LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1476, 28 February 1880, Page 23

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Under the heading of "The Educational Institute," a writer in the Daily Times of the 20bh, says :— " Sic,— lv your issue of the 14th inßtant I notice that at a meeting of the Dunedin Branch of the Educational Institute of Otago a resolution waa carried that the general meeting of the Institute be held at Easter. Now a more unsuitable time for said meeting could not be fixed upoc, because a large number of country Bchoolahave, for reasons which are obnous, their vacation in harvest. These schools will reopen about two weeks before Banter, and will have to be shut almost immediately after, to allow the teachers to attend the naeetiuq. Last year committees and parents generously allowed the schools to be shut in order to let the teachers attend the meeting of the Institute ; but it that meeting is to be held year after year at such an unsuitable season, I am certain that it will not be tolerated by country committees and parents. Many parents, kno tying that the school will be shut for a week so Boon after its being reopened will, very probably, not scud their children to school until said week has expired, »nd the consequence will be that the school will virtually be vacant for saven weeks or so instead of tour. lam aware that .the Bchools in Dunedin, and at several townships, have a week of holidays in midwinter. I consider, therefore, that then would be the most suitable time for nil parties for holding the general meeting. The only objection to that arrangement would be that it would interfere with the liberty and enjoyment of those teachers who bava the fivilege of a week of holidays at that season, wonder how the Dunedin teachers would relish a resolution passed by the conn toy branches, that the general mating should be held about two weeks after their vacation had expired. I suppose they would look at it as little short of an insult. A meeting in spring would interfere with, or would ba too near, tte inspectors' school examinations ; therefore, midwinter is undoubtedly tho most suitable timo."

The Shag Valley and Tuapeka Flat Sohoo Committees hnvo nominated Me3sra Fulton Clark, and Fergus for the vacant seats on the Education Board. The St. Leonards Committee nominated Messrs Cargill, Fulton, and Fergus.

The following was the order of m=rJt of the Otago candidates for the Civil Service examinations j— Juaiora : Arthur J. Gifford, Oamaru, eluoated in England, 3rd; Hector Sinclair, "Waipori, Waipori Sohool throe years and Normal School one year, 11th ; Godfrey C. Bortoci, Odinaru, Oamaru Grammar School fiva years, Christ's College thrae yeara, 21dfc ; Walter Honry Palmer, Dunodin, South Dune-im School (Park's) three yoars, Duuedin High School two yean, 31st ; Francis Shaw, Duoediu, Gueloug Collage, s-ivea yearo, 41-jfc ; Herbert, G. More, O.vmaru High School arid Christ's Colleg?, 4.2 iH; G-oorge Browiil>e, Oamayu, private tuition in Scothud, North Dune Jin School one year, Mid die uitto two ysoiM, 0.-mavu High Sj'iool thr ] .o yoavo and a-half, 52ad; David M'Both Calder, Havre ham School four years and a-h«.lf, South Dhrlcfc School oao year and a-half, Du,n.odin High

School four years, 55th j Leslie H, Reynolds, South Dunedin School three years, Dunedin Collegiate Sohool two years, Dunedin High School three years and a-half, 56th ; James N. Waddell, East Taieri School 11 ye&TB, 61st. Seniors : A. J. Gifford, Oamaru, Bbh ; E. H. Hardy (Dnnedin), South Dunedin School five years, Dunadin High Sohool tbroa yeara and a-half, Christ's College, one year and a-half, 14th ; William Armstrong (Dunedin), Middle District School five years, Dunedin High School one year, 23rd.

The Roslyn and Ravensbourne School Committees have voted for Messrs Fulton, Fergus, and Clark for the Education Boaid. Tho Cambrians Committee have voted for Messrs Fulton, Fergus, and Cargill.

The claims on the vote for school buildings throughout the various educational districts being bo greatly in excess, the Department has cautioned Education Boards not to incur fresh liabilities on account of school buildings in excess of the available balance in their hands, the balance (if any) of last building grant still to be received by them from the Government, and the moneys available out of their own ordinary Board fund, until the returns recently called for have been fully considered by the Government, and a decision has been arrived at.

The Milton, Tuapska Mouth, Inch Cluthr, Lovell's Plat, and Evans' Fiat School Com. mifcteen have voted for Messrs Fengus, Clark, and Fuloon as membera of the Education Board; and tho Beaumont and Waitahuna Committees for Messrs Fergus, Clark, and Morrison.

At the meeting of the Senate of the New Zealand University, ia Christclmroh, on Saturday, it was reported that the following candidates had obtained sufficient marks on tho junior Rchnlarship and tha matriculation papers to qualify for matriculation. Tbe list is not acsording to tli9 order of itK-rif; :— G S M M'Dsrmid, High School, Duuedin ; Miriam Roberts, Girla' High School, Cariatchurch ; Staples Hamilton, Christ's CoHego ; D W M Burn, High School, Duaodin ; E A Haggitt, private tuition, Orago; J Goldicg, Milton High School ; J Johnstone, High School, Duuedin; T cie R Harman, Ghrint'a Co'lego; J Arjoeil. Auckland Colleee ; C T Clayton, Auckland College; W C W M'Dowell, Auckland College ; It L Skeen, Auckland College ; T H Steadman, Auckland College ; A M Fibehett, Girls' High School, Dunedin ; !F North, High School Dunedia ; E Hare, Christ's College ; H H Matbia?, Christ's College ; J T Nefct, Wellington College ; F H Spencer, Bishopdnla College, Nolson ; A O Williams, Bishopdale College, Nelson ; W H Kay, Bisbopdale College, Nelson j J Dobeon, private tuition, Auckland ; H Wilson, private tuition, Canterbury ; J L Field, Normal tfchool, Dunedia ; J Grant, private tuition, Canterbury ; J A Smith, private tuition, Napier ; R C Strode, Christ's College ; J A Newell, private tuition, Canterbury; G H Merton, private tuition, Canterbury ; A J Merton, private tuition, Canterbury ; R C Kirk, Wellington College ; J R R Gair, Wellington College; WE Percival, St. John's College, Auckland.

The Clarke Flat School Committee have voted for Messrs Cargill, Fnlton, and W. D. Morrison.

The Balolntha School Committee have voted for Messra Clark, Fulton, and Cargill for the vacancies in the Education Board. The Ahuriri School Committee have voted for tbe same gentlemen.

The Green Island School Committee have decided to vote for Messrs Clark, Fulton, and Cargill, for the vacant soata on the Education Board.

The Committee of the New Zealand Tonic Sol-fa Association held a meeting on Monday in Trinity Church vestry, when they adopted a report for the year 1879, to ba printed and circulated amongst Iho members and public bodies in the Colony having charge of educational matters. We understand that the Government recognise certificates granted by this Association for proficiency ia music as qualifying for teaching iv the public schools. Several members of the Association are prepared to undertake music classes in connection with schools.

At a meeting of the Blueskin School Committee on Saturday, consideration of the question of bringing the compulsory clauses of tha Act into operation was deferred until next meeting. It waa resolved that the chairman and treasurer should sign all cheques, and that all worke amounting; to more than 10j should be lot by tender. The secretary was instructed to write to the Education Board urging them to proceed with, the erection of the new Bcbool ay Boon aa possible.

The Tokomaii-iro High School Committee votfcd for Messrs Clark, Fulfcoii, and For^us aa members of the Otiigo Education Board

The P.iluiFrstoti Ooimnitfcoo voled for the folio win* gentlemen, as niombevs of tha Education Bo ird, viz , Messw Shrimski, Fergus, and CLii k.