EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 18

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Education Board was held on the 16th icsfc; present — Messrs P. Borrie (ebaiimau), W. Snow, A. M'Kerrow, | H. Clark, J. F. M. Frtscr, J. M. Gillaway, J. J. Raaieay, ths Hey. P. B. Fraser, and the Hon. J. MacGEt^or. . THE SEW JIEirBBRS. Dr Brown aud M'ss.-s Sinj aud Harraway, the j candidates who obtained tho highest nutnbfr of I votes ab the recent election, were formally declated ekcttd. WAIPOHT. Mfssi\3 Cotton and Blackmore waited on the board to urge a ccmplaint~agaiusi the teacher at Waipori. Mr Blackmore said be spoke on behalf of himself aud other residents vjjio had children &i the school. He complained that the te&chpi- (Mr Kerr) did not advance children when they were Mtad for it. He had spoken to the teacher, who refusad to put the children on, notwithstanding that the inspector had reported that they were fit to be advanced. The teacher aim said that he knew the children better than tbe inspector did. Mr Cotton suppcrted Mr Black morv'a statements, and er- i pressed hm be'itf that Mr X- vc did not take the ) children into bis own room because they were > the children of pe^p'e vrih whom hs had had d'sagrefment. There had been fire children who had been kep 1 : b.ck. ' After the deputation tad re'ired, the beard discussed thp malts r informally. ! Inspector Goyen reported that a teacher bad j a right, even in the face of the inspector's J report, to refuse to advanse a, child who was unnfc. , The school committee wrote ecdorsing the acticli of the head teacher. They were satisfied that he aefed in the best interests of the achool acd of the children. , Kr Ramsay remarked that Mr Kerr had also il kept back his own child aud the children of some of his own friends. i Mr P. B. Fkasek pointed out that Inspector | Bossence had imported that the pup'ls failed by Mr Kerr in Standard II had passed the inspector's f xamin&tion, ai.d the inspector was of > opinion that they were fit to proceed to Stan- ' dard 111. In this case hs would a^k the bo*rd ! to.remember that Mr Kerr had 36 pupils in his room, and he was surprised to learn that only 15 cf tbe se had passed. Mr Ramsay objected to statements like this being made in open board, and questioned Mr Fra;et's motive ia bringing such a facb before j the board ! Mr Fhaser said this wss not the first tims i Mr Rsmsay had imputed motives to him. Only the day befcre Mr Rimsay had so interrupted him by imputing motives that he (Mr Fraper)had 'eft the mee;inr, and he would 'say at once that if Mr R'liiisav was allowed to impute these motives he (Mr Fraser) would i refuse to sit at the table and do the board's = busine's. > Mr Ramsay wished to say be had not imputed motives to Mr Frasir either that day or the day before. A motion to go into committee on the matter "was lost. ; In answer to a question, the Secretary said that Inspector Goyen did not have Inspector ' Bcssence's report before him when he reported to tbe board. Mr Snow movsd— " That the head teacher Tje ssked to put these five children forward into Standard III." Ttjis motion was no 1 ; sre nded. Mr J. F. M. Fraser moved— "That the board, as a matter of principle, refuges to interfere with the esercisa of the teacher's discretion." He might say that, seeing there wa3 friction hetweeu the teach r aud parties ia the district, is would be advisable for the teacher to advance the children. Teachers as a bodf were men whom i% behaved one tb deal with '" tenderly, because, in pjiat of discretion, a-i a body they were not tha wisest class of men ia tha world, and sometimes they ran their head* v against a brick wall when they needed to take enly two steps to Ihe right to *.void it. Mr MacG-khgoe secood?d ths motion. | A discussion followed, iv the course of which i Mr FuASiii remarked that unless the friction j between the parlies ceased there would have to \ be an inquiry by the board into the whole j matter. \ Mr P. B. Fraseji moved as an amendment — i "That tbs board hold au inquiry into the ' whole of the circumstanc s in connection with - tho dispute ab tte Waipoii School." Mr Snow seconded the motion, which was . carried by fivo to foar as against the arnead- '■ menb.. j Ou the motion of- the Hon. Mr MacGhegos it was decided to postpone the inquiry until ■ after the next meeii'ig of the board. ; IMPROVEMENTS. J Tbe following claims fer hi. lf the cost of improvements wei-d granted : — Union 1 sbreeb (for j asphalting, &c ), £20 : Glenkenich (painting inside cf school), £2 15* ; Milburn (painting inside of reboot), £S 10s ; Tarras (fencing). £5; Waitsti (painting inside of school), £3 6s. THE KOBMAI/ SCHOOL. His Worship tbe Mayor wrote suggesting that a, week's hdiday be j,iven to the pupila attending the Normal School during Jubiiea Week. I Ib was resolved that the sebool be closed | ou Wednesday, Thursday, and Fiiday irexb. | gi/?nomabu. | A petition was received from settlers at 5 Cailiu'a River asking that a school be estab- \ lished on block VIII, Glenomaru. j The t^etition --vas referred to Messrs Gslla- ; way snd iSnow to report. ' TAHAKOPA. : Mr Gio'eon J. Scott wrote oa behalf o£ him- j eelf and tha settlers in Upper Rlmu asking for assistance towards getting a schcoi for their chi'dreii this winter. The request was referred to Messrs Gallaway und Sini to report. .MAUKOATUA. The Maungatua School Committee applied to ha,ve tte school enlarged. Consideration of the application was deferred. en as lands. An application by the Chaslands School Cominitee to have the school enlarged was re- j {erred to the inspector. I OriAKE. j Tbe Otfake Scbool Committee asked per- ; mirsion to lay a floor uiider the galleries at j their own cost. Tbe application was granted subject to the »pprovitl cf the architect. KAIKORAI. Tbe Kaikorai Schcoi Committee applied for anadditiubxl papil teacher io tho schcoi. The application w&a dtclined. Dtf!\*ncmN The Diinrob-n Suhool Oommitlce renewed their application for an addition to 1b.9 school resideucp. The request w&s referred to the architec!; to lepoi b. ST. CLAIXf. An application by the. St. C'air School Committee for 10 fo.rus tW the gji.nuas'.um was J fieeliL cd. i Thecommitlee alsorcciuested that Mr Hinnu's '

