BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7794, 13 November 1886, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The weekly meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. S. Luke (chairman), Carr, Goldie, Lennox, Upton, Udy, Moat, Clark. Balances.—The following balances were submitted '.—Building fund debit, £644 12l 3d ; education fund credit, £399 13s 6d } debit as per passbook, £244 18s 9d ; Girl's High School oredit, £241 lis Id. Chairman's Report.—The weekly report of the ohairman was submitted. It stated that promise of land for school site at Cab* bage Bay, and of £100 grant towards the cost of sobool building, bad been received from Government, That the Kaitaia Committee had been authorised to invite tenders for removal of sohool buildings from the Maungatiti to the site conveyed by Rev. Mr, Barrows. That £20 had beau paid by Karaka district, and tenders had been invited for the erection of sohool buildings. Tenders had been invited for addition to school buildings at Mullet Point, Mahurangi Heads. The Matakana Committee had written regarding irregular attendance. The Mercer Committee's contribution towards cost of painting had been assessed by Mr. Allright at £5. The Waisnata Committee informed the Board it did not undertake to provide lodging for pupil teacher. Specifications were prepared, and tenders invited for painting school building at Waioui, in terms of grant voted by the Board. Arrangements had been made for the use of olassrooms at Waiokaraka and Hamilton West, for examination of teaohers. Mrs. Naomi Mackay, Upper Mill School, Mercury Bay, tendered her resignation, and James T. G. Gow, pupil teacher, was sent from Nelson-street to Beresford-street School to fill a temporary vacancy. Mr. W. J. May asked for particulars as to olaim for extra salary on account of night-school attendance. Re Training College : applications received from John G. Bollard, Evangeline Smith, and Annie New begin, for admission as students, were held over for future consideration. Miss L. Gibbons and Miss M. Stillwell were granted extra allowance added to salary while living away from homo. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. W. Kerr, Grafton Road, for university examination, and to Mr, T. Cranwell, singing teacher, for one day. Requisitions for sohool furni* ture had been dealt with. The report was adopted. Allocation of the Building Grants.— A letter was received from the Minister of Education on this subject. The amount of the grant was £9746, of which £3000 had been anticipated, and the balance would not be available till the beginning of the year. On the motion of the Chairman it was agreed to apply for an overdraft of £3000 In referring to the extra grant of £4000 for small districts, Mr. Lennox suggested that they call the Ministers attention to the large number of small schools in this district. On Mr. Goldie s motion the matter was referred to the Training School Committee. Waiotahi Creek School.—Tenders for repairs to this school were received, and that of Messrs. Green and Smith for £28 was accepted. Geometrical Drawing books.—Copies of these books, issued by the authority of the Minister of Education, for the Fourth and Fifth Standards, for distribution, were authorised to be distributed. Destitute Children in England, — circular to teachers inviting help for destitute ohildren in England was received. It was signed by Clement Win, Lee. Mr. Lee asked that the circulars might be distributed. Mr. Upton objected to some of the state ments in the circular. Their education was not free. If England expended in proportion to New Zealand, they would expend £20,000,000 a year on education. Ho thought wealthy England should be able to maintain its own children. It was finally agreed to allow the distribution of the oircular. Holidays.Mr. Goldie,[in accordance with notice, moved "That the holidays fixed by regulation 18, class 1., be altered to read as follows :—Class 1., Christmas, from the day before Christmas Day to the third Monday in January. He pointed out that in carrying oat this they were carrying out the wishes of the committees, and of the parents, and the only persons who were opposed to it were the teaohers whose salaries would be affected.—The Chairman said that the motion was ill-timed, as the Christmas this year was on Saturday and Mr. Goldie's motion would make the holidays only three week*. He also objected to the holidays commencing the day before Christmas, as it would render It impossible for the teachers to reach home for their Christmas gathering. Teachers needed relaxation, and three weeks or a month was not enough, and the result would be that they would have a worse class of teachers. He hoped the motion would not be pressed. He moved that the consideration of the matter be deferred for six months. Mr. Goldie adopted a sogge»tion from Mr. Udy, that the date of the commencement of the holidays be put back till the week before Christmas Day. Leave to alter the motion was granted. Mr. Upton opposed the amendment, as he did not consider it respeotful to the committees who had communicated with tbem, and he should oppose Mr. Goldie's amendment, as he was entirely wrong. He was in favour of leaving the whole matter in the hands of the committees, who were in direct oontact with the parents. The committees and parents had a difficulty in keeping the children off the streets during the holidays. He would move, " That the holiday should extend to the 24th of January, let there be one week at Easter, none at Michaelmas, and none at midwinter. He would vote against the motion and the amendment, and he did not consider the holidays too long in the middle of summer." Mr. Carr supported Mr. Goldie's amendment. Mr, Clark suggested to the chairman that to take away from any appearance of discourtesy to the committees, the chairman should alter his amendment to the following:—"That inasmuch a* the Christmas holidays this year are only five weeks, the Board consider it expedient not to deal with the question of holidays at this time, or alter the regulations fixing the holidays." After a considerable amount of discussion, in which Mr. Moat and Mr. Clark supported the chairman's amended motion, the motion moved by Mr. Goldie and the amendment by the Chairman were submitted, and the latter was put to the meeting, and carried on the casting vote of the ohairman. Applications. — Applications were received from school districts as follows Auckland City : Application from Grafton Road re holidays. Agreed to forward copy of resolution just passed. Training College Committee recommended that ohildreu from out districts should give place to those residing in the distriots. This was in answer to an application from the committee. The matter was referred back to the committee for further consideration. Drury Committee asked for a grant of £12 to paint the school. Agreed to grant half the cost. Hokianga wrote that the committee was not fully manned, some having resigned. Agreed to ask the chairman to fill the vacancies. Kaeo applied re site of teacher's residence. Referred to the inspector to report. Kauwaeranga : The Training College Committee did not recommend the application for additional class rooms. Mauku Committee reported having fenced in the school enclosure to prevent cattle from injuring the children, and asked the Board to sanction the re-erection of the fence. It was agreed that the whole matter bo referred to the Training College Visiting Committee. Miranda Committee reported that the cost of the tank would be £6. There was no place to sink a well. Granted. Okaihau asked for an extra grant of £5 to meet expenses. Agreed to grant £3 10s. Puriri; Granted half cost towards painting building. Thames Orphanage: A letter from the Government was received re the taking over of this building by the committee. It was agreed to inform the committee of the letter from the department. Turua: This was an application to enlarge the sohool. Deferred for the inspector's report. Matakana: A petition for a teacher's house. Consideration deferred. Letter from Mr. Bollard, re site at Mount Albert held by the Education Reserves Board. Referred to the Reserves Commissioners, and Mr. Bollard was thanked for his letter call-> ing attention to the site. Cabbage Bat.—The Government had promised a grant for the buildi and it was agreed to erect & building capable of accommodating 62 pupils. ApparaTOS. — Professor Brown recommended the purchase of Mr. Gurr's apparatus, which would reduce the list he had previously suggested, and it was agreed that they be purchased at his valuation. Music Class. —Mr. Cranwell purposed, to form an advanced class lor music, and asked the Board to allow him a small amount to I pay expenses— 10s a month. Referred

to the City Schools Committee, with the information that the Board would grant 10a a month. Appointment op Teachers (Onehunga). —The Secretary said that no communication had been received, ana the appointment was deferred. Appointments to Ellerslie, Woodside, &0,, were also deferred.