EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2273, 23 September 1897, Page 11

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of: the Education Board, held on the 15 h, was attended by Mr D. Borrie (ehairniMi), the Hon. J. MacGregor, the Roy. P. B. Fraser, Messrs H. Clark, W. Snow, and J. M. G-«U*way.

SUTTON.

A deputation, conMS.>iug of Messrs C Dore and P. Spratr, waited ou tbe board from the Suttou district, Middlemarch, to af.k tor the eatabliebraoufc of a school — The Secretary s»id tbe irwpectors had nob yet reported ou tho application. — Mr St-ow supported tbe request of the deputation — '! he chairman *ud Mr S<jow were appointed a committee to visit tbe locality and report to the board at their next meeting.

GRANTS.

Tbe following applications for grant* for the half c*»t of wotks were allowed : -Hooper's Inlet, reclaiming (-chool grcuad, £5 ; Kokonga, outhoufex, £7 Us 8d ; Luggivte, outhous' s, £5 ; Msnnkft Greek, fencing and a"»ohalfcing, £4- 10- ; Portobello, fencing, £1 7s 6d ; Katanui, new r*-*--.. £2 6s 6d ; K«iso, spouting round school, £3 15s. _„« application from Gler.ledi for £1 10 a for tennis balls and racquets was dec'ined. The 1/awreuce Committee mad* a claim for payment of repairs to the pchool, and it was decided to inform thr m that the account w»b one fch^y should pay themselvep. Tbe K*<lbo Oooamittee applied for aa improvement of the school ventilation. — Referred to the architect for a report. It was decided to put an additional window iv one of lh» rooms ot t"-e Naseby School.

GTWNASIUMS ON TUB VLAT.

The CleiK ol the Macasidcew road School Cotnmilteo wrote stating that sit a recent meeting the foil ,wing motion was passed : - «• Seeing hs affairs are U n iing there is a probability t*>nt *.!l t.ba eorxuni-tees of the schools on the Flat will be forced to request; the board ti grant £150 to each for gymnastic purposes this committee -would respectfully augpest totbe Edutatioii Bj&rd the feasibility of providing one frtmoosium for 'the u«-c of the ffchoois on "the yiat, bring convinced that one building will !;e q««fc3' adequate ior all the gymnastic purposes required." Tfae board was unauimons that something in tl.s nature of the sngfestion would have to be done, and it wss decided that a committee cons:etiag of the chairman, Mee-«rs« V. B. Vraar.r, Snow, and Qailavray be. ai>p itrted to t»k'» into consideration the applications for grjnbi for y} rcm*Biumß from the school committee* on the J'iafe, and alsi the general question ol' gyui--.vabium tubsidies

Appli»aUons for £150 wibsidics from the "Oinsnifcfcees of Caverbham, Forbury and Mornicgtsm were accordingly held over pendiug a vpai-t from the committee.

