused them to lose a considerable time in the week, as there is no train on Thursdays. The letter was referred to the Appointments Committee, and a copy ordered to be sent to the Glentunnel School Committee for its report. It was also decided that the proposed appointment of a pupil teacher at Glentunnel should not be proceeded with till the question of the school at Coalgate be settled. A DISPUTED ELECTION. Correspondence was read in reference to the election of the Pendarves School Committee. It appeared that two gentlemen were nominated as Chairmen of the meeting of householders. One of these, Mr M. Bruce, received twelve votes, and the other, Mr W. j* • Williams, eight. It was contended that seven of the twelve who ’ voted for Mr Bruce were not legally qualified householders. Those present split mto two fictions, held two separate meetings, each of which elected a Committee. Bach Committee appealed to the Board to be recognised as the School Committee for the Pendarves district. The party which had met under Mr W. W. Williams Chairmanship had fortified their position with a letter from Mr C. W. Purnell, solicitor of Ashburton, giving details as to the circumstances which disqualified certain of those who had supported Mr Bruce. An opinion was received from the Board’s solicitors, to the effect that if the facta were sa stated by Mr Purnell, the gentlemen elected at the meeting presided over by Mr Williams had bean duly elected. Mr Peryman and the Secretary, Mr Veel, wore appointed a Commission to enquire into the circumstances connected with the election. the new scholarship regulations. Correspondence was read with reference to the new scholarship regulations, includ-

ing a letter from the Education Depart* ment, stating that the amendments pro* posed were not in accordance with the Act. A memorandum drawn up by Mr Veel was read, and it was decided to embody it in a communication to be sent to the Education Department, and to ask the members of the Board who are members of Parliament to look into the matter. The Chairman and Secretary were appointed to revise* the regulations, and to forward copies when revised to the Education Department, and to the members of the Board in Parliameat. INSPECTION OF THE NOBMAL SCHOOL. Mr Saunders brought forward the following motion : —“That the events connected with the Normal School during the last few years render it necessary that the Board should make special provisions for the approaching inspection of the school, so as to avoid the employment of any officers who have been partisans in any way connected with past disputes, and es« pecially of the Inspectors who have frequently and very strongly expressed their opinions as to the course to taka with the head master, and with at least one of his assistants.” The Chairman said that as notice of the motion had not been given at the preceding meeting, hut had been sent in.sino% it could not be received unless the Board unanimously decided to suspend the standing orders. Mr Wright said he objected to the motion, and also to suspending the standing orders to discuss it now.l Mr Saunders said that whenever notice bad been given of a motion in time for the notice to be issued with the circulars calling the meeting of the Board, such motion had been taken at that meeting. The point now raised had not been raised before. After some discussion, Mr Montgomery moved and Mr Adams seconded, the suspension of the standing orders. The motion, on being put, was declared lost, as the members were not unanimous in its favour. Mr Saunders gave notice of the motion for next meeting.

After the transaction of some routine business the meeting closed.