BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6936, 9 February 1884, Page 6

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

the R»ard of Edui cation was held yesterday. PresentrMr., R Hobbs (Chairman), Messrs. Buckland, Carr CoiiperV^Luk. 6 , snd The minutes Of lait meeting were read and confirmed. In reference to the- minutes Mr, Buckland. noticed that in the report of the last meeting of'theTßoard the Herald reported' that;the Board decided that contractors were qualified to sit on committees. The resolution of the Board had decided that local contractors for work under the Board were not qualified tqsit on committees. The important word "not had been omitted in the report. [This inexcusable misstatement is disposed of in a paragraph in our local columne.] chaibman's bepokt. The following temporary arraneements have been made :—" Teachers : Mr. Webber, td'Devonport school; Miss A. Tinling, from Opotiki to.Newton Bast j Mies F. Nioholspn : has returned-to Graf ton-road school. The Aratapu committee have been informed aa to the qualification, of pupil teacher. Russell com"mittee l has been informed that the Board hadnoD control of the public library. Waikßikei committee authorised to accept lowest tender, W. Dpuglae, £17, for erection of, ohimney. ' Cheques had been signed for salaries, &c." Leave of absence was granted to ; three-'teachers for a week. Certain requisitions were dealt with. T.he report was received." _~,...„ . TENDBBS 808 SCHOOL BUILDINGS. Tenders" were received for sohool building at Marigonui, as followe :—Thomas Wallace, £340, and fencing, 32a per chain ; Charles Harris, £358 15s and £2 per chain; Gillett, £365 and £3 per chain. The Engineers eßtiniate\ras £310, exclusive ; of Mr Wallace's tender was acoepted. Teaohers . roaidence, Mercury Bay:. The tenders received were : J. Furey, £416; Maude £420; W G Smith, £395. The Engineer s estimate was£39o. considered the estimate high. Five-roomed houses could be erected at Surrey Hills for £150. The lowest tender, that of Mr. Smith, was accepted. IHB CHAIBMAJ* AND THE MINISTER' OF ■ - EDUCATION—FINANCIAL POSITION. _ -■ The ChaibmAn said that while in Wellington he had waited on the Minister of Education and the Premier in reference tp ; the "allocation for school buildings,'and_on the sameday a deputation from the Weilingtbn-' Board of - Education had also ■waited on them. He read, the report published in the Wellington newspapers of this deputation. -The Wellington deputation 'the" necessity for a grant cf &r 'new buildings, while the Board had only £2 to expend; and they complained that they were neglected, while Auckland waeVreceivingi large,.grants, The ?re?mer pointed,out;that, -WelUngton was better Si Si Auckland with regard to school buildirjgß, but he. added that all Boards were growling, and he doubted whether half - a million would them. * 'TEe "distribution of the" £50,000, according to population," amongst the eeveraliEducation -Boards for jachool Buildings for 1883-84 was as follows:— Auck£9682 ; Taranaki; . £1042; Wanga- : nuij £2736; ;■, Wellington, £4007 ; ; Hawie's : E»y,-£2159j Marlborongh, £846r;; kelson, £2307* North Canterbury, £9439;' South Canterbury, £2230; Grey, £770; Westland, £1054 ; Otego, £10,628 ;-Southland, £3100 : total, 'dESQ.QOO.uThe. balance of the vote for school buildings is set apart for native school buildings and:the following special grants :—; Assistancei towards a, school, Wellington, £.1000,;- aseistance towarde ; ..», central - school, c New ; - Plymouth, £500. The Minister told Mr. Blair and the deputa-; tion fhat'.Parliament would have ,to" decide whether morelshould betaken, opt-.of : the loan. The reply, he.