An application of the Raveesbourne Commifc'ee for £15 for the purpofe of providing gymnastic appliances with which to fib up the boating sh*d, which had been placed at the disposal of <be committee as a gjmuasium for the echool children, was declined, j UNEXPKNDKD BALANCES • The Wticabuna Gully Committee wrote ask- j ing if they could claim a suhwdy on balance* of locally- raised money brought forward —The Secretary pointed out that th»> question involved was this: whether the board could grant a Bubsidy on locally-raided money that h<*d been raised three or four years aeto and had not been expended. — Messrs P. B Fkaskr *nd Gallaway oxpr< S3cd themselves as being strongly of j opinion that-, so long as the money was bona fide i locally rais<d, a subsidy should be granted on if; I when required, no matter nt what lapse of i time after the date of collection the subs-iny was asked for. — It was resolved — "That, the auditor having repotted that the balance brought forward was localiy raised, the subsidy be granted." OAMABU SOUTH. It was d' cided to comply with the request of the Oamaru Soath School Committee, aud asphalt the footpaths leading to the echool at a cost of £6. KAIHIKU. Applications were received from the Kaihiku Committee for improvements and alterations to echool and residence, and for new furniture, &c. — Thf> report of the architect on the state of the building was reid and. adopted, but it was decided not to make any additions to the rosid,ence. If the inspectors report unfavourably on the fchool furniture at the forthcoming examination new furniture to be forwarded. OTIAKB. A letter from the Otiako Schcol C<mmittea with reference to the state of echool floors and the removal of galleries was referrel to the architect to report. OAMARU MIDDLE SCfiOOL. A request was received from the Oamaru Middle School Committee that wire netting bs fixed on the windows of the school. The reason givtn for the request was that the windows were continually being broken, the school being in a very exposed position. — The Secret ary said that there were 14- windows, and the cost of complying with the request would ba £H 14-a. — Mr GAi.TJk.wAT said it was evident that the windows were being broken by bays throwing stones, and if that was so it was surely the duty of the local police "to put a stop to the practice. — Tte matter was left in the hands of the chairman. TAPANUI. The Tapanui School Committee wrote asking for information as to control of gleba and responsibility for repairs to fences, &c. — It was. resolved — '• (1) That the glebe is, like the residence, part of the teacher's emoluments, and it ought not to be curtailed without the sanction of the board ; (2) as to keeping fences and dilches, the board, by resolution dated 15fch July, 1895, hold itetchers responsible for the ' ordinary repairs in connection with their resi-

denceand gkibe that all tenants are expte'ed to under£*ke."

O\TAKA VALf.CY.

An applicatiojv ,from residents 4 afc Ownka Valley for s. new school wm rcf«rtod to the inspectors to report utwi when in the district.

DAI.VJBY.

A letter was read from the Tapanni C^mmil>t<-« de-lining to ivot«r into a o-mtract fov the conveyance of children fiom Dalrey to the Tapanui Scbool, and a letter from settler* at D«Uvey k faked for tlie e«lvnblit<braent of a new eob'ool in (hfif district. — On tho motion of Mr P. B Fraser, it was resolved — " Tbah the arrangement* for the cowvej anco of tbe Di»lvoy children be terminated, and that the board will receive further propcs«ls from the parties iutoreated."

WAIPOKI.

A letter was recorded from the Stcrefcary of the Mines and Library Committee, Wtupori, asking that the freehold of tho site oflxrei to them for their building may bo given to thenu. — It was decided to inform the committee Ibat tbe board had given aa good a title as it has iUelf, nnd th»t it cannot see its way to do anything" further in th*» inattrr.

,YDEVAI.R,

Sottlers at Ciydevale petitioned the board for tho establishment of n «u oxidised school, and it was agreed th»t feuch a echool shoald beestabliahSd on th« u-u<*l terms

GHKEN ISTAND.

A letter was read from Mv Hecbison, who stated fcbat the objeotions urged against h'B uhjtioo by several members of the deputntioa who waited on the board Wt month were not correct. H« asked th« board to satisfy itself of the suitability of the stotion.

Tn« e-msiiib'e appoin^d by the board to m*ke iuqnirieit for a "section suitable for the teacher's re^'fiViii'e r9])««*ted as follows : —

