BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7383, 18 July 1885, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday afternoon. Present : Messrs. S. Luke (in the chair), J. W. Carr, D. Goldie, J. M. Clark, and Professor Tucker. Mr. Upton was absent through indisposition.'

Re?igjtatios of the Chairman.—The following letter was read from Profeseor Aldis (Chairman), tendering his resignation :— " Roscoff, Mount Eden, July 12,1885. Dear Mr. Rice, —The ailment which prevented me from coming last week has proved much more serious than lat first imagined. lam still a prisoner to the house, and almost to my room. Will you, therefore, make the beat arrangement you can for getting my work done by some one else for this week. Further, I see clearly that it will require a, considerable time of rest and quiet before I can reasonably hope to regain vigour enough to discharge any regular duties beyond those of College classes. 1 shall be glad, therefore, if the Board, at its meeting on Friday, will accept my resignation of the post of Chairman, and elect a successor for the remainder of my term. The Board will remember that in accepting the office I stipulated for their permission to resign if, after a trial, I found the duties to interfere with the efficient carrying on of my College work. —I am, &c, W. Steadman Aldis."— Professor Tucker said he did not know whether the Board would be doing the right thing to ask Professor Aldis to reconsider the letter, as it was written at a time of sickness, but he knew what a large amount of time he had given to the work of Chairman, and the conecientioue manner in which he had performed the duties, devoting almost a larger amount of time than was necessary. He had gone about the country districts to discover and inquire into the manner of working the schools. He felt sure that the Board would be losing a valuable member in Professor Aldie resigning the Chairmanship. He moved, "That the resignation be acoepted, with an expression of regret." — Mr. Goldie seconded the motion, and said he was very sorry to hear that Professor Aldis had sent in his resignation of an office which he had tilled with such credit to himself and to the Board.—Mr. Luke also expressed hie regret «t the resignation. Tho motion was then put and carried.—Mr. Clark said he thought it was their next duty to appoint a Chairman for tho reat of the year. He had much pleasure in proposing Mr. Luke, who had occupied the position prior to Professor Aldii. He felt sure that Mr. Luke did not take it as a elight upon him when Professor Aldis was elected at the close of the last year, because he was appointed for certain high qualifications which he possessed for the work.—Professor Tucker seconded the motion.—Mr. Goldie moved, as an amendment, that the question be deferred until there was a full meeting of the Board, as he felt sure that the Beard did not wish the Chairman to be exercising his casting vote on the matter, when two members were absent. —Mr. Carr seconded the amendment.—The Chairman (Mr. Luke) suggeeted that the matter should be deferred until next meeting, and with the permission of I the Board, and his seconder, Mr. Clark ' withdrew his motion, and the question was deferred accordingly.—On the motion of Mr. Carr, Mr. Luke was appointed Chairman until the office was filled.

Tenders. —The following tenders were opened for the erection of Tβ Pahi School :— A. McLennan, Waipn Cove, £217 7e; Taslor and Mitchell, Auckland, £225; W. J. Sy. monds, Pahi, £229 ; E. L. Smith, Auckland, £230. J. Goodall, Paparoa, £239; W. B. Smith, Auckland, £264. The lowest tender, Mr. Mciennan'e, was accepted. Bank Balances.—The balance at the credit of the Building Fund was £2835 3s 7d, and there was a debit balance of £79S 19s 6d against the Education Fund, leaving a credit balance at the bank of £2036 4b Id. Preparatory Branch Girl?' High School.—Professor Tucker moved, "That it is desirable that a preparatory branoh should be established in connection with the Girls' High School, provided that such branch prove to be self-supporting ; and that the consideration of the nature and management of this school be referred to the Visiting Committee for their report."—Mr. Clark seconded the motion, and Mr. Goldie supported it.—Mr. Carr suggested that the proposition should have come from the VisitiDg Committee, and not from a member of the Board, but as there was such majority against him, he would not move an amend* ment. —Professor Tucker was permitted to add the word "practicability" before the words "nature and management," and the motion was then put and carried. Devon port.—The committee requested another teacher's room, and that the ventilation might be attended to.—lt was agreed that the Chairman should visit the school. Papakura.— A letter from the Chairman of the School Committee (Rev. T. Norrie) reporting the appointment of a new committeoman, and protesting strongly against the Board's division of the district.—Re« ceived. Ordru. —The widow of Mr. Taylor, teacher, wrote reporting the sadden death of her husband of heart disease, and it was agreed to allow Mrs. Taylor three months' salary.

Pupil Teachers' Examination.—Mr. A. McArthur, principal of the Training College, wrote stating that a number of pupil teachers had complained to him that when the arithmetic paper was being answered they were called oub for quarter of an hoar to ba examined for singing, and they asked that allowance might be made when considering the papers.—The Board generally considered that it was a serious interruption, and resolved that 10 per cent, should be allowed to those called out during the examinations.

Singinc Examination at Hamilton.— Correspondence was read concerning a corn* plaint that had been made that Mr. Cranwell had hurried the pupil teachers at Hamilton when examining them, in order that he might catch the half-past three p.m. train. Mr. Cranwell wrote denying that he had hurried the examination, and that the pupil teachers had been allowed a longer time than usual.—lt was agreed to inform Mr. Cranwell that he had failed to comply with the instructions given him. Miscellaneous.—A large amount of correspondence relating to the removal of teachers, appointment of teachers, leave of absence, and employment of teachers, was read. Notices ov Motion.—Owing to the absence of Mr. Cooper, two notices of motion standing in hia name, which dealt with application for a pupil teacher at Arerimu Valley and the informal entries of candidates for the District Scholarships should be reconsidered, were deferred until next meeting. Howe-street Homk.—The Secretary reported that the Howe-street Home had been handed over to the Board, and the messenger had been placed ' re as caretaker.—Ap« pr \red,