(Mr. Hobbs) received was eimiiar.i- s He pointed out that Auokland had ri6t r 'a ,c^ J land that: the Special grant rec : not Wqu'ai to the requirements. He now called.attention Greynibnth ; ttie'ljailif6 r in'poßsessicKi of a State Bchool; for arrears; of' briflding- con-" tra'ot." The l Ministor .remindea hitti of'this fact,, .and: ;cautioped' nim*thatr'Boards must riofi expeiit'Govßrnment-'to'relieve them in, aimiiaSr ciises.' The 'difficulty , f in this casein; yas.tgatthe baikygot ihejmbney; aid'putifi"paw : onit.' ! ': -.- -'\_ '',* __;*.' ~~.".-\ In reply to Mr. CobPEB, the Chaibhan Baidthiaßoarci was now considered theyj; should have aa&tettßnt inVd|taU ,of%heirexaot position before ■aem ; at'nextmeeting.t >1: '- ;; ; ; -■ The Secbetaby read a statement of : the finanwal position of the Boards -' : : {The Chaibhan 7 said another "item arising ont of "Si's" Visit to Wellington 'was in regard to the : TanraDga school site, ifle waited on • Governinent ' on : ; the qnestibri, and '■ yrka"- in- ■ formed =that they considered it fair that the-' matter should be ? fodght but by those inter--ested; rather than by introducing a local Bill to s Parliamenti :i That ; : was abio his own opinion. ■■■'" ■•' "."" ' '- '-■■■■■ •"»■-■■ '■ -Mr/'(pobipßß eaid he considerMthey shjpfnlol look 'info': ;t the qnestibn of finance : 'more J clbsely/or they would land themselves wherethey would npt_desire to be. The granV liet>yetqr was ' £15;000, this year_it was fdOOOi'and probably;it wduld-bo smaller next •yea¥i~ H; ltwaß ; perffldftly "clear tlhat'nntil the rieift meeting of Parliament was ; the -extent of £1000 over theirassets. . , " •';--■■_-■-■ •■•' r ••■.-..- ; ■'•."■■■■ 6^^'MK'BtrcktAHD, expressed surprise at J stated that they were £1000te'the'bad; , :-Of; eiTery-tender'' accepted ihcreased a the liaßifiifyi l ' 7 ' " ' ' : ' r ' : ;;r rri : " v-«--«»^»-•Mr. GoLDiB thought it important that thejr should ppsition, and moved that iTfinanoe-committee, tconsistinj} of Messrs. Cooper, the Chairman,-and-the mover; be: appointed tt> 'go into the- whole matter, ■ and report to the Board.—The motion .wa* agceed/tov .VfO';.';-;;';;;;: j ; - ' _ ■ ■HiHi-'L MASTBEOeABB'S SOHOLABSHIPO-γ; . i'XEhei Omajbmas said • that; .daring: bis *h-' Heiice in Wellington a,mistake had occurred in' regard to Maatec Parr's scholarship. fl.e. l ca!tedi (the Chairman), and aehe was anxiopie tp get at the., bpttomjPf the affiurVbie asked hjmtoicaUagain'at/three, o'clock. ":Becalled for hisletter to enter a?; a JJ T>npil°ati' th? 1 ' Graniinar School; 'He hid', iKjiS; a lM'er to the'Board'which' wasnol;: lespectfnL and he (the Chairman) did not" matter, t6' BTe ako wished to stete received, frpm'Par>'s'father,v , a8 i ibllpT»'s :-f" Thames. Bpatd. Missed steamer afc Parawai, School.';j Please get "Board tb'await my ; ief6rmatibn regarding scEblarships-and-ebnVtelegram. I shall set ypn-right. >Mr. Cooper is in speech. I"am notjatiefied with' Secretary's ..Hβ, (the Cmfrmafa) had'deferred the customary letter-until afteroonsulting the Board.