We, the commit* co appointed to report upon the various sites available *or teacher's residence at (rreen Maud, huvo i!ic honour to r.port as fellowa :— We vi-it*'.^ *b<j locality, . inspected tho various Kites offer-d, anJ, with tbe issistauce of the architect, -.arefully i'xainin»s'l nil U\o-« that seemed at all suitable tV,r the puipose. We find that tho two wites already, coii^dered by 1 the board ara-ioore suitable for the puipose than any of the others ; w« are of opinion that the acre sUe_.-ffered by Mr luviug is the bast, ;jud if two of the sections could 1 c got, «t £30 i-uch we mhoulil siave no hesitation in hdvi-ing the board to ljuy two of them. Personally we ate of op ; nion thai; tin acre of ground is more t.ban ia r-er.esfiiry or desirable in sur-.h a loosli'y, but if bbc iHiard should think other-.-. he, or should be prepared to take i-he larger aivw. in order to st'curo the JiCitt siu*, ibcu this .'.D'i w-HiV. be .attained by the purchase of !ho aciv. ". '.i- objections to flerHj-oa's Bite have, we cmsi'it"', been oxaKge>ale'l ; but iv i'ousequencu -jf ihe laud' -loping away from the ;t"2ef, an<l in the diiecticn of sections owned by other people, the question of drainage would probably cause some difficulty. This is, we think, the only objection of any con<-oquenc4, and the question of drainage seem* to us a serious one in many part* of the borough. This site command • a Rood view of the scliofl, jUthonph it ia a little further away from the school than Irving's site. One of the lute's olVered adjoins IleHjison's, aud we are of opinion that although it is too narrow by its If, an pxcelWnt site could lie secured if tbat Bectinn of Herbitfon's, which ndjoins it, could bp got along with if, and U»is section (Uurpby'ii) along with Herbison's half acre would make the best siie of all.

.T. MacOuegor. Donald Borrie. The Clerk of the Green Island roajunittee wrote :—: —

T am insttueted by the committee to express their great surprise at jour board's continued opposition to their views and to the generally expressed wishes of tbe householders in the selection of a site. The committee have ay« ry atroeg foeli&g th-»t i heir views have not received the consideration due to them, r.or liaß due ■weight been given to t.heir of the the school's requirements, »nd should you!- board persist in ignoring their wishes a-'d opiuions, it may leuult in the abandonment by th-m of all interest in schofl nuttora or in tbeir re-ignatioo. It may not bo generally known t,o members of tbe board that the old residence and site did vot originally cos-t the board a sixpence, as both site and house were gifs from the early settlers of the district.

lo answer lo Mr Gallaway, the Secretary said the B tenement in the last paragraph of the letter was not correct.

Mr MacGkkgor thought the board should not recsivti the letter. It was not a letter that a oemmittee should write to the board ; it conveyed a threat. The board gave every consideration to school committees and deputations, snd to all facts and circumstances brought before them, and it was exceedingly improper for this committee, after the board had taken a certain course, to indulge in language of this sort. The statements in the letter were incorrect. The board gave the fullest consideration to everything brought before it, and if they were not open to conviction they would not foe in tbe position they were in now. At the last meeting he said be was perfectly willing to reconsider the whole thing, and he would not allow any committee, without protest on his part, to address the board in the manner that this committee had done. Such action should not ba allowed to pass unnoticed, and he would move — "That the letter be returned to the committee."

This motion, not being seconded, lapsed.

Mr P. B. Fraseb did not think the motion should be so strong as that proposed by Mr MacGregor. He thougkt, however, that the board should let the committee know that the communication was not a proper one to send to the board.

Mr Gallaway said he had always been in favour ot the acre eection, and therefore the letter from the committee could not be said to have any influence on his vote.' The letter from the committee had evidently been written under a stress of feeling, and they. would be too much of it altogether if they were "to return it. Ths only threat in tha latter was that the committed would resign, and if they did so it was their own business. The letters from Mr Hecbisoq and tbe com-

mittee were received, and it was agreed to purchase Mr Irving's acre site' for the schools master's residence.

GENERAL. ' . J Leave of absence was granted to the Hon. J. MacGregor fo* four month*. A letter from the Painters' Union as to wagei, hours of work, &c. f was referred to the architect,

Tte secretary was instructed to make arrnnjioaieuto for securing a school site ou block VII. Woodlands.

Tfae committee who visited the Warepa Bush reported that they could not recommend the establishment of a school, but fcugge«ted that arrangements bs made with the W*repo Committee to drive tho children to the "Warepa Sohool at the board's expense. — Tho report w»s adopted.

