EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 420, 17 December 1859, Page 6

EDUCATION BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday last. Present— Rev. Messrs. Will, Johnstone, and M'Nicol ; Messrs. Dick, Hardy, Lindsay, Hunter, Grainger, Mains, Kennedy, Lloyd, Doig, Oughton, and M'Diarmid ; also Messrs. M'Glashan and Reynolds, members of the late Executive; Mr. M'Glashan in the chair.

The minutes of former meeting were read and confirmed.

The Chairman reported that the Council had voted the sums applied for by the Board, except the £2000 for the Dnnedin school; that the sum of £300 voted for inspectors was intended to provide remuneration for the furnishing of plans and inspection of buildings ; and that no inspector of schools was to be appointed at present. He then read resolutions having reference to the Dunedin school, an inspector of schools, &c, proposed at the last meeting of the Board, but the consideration of winch had been postponed to the present meeting.

Mr. Will wished an explanation as to why an inspector of school buildings should be considered necessary at present instead of an inspector of schools,

The Chairman explained that considering the near approach of a general election which might probably institute a new order of things, affecting to some extent the Board's arrangements, and considering also the high standmg and proficiency of the teachers who had been brought out here from home, it had been thought advisable to defer the appointment of an inspector of schools.

Mr. Reynolds said a sum had been voted by the Council to provide remuneration for the proper inspection, by a competent person, of the Government school buildings, as there had lately been many complaints as to their insufficiency, and extra damands for money had been made to make them more sufficient. Mr. Will was sorry to think that the resolutions of the Board were to fall to the ground. An inspector of school buildings was no doubt necessary, but it was a mistake to think, that because the teachers were so very proficient there was no urgent need for an inspector of schools ; he considered that such an appointment would be of great benefit to the teachers, as an inspector would relieve them of a portion of the responsibility which at present rests upon them, and at the sametirne be the means of inciting them to increased exertion in their respective duties ; altogether the periodical visits and supervision of an inspector would do immense good to the furtherance of education, beneficial alike to teachers and children in the various districts.

After some further discussion it was proposed to again postpone consideration of the resolutions to the next meeting of the Board. Mr. Dick opposed the proposition, but after discussion, the postponement of the resolutions was agreed to. The Chairman intimated that Mr. Wright

had not yet vacated the Green Island school, but that he had written to him.

Mr. Lloyd considered it unnecessary to write to Mr. Wright, as he had signified his willingness to leave the school so soon as another teacher was ready to enter. Mr. Johnstone, with reference to the proposed school at Port Chalmers, stated that the committee had not yet been able to obtain the plans to submit to the Board.

Mr. Reynolds said the best system to adopt was for the Board to appoint an inspector of school buildings, who would examine the plans and see the work properly done. The Chairman stated that he had written a few days since to Mr. Langlands, requesting to know if he could, consistently with his other duties undiu- the Government, furnish the Board with sets of plans of school buildings ; from whom a reply had been received, intimating his willingness to furnish such plaus, &c, and at the same time suggesting Mr. llislop of the East Taieri school as we'll qualified to be inspector of schools, districts, buildings, raid other requirements of education, if such an appointment were to be made.

Mr. Ukynolds suggested that as the school buildings were erected at the expense of the Government, they might come under the inspection of the Civil Engineer's department, to which, if necessary, another assistant could be appointed.

After some further discussion, Mr. Will moved that the Board " approve of the suggestion of Mr. Langlands relative to sets of plans and specifications, and appoint him to furnish these as required." Mr. Dick moved— " That all schools be built by public tender."

The Chairman said they had hitherto been done so.

Mr. Dick asked if the Wakari school had been built by public tender ? Mr. Hunter moved that the £200 voted for a school in the North-east Valley be granted, and the approval of the plans, &c, be left to the district committee.

Mr. Will could not understand this proceeding-, it was a mystery to him. Here was a resolution requesting £200 to build a new school in the North-east Valley ; he did not know that the Board had agreed to have a new school erected in that district : in fact he thought the Board had better adjourn and leave the business in other hands, 'it was not long since the Board ' was twitted about its extravagant demands and reckless voting of sums of money for educational purposes ; he hoped, however, the Board would not get the blame of this. But he did not object so much to the sum voted as the manner of proceeding in this matter. The Board had asked the Council for £100 to build an addition to the North-east Valley school-house, instead of which the Council had voted, on the representation, it appeared, of a medical practitioner, who was also a member of Council, a sum of £200 to build a new school-house there. With all due deference to that august body, this Board must be considered superior to it in some respects, although in others it must be acknowledged inferior ; yet the question whether a new school in the North-east Valley was necessary or not, was for the Board alone to determine, and that only upon information furnished to the Board by the committee, and not upon statements made by private parties. Mr. Johnstone concurred iv the remarks of Mr. Will.

The Chairmvn explained that the crowded state of the school-house in the North-east Valley, having been represented by Dr. Purclie in his place in the Council, it was, on his motion, agreed to vote £200 for a new school in that district.

