EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 788, 27 June 1864, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD.

A special meeting of the Education Board was held in the Government offices on Thursday last. There were present his Honor the Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, Provincial Treasurer, the Secretary of Public Works, and Mr James Adr.m. The Secretary reported the arrival of the Rev. Frank C. Simmons, head master of the High School, and that he had entered upoa the performance of his duties. He. also reported the following appointments to schools since the last report:—Mr John Brown, to Queenstown school; Mrs C. A. Hume, Dunstan; Jtsv. Ja*. Cameron. Lake Waipori; G. A. Lord, South Dunedin; Edward Ings, Airowtown; Donald JVlunro, Hampden; Margaret Hamilton, Caversham ; James Orr, Otepopo. These appointments were sanctioned, r.nd a, list ordered to be transmitted to the Government." Communications were raad from Dunstan and Waitahuna, requesting ?n augmentation of the teachers' salaries, and it was resolved, *' That in consideration of the attendance of pupils ut the JDunstan and Waitahuna schools, the allowance to each of these teachers be raised from L 65 to 180 per annum—the increased rate of payment to commence on the Ist cf July. A memorial was laid on the table from the settlera of the Otepopo district, asking that the district should be formed ioto a separate Educational. District, and stating that in the meantime they had made arrangements for procuring a temporary school-house and for maintaining a teacher, -They prayed for aid. It was resolyad " That the Beard are prepared at a future time favorably to consider the application, for the formation of Otepopo into an ordinary Educational District, bat in the meantime they will contribute in aid of the side school, at the rate of LSO per annum for teacher's salary, and Lls as rent for school premiss?, on condition that at least an equal amount is contributed by the settlers themselves. An application was read from inhabitants of Queenstown, praying for that township and vicinity being made an Educationaldistrict. It was resolved—" That as the Board are not at prcssut in a position to provide for the erection of school buildings at Queecstown, it is expedient to take .immediate steps for the formation of that locality into an Educational District, and that the memorialists be informed that the Board will be prepared ere long to favorably consider their applU ■ cation ; and the Secretary be, in the meantime, instructed to provide such additional information respecting the district as shall enable the Board to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion respecting the case " A letter was considered from a settler, applying for a lease or exchange of an Educational .Reserve in Kawkesbury District. It was resolved— "That the applicant be informed that the Education Board will aot be in a position to dispose •of the Education lleserves until the Education Reserves Management, and Leasing Ordinance, 1864, comes info operation." A discussion tcok place upon the general subject of leasing the Education Reserves, and the rfecretarv was instructed to draw up a draft scheme, to be submitted to a future meeting of the Board. The Head Master of the High ?chool attended, and explained to the Bo3rd hi* views upon -several matters of importance connected with the efficient carrying on of the work of the school, and he was instructed to prepare for the Board's > consideration a statement of the regulations relating to discipline, entrance qualifications, class arrangements, subjects of study, &c. which he was prepared to recommend as best calculated to promote the usefulness, efficiency, and prosperity of the school. The Pecretaiit reported that the recommendations of the Hoard in reference to the Free School for Poor and Nc-glected Children, established by Mrs O'RafFerfy, had been satisfactorily carried out by the Government, and that ib.3 building procured from the late Military Barracks and erected in Bath streei, near the Octagon, had been transformed iuto a most suitable class.room, which was rpened on the 16th ultimo, was now numerously attended, and in an efficient and flourishing condition, under the charge of Miss Connolly. The meeting agreed to make some recommendations to the Government respecting the payment of sundry accounts in connection with this school. The Board took under consideration the provisions contained in the ninth clause of the New Education Ordinance, 1864. relating to the duty imposed upon them to fix and determine the minimum rates of school fees to be charged in all schools receiving aid from the Board. Kesolved—" That the minimum rateoffee3to

be charged at the three district schools of Dunedia shall be—For English reading alone, os per quarter ; for reading, writing, and arithmetic, 83 per quarter; for reading, with hr story and, geography, grammar, and col'ateral branches, 12s per quarter; and that the minimum rates to be charged at all the other elementary schools connected with the Board shall be—Por Eng'ish reading alone, 8s per quarter; for reading, writing, and arithmetic, 12s per quarter; for reading:, with history, geography, grammar, and collateral branches, 16s per quarter; for mathematics and classics such additional fee as the respective School Committees slwll determine, and that the rates ot fees to be fixed by the several School Committees, in aceor lance wiih ihe forgoing rates, shall be charged for, and on account of, the first entire quarter which shall commence after the 31st of July next. It was further resolved " that the Secretary be instructed to furnish the various School Committees witli a copy of the foregoing rates of school fees, and to bring under their notice the power conferred on them, by the latter portion of the 23rd clause of the new ordinance, to remit the whole or any portion of the ordinary school fees in certain cases, and to inform them that in the opinion of the Board this pow-r is intended to be exercise/ in those cases only where the parents or guardians of any scholars are undoubtedly unable to pay the ordinary rate of fees; and that the Secretary be further instructed to inform the different School Cora mitres that ths board will he prepared to favorably consider any reasonable proposal that may be made by any School Committee for the re-adjustment of the rate of salary at present payable to their teacher or teachers, in the event of ifc> being considered that the provisions of the new Education Ordinance, relating to school fess, render such re-adjustment desirable and necessary." Arrangements were made for the carrying on of the works in connection with schools for which money had been voted by the Provincial Council, namely, the High School, and the schools of North, Middle, and South Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Green Island, and Lawrence. After the transaction of some other business of no geueral interest, the meeting adjourned sine die.