The Kaikorai School Cotnmitteo wrots offering to pay half the cost of fencing and levelliog the ground. — A report from the board's committee appointed to vioib the ground was also r«ad, aod it was decided to pay half the cost of the proposed wotk. The board went into committee.

The adjourned" meeting of the Education Board was held on Thursday, when there were present — Measro. D. Bocrie (ohairm»n), W. Bnow, J. M'Rao Gallaway, J. F. M. Fraser, A. M'K«rrow, ihe Rev. P. B. Fr«eer, and tho Hon» J. MaaGrogor. " SCHOOLMATES."

The Minister lor Education wrote encloMPg a letter ha htd leceived from Mr P. B. Fraser, calling his attention to the i'scb th«t a publication entitled " Boltoohuhbaa " was being read in the public tohoola in school hours. The Minister said tbe puUication was unauthorised, aud requested to be informed to what extent the allegation that it w»s beifcg read in school hours t«is correct.

?<tc P. B. Frasec'd letter to the Minister w»» iresid.

Mr P. B. Praske ?»id th«.b two or three uatetiu£B ago he brought Ibis matter before the board, bnfr-ihey dtcliaed to. taka auy action ia the >uatt«r. He pointed out at that time that tho publication contsinod a letter from one of ttieir chief inspectors, in which the p»per wa<? we'ejintd as an addition to the reading oou~»e of our t«ublie sctioois. He had sKo pciuted ouh that ifc '.yhs afcat-ed that it was to 'bo read by ohilciren during school -hour*, aud *I*3 that there wer« oampetiUojH t> be ield in tbe public schools by subscribers only ; but the board hud declined fcrintetfetein fcLc matter. Ultimately the t-oa/d sgree'i torcq'iCßt the iuspectora to t>»y tc-wh<>!i u->e this publicHtien was to bis put to in the schools, and also to report o;i its cont*nt«. Trie inspectors, however, had oaiitted to reply <;ii I Sift spfcial points that were tubmitted to them. 'i'he bourd consequently had no official knowkvlge of how the pubiicatieu was being «sed, aud ho therefore moved — " Ths-t ». uircuiar be fe^ut >;O school teachers askiog the;a to Ktftte whether the periodical • Schoolmates ' is pufc fci? ouy upo in the schoois under their control, .and, if so, to state »f it i« circil«t«d or u«>!<l wihin the fi'hool hr.ui:s ; and th?(i in the tnftaiiilmo a copy of tha insprctors' report already aiitimifctei} bs fof«"&rdert to ihe Minister for Rducatioo."

Mr Snow 9* id be had setn tte publication cefaircd fci.\ Hid mutt say be agreed that it was a very whi-t'ul one for children. As t« it* being read iv the scbools h«-fci»ew noihtog about that, but he kc<iw that his owu children devoured pee nedodicta! a* soou as they got it. He h»d himself r^ar] ii, aod fonud that it; contained many nse'ul a?ticl<;6. He tibould be feorry to see it excluded from tee sehoolfi — that was to oay, fo excluded <>hat the children could not get it..

Mr F, B. FiUSiOt jaid he had 1 rrtver paid a •word against Utapaiudieal. The children migki; gefc it through tbe Pest Offise, but he object". -I to the. sohoo'.s bains roade u«,e of for the circulation o'f's private publication. Mr MacGregor hoped they wou'd not pa«s the resolution. The Minister bad a«ked a specific question, and they should oourfceousiy reply to that question. He believed he was correct In saying that the board wa* not aware of the publication beiog read in tho schools during school hours or in any other way, and ;hat reply should be forwarded to' the Minister. The board had not given permission for <fcbe circulation or reading of ' this periodical, and had not recognised it iv any way. All that had been done was to instruct the inspectors to report as to the nature of the publication. That report had been received, but no resolution had been passed regarding it. He thought it was much to be regrttted that the matter had been again brought before the board, and the simplest plan was to do as he had suggested. He therefore moved as an amendment — " That the Minister be ieformed that the board is not aware tbat the publication referred to in his letter of the 27th of August is being used in the schools in this district hi school hours."