-•Mr.pooPßßeeidtheiboyihad.the-right to. tho. sqbplarihip. -It. was .true- that-., the sway../for inlsconduct/tmti there'Vfls 5 no misconduct *oh hie' tart; jand they" should iiot have tße /boy tip before them to examine, bim, and subject hiin to oross-examinatlonjby every, member of the •., /Whatever, letter,, may. have .been ■Written could/not" inyaliclate.his right'to.the achdlarsnlpv They I did i the'boy a wrpng—by' it was trpe—but they'iad no right; to 2 withhold his emoluments. He (Mr. Cooper) objectedtothebbjf ! being examined • by himself,' and-should'urge' that his father shonld : ■bepreeentto see that the boy-had fait play. ; - f It/was'no Suty of the Board to resolVe itself into an inquisition. ', ' ■'■' "•' Mr.-BtrcfciiAND : Theh : you would let the matter drop? i:j;: ; : "i-'i '•■■■ ■''- ■■- J OooperVTNo. Ifthereia any-question iif : ."investigation'-it -should'be with Mi. : O'DonOghue. . . -..-:•-■>'::-:..;-,:. !: r Mr. r QoLi)iE said they had no business'to tring "the boy up for examination , .' r i! Mr, 'G66PEB moved that the application of-the "boy Parr fcr tuition at the Grammar School under his scholarship' be granted. ; - • The Chairman said the demand was investigation into the of •*-;- , -.*;-. -; ■-• '■■ - ; - -'•-'■!■ Mr. BfOklawd "considered they should -the' boy before" them- r to'queatioh-h{m about the telegram, and make Mr. O'Dcnoghue stand "out .while they que.stio.ned' the boy, • Mr, .Mas? said, Mr,_ Parr r waa ./evidently, ar that this matter * Vi/ : / '- Idr.' 'GotpiE' suggeated\ that the Fiaance' Committee should'&'ai'wittithe/matter;. and meet Mr. P»rjr,,the Press, laf'course; being asked to attend; — V' . .Mr,' BgcKLAND pbjected. w> thia course, andTurged" that there should >be a special meeting of the Board. He should like to be _rpreeent. '**" ■"" \ __ _ Itwaa finally agreed to. wform\Mr, thalb, JJie-Board would meet on Friday next, Jeavuig'it optional with him.to an§ taalke any he thonght.fit.; V ' ', said ;: this was-nat-satis* fitttbryi'* A great deal: had 'been saia,about Mr.iO'Donoghue, ,end ;he should baW; an ■ epporfavnUsyit'X cleac.himself."o.r, sheetOwme his statements. ' * .■■pi'.^\:-.

': Mr.-Moss,:,W,here?. s The GHAnnJAir: Here thie evening, and in'theriewspap'erii. '.._ V ... ■'. Mr. Moss :, VYa cannot take notice of what is in'the papers '. : There may-be half-a-dozen papers expressing different opinions and viewss^i.'. ; ;•/■ . '.. ' ■■" MAKETU SCHOOL, EAST COAST. \ : A letter was received from the native oc&v mittee complaining of the remarks made by r member o£ the Board regarding the nati - . e school in that place*, and the influence used to do away with it and establieh a European sohppL vXhere were also letters from Ms. W. A, Butts and others, and the Rev. Mr. Spencer, regarding'the requisition which had ■bsen sent to the Board. The latter regretted having'signedi it. without ■- having read the wording.—Mr. Bupkland, the member of the •Board referred to, denied having inacVa any imputation, on the native school <ii the natives, - but the Chairman reminded him that be had, and that he (the Chairman) had called attention to his remarks.—lf, was -agreed to reply to the letter, stating tiwt the Board had no intention of reflecting'on the native school at Maketu or the conduct of the scholars. ■ ! VALIDITY , .OP C9MMITTEE ELECTIONS. •- -*.

I Ararimu: No reply having been received j to the Board's letter, this protest was allowed to stand over.—Katikati North : Tbe protest iwas made by Mr. Fisher on the ground that the meeting of householders was not held at the place appointed by the Board, and that a person residing at Katikati South had voted at the meeting; also, that a contractor who •was not yet paid had voted. It was agreed to refer the matter to the committee for ex-planation.-—Okaihau: The complaint was that only six attended the meeting. The Secretary pointed out that the Act does not fix aquorum, and Mr. Cooper considered the meeting a good one. On the motion of the Chairman, it was agreed to reply that the Bpard sees no ■reason to interfere.—Pakuranga ; There were several'objections. A Mr. Bean claimed to vote for his house and. allotment ■in the diatriot, although he was not a resident; and another, who was entitled to vote, was prevented from doing so. . The Board held ttjat the election was invalid.—Pukeatua: In this case Mr. Blucher,; the Chairman of the public meeting, had reported that a committee was , elected,' but subsequently wrote that there was not sufficient attendance at the meeting to elect by ballot.' As it appeared that the election -did not take place by ballot,~it"wa3' declawd invalid.— Pufijkoho'East : fn this instance the question the committed Would act. Thfey" consenting, to'act, and. the matter jdrop f ped.—-Pukekohe- West: The complaint jwas that persons residing outside the district Jiad voted at the election. It was agreed ;that,if,, the peVebn's named had voted and Weire.'fe'sjdent'o'pits'ide the''district the eleo:tion°>was invalid.—Mefcfcuahr In thie case several persons resident in.,<jne-hon?e;had voted.. It;waa agreed tQ:?sr; .Murphy for more specific information. J OF HOUSEHOLDERS. '' j Times and places for second meetings of householders for the election of School Comrnittees.where elections had not taken place were fixed, and the appointment of commissioners waa extended in those districts, from ■which returns of elections of committees had not been received. ; , • -. ,i . • .• ~ ;,,.- ': •■■.., 'DRAWING MASTEB. _ | \ Mr." - Walter "J." Robinson was* appointed drafting master/' - ;; ; - : /''- '--■; ■ ' i; !■;."! ;.: EAST SQHOOLi ' ■ " " ; ; . The :Seo&etabx read the correspondence subject, the letter sent by the Board tb-the committee, ( 'and the reply from the■; conimittee that a .special meeting had * been held bii the sfchinstant,: of which notice had ibgenigiyip i4!;cbmp!iansß .withpthetAat, for. the nomination , of a head-teacher for the ;Newton >Eaat_SchooL_ At -this-meeting' it wag ,reaolved ( .that the Board be requested to linviij 'ffesh" appjications, and in the meantime make ~ provision for managing the school. . -r,'.<-.■■ , >■:.■'<> ■■ ■ .-.' r'.•• •■ ■'•■.''i I 'The CtriiEitAN moved that fresH'applica;tiona be invited. -— ; .; 'AretteEwte'ieceivedfromMr. O'Donoghue, head-inasper of the School, and ;anT .applicant, for/ the "position of .head,-, master for. Newton East School, calling atten-. tion to a-leading article in the Star containing statements ' regarding him, and asking' who furnished the information ; also, regard.- > ing • the .Inspector'sreport advene, to him., He offered'no opinions of his own,' but would' forward- copies' of thelnspector's reports' on: his schools, borna put by the reporte of the Chairman pf the committee. He asked the: Board to suspend their judgment until they received these reports, and the Inspector had (replied'to therii'' !! ' "■''' ■' : ':" ! " : ' ( ;"/' ." "'I Mr. Moss said that,what -Mrt O'Donoghue asked was the information to.the : : Star....._- ;UiSi:.T i, ;-;,>..> ; ' ■ .. .

otar.... - j )■•■■■:'-..■:;■■■ r,, ; ; Mr, s.hpn|d ask who :gavia the' irifow&atiori to the Hkbalßj ; : ; t Mr. Moss;-said the information'asked for :was given to the Chairman of the commit:tee;;;r r ,•■;' ' .->-:r' ;'. ;; • .■ ; /,' ; The" following are the Jnipector's minutes |on.lU[r. p'Donoghue's'letters :— ', Icßpector's Minutes.—l do net consider the manner in which Mr. O'Donoghtie has conducted .thejWaipkarakaSchcol to be euoh as to entitle him to the head-mastership of an important ;eohool like Newton East.—E. J. O'S. ' : Inspector's Minute.—The Board will jadge of this letter themsel»:e«. I .would auggest that ithe wrtt'er,' ; who has forwarded one'memban'lnspector, be asked to furnish the memorandum he receWed from me, and the'memorandum he received from Mr. Peaoobke after', the* last Btandard examination of the Waiokaraka. School, or copy ef the fame, 1; ■ submit to the Board the correspondence "with >the "Writer as' to the state he left the Tuakau ; School, and also a- letter of 19th Jnly, 1883, 'from 'the teacher of the "Waiokaraka School, in reply.fo a m'einorandnm of nurie in which I felt-obliged to tell him that judging from results bis teaching and pppervisJon appeared to,ba of little J. O'S, ~ . r .: Ji M.t.~ Goldie referred to the reports ofthree inspectors on Mr. O'Donoghne'e ~work. 'First, as to- the Tuakau School, Mr. J. Goodwin reports on Jane 2nd, 1882 :—

