EDUCATION BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 306, 5 October 1887, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

. ' f ■ - 0 The Board met at 10 o'clock this morning: Present : Messrs Barnicoat (chairman), Clay den, Harkneaß, Dencker, Shephard, Tarrant, Hursthouse, and the Bishop of Nelson. ' The Secretary reported as follows on the old school building at Spring Grove proposed to be removed and converted into a Public Hall:— In accordance with the request of the Board I have visited and examined the above building. I find that the portion of the building proposed to be utilized is the large room of the old school, and it has already been once removed to make way for the new brick building. The work of removal was carried out, I am told, in about eight hours, and the building appears to be little the worse for the operation. I found that the roof of the building 1 is practically new, and the floor and plates though old, being of totara, are quite sound. These will last many years. The walls of the building however are very poor and shaky, the studs and most of the weatherboarding being quite rotteu and worm eaten. The lining appears to be fairly good. I ascertained that the proposed Public j Hall Company desire to rent a site at the south west corner of the school reserve, and this is in my opinion the best position for the building. — Stkad Ellis, Architect. Resolved that when the Company is formed the Board will be prepared to tieat with them. The Lyell Committee asked the Board to sanction the appointment of Miss Annie Ingles as probationer, but as she was under the prescribed age, it was resolved to defer the consideration of the matter until the return' of the Inspector from the West Coast. A letter was received from the Inspector making certain recommendations with regard to the teaching staff of the Toi Toi Valley school, and from the Committee approving of them.— Besolved that the recommendations be confirmed. A letter was received from the Motueka Committee respecting certain obstructions in a water course near the teacher's residence. — Mr Hursthouße said this was an old water course, and the damming of it by residents in the neighborhood had been a cause of dispute for many years. — iiesolved that the Secretary be instructed to write to the parties complained of requesting them to remove the obstruction. The Foxhill Committee complained that (hey had been reported in the Evening Mail to have made application for a grant for repairing fence, whereas they had done nothing of the kind. The Seoretary explained that the mistake consisted in attributing to the Foxhill Committee what had been aßked for by the Upper SVakefield Committee. .Mr Shephard suggested that the Committee be informed that the Board cannot be held responsible for the eccentricities of the reporter of the Evening Mail. (Laughter.) •j Clay den said that while the reporter might .make an occasional slight mistake, he must bear testimony to the wondrous accuracy of the reports. Moat of the members went out by the afternoon train, after sitting at the Board until between one and two o'clock, and j at the station they had put into their hands .an excellent report of their proceedings. i The matter then dropped. j .The Upper Wakefield Committee made application with respect to a chimney. — Mr Clayden was authorised to confer with the Committee, and take steps to make the chimney secure. — Mr Clayden was also asked to examine the fence round the plot of land at the school, and report at the next meeting. Miss Hood was appointed mistress of Suburban North school, the acceptance of her resignation of the teaehership of the Toi Toi Valley school having been notified by the Town Commit Lee. Miss Carter was appointed probationer at Saver Terrace school. Amended plaus of the new Brigbtwaler .■school having been received, Mr Dencktr iss^sad to call for tanders. AJr Claydeu objectoi on the ground that t'-be estimate of £450 was in excess of what thi? Board could afford, ivud movtd thai ihe plant? fr° sonti back i'ur alteration. The uinendoicnt waß put. Ayes, 3: Messrs Clayden, Tarrant-, and HursthoU6e. Noes, 5: Meßsrs Baroi«°^ fc > Harkness, Dancker, Sb.tp« hard, and t.*»e Bie&op of Nelson. The original motion was carried. The Secretary stated that the Inspector had left word tb.nt he had Been Mr Ford, who had agreed to act as an examiner for the scholarships. Mr Clayden objected, on the ground that a much fitter person thao Mr Ford might be found, as he was engaged in teachiDg far hightr branches. What they wauteu was one who was in tfae habit of teaching iLe sixth standard regularly. Id was like asking a master mason to mix moriar. It would be ihr better to leave it to the Inspector and some superannuated teacher, to whom the I jfee would be a greater consideration than to , Mr ford. They used to engage the Rev J. C. Andrew, who was far above that sort of examination, and probably could not himself pass an .examination in the Sixth Standard, !