Mr Snow seconded the amendment.

Mr J. ¥. M. Phaser thought Mr MacGregor did not appreciate the attitude Mr P. B. Fraser had taken up in the matter, which was not one of antagonism to the publication referred to, but purely a question of principle as to whether they should have used in th* schools publications the use of which was not authorised.

Mr Gallaway did not agree with the amendment for the fcioaple reason that if they desired to answer the- Minister's question courteously they had the means of ascertaining whether the paper was circulated by the schools, or not. It seemed to him the motion was simply a means of getting information to supply to the Miaifltex« and that they, need not bother themselves about th» motives of members^ -The qaickest way to obtain tht information the Minister desired was to send oub circulars, and he thought tha* should be dons. Whether doing this. wan favourable or unfavourable .to "Schoolmate**

w&«, so far as he was concerned, quite imina'erial. ! Mr Ci^hk entirely concurred in the remarks \nnoe by Mr Gallaway. On the question being put, ihe amendment <r&s negatived and the motion adopted. NORMAL SCHOOL. The following letter from Mr D. White was teai :—: — I hay« seen Mr Hanna, and he tolls me that the ficconamodation at our gymnisium is quite inadequate for the number of girls and students attending the pymnastic classes. The apparatus too, is i»«or and ii. sufficient for the purpose. We hay« ISO *irl* in the Sixth and Seventh Standards snd ••arlv 40 students. To try and meet the <iitfic»lty I divided both pupils »nd students into t\v« divisions, having them drilled on alternate O8T«, but Mr Hanna still thinks the classes far toa l»rs« to dvill thrm properly. Ido not approve of the *uggebtion to send the stnde-ntp either to ■{J»ion itreet or to the Girl.s' High School. Even vfexa this done, there is s-till the sam« difficulty with reeard to pupils. To send n»j eirls to the Union street School gymnasium strikes me a3 a little incougiuou*. I understand tbat gymnasiums. have been «repted where there are but 20 pupils in th« Fifth and Sixth Standards. In view of this, might I Eugpesb tbat the board's architect raport o« the possibility of improving. our own gymnasium. I have arranged with Mr Hanna to wait a little and see if the board carry out my suggestion. The Chairman said it was it Mr White's ! own request thp.t half the gymnasium space was"tnken some years ago for the purpose of providing a model country school for the bentlib of tb« students*. , Oa tha motion «f Mr J. F. M. Phaser, it wa<j resolved — "That Mr White be .instructed to mako the necessary arrangements with Mr Hants, for the students receiving instruction 5n gymnastics at the Gir's' High. School Gymnasium. schools' cokfebence. The Secretary of the Ounedin and Suburban Schools' Conference wrote forwarding the resolutions with reference to amendments to the Education Act which were carried at the recant annual meeting. — On the motion of Mr J. F. M. Fkaser it was resolved — " That the letter be received, and that the conference be informed that the board have already communicated with the Minister in the direction indicated."

WAIAREKA SCHOOL.

The reports which Inspectors Goyen and Fitzgerald had been requested to submit on the plan for the proposed new school at Waiareka were read by the secretary. The architect's plan was generally approved, and the opinion was expressed that it would be well to try a school or two built on the principle proposed by Mr Somecville in the present instance.