The result? at the late standard examination at are very unsatisfactory, both as regards 4he'' percentage of passes r and the radter *of the . done. CThe percentage of passes to nuttibere examined u but 2i, while pnf the two previous examinations, 1830 and 1881, "'■ ' : '" "'"''■''.'.'"''""■'."" \ "Mr. O'DpNooHOT replied to this,' giving an explanationi'andincreply to him the Chief Inspector (Mr. O'Sullivan) wrote to him *3 follows:— ,r. ■. . ,

: -. Referring, t? your, explanation of the failuro of the Taakau'Sohool at the late examination, it appears evident to the Board,'from your own ehpwing, that the By at era of teaching pursued by ■you at Tualura v?&B not "one of training, but pure ;crammingV r ' ; Yon/ assume, ; unoonscioUslyV all through;yoar explanation that the pupils failed in, an examination for a maximum of results. . It is j-erTebtty" plain that J 4o "ohildren properly trained conld have broken down go wretohedly in an examination fpr % maximum only. The crammed children, who are always very helpless, broke down'for want of that la.it month's gtuffing yoa describle, • A system of teaching which require! aaoh stnfijng to produco any reaalt is wore than worthloße., r .- . Regarding the Waikaraka s echool, Mr. Peacocke, inspecto'r, ; .reporta under date July tfi IQQO.'- ' '■* ' ■■ '

t This iohoolj.wben" taken over by the present teacher, was in a. very, bad atate, but allowing for this I think th»,t the sphool might have made i better remit after a lapse of twelve months. The writing wan very inferior in most of the,standards, tmd arfthmetio and somposition * both' very weak. lam glad to' be able to report that in the dieoipline of the achool there is a manifest improvomeat, and. In the general appearance and tidyness of the building a great change has been wrought' by the present teacher. After, the above report was furnished the Onief-In'ipector wrote a letter or complaint to Mr. O'Donoghne,- a copy of which was not kept, but which has now been applied for, but in replying to it, Mr.'O'Donoghue writes'aa follows :—Wftiokaraka School. -1 have to add that'if the results of my teaching and supervision appear to he of little value, I can't help that they 'are' an,' I have worked hard and oarneetly to reduce the school to a satiifaotory state iince I came here, and it ianotin my power to work harder or more earnestly in the ■future V *:!-■''■■■■■:. ■ ■ '■' ' ' ■ ■ '■

Mr. Goldie pointed out that Mr. O'Donoghue had posed before the Board and the public .martyr whose work had n.ever been queuvuoned or compleined of, but these reports &§m' three Inspectors showed that the contrary vtesthe'faot. \ A second letter from Mr. O'Donoghue complained of thqdiffieulties be experienced in taking charge, of the Waiokaraka School from the inexperience of his assistants, also that his aesistants had to go through the town forexamiriation and tuition to a rival teacher. ,■-:- •-, ,

The Ikspjeotob drew attention to the tone of the letter,' and stated that the rival referred to was at the Thamea long before Mr. O'Donoghue's appointment there. ' ..'lt was agreed; to ask Mr. O'Hqnoghue to forward copies pf the Inspector's reports to which he referred.'

; .Mr. : Goopbb said while on this subject, at) Master Parr wae to be examined, it wonld be unfair to Mr. Q'Do.noghua not to ask him

