EDUCATION IN MARLBOROUGH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1897, Page 4

EDUCATION IN MARLBOROUGH.

+ An interesting piece of early local history, recording the main facts of the progress of education m Marlborough, was adduced at the meeting of the Education Board yesterday. In expressing his acknowledgement to the members for his election to the position of Chairman for the twentyfirst year, Mr A, P. Seymour said that it would not be out of place to say a few words with regard to*the efforts made m the earlier days m the cause of education, (hear hear). There were very few persons living now who could speak of these efforts, and, singularly enough, three of those who took an active part m the affairs of times gone by were at present members of the Board — Oapt. Baillie, Mr T. Carter, and himself Looking outside of the Board it would be difficult to get anyone at all to give a reminiscent review of educational progress, Ihe first Provincial Council at its meeting m 1860 did nothing more, educationally, than repeal the Nelson Acts and other measures operating m the new district, and vote £300 to the Blenheim School. This grant was set down m the records, and he apprehended that this was the only 6chool they possessed at that time. In 1861 they passed an Act which provided that the Superintendent should divide the province into districts, each district to elect one member to a Cen^ tral Board, that Board appointed the teachers, and funds were provided by a household rate of £1 and school fees of 5s for each child up to four, while the Provincial Council supplied £1120. It is interesting to recall the fact that religious instruction was permitted. Whether such instruction was given, Mr Seymour said, he did not remember. Those . conditions prevailed till 1875^ when another Act was passed, T>y which the Superintendent and Executive became the Board, Colonel Baillie would doubtless remember that it was under these circumstances he became a member of the Board m the early days. Then local Committees were introduced, three members of such being elected, by the householders m each district. The household rate of £1, and school fees of ss, remained m force, the Council giving £1200. The Board administered the funds ; but, curiously enough m the light of present condi' tions, the local Committees chose the teachers, and fixed salaries. He did not know how that provision would work out now ; it was contrary to present established principles. In 1870 another change was made. Then an Act was passed which constituted the local bodies Education Boards m their own districts. A land tax was imposed with a minimum of Jd and a maximum of 2d iv the £on the value to let ; and the Council handed over to the local bodies all publicans' licenses and bottle licenses, and the managment of reserves. The school fees were . reduced to Is for the first child, 6d each for the second and third, and 3d each for any other children be* t ween the ages of 7 and 12. That remained practically ihe system until 1876 when the Abolition Act was passed, to take eflect m 1877. The only alteration was the increase of the maximum of the land tax to 3d m the £ on the annual value or Id on the value to sell. In 1872 the Council gave £1000. Year by year the Council added to their grants, until m 1875 the amount had increased to £1880, showing that the interests of the school were woli cared for. These were the conditions that obtained up till 1876. After abolition the General Assembly appointed the Board. The land tax then disappeared, and the publicans' feos were given to the Boroughs, but the school fees were retained by the local bodies, while to meet tho deficiency a money grant was obtained from the Government. Then came the Act of 1877, In 1877 there were

18 schools m the district and 715 pupils; m 1887. 28 schools 1627 pupils ; and m 1897, '60 schools and 2185 pupils. Owing to the absence of early returns he could not carry the comparison further back than 20 years, As to secondary education an attempt was made to establish a high school m connection with tho Blenheim school many years ago, on a basis of extra fees, but tho movement was cf very limited character.