Mr F. B. Fbaser said : The board has to face the position that not only do the inspectors approve of the Waiareka schoolroom as a properly designed room, but Mr Goyen goes further. The plan shows 30ft space from the front to the back of the rocm, and Mr Goyen in his plan attached won Id even make it 34ft, Arranging .the desks in two groups of five each, with a gangway up the middle. The inspectors state that the advantages of. this arrangement are ac follow : — (1) There is a large floor space available (16ft) for bringing classes oat to receive- direct oral teaching from the teacher. (2) The class under instruction is thuß near the teacher and the blackboard. (3) The other pupils are well within the teacher's view. (4) By bringing his pupils to the floor be affords them relief by frequent changes from the sitting to the standing position. (5) He can see the desk workers without turning hie head. (6) The gallery, or back-raised benches, ar g f or t^e s ii en t WO rk. whinh.

can be prosecuted under les's distract-

ing noises than under the common or longitudinal plan. I gather these as their chief reasons for recommending the new style of building. If this new plan has superior advantages to the common or longitudinal arrangement, ifc ought to be adopted and made a rule for aH future buildings. But the bo^rd ought to recognise that the plen is distinc'y new, and that a new departure in school buildings is here being made without the knowledge or formal sanction of tho board. It b0.3 undoubtedly the approval of tbe board's inspectors. Lefc me describe ihe common plan. The rcom is about 22ft in depth, instead of 34-ffc as proposed by Mr Goyen. It is generally about 36f b long, the total area of floor spacs being about the same in both cases, only the inspectors propose tbe teaching should be c'oce across tbe length instead of across tho depth of the building as heietofore. Regarding their reasons for the new arrangement, I do not think the advantages alleged are sufficient to justify the board in -adopting tbe plan, and there are in my opinion several disadvantages peculiar to the new plan itself. The increas°d floor Rpace is more apparent than real, there being 320 square feet in the common plan and 334 in the new. while the common plan provides se&ts for 80 children and the new for only 60 ; so that the increased floor space is not got from any inherent advantages of the new plan, but from simply robb'-ng the seating accommoda'ion of the school. The other chief advantages alleged to be peculiar to this plan is tbat the teacher can bring his classes oat to, give them tbe "relief" of standing and be near the blackboard. They can be brought near the blackboard onder any of the plans. Bat my experience leads mo distinctly to controvert tbe expressed intention of the inspectors to havethe children so frequently standing on the floor for instruction, especially in a country school, where a considerable proportion of the children have to walk, going and coming, six miles, some eight, aud it may be a few of them ten miles a day, besideß their play. To make it necessary from the plan of the school that any proportion of them should stand in the course of the day two or more hours on the floor seems to me thoughtless, if not cruel. The plan had besides these further disadvantages : (1) The blackboard space in the inspector's plan is very small, being only 14ft, while in the common plan it is exactly 30ft — a very important point. (2) The " silent workers " in the back seats have frequently to do exercises ■written on the blackboard. In the Waiareka plan the wall blackboard is about 30ft from the back seats, and in Mr Goyen's 34- ft — i.e., the maximum depth is 34ft in the latter, against 22ft of the common plan. Of course tbe re is a small movable blackboard on an easel in all schools, besides the wall blackboards, but the wall blackboards are the chief ones. The effect on the pupils' eyesight is surely a factor worth considering. (3) In the common plan the fire is Bft from the children in the front seats, ■ and 22ft in the back seat?, while in the ' inspector's the distances are 16ft and 34ffc. I think the English Education department may be taken to have the best expert advice on the planning of school buildings. I' have the revised code of regulations for 1897, in which ate given the building rules, issued under the Privy Council, governing the entire school premises. Article 85 provides : " All new school premises and enlargements must conform generally to the roles contained in schedule 7." The echedule has tho following statements bearing on the subject : " Tho proper width for a schoolroom is from 18fb to 22ft." It also prints in italics under the arrangement* of desks : "In propor-

