EDUCATIONAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1679, 26 January 1884, Page 22

EDUCATIONAL.

EDUCATION BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Education Board was held on Thursday. Present : The Chairman (Professor Shand), Messrs Clark, Ramsay, M'Kenzie (M.H.R.), J. Green (M.H,R.), Begg, Fraer, and Elder.

FINANCE COMMITTEE'S BKPOBT.

The Finance Committee made the following recommendations : —

Sandymount — That, tho application for a new school be declined until the B ard is informed what amount will be avniUb'e for buildings. Your Committee recommend < that the schools at Eweburn and Lower Kyeburn be in the future worked as hulf-titue schools, and that the residence at Eweburn be put n repair ; also that; the Board pay hail tho cent of completing tae buildings, on condition that the Committee pay the remainder. The Committee recommendn, further, that Normal School s<i;holar»hi(>s be granted to 1 th r e following:— Flora Allan, James &I«ir, Jalit-z Goldiug, W. K. Bastinus, Teresa Gei-kios, lvafe Walker ; and that the following who gained over 50 per cc t. of the attainable maiks be granted free instruction without (.ageing the entrance examination :— Alice Little, Annie Trum »n, Mary scoU, M. C Hender, Jos M Lauchlan, Laura Dart n. Mary Kiug, P. Hilaendorf, M. Gufedder, Graco Wright. Your Committee recommends the acceptance of the following tenrieis:— Blue Spur Painting buildings, Thomas Barnett, £20 ; Tua eka W^at Do, Thomas Bam tt, £i 3 13s ; Taieri Perry Do. Thomas I ledger, £16 ; Mount Cargill— Do, Thomas PleJger. £15 ; Outram Do, A Blai.dcn, £11; Purabauui— Do, Thomas Pledger, £15; ttaikoualtl uo. S homos Pledger, £20 19a ; Tahatißa Re-idence, T. tsrac!ne!d, Jtß ' lUd.

The report was adopted, but it was resolved with reference to the Waikouaiti tender that if Mr Pledger declines to take up his contract it be readvertised. ,

THE BUILDING GRANT.

A telegram from the Secretary for Education was read, to the following effect : — "Building grant £10,628. Letter by mail." The Secretary stated, in reply to questions, that the total appropriation by Government for school buildings throughout the Colony was £70,800. This Board applied for £43,000, but it appeared they were to get only £10,628. Last year they applied for £43,000, and got £17,000.

The Chairman said it had been remarked elsewhere that there were too many members of Parliament on the Board. It seemed to him, however, that this was a case where such members could be of great use in finding out how the Government grant came to be so distributed that the Otago Board received only such' a small portion o£ it. He understood that the grant was .to be distributed on the basis of population. Mr Green said all they could da at present was to take what they could get, and ask for an explanation when the Government letter was received.

THB SCHOIARSHIP EXAMINATION.

The report upon the examination for the Board's scholarships w&8 laid on the table, as follows : —

The annual competition fcr tho Board's scholarships 'Was held on the 18th and three following days of December last, slmultaneou ly at Dunedin, Oamaru, Milton, Lawrence. Tapanui. and Cromwell. The examination was conducted by the supervisors at the various centres to the entire satisfaction of the Board of Examiners One case of misconduct was rfcported, and t h e 1 one of the competitor concerned was struck iff the list. All the papers roached the examiners in due r.jme and in good order.

For the Senior Scholarships there were 37 competitors, and for tho Junior 53. making v total of 90. In no past year was tho number of Stnlor competitors no large.

The papers were examined as follows:— By Mr Petrie, senior eeoerziiby, senior arithmetic, senior Latin, senior E-gthh, senior dictation, junior dictation, junior arithmetic, junior grammar, and juninr jreograpby Iby Mr, Taylor, senior grammar ; by Mr Ot>yai, i&far Fitfn'ch and junidr EtfgfiUh ; tnrd ljy Mr

J It Will- inson, senior rnathtmatic?, senior history and junior mStory. Tho fx^i-inert recommend thak scholarships be aw<rded to th-i 10 who^e r aims i-taod firs', in the senior l'Ht, and to the six who^e names stand flr*t in the juni r list. A>i tho mark-) gained by A bert Gnvo (a junior competitor; and by W W Bird and waiter A. i^o by (tO'.i ire iinpetUors) are alraosf. equal to thOBO of the lowest tcholarship wirners, the Exaniin rs wcul i be i/hd to see extra Bcholar.ib.ipt) awarded to tne-je comput.itora ; also, if the fuunS at the Board's disposal will allow of such a recjgnitiou of ( hi ir meiit.

