AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6820, 26 September 1883, Page 3

AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

A meetisg of the Grammar School Board of Governors was hold yesterday. Present; Sir G. M. OUorke (in the chair), Judge Fenton, Colonel Haultain, liev. Mr. Nelson, Mr. Mackechnie, and Mr. Laishley. ' Drawing Master.—Mr. Trevithick, the newly-appointed drawing and writing master, wrote stating that he would in a few days, iniorm the Board when he would be prepared to enter upon his duties.—The Secretary said " Mr. Trevithick bad callsd since the letter was written and said that probably be should be prepared to begin his duties oa ' Prox,—Some/discussion ensued on the advi3ableness or otherwise of such an appointment, but the appointment having been made, no action was" taken. Evexisg Classes.—The following letter trom the headmaster was read :-September sir,—l have the honour to ,addres3 the Board on the subject of evening classes, last term the classes for chemistry, which I had hoped would prove an attractive subject, Latin and French wore not held in consequence of the prescribed minimum of eight entrances not being reached. I submit the reports of the masters of the classes for mathematics and arithmetic -■{«■■ exlenso in order that the Board may have before it full information of the state of those classes. For this term the numbers of names given in areasfo'lows : Latin, 4; French, 1; chemiatry, 2; mathematics, 13; arithmetic, 9. • The classes for mathematics and arithmetic are' therefore the only ones in which the minimum has been reached. Three of the students in each of theseare holders of certificates (free). It is but too evident that the opportunity offered by these classes is not generally appreciated. Possibly a class for drawing, which after this term it will be in my power to arrange, might prove attractive. " Perhaps the Board may feel disposed to try the experiment of lowering the fees to a quite nominal sum. The loss to the revenues of the school would in any case be inappreciable. lam not, however, sanguine as to the result. The state of the classes does not seem to me to warrant the giving of prizes as contemplated.—C.£\ Bourne, Head-master." —It was resolved to inform the head-master that the Board do not propose to make any alteration in the regulations laid down with regard to evening classes. Pousohby Branch School.—The following letter from the head-master was read :— " I have the honour to report to the Board on the Ponsonby branch school.- I have frequently visited the school, and have oa every occasion been well satisfied on every occasion been well satisfied with the state of the school and the work done in it; At the end of last term I examined the school, using as far'as possible the papers set by the Board's examiners to the lower forms of the parent school. The result was to confirm my conviction o! the usefulness of the sahool. The actual amount of work dono by the younger boys was of course small, but a comparison of their knowledge, a3 phown in the examination with the very backward eond - tion of most of them on entering the school, showed that good progress had been made. Some of the upper boys would have taken good places in the lowest form hut one of - the parent school, and not have been at the bottom of the form next above this. The work of the master in charge is very difficult from the disparity of the boys'-under his charge, and the rough state in which some of them come to the school; and lam of opinion that he deserves great credit for the manner in which he has met those difficulties. One new boy joined at the beginning of this term. No boy has left. I regret that the school dues not increase/ more rapidly, but" am convinced that it is doing useful work. — C. F. Bourne, Head-master,"—Letter laid on jthe table.— Mr. Upton wrote to the Beard, hoping that the Board would not consider the question of closing the school at Ponsonby. Letter received.—Colonel Hanltaia said it wa3 not intended to close the school, but it w«a thought proper to inform the residents o 1 Ponsonby that the minimam attendance must be kept up, or the school was liable to be closed.—The Chairman, in reply to Mr. Laishley, said the attendance was about 25, which was the minimum.

Ckickbt.—lt waß agreed to pay £5, subscription for a wicket on the Domain Cricket Ground. Assistance.—The head-master forwarded accounts, for assistance he was. obliged to obtain, owing to illness of a master.—Accounts passed, and agreed that head-master in future consult the Chairman in similar cases. : Scholarships.—Mr. Laishley. moved the following resolution, which had been postponed till there should be a full meeting of the Board : —" 1. That the Board recognise that the utmost facilities should be given to scholars from the iprimary schools who have gave gained scholarships to obtain free tuition at the college. 2. That in order to prevent any question as to the mode of granting such free tuition, an intimation bo sa-it to the Board of Education that in consequence of an opinion received from the Board's solicitor, Mr. Whitaker, it will be desirable in future that a request be sent with each scholar coming from the primary schools, that he be granted free tuition at the college during the term or his scholarship."—Resolutions carried.

New Scholarships Established. — The repott of the Committee on Scholarships was again brought up for consideration. Nit was proposed, "That three sc'-olarships oE £40 each per annum be established, each to . be tenable for three years—oae to be given each year ior three successive years ; competition for the first to take place in .December next, competitors to b-j between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years." — Mr. Laishley proposed as an amendment that after the word " established," the following word 3 ba inserted : "Limited to. students of the Auckland College and Grammar School."—The Board ■divided.' For- the amendment: Jndge Fenton,.Mr. Laishley and Mr. Maekechnie. For "the motion : Rev. M. Nelson, Colonel; Haultain and the Chairman.—The ' Chairman gave his casting vote against the amendment.—Motion carried.—Mr. Laishley ■ moved that the following words be added .to the motion : "That the question as to whether such scholarship can be open to all comers, be referred to the legal adviser of the 'Board, for his opinion."—The Board divided : —For the words being added : Rev. Mr. Nelson, Mr. Laishley, Mr. Mackechnie, and' Colonel Hanltain. Against: Jndge Fenton and the Chairman.—Words added. —It was also agreed in accordance with the recommendation of the committee that six foundation scholarships be established, open to all comers under the age of 13, to be competed, for in such way, and before such examiners as the governors shall appoint; two scholarships to be given annually for three successive years.—Messrs. Laishley and Mackechnie voted against tbis resolution. —It was resolved that Rev. Mr. Nelson, Mr. Clark, and Colonel Hanltain be a committee to . prepare the scheme of examinations for both, classes of scholarships.