tiori os the depth is increased, the teacher must raise his voice to a higher pitch ; and this becomes exhausting to himself, while at the same time it adds inconveniently to the general noise " Quite obviously tbe teacher cannot always bring his pupils on the floor for every explanation of oral or blackboard work. Hence, to have some of them llyda off is directly in the teeth of the English regulation, which will, I think, recommend itnelf to most people as in accordance with common sense. The only reason I see in favour of the new plan is the arrangement of the light. It ia plentiful, and is admitted from the pupils' left side, wbich is the proper side. In the new Waiareka infant room, however, as. is pointed out by Mr Fitzgerald, the light enters from the pupils' right side.' The ligottog is a matter of the firs, importance. The English building lules have the following :— " Every part and corner of a school should ba fully lighted. The light should as far as possible, and especially in class rooms, be admitted from the left side of the scholars. This rnle wilt be found greatly to influence the planning. All other windows in cla«s rooms should be regarded as supplementary or for summer ventilation. Where left lighc is impossible right light is the next best. Windows full in the eyt sof teactfers or scholars are not approved." In the face of this English expert authoritative opinion, the fact is that a number of the class roonn of the prin- j cipal schools of Otago are constructad with the ■ light full in the lace of tbe teachers, and j without any other light at all, left or right. And I know as a consequence some of the teachers complain of .their eyesight ; while these class rooms, even from a pupil's point of view, are sa contrary to the English ! requirements as to light that they would not be approved for educational purposes. It seems to me that the board would be doing a wise thing if it adopted as many of the English building regulations as are applicable to our circumRtances, seeing that the architects of all school buildings throughout the United Kingdom have these rules as a general guide. I will, therefore, move — '• That the board instruct the architect to arrange this room in the usual way — to make-it not more than 22ft in depth and about 36ft in leDgfch." ' Mr H. Clark seconded tbe motion. Mr J. F. M. Fraseb thought they were indebted to Mr P. B. Fraser for having brought his knowledge of the English regulations before them. He moved — "That the matter be relegated to a committee, consisting of the chairman (Mr Borrie), Mr P. B. Fraser. Mr H. Clark, Inspector Goyen, and the architect, to prepare an improved plan, with power to act." Mr P. B. Fbaser withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment, which was carried nem. dis. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £8282 5s 2d were passed for payment. I LEITH VALLEY. The Leith Valley Committee wrote with reference to the formation of work* for the protection of their property from the stream. On the motion of Mr J. F. M. Fraser, the matter was ordered to stand over jn the meantime. PORT CHALMEES. Mr P. B. Fbaser drew attention to the report in the Times of the Port Chalmers School Committee, in which it was stated : " Correspondence with the Education Board as to an allf gcd insufficiency of the staff in charge of the lower standards was read, and consideration of the subject postponed till next meeting. It was unanimously resolved that the board be requested to grant Miss Bott six months' leave of absence on full pay, and that

a letter of sympathy be sent ta Mr B«bd," This matter of the Porn Cfc*lmer« S«hool was before the board on Wednesday night, when, two motions were adopted, aad he would now move — "That tha two mofcioni b« adopted ia open board," with the cerWflsntiou of two facts — first, tbat tbe board never iaitiafced anjthing in connection with the &I>.ff at Potb Ch&lmers ; and, second, that ik had v«c«v*d no communication asking for six nto*t»bV lwn of absence on full pay. Tha matter was of gc»aSi importance, and the beard should afc onoa be put righb with the public and tha piopla of .Port Caalmers. The motion was carried. The following are the motions agreed to in committee on Wedixyd*y on the m»ti»a of Mr MacGregok, seconded by Mr P. B. Fkashr : — (I) "That the Port Chalmers Soh»ol Co«mittee be requested to st*te to the bo»rd all the facts and surroundings of the c»s« of Miss Bott." (2) " That tha reckor b« r«qae«©d to communicate to the bvard all tke fa*4w regarding the state of the juaior deaartatoofe of the school leading up to the xebioa takoa by tbe committee in communicating wifck the board, and leading to the application for leave of absence to Miss Bott." UONU9E3. Mr MacGregor's motion on tie suVjacb of bonuses was allowed to stand nvsr nntnl after the session of Parliament. •