Appended hereto is a, detailed statement of the results, the names of those who did not fall bo'.ow 20 per ccn f . of tho attainable marku in any of the subjects balng arranged in order of merit. On behalf of the Board of Examiner?. D. Pktrik, M.A. The list of competitors was also presented as follows :— Senior Scholarships. 1. James Wa t, Green Island .. .. 760 2. John fccofct. Boys' Hijh Sohool .. ..608 5. Sylvia X Gifford, Oamaru bchool .. 69K 4. Kate Mos>-, Girls' Hi^h bebo 1 .. .. (it 3 5 Kobort Isaac-j, Boys' Hiirh School . . 600 6 AriKUsi Po'son tUmaru District Hicrh School (i''2 7 Joseph W Stevens, B >\ B' High >ctioul .. 6(U 8 Peter D mil, Tokomainro Jj.H.S „ 659 9. Jao Xt tier, Tokom iir r<D.ll S. .. 65: 10. Thomas Pearco, Boy?' High School . . 631 11 W W Bird. Bo.vs' Hbh Sohm 1 .. .. 6>l 12. Waiter H Neilty, Br.yV Hijrn School .. 6iu 12 Margar«G v ioc>air, Toknm.iiri'O Ij. H.S .. 627 14. Johfi Cran'cy, Liwrence Ui-tricfc High School t» 0 15. Fiauz Siedebertf, Boy.V High School .. 69 6. Joiui Love, Green Island „ .. 576 17 Saroh \ounir, Duneriin .. „ 64s 18. Samuel Simmonds, Lawrence D Ff.S. .. 544 19 Giaham HTurto.-i, Buj'tt' Huh School .. 6/4 20. P H Oampbull, Bo.v->' iiijrh .>cho .1 .. 497 21 Georsre „ Clar a, Boy-.' Jliiirj School .. 49.1 23. Alexander i 1 Mor U<m, Oamaru D.H S. .. 4n4 2,J frfa io i Biirnside, Union street .. .. 451 24 M M'Kel ar, Cromwoil.. .. .. 450 25 MuKhCla.k. Boss' II igh School .. .. 445 26. Fred Ha lie, Oamaru District Uiih School .. 441 27. Heury Wnite, T komaniro Dll S . . 420 28. Kri.est E Clowes, Waitaki High M;hool .. 413 The fo'lowing wer>» disqualified in terms of No. 6 of Scholar.-hu> Rejju aiirn-t: M.uvareS ooke, Oanwu South ; .l.vme- Garr, High liffe ; George Gifford, Waitaki High School ; William G or.ivo, Wai aki Hmh School; William SoiHwville Duneili ■; Jame-i Stuart, Hi{:hcbJTe . Jaur, Taylor, O aliia ; Mary Wexandei, Union streofe Edmund Sini'h, Boyi-..' High School. Junior Scholarships. I. Wm G Colo, F rbury . . .. .. 6*o 2 Harriet X «Bh, Mornington .. .. 679 8. Wm II Adan.B. Blue Spur .. .. 67b 4 Sidney A Steven?, Cljde .. ..534 5 mnma Rainforh, Tuinciaki .. ..5:7 6. Roiiert Kifcuhi", I'oro Chalmers .. .. 5U 7. Albert Grave, Oamaru North .. ..612 8. Ifidwin Osw.vlil, 1 aver ham „ .. 49! 9. Mary N Gullntly, Morninnton .. ..478 10. Jns-ie Nelson, L()\eH'» Flat .. .. 471 11. Heotor M'l>onalil, Arthur streot.. .. 468 12 X .Imrt li M'Lean, Gruen I>lacd .. ..46^ 13 Mary HTh msvin, Arth ir street.. .. 4><o 14 John Bowii'.Tolrr'imaiiiro Owtrict High School 454 15. Christina Cruikshurik, Ca'meraton .. 44« Ifl. J.ih R Smyrh, Wethej.stonee .. .. 445 17 JViuima Kinder, Tnkouiairiro D U.S. .. 4:J4 18. Win G Douglas, William street .. .. 4f6 19. OhuH Fraer, Lawrence .. .. .. 423 20. H rbert IS Wilson, C yde . .. 416 21. Florence Marry »tc Tokomairiro D.H.S. .. 413 22. Janut King, Oaimiu XSorth .. „ 409 9 3. r"hr!«t.ina M'Lariin Tok< m.iiriro D H.S. .. 4(if> 24. Frank Stephens, Mornington .. .. 401 ■in uavid Million", Oatnatu .>orth .. .. 399 28. Catherine JTraje*. Blue Spur .. .. 39c, •27. Wm Turner, T komairiro D.H S. . . 898 28 inaE Philip. Palmnston „ .. 392 -.9 Alex Gray, Tokoniairir" (.'.H.S. .. ..391 "0. X G Tubman, Beaumont . . . . 389 31 Wm Porteous, Palmerston „ .. 357 32. E'kn Male lvi, dakia.. .. ,„ ggi Hi Hirry Smith, Green Island .. .. 348 34, Haria B'uichop, Port; Chalmers .. .. 347 35. F auk Clowes, Waitaki High School .. 340 3ij. Wm Ouauid, Oamaru Normal .. .. 334 37. John G Bee, Oamaru District High School „ 3,50 38. Jessie Bickiioll. Oamaru School .. .. 329 ■AQ, Mary J Love, Oreen Island „ .. 326 40. Charles Wilf on, M irninuton .. .. 324 41. Allied Kifhworth, Oamaru Normal „ 316 42. Anna Ellison, Palmer.iton .. .. 28'J 43. Juhn Bremner, Tapauui .. .. 272 41. Kooirs D Jack, Kavoosbourne .. .. 26s 45 Arthur T S Spain, Ojiinaru District High . . 230 The Board resolved to award scholarships to the first 10 candidates in the senior competiI tion, and to the first six in the junior competi- ! tion ; also, that the recommendations of the examiners in regard to additional scholarships be referred to a select committee to report to i the Board.

