AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 5

AUCKLAND COLLEGE AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

- «■ An adjourned meeting of the Board was held yesterday, in their office, Shortland-street re Purchas charges. Present: Sir G. M. O'Rorke, Judge Fenton, Rev. C. M. Nelson, Colonel Haultain, Messrs. Chirk, Tole, Peacock, and Brookfield. ELECTION , OF CHAIRMAN. Sir G. M. O'Rorke announced that since the Board last met his term of office had expired. He was only elected to serve during the remainder of the term of Dr. Campbell. Judge Fenton ws« called to the chair, and on the motion of Colonel Haultain, Sir G. M. O'Rorke was re-elected Chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. ELECTION OF SENATE'S MEMBERS. Mr. Brookheld, before going into the business, wished to bring under the notice of the Board a matter of some importance which had occurred to his mind. By the Act of 18S0 it was provided that certain members should ha elected by the Senate; and the Act further stated that the provisions of the Act of 1877, under which all the proceedings were carried, should be . applicable to them in matters of election as well as others. The question in his mind was whether on the sth of April one of these members should not have been balloted for. The three members were elected before the sth of April, and the question was whether one should not have been elected on that date. After some discussion, the question was referred to the law advisers of the Board for their opinion. HON. mK. ROLLESTON AND THE NEW HEADMASTER. The Secretary read ; the following letter from the Hon. Mr. Rolleston :— Sir,—Your letter of tho Ist of April, as to the appointment of a head-master for the Auckland College and Grammar School has been received. It was probably meant for me as Minister of Education. I have ceased to hold that position, and, individually. I could not undertako such a responsibility—W Holleston. Several members suggested that the AgentGeneral, in London, would not probably refuse to act in such a matter.

Mr. Fenton : I confess I should like to have the authority given to one of our own people, one who is resident among us, upon whose judgment reliance could be placed. I have been informed that at the High School in Canterbury they have been in this position. They wanted a head-master. They reduced the eligible candidates to two—both good men. They elected one, but Ido not know which of them. At all events, the experience they have had in tho matter down' there might be of service to us up here. I shall move, "That a committee be appointed to communicate with the governing body of the Canterbury High School as to the question of head-master, and to report to this Board at a future meeting." : Tho resolution was seconded and carried. THE MATHEMATICAL MASTER. • The Secretary read the following letter from the mathematical master :— : Auckland, April 21st, ISSI. Sir,—l have tho ionour to request that the Board will allow me to make tho following statement: —l see by. the Herald of the 3lst ultimo that the headmaster, in answer to Questions put to him by the Board, contradicted my evidence on two points. On both I -would most irospectfully beg to be allowed to repeat my evidence. l>l received from tho head-master the answers given by candidates to the senior scholarship papers set by the New Zealand University in Way, 1876, for the .purpose of examining them. I examined them, and handed to him the marks awarded to the papers by me; and, moreover, I was relieved by the headmaster from my school duties for tho greater part of a day, that I might do this work more quietly in my own house. 2. The boys who were promoted last year fror.i class 11. to class I. remained in class I. for a period of five months, and not for.two days, as 13 implied in the report of the head-master's statement. —I have, &c, John F. Sloman, B. -». Colonel Haultain : I think, that letter ought to be referred to the head-master. Mr. Fenton : I do not see what we can do in a matter of this kind. One person contradicts another, that person contradicts again, and there may never be an end to it. Mr. Clark: I do think that Mr. Macrae's evidence on that occasion was rather an explanation than a contradiction of the evidence given by Mr. Sloman. Mr. Macrae stated that he refused absolutely to examine in certain examinations, and that he did hand other papers to Mr. Sloman, but only for the purpose of comparing the time within which a certain piece of work could be done. Mr. Tole : It does seem that if we were to act as now desired, there would be no end of allegation, denial, rejoinder, and rebuttal.

Mr. Brookfield : I do not see what good can be done in this matter. The newspaper reports cannot be relied upon. That is a matter known to everybody. And the reports of the Herald were certainly not correct in regard to this inqniry. Mr. Peacock : I think it would be very unfair to Mr. Macrae to have a charge reaffirmed against him without giving him any opportunity to deny or refute it. I shall move, "That a copy of the shorthand writer's notes be forwarded to Mr. Sloman, so much as relates to the evidence he refers to." Colonel Haultain : I shall accept that amendment. ' ; Amendment carried. ; NOTICES OF MOTION. The Secretary- said : I have received a letter from Mr. Hesketh, a member of this; Board, requesting that I should lay before the Board certain notices of motion (Nos. 1, 2, 3) and to have the same read. Mr. Brookfield : Mr. Hesketh should be here to give notice. Ido not think you can receive a notice of motion in that way. Mr. Tole : If that were done, a member might send his speech, or move his motion by proxy. The Chairman : The usual way is to yive the notice in person, or to get another member who would be present on the intending mover's behalf. Mr. Clark : I should not like to father the resolutions, not knowing what they are, although I know something of the tenor of them. I should not object to give the notice, if that may be done. Mr. Brookfield : You must have authority from the intending mover. Mr. Peacock : I maintain there is a distinction between giving notice of a motion and moving a resolution. I see no reason why a member should not give notice in this way on the understanding that he would be present to move his motion at the proper time. The object of the notice is that the Board should not be taken unaware of what was going to be brought forward. That being provided against I do not know why the notices should not be read. The Chairman : I do not know what is in these resolutions. But I think it would be unfair to circulate them if it be improper that they should be sent in in this way. Moreover, I do not think this has been done unwittingly by Mr. Hesketh. He met me one day this week, and told me of his intention to give notice. I told him that the proper way would bo to be present and give his notice of motion. That in the event of his not being able to be present, ho should give authority to some other member to give the notice on his behalf. I shall move, " That Mr. Hesketh be informed that notice of motion can only be given by a member himself being present, or by some other member with authority to do so on his behalf." Mr. Peacock : I shall move an amendment "That Mr. Hesketh'.'i written notice be accepted." Question put—the Board d ivided. For the motion, Ayes, 6 : Messrs. Brookfield, Nelson, Tole, Fenton, Haultain, Sir G.' M. O'Rorke. Noes, 2 : Messrs. Clark and Peacock. EXTRA SERVICES. A sum of £2 was voted to the man in waiting at tho Board of Education offices during tho recent inquiry, and a sum of 15 guineas to the secretary for extra services during the same period. '■ This concluded the'business. The Board adjourned to Thursday morninc; next, at 9.45, at tho Board of Education office.