£nd he thought they should make some alteration in tiiis respect. Mr Shephscd said ho would have been prepared to support Mr Ciayden if ho had suggested any particular person, as there was much in what h« bad eaid. The College jgiwe eight out of twenty of the .scholacBtiips and had a right to have some say in the matter. He could assure Mr Cl&jaen that there was much of the teaching at the •Coliege that was not above the Sixth ;btau4ard. Ho would mova that Mr Ford be iappoiated. He had had » conversation vwith Mr jord on the subject and he said that he could at once pick out of the school thote who bad won the scholarships. It was very cheering: indeed to hear such an (account as he gave. The Chairman said tba£ the regulations explained very clearly what WU3 to be ihe •class of examination. „.,_. Mr Clayden moved as an amendment th.at ithe consideratiou of the appointment be \opstponed until next meetiDg. Yhe Bishop of Nelßon caw no mason why Mr Clayden should go about hunting up Bupeiananated teacners. Tne examiner should be a person of some position f ojt the .satisfaction of the Marlborough portion of tbe district. It was then resolved that the Inspector and Mr Ford be appointed examiners. A letter from the Pangatotaia Committee making explanation with reference to Mr Deck's absence. — The Bishop of Nelson said that he had recently visited the school, and was very pleased to find it in a highly satisfactory state. — Resolved that the Committee be informed that their explanation is satisfactory ; also that they have the p Off er to fill a temporary vacancy. Resolved that the Pangatotara Committee Toe authorised to nominate a probationer, and be informed that desks will be supplied by the Board. Certain recommeudations having been received from the Inspector respecting the Promised Land School, — Resolved that the Committee be consulted with regard to them. A petition, was received from residents oa the Rosdale Road asking for a subsidy for an. aided school, — Resolved that the memorial be referred to the Ngatimoti Committee for their opinion. A letter was received from the Capleston •Committee stating tthat the residents in the .district had almost completed a building to ■ fee called the Victoria Institute and School of 'i Mines, at a cost of £200, and stating that 't they l»ad not sufficient funds for furniture ,and books. They therefore asked the J3oarrt •" to kindly give us as largo a library grant an •you possibly can, so that you may share with us the blessings of imparting intelligent ideas •to we hope, the partial destruction, at least, of whiskey." "Very genetal regret was expressed that Che Board had not funds at Ub disposal for • such a purpose, and a resolution was passed to that effect. The Appleby Committee wrote that the teacher of the Eedwood Valley school had a difficulty in finding lodgings near to the school, and Btating that he was desirous of fitting up a pact of the porch as a bedroom if the Board would grant the necessary funds. —Besolved that £3 be granted, Tbe Tadmor Committee aeked permission •to J*P end tne balance of the building vote on {enojng.-- Granted ; and resolved that ihe ; .Q omßjl -ittee be informed that they have con- j itrol ov"*.* fc he school ground. The Town Committee reported the serious i iiiaeue at -Mr Worley, and also that Mibb Leach was so indisposed as to be unable to continue b«r 4nties for a time, and Svoted that they^ittd en compelled to make temporary arrangements srhioh they asked the ...Board to eonfirin,—Agj;eed fc>.

I Tho Brighcwater Commi tee asked for I some additional remuneration to Miss HilJ, I probationer, who onried on 'he school with I fche assistance o! one of tbe elder eirls iv the I teacher's absence.— Resolved ih«t £2 be I granted fco Miss bill aud £1 to the assistant I scholar. Mr Clayden said that some time ago an I assistant had been appointed to the Bridge I street school, with the understanding that it I was to be for six months only, and that time I had now expired. He wished to know whether it was to be continued. Mr Harkness 1 school was crowded to the I detriment of the other town schools, and this I was costing the Board £150 a year, which might very well be saved. They might depend upon it that the Education vote would soon be reduced, and it was therefore I incumbent upon them to begin to place their I house in order. I Mr Shephard moved that the consideration of the matter be deferred until next month to I obtain the opinion of the Inspector. A letter was received from tho Cape Foulwind Committee asking for the payment lof the grant promised by the Board.— I Granted. I The Board then adjourned.