BOARD OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11787, 17 October 1901, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The ordinary meeting of the Auckland Board of Education was held at the offices, Victoria Arcade, yesterday, Mr. L. J. Bagnail, chairman, presiding. There were also present: Messrs. Win. Lambe, J. D. MeKenzie, R. Hobbs, S. Luke, J. G. Rutherford, Jas. Muir, Jos. Blades.

Chairman's Report: The report of the chairman, among other matters, stated that the Aoroa, Hum.a, Karangahake. Mercury Bay. Taupiri, Te Awamutu, Waihou and Waitekiuri schools had been communicated with regarding excess of staff over scale based upon average attendance for September quarter. The resignation of Mrs. C. Faithful, sewing-teacher, Pungaere, had been received. The report was adopted as read.

Finance Committee: The report of the Finance Committee stated that the committee had adjusted for the current quarter (according to existing scale) the salaries of head-teachers, of first assistant masters, and of teachers in charge of infant departments of schools over 250 average attendance. The committee had also considered the report of the drill instructor, and recommended that he be informed (1) that the Board approves his proposal as to instruction of girls in marching, (2) that the Board is not prepared to approve his suggestion to form into two battalions the school cadet corps in and around Auckland. The report was adopted as read. Selection of Teachers : The report of the Teachers' Selection Committee recommended that tho following appointments should be authorised by the Board:—Mr. W. R. C. Walker, 8.A., to be headmaster of Cambridge school; Mr. A. H. Gatland. to be assistant-master ot Coromandel district high school; Miss L. Pegler, pupil-teacher, from Bayfield to Mangero school; Mr. N. R. Harris, pupil-teacher, from Mercury Bay to Bayfield school; Miss Ida Young, pupilteacher, from Napier-street to Wellesleystreet school; Mr. 0. Roberts, pupilteacher, from Waitekauri to Napier-street school; Miss A. Taylor, to be sewingteacher Kiripaka school; Miss B. Cutforth, to be sewing-teacher Maunu school. The committee also recommended that applications for the position of first assistant master of the Wellesley-street school be invited by advertisement, from teachers classified Dl, 02, 82, A2. or higher, who have had charge of a country school for at least three years. The committee submitted a letter from the Opitonui school committee regarding the appointment of assistant to that school, and recommended that the present arrangement be continued until the end of the year, and that a female assistant be then appointed if satisfactory arrangements can bo made for her accommodation. The committee submitted a report from the inspector regarding the staff of the Huntly school, and recommended the substitution of a second assistant teacher for one of the pupil-teachers thero to be made as early as practicable. The committee have received from Mr. J. D. McKenzic an amended form of the motion proposed by him for dealing with the appointment and promotion of teachers, and recommended that the same be referred to the Board of Inspectors for their consideration and report. The report was adopted as read. Tenders: The tender of Mr. Jas. Hampton (£141), beiner the lowest received, was accepted for a school building at Matahuru. Workers' Compensation Act: In reply to the Board's letter of the 24th tilt., in further reference to the question of the liability of school committees tinder the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900, and suggesting that the matter be submitted to the Solicitor-General for his opinion, the Secretary for Education wrote pointing out that a, corporation such as the Board had a legal responsibility for its acts, and was therefore bound to proceed under proper legal advice. The opinion of the law officer of the Crown would form no defence in any action, and tho publication of such opinion would throw upon tho Government a responsibility which it regretted it did not see its way to court. The secretary pointed out that the Board's solicitor (Dr. Laishley) had, in his opinion, expressed himself that the Board was responsible for workers employed on behalf of the Board by school committees or teachers, though he scarcely thought school cleaners would be held to bo included. Teachers' Salaries Bill: The consideration of the Teachers' Salaries Bill figured on the order paper, but the matter _ was not discussed, the members considering that they had taken sufficient action by forwarding the protest against the recent report of the Teachers' Salaries Commission, which was practically the same as tho Bill in question. Eden Terrace: Mr. G. Coles waited upon tho Board with regard to the establishment of a school in the Eden Terrace district, and urged that in tho event of the Board not being in a position to meet the requirements of the whole of the children of the district some consideration should bo given to the younger children, there being a large number in the district under the age of seven years. He suggested that if the Board was not prepared to build at present, the public hall or some other suitable building should be utilised in the meantime. The Chairman informed Mr. Coles that the matter would receive consideration. New Schools: Applications for new schools were dealt with as under:—Avondale South. The chief inspector reported that there was no urgent necessity for a new school at Avondale South at present, and the application was declined. Maungatautari: A report was read from the chief inspector, stating that there were 30 children cf school age (10 European and 20 native) in the district, and intimating that tho Native Department would assist in view of the natives. He recommended the opening of a school, and it was decided tp instruct the architects to prepare plans for a building to accommodate 40 children. Waitakaruru (Miranda): A letter was read suggesting tho establishment of a halftime school, and the matter was referred to the Miranda Committee. Ongaruhe: An application from this district was referred back, Ongaruhe being in the Taranaki educational district. The Royal Visit: A letter was read from the City Schools Committee, submitting a statement of cost of decorations to the school buildings in Wollesley-street on the occasion of the Royal visit, and asking the Board to grant a further sum of £20 16s, in addition to tho £50 originally voted, owing to the increased cost over the amount anticipated. On the motion of Mr. Hobbs, it was decided to pay the amount.