servicas be granted a3 instructor in the school gymnasium. Ib was decided to ask Mr Harms if he had time co spare to attend the school. ■wylie's crossing. The Wylie's Crossing School Committee recommended tbabMUs Jd. Anderson, an ex-pupil tearher, be appointed as pupil teacher in the school in the place of a sewing mistress and a monitor. Toe board decliaed to agree to the recommendation. HOUIPAPA. The Hoaipapa School Cnmrnibtes wrote ask-

itigthe bo*rd to erect a bout-dary ience beUveeu the scboo! ground and Me Crawford's section. It was agreed to pay half tho cost of the- fance, HtAUUON'T. The architect having reported no the state of tl'e teacher's rtsidtnce at the Beaumont, ifc was resolved that lbs work be done oa co^oU'ion that tha committee pay half the cost of inside repairs. THE 1 lItArKTING COLLEGE. Mr D. 11. White wrote stating that tho result of the annual examination was as follows : Tr/tuty-eighb students p^sstd a fuli D certificate, 7 a partial D, 2 a full E, and 5 a partial B certificate. The firs!", second, and third prizes given for experimental scieco were awarded to tbe Otago Training College, v.biM eight other students received e^ecii! j uMon for excellence in the various suV jtcts oi' examination. A:: application ior the u&ual g-anl of £10 to-

wards the laboratory of the Training College f was granted. j A JUBILEE COMPETITION. Mr G. M'Alpir.e wrote asking pe'mission to circulate a, sheet in the board's schools with reference to a Jubilee competition. — The appli- j cation was declined. I A DISCLAIMER. | i The following letter fo the secretary from | , Miss J. T. Anderson, of the Wylie's Crossing i School, wag read: — "With regard to a letter ] which appeared in Saturday's Times over the ; signature of " Indignant Householder." I beg to ' assure you that I hive no sympathy whatever

wiLU the eomplatnts which \b makes regarding n.y supposed ill-treatment by the Education Board. As you are aware, I was quite agreeable to the removal of Miss Walton, seeing my term of service had such a short t'me to run. I have to cooiplaia of no ill-usage either ', from the board or yourself, but, on the contrary, ! have to acknowledge much kindness and con- ■ sideration. 1 ' ' The letter was received. ' SCHOOLS OF ART. The lollowiag rommunication was received from the Education department, Wellington :—: — j " In reply to your letter of the 18th ulb. I am directed to point out that the terms of section 7 of the Manual and Technical Instructions Act ■ do not allow of &a inspection of aD art school I under an education board, except in compliance* with a request from the board, The Minister is of I opinion that, in view of pending legislation, the present lime is not oppottune for giviug effect

to the resolution of your board to its full extent, bub tf the board wishes its owq school reported upon, and will make an application uader the section above mentioned, he will be glad to consider ib." — Consideration of the matter was deferred. MOSIOVA. The committee appointed to report upon th 9 memorial for the establishment of' a school ab Bfomona reported that they had visited the sita where the board were requested to erect a school, and mcc the ret Hers interested. They found (hat there were 35 children of school oge ready to attend a school on th^ proposed site.