Mr. Reynolds stated that the Council had voted the sum for a new school in the Northeast Valley, and unless the Board intended to devote the money to that object, the Government could not pa)- it over to the Board.

Mr. Johnstone wished to know if the Board had sufficient evidence that such a new building was necessary ; he did not think the Board had, and he could not acquiesce in the manner of proceeding, as it was altogether irregular. Mr. Lindsay said a resolution had been come to long since by the district Committee that it would be necessary to enlarge the school-house, and had asked the Board for £150 for that purpose.

Mr. M'Nicol moved that Mr. Hunter's motion lie on the table until further information be obtained as to the necessity of a new school in the North-east Valley.

Mr. Lloyd thought that £60 would be sufficient to put an addition to the present schoolhouse.

Mr. M'Nicol at the request of the meeting withdrew his motion.

After some irregular and rather warm discussion had taken place, Mr. Johnstone moved an amendment, seconded by Mr. Grainger, " That a sub- committee be appointed to ascertain as soon ns possible, if it is necessary to build a new school in the Noith-east Valley, and if so, to authoiise the drawing out of a plan, and proceed with the necessary work in conjunction with the North-east Valley Committee without delay. The Committee to consist of the Rev. Mr. Johnstone, the Rector, and Mr. Hardy." Carried by 8 to 3. The next business was the appropriation of the sums voted for schools at Invercargill, North-east Harbour, Waikouaiti, and Goodwood, which, along with other matters, the Chairman suggested should be referred to a standing committee which he considered advisable to appoint, as it would facilitate the business, and it would be open to any other member who chose to attend it. This was generally objected to, as placing too much power in the hands of a committee ; upon which it was suggested that the Board should meet on the first Tuesday of every month. A letter from the Invercargill' school committee having been read and discussed, instructions were given to authorise them to proceed with their school buildings. Mr. Kennedy stated that the settlers on the north cast side of the harbour were anxious to have their school erected without delay, and if not done speedily, the teacher recently appointed to that district would be under the necessity of leaving, as there were no proper temporary accommodation for either school or teacher. They were all agreed that the best site for the school buildings was upon the Church section at present possessed by Mr. Crawiord.

A letter from Mr. Chas. Crawford was here read, offering the remaining term of the lease (some 12 years) of the section referred to, for £30, and to relieve him of the yearly rent of £3, payable to the Church Trustees.

It was questioned whether it would be advisable to build on leased ground, as the Trustees could not alienate the land ; but if the lease were to be extended or renewed, there would be no risk. The matter was remitted to the Secretary, and Messrs. Dick and Kennedy, to negociate and report. The salary of Mr. Bethune, appointed some time since teacher at Invercargill, was authorised to be paid.

Letters from the school committees of Green Island and North-east Valley were read, the former intimating Mr. Allan's application for the Green Island school, and the latter censuring his conduct in applying for another school and then resigning the one in the Valley before communicating with the committee of that district. Mr. Allan's letters to the Valley committee and to the Board were also read, stating his reasons for resigning the school in the Valley to be on account of ill health, and hoping the Board would confirm his appointment to the Green Island school, the position of which he considered would be more favourable to his health. Mr. Lloyd stated the circumstances connected with Mr. Allan's application, and that his desire to be transferred to the Green Island was solely because he believed it would be better for his health than the Valley; the Green Island committee had never held out

any inducement to Mr. Allan to leave the Valley school ; but he understood that unless the Board confirmed his appointment, they would lose his services at the expiry of three years.

Mr. Doig made a few remarks similar in substance to Mr. Lloyd's. Mr. Lindsay was sorry that the district should lose Mr. Allan as a teacher, for he had been very successful with his school, the attendance at which on an average during the year had not been less than 62 children ; but n it was his health, as was really assigned, they could not on reasonable grounds object to his translation.

Mr. Hunter refused to accept the statement that it was ill health which had made Mr. Allan give up the school ; if that had been the case they would have heard of it before now ; but he had learned that there wa3 a bait held out to Mr. Allan, and that among the extras he would be engaged to teach in some private families.

Mr. Lloyd was not aware of any bait being hold out to Mr. Allan.

After some remarks from other members the appointment of Mr. Allan to the Green Island school was confirmed.

A letter from Mr. Russell, teacher in Anderson's Bay, was read, claiming the usual quantity of land as had been allotted to the other teachers, or to receive compensation. A note from Mr. Sanderson was also read, offering 5 acres in that district for a school glebe for the sum of £125.

Mr, Grainger said Mr. Russell had only | of an acre instead of 10 acres, which he was entitled to the same as the other teachers ; he was well liked as a teacher by the settlers, and they were desirous to see him placed in possession of the same advantages as the teachers in other districts.

The Chairman stated that there were no funds to purchase land, and the consideration of the matter was postponed till next meeting. A memorial from certain settlers in the Saddlehill district was read, representing that there were 39 children in that district, aud requesting that a school be established there.

The Board then adjourned till Thursday next.