EDUCATION BOARD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10215, 8 December 1893, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

SOUTH CANTERBUET. The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Education Board was held yesterday; present —Mr S. W. Goldsmith (Chairman), Eev J. Whits, Messrs Howell, Graham, Talbot and Jackson. It was pointed out that a misunderstanding had arisen over a memorandum from the Department S 3 to the payment of capitation for the September quarter, when tba attendance was largely reduced by the prevalence of measles. It was understood that capitation would be paid on the “ working average ” for the June quarter. A memorandum from Wellington stated that this was an error, tho basis of payment would b» ..the working average for the September quarter. The Secretary said this would mako a difference of £350 against tha Board, and ha had already paid the salaries on tho larger basis. It was. resolved to apply to tbe Department for further consideration of the Board’s request to have the capitation paid on the results of the Jane quarter, instead of September, the period, when' the measles epidemic was most severe. Tho Architect reported that tho now building at Hunnaton was nearly finished, and tha restorations at Bash’s Pass, necessitated hy a gale of a year ago, completed. Tenders for a partition at the Timaru main school had been received, but there was so much difference between them and his estimate that the tenderers must have overlooked something. The Board concurred in this view, and declining to taka advantage of tenderers’ mistakes, while formally accepting the lowest tender, authorised tho Chairman to allow the tenderer to withdraw it, and then to call for fresh tenders. The Building Committee reported on tbe state of the building fund, and made recommendations for its expenditure. The grant this year was £1750, but of this all but £387 had already been spent. The Committee proposed to borrow again from tho maintenance account to tba extent of £I2OO, and to carry on a schedule of works, of which the largest items were residences at Cave and Ashwick Fiat, removal of residence from Ocaio to Hannatoa, fencing at Timaru and painting of various schools, the balance, £1368 (including amounts already authorised) made up of repairs and, fencing. A long discussion took place on the system of borrowing. from the maintenance fund's surplus for building, Mr Howell objecting strongly to it, but a motion to gradually discontinue it was lost. It was resolved to inform the Department that the building grant was inadequate to the urgent requirements. It was resolved to proceed at once with the erection of residences at the Cave and Aahwick, the fencing at Timaru, and a few of the smaller works. The Inspector submitted reports on the standard examinations of a number of schools, which were satisfactory except in two cases. In one of these it was resolved that tho Committee should be consulted; in the other tha Committee had been communicated with and tha teacher’s explanation received. On this it was resolved to give him another chance, his position to depend upon the result of an interim examination within six months. At the request of tne householders, the name of the school known es South Eangitata waa changed to Orton, this being the name of the post office kept there, and there being two other Rangitata schools. Three nominations —Eev G. Barclay, Mr C. S. Fraser and Mr F. Barker—were received to fill the vacancy on tha Board caused by tha resignation of Mr 6. H. Rhodes. These will be sent to tho Committees in due course.