THK BOARD'S STAFF.

Mr M'Kenzie moved his first resolution (of which notice had been previously given) as follows :— " That with a view to facilitate a ro duction of the staff expenditure of this Board, notice be given to the secretary, the three school inspectors, and the three clerks now employed by the Board that their engagements will terminate at the end of three months from the passing of this resolution. (2) That applications bo invited from qualified persons to pprform the duties respectively of secretary, clerk, and school inspectors as follows : — One secretary at a ealaiy of £400 per annum; one clerk at a salary of £200 per annum ; two school inspectors at salaries of £400 each per annum, r/ith travelling expenses not tc exceed £150 each per annum. Such ap plications to be considered by the Board at a meeting to be held for the purpose in the first week of April." He felt, sorry that it should be his lot to move this but was confident that a reduction in the staff of the Board wa.B necessary, if it could be effected without impairing its efficiency. He had not seen the return of the Board's last year's expenditure, and had therefore based his calculations on that of the previous year. The Chairman said that the return for the past year was now being made up, and had not yet been laid before the Board. Mr M'Kenzie therefore continued basing his calculations on the last return. He found that the office staff of the Board cost £940 per annum, made up as follows : — Secretary, £500 ; one clerk, £250 ; second clerk, £140 ; third clerk, £50. The speaker could see no reason why two men should not be able to do all the work of that office, the secretary keeping the minutes and attending to the correspondence, while tho accountant kept the books. The Board was placed in a different position to other local bodies, inasmuch as they received the bulk of their revenue direct from the Government and the School Commissioners ; whereas other bodies, such as county councils, rsad boards, &c, had to pay for the collecting of their income. Since the speaker had been appointed to tho Board, he had been puzzled to know what its officers had to do. He thought it must be monotonous for them to have to attend at the office without sufficient work to occupy their timo. He had no hesitation in saying that many business men in the city could do single-handed the whole of the Board's office work. He proposed that the Board should reduce its staff to two dorks one at £400 per annum, and one at £200, and he was sure they would get plenty of men who could do the work satisfactorily. He understood the town clerk of Dunedin received only the same salary as the Board|s secretary, and no one would surely institute a compromise between the responsibility of thpse two offices. The Board had in its employment a large number of active young men who held positions aR schoolmasters, and who were getting under £200 per annum, but who were quite fit for office work, and would gladly exchange their position. The speaker would next deal with the question of inspectors. He did not wisn to go inito thfe hibftoty of the

wretched past in connection with the appointment of the Board's last inspector, but he (Mr M'K'inzie) might say that he considered him a supeifluity, and he had no hesitation in assertirjg that the office was made for the man. He did not think that the Board was called upon to pay £2000 per annum for its inspectors, and was of opinion that there should be a reduction in that department. If their energies were properly directed two men could do tha work of the three. The Board hak 170 schools under its control, which, divided by 2, gave 85 for each two inspectors. The speaker had made a calculation, in which he allowed 21 days each year for the examination of pupil teachers, 30 days for a month's holiday, 52 days for Saturday holidays, and 52 days for Sundays. That left 210 days during which the schools could be inspected, giving an average of 2^ days for each school. As to salary, £400 per annum and £150 for travelling expenses should bo fair remuneration for eacn inspector. There were a laige number of teachers able and willing to take the position of inspector — that was to say, in case the present inspectors did not reapply lor their situations; for he did not mean to say that the Board was dissatisfied with their work. He had no doubt that the laige expenditure at tending the adtninisti ation of the educational system throughout the country would before long come under review, and he , therefore thought that it would be wisse for the Board to put their house in order, or it mighi be done tor them in a manner they would not like. A long pause followed Mr M'Kenzie's speech, and no seconder was found to his motion.

