EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The month))- meeting 0 f the Otago Education Board, held yesterday, was utteildcd by JlfcSrs Bori'ic (chairman), Snow, M'Kwrow Nirolsoh, Mitchell, Sim, Marshall, the Hon 1. l'ergiis, and Mr 'I'. iiaekoiizie, M.H.R.

nmur School. A deputation, consisting of the Hon George M'Leaii, Messrs ,lames Hills, J. , Stevenson, and fivo others from the Henley : district, waited oil the hoard to protest , iJS"'"*' the shifting of (ho Henley School. Mv M Leah statod t-liafc the lane! was givbn as a gift, and there was 110 power to give it back without legislation.' which was one ratsoii why the school should not be shifted. Iho shifting would, moi-cover, ho a hardship to. the people of the district.—Mr Stevenson iti;,protesting against the shifting proposed, said it would mean that the majority of tlio children would have a mile farther to go than now.—Mr Mills mentioned that Mr •Tohn Roberts took an interest in the matter, ?"t' though not present, echoed Mr M'Lean's views 011 the subject. Speaking from his own knowledge, he could support Jlr Stevenson's assertion that tile school was now as conveniently situated as possible for the prfseiit ami the likely population of the district, and it would be very inconvenient if moved to the site proposed.—Mr Fergus asked if the deputation whs aware that tlio board was only moving in this matter by the unanimous request- of the School Committee.—The Secretary, interrogated, said the attendance at the school was 42.—Mr M'Loan said it was-'an extraordinary thing to shift, a school of from 38 to 40 scholars, coming half from one side and half from the other.—Two members of the Henley School Committee present expressed themselves, as against the shifting to the proposed site, indicating that thoy had iiot objected previously to Inspector Eitzgerald's'siiggcstiou to shift the school across a paddock only.— The Chairman of the board said tlio hoard had come to no decision on the matter, and any pressure that had been brought to bear 011 tlio board in this connection had been outside pressure from the district in tlio direction of shifting, the school. The board had 110 opinion 'on the matter, but wished to. get the school as central as possible to suit the cohvenienco of the district. The board woiild.givo' the matter its best consideration before coming to a final decision. —The deputation thanked tlio board anil withdrew. BOTUtai'C GIUXTS. The Education Department forwarded circular re allocation of the buildine; <*rant, and n resolution from the Southland Education Board with reference to the same was read. Mr Mackenzie said it would be much: better if tho_ Southland Board sent a copy of its resolution (0 tlio parliamentary members represnntmci Southland. The'loss of powr-r to the kducotion Boards in.tfiis connection wiis caused by ..tlnv fact that the majority of members in the House Eiinnortcd tlio talcing away of thcee powers. Nothing would come of ii if the Ota go Board simpjjcopied the Southland Board's resolution. It was for. the Education Boards to find out from the people if they were in favour of 'tlio whole power b'king taken from tlio boards, and if they were not let them : niako that distinctly understood by the members they ivei'e sanding to Parliament, .as it was those members who were at the present time taking away the, power of .the boards, He rtioved.'Mr Afitbliell seconded, and: it was carried—" That this hoard endorse the resolution of the Southland Education Board, and that copies of the same be sent to tho members of Parliament in the district of Otago and .Southland." . v - ' £* ; (lEXEHAL. >"• ' ' .(*■" . The Secretary of tlie Technical Association wrote bskiric- for a Rriiht towards-tlin prec-, .tioii of buildings, arid oskinij.fiii' thiv service of tho board's architect.—The'inoard's Sccrct fary havinj* iiiiide h statement, the tfpplications were . .Claims for half-cost of improvements \verb granted as tinder:— Enrow—pfi-ntiriir, fencing, and.reji'airs to residehco Maunga-tua—half-cost of brgifn, £7: I!"ai«oaria— sbedv/filO; of fencing, £J 135.6(l ratidWaipalii—foncin?.£6.' . ,It;was resolved tliafc work required in cbiiliection with the erection of outhouses at Tokarahi be proceeded with. ; < ■

I '. Permission was granted the teachers at Hawca and Taieri,Ferry to looso the school i residences to tenants With: whom they would jboard.

It \vns resolved thai - negotiations b& instituted for tlio purchase of a silo (hVo acfcs) for a school on Totara Estate.

The Architect ' reported on the lad 'stato of drains at Port Chalmers School and residence;' estimated c6st„bf repairs, £12.— It was resolved that'tho work bo done. The Committee of the .Naseby' District High School forwarded copy of ..the resolution (previously published) passed by it on receipt of tho board's communication reprding' tli'e;" ; 'the sligg&Kori of the Hon. T. Fergus it was decided that tho matter, be held iii abeyance in tho meantime, ond the inspectors bo asked to advise the board as to whatreonito would lie most favourable to piirsuo in regard to tho Naseby. School.: