EDUCATIONAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1179, 5 October 1894, Page 17

EDUCATIONAL.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ASSOCIATION. fihe Wellington School Committee Association interviewed the Hon Mr Reeves on Friday evening at Parliament Buildings. Sir Robert Stout, introducing the deputation, explained that the school committees felt that the Board of Education were drenching too far upon their functions, and that they complained that the Board had recently issued regulations which really gave them control over the duties of committees. In Dunedin and other parts of the South very much larger power was given to committees than they enjoyed rere, and the classification of teachers was very much better. It' was intended to have a conference of all the committees of the Wellington district at an early date, when this and other questions would be considered ; and they asked that committeemen should be allowed to travel to this conference at cheap fares, that communications between committees should be franked, and that copies of the education report and the Gazette containing the teachers’ classification should be supplied at once to committees. The Minister of Education promised that the report and Gazette would be posted at once. He could not give the general power asked for for.franking, but he would make arrangements for the 'free transmission of the circulars convening the conference. Regarding the application for cheap fares he would consult the Commissioners. With reference to the Board and the functions of committees, he preferred that the Association should state in writing the objections made on this subject, and then he would be able to draw the attention of the Board to the matter.

The Timaru High School Board, at a special meeting, protested against the Bill to transfer the administration of endowments to the Land Board, and more strongly against the deduction of thirds and fourths. The Board’s reserves are all cut up, settled and roaded, and the tenants pay road and county rates, and such a deduction would very seriously hamper the school.

The Auckland Educational Institute, as Miss Wrigley had not recovered costs in con nection witn her action in the Supreme Court, have decided that a levy be made of a farthing in the pound on the salaries of teachers in the Auckland district for the payment of costs. It approved of a Court of Appeal for teachers, and, in accordance with the resolution of a member of the Board of Education, teachers were advised not to vote in favour of the Superannuation Scheme. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Button, M.H.R., and the Hon W. P. Reeves, re the promised Bill for a colonial scheme re teachers’ salaries. Herman Kohu and Alfred Beehri have been committed for trial by the Kama Bench on a charge of breaking and entering Whitelaw’s store. The hearing of six other charges was adjourned.

The Auckland College Council has de cided to protest against the proposed Harbour and Education Reserves Bill.

A meeting of the School Commissioners was held on Monday morning. The Chairman (Mr J. R. Blair) reported that the transfer of land in the Pahau Block had been executed in favour of the Queen. Mr Moore, with whom the exchange is to be made, having executed a transfer of a like area of a portion of the Glenburn estate. A lease was granted over section 29, Block VII., Tararua, at Is 9d per acre, for 21 years to Frederick G. Charles, of Newman. Henry Collier, of Wanganui, was allowed to surrender his lease on paying rent to 31st December next. Bush-felling and fencing was allowed in favour of T. S. Newcombe on Section 56, Blocks X., XI,

and XIV., Mangaone, and when the Wharita Reserve has become vested in the Commissioners they will pay for the fencing and biishfalling which Mr H. Crewes, of Pohangina, has undertaken to perform. It was decided to offer all utilot resorvos for sale during the month of January next, the chairman to make the necessary arrangements as usual. Accounts to the amount of <£24 I6s lid were passed for payment, and <£4oo accrued funds was distributed between the Wellington and Wanganui Education Boards. The Minister of Education informs the Auckland University Council that the suggestion of scholarships being established for Maoris and half-castes will receive the best consideration of the Government, ffhe Council asks for £l5O ,to £2OO per annum to be sot apart for the purpose from the rents of the Native reserves. The Auckland University College Council has passed a resolution on the same lines as the Board of Governors of Auckland College with reference to the proposed Harbour and Education Reserves Bill. Delegates from the recent conference school committees waited on the Christchurch Education Board to urge a readjustment of the scale of salaries adopted a short time ago. The deputation. said that the scale was unfair in its operation, as teachers in small country schools were thus singled out for retrenchment, which the teachers in the large town schools escaped. The Board deferred consideration of the question for a full meeting.