The Chairman said that tho motion must in that case must lapse. The remarks of Mr M'Kenzie had been nude iv a ternpeiate manner, but he himself was not surprised at the motion fiuding no seconder, because the point in the Board'B management which that gentleman had attacked was its strongest, the ex penuiture of tha Otago Education Board being proportionately the lowest in New Zealand. Mr M'Kknzik said he had given notice also of the iulluwiug resolution :—'* That the Finance and Appointments Committees of this Board be abolished, and that all the business and proceedings necessary to carry out the duties of the Board be considered at the 01 dinary meetings in open Board, except on such occasions as the Board, by resolution to that effect, resolve to go into a. committee of the whole." However, after the treat ent accorded to his former resolution ho would withdraw this, as it was uselesß moviner resolutions which found no support.

APPOINTMENTS SANCTIONED.

Alex Pine, head teacher, Ninth East Harbour ; Charles Roseveare, do, Waiwera town ship; Annie P. Neish, do, Taiaroa Heads; Cordelia Collins, pupil teacher, xllbany street ; A.lox. Crawford, do, do ; Kate Ferguson, Kate Fraser, James Hutchison, and James Pinder, pupil teachers, Normal School ; Isabella Dick, do, Mornington ; Ellen Campbell, do, George street ; Kate Dermer, do, do; Isabella Smith, do, Wiiliam street; Elizabotn Boveiidge, do, Arthur street ; Mary Christie, do, Kaikorai ; James King, Mary Renfrew, and Kate Nimmo, do, Macandrew road.

RESIGNATIONS ACCEPTED.

it. C. Darling, head teacher, Kyeburn Diggings ; G-. P. Bell, do, North-East Harbour ; P. M. WilsoD, first assistant, Tapanui ; Bessie It. Reid, pupil teacher, Macandrew road.

WHARE FLAT.

A deputation from the Whare Flat Committee asked that a new school be erected thiire. The architect was instructed to report on the matter.

WAIHEMO.

The Secretary to the education Department forwarded a letter received from settlera at Waibemo complaiming that the Board would not remove the teacher, of whose iucompetence they had complained —Referred to inspectors for report, and the Chairmau was requested to correct misstatementa made by the Committee.

PUPIL TEACHERS EXAMINATION.

It was decided to enforce the legulation in the case of pupil teachers who had twice failed to pass the examination.

DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The Dunedin School Committee wrote asking how it could comply with section 64 of the Education Act, seeing that the diatrict was about being divided into five. On the motion of Mr Begg, it was resolved that a committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Shand, Elder, Ramsay, and the mover, to arrange for the elections of the Dunedin School Committee.

NGAPARA.

Copies of resolutions passed at a public meeting at Ngapara were received ; also a, letter trom Mr W H. Walker on the mode of examination of his school by the Board's inspector. — Received.

PUKEIVITI.

This Committee recommended the removal of the teacher at tlieir Kcliool on thegrouud that he was not capable to hold the position. Resolutions of a public meetiug held re the same were also forwarded, to the effect that the teacher is a competent man, and that the Committee be asked to resign. — Referred to inspectors for report. REPRESENTATION ON THE HIGH SCHOOL BOAKD. Messrs James Fulton and Keith Ramsay were appointed to represent the Education Board on tho High School Board of Governors; Mr T. W. Hislop to represent the Waitaki High School.

OTEPOPO. A letter was read from the Ofcepopo Committee asking that the names of all the candidates for the head master&hip of the school be forwarded to them.

After discussion it was resolved that as the Committee had been given two months' notice in which to make a recommendation as to a master, the Board should now appoint a competent man from the list of applicants aent to them.

Mr G. W. C. Macdonald, at present first assistant in the Albany street School, was then appointed to lh« position.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS. The election of members of the Board was fixed for March 5, at 2 p m.

ACCOUNTS.

, Accounts amounting to £5249 83 3d wore passed for payment. rae's junction.

It was resolved to carry on the subsidised school at Rae's Junction as a branch of the Beaumont School.

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE!.

Estimates of the Board's income and expenditure were laid on the table.

THK BOAED'S FINANCES.

Mr Bbgg moved—" That a committee consisting of Messrs Elder, Fraer, Shand, and the mover bo appointed to look into the Board's finances with the view of ascertaining if any funds are available for tho purpose of increasing teachers' salaries and allowances to commiltees ; and also to look into the question of of the Board's bcholarehip.-;." Mr Elder seconded the motion.

Mr M'JKbnzie moved that the motion be amended by the addition of the words, "and to make provision for the establishment of a District High Sdlrooi at Palmerßton."

Tho motion was carried in its original form. SPECIAL MEETING. A Rppcial meeting of the Board was fixed for the 24th inst., when the distribution of tho buildings grant aud other business will come up.