to be .present, and moved that he be written r r telegraphed to, notifying him that Master Varr would be' questioned re the telegram published in the Hebald and ofther matters connected with the scholarship examination. This was agreed to. ; ASSISTANT MASTEB, FAKNELL. i : A communication was received from the Chairman of the Parnell School Committee, intimating , that the committee had held- a seating and endorsed the recommendation i of the last. committee, that Mr. Talbofc be appointed assistant master of the' Parnel! School.. In reference to this three memberß; of the committee—Messrs. Winks, Robinson; and Ireland —wrote protesting against the appointment of Mr. Talbot, and requesting the Board to appoint some other gentleman , with the necessary qualifications. Mr. Moss said there was a strong feeling that Mr. Talbot waa doing what Mr. O'Donoghue had done—gone in for intrigu-' ing—and that if he were appointed it would be injurious to the interests of the school. Mr. Goldie said he had no feeling in the matter, but .he did not see how they were to get out of confirming the appointment. The question had been twice before the old committee, , and had been referred to the new committee, who confirmed the nomination of Mr. Talbot, arid this was after an election bad taken place, presided over by Mr. Moss, and largely attended. Mr; Moss said it was certainly the largest meeting for the election of a committee' that had been held in Paraell; but the election, he believed, was largely due to clever management and the cumulative system of voting. The Inspector, in his minute, said he considered it doubtful if Mr. Talbot could be appointed without a breach of the law, besides which it would be unfair to promote him over the head of Mr, Webber. Mr. Moss pointed out that three members of the committee dissented from the appoint-, ment, and they should be considered, for they represented a very large proportion of the feeling in Parnell. Hβ thought the committees should be taught to consider their responsibilities, and except in very exceptional cases the Board should not interfere with them. . . , . Mr. Cooper said while agreeing with Mr. Moss he thought committees should not be led to believe that the Board had diveated itself of its powers, and that they (the committees) had the appointment of teachers in their own hands. The Aot provided that the committees were to be consulted, but the Board was not bound to follow their opinion if it was not proper. In this case their Inspector's report was against Mr. Talbot's appointment because of'his qualifications as a teacher, and because he had not the legal qualifications. . ■ Mr. Luke moved, "That the Board adhere to its former decision,," : Mr. Goldie replied to i:he observations of Mr. Moss and Mr, Cooper. The Chairman said his feeling was that they should do right, tnough' the heavens came down. They should be guided by the Inspector, and he was certain if the committee had that report before them, they would come to a different decision. After what had happened in Graf ton school he would not be a'party to ruining'the Parnell school. '"■' "..,•'"•'.'

Mr." GoLTiiE'moved , , "That the Inpeotor's report, and all other information at the disposal-of the department, be sent to the Parnell Sohool ; The Chaibiian moved as an amendment, " That the committee be recommended to call for fresh applications." "He might men-' 'tion that. Mr. Talbot had had the opportunity of canvassing. ■ . ; ; Mr. Goldib said the CStJr Council had a rule, and a very wise one, that any applicant for a position under the Council who can« vassed the members should at once be disqualified.. It was a rule which they, would dO Well tO adopt. . . , :.;i :* ; Mr. Moss:-Then one applicant is dead already.- (Laughter.) ; It; was; agreed that this condition should jbe inserted in the advertisements re Newton iEast, and-other places. " ' •; \ ■ ; ■ sohdlabships. ' ; I The programme of district scholarships for jthe year-1884 was- ordered to be drawn up the following alterations :—l. -The '.examination to take place in' August inetead 'of December, which, it is expected, will be the time for the teachers'annuaVexamination in the future. 2.. Needlework to be substituted for agricultural chemistry in tho case of girls. 3. The number of scholarslyps to ■be regulated by'the amount of funds available from special capitation grant, those being not less than'twelve to be competed ;for. , ;■■::: :. -.■.-.:. -■'. -. .-.'... .

: The Chairman reported that there was 'still a, balance of the current year's grant unappropriated, arid m this claim could not be racovered for next, year, it wan resolved to apjily it ia granting extra scholarships' to the three candidates, who Btood highest on the list; of certificates awarded at the last exaraination. The three candidates are: Arthur GittqaCobTte/ Ponsdnby School, 735 marks; Ellen Robb, Ohehunga Boys' School, •733. marke ; and Mary Ellen Dempsey, Nekton Bast School; 728 marks; ;.'.'■■■' : y .■/;■ '' !i accounts. ! ' '■'".'• Current accounts were passed for pay-, ment, and* the"meeting terminated shortly after six o'clook, after four hours' sitting.