A school ao this site would noS appreciably affect the attendance of the adjoining school. The committee recommended that a school and residence combined be erected on the site reserved by the Government, but that before any action was taken the Allaaton and Otakia School Committees be communicated with.— The Secretary of the Allanton Committee wrote that the establishment of a school at Momona would probably take about 10 pupils from Allanton School. The Secretary of the Otakia School Committee wrote to the effect that a school ab Momona settlement would nob affeci; the Otakia School in the meantime. Ib was resolved to proceed with tho erection of the school buildings. CAMBRIANS. An application from the Cambrians School Committee for additions and repairs to school residence was referred to the architect.

" MOS&IEL. Ib was decided to grant Mr Ri'Leod, thQ u«ad master at; Mosgiel, a month's. le»ve of ab' sence, on full pay, on account; ot ill health. The Education Board's meeting wan cjn« tinued on Thursday' morning ; present — Mr D. Borrie (chs-irman), the Hon. J. MacGregor, tha Rev. P. B. Fraser, Messrs H. Clark, J. J. Ramsay, J. F. M. Eraser, W. Snow, J. M. Gallaway, and A. M'Kerrow. EJESIG NATIONS. The following resignations wf.ra accepted :— John H. IMoir, relieving faacher j Annie Boyd, hevd tcicbet, Kokoaruo ; Ethel A IJ.1 J . Jordan, i3o, Itnund Hill ; Jessie l<" M'(»iegor. do, Waitabuna W-st ; Jaue Anderson, do, Wylie's- Grossing ; Claia E. Chalmer, mistress, Sanrlyinount ; Giace K. MacGregor, do, Ngapara. ; Wm. 'F. Browne, sixth assistant, Geovge street APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were confirmed ; Dmiel TVguson, bead master, Palmerston DH. Scbool, vice M'Lareti, deceased ; John II Moir, do, Kaitangata, vice Nicholson, left the service : Clara J£ Chalmer, head teacher, Taifri Ferry, vice Pctit-is, resigned; Jessie F. M'Grpgor, do, Circle Hill, vice Miss Green, left the service; Uthel A. P. Jorian, do, Table Hi'l, vies Miss Gunn».do ; John M. Nicjlson, junior male assistant, Albany street, vice Sp<jnce, promoted. ACCOUNTS. Accounts announcing to £8814- 9s 9d were passed for payment. j ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES. The anuual meetings ot householders for the ; election of scbool committees in the districts ; throughout Otago were fixed to taka place ou the evening of the 25th April. i ANNUAL REPORT. -, [ The draft ot the board's annual report for i the year 1897, addressed to the Minister for Education, was brought up. '!he Chairman moved the adoption of the drai'G report. Mr MacGeegor seconded (he motion. He said there wete one or two points in it of coi>- [ B ; darable pub ie interest. He referred morp particularly to tha remaiks under the hesd of " Inspection," where ib was stated : — " T !:•■ ( general report of the in«pecfcors is appead"' i hereto. The percentage of passes in standa.<N i ia the same as that of 1896 —namely, 89, <h*\. | of the classes (Standard 111 to Standard VV, | for tbe passes cf which the inspectors Art; rt- ■ sponsible, b«-ii.g 84-5. " F^om the point cf v.,>.j ot fct-indard parses these are very satisfacu*. t lvsuits. It will, however, be seen from 't > [ report that this i* ns>t the point of view fter*: which tLe in^ptcors judge the efficiency of th> teaching. Iv their repot* they give, \uti> txemplary tables, a pretty full explanation ci the difcevtnee between thtir test and tb* standard fcesb of efficiency, and show that the latter, though useful as shawiug the proportion of children thsfc won promotion to & higher class, ia very unreliable,, as .a test o£ teal efficiency in the work prescribed for the year.'" He directed attention to tho«e remarks, and he would suggess to the board that they mighfc_go further, and pay thai in the opinion of tbe board the attention of the Minister should be directed to these remarks in the report, and he should be csked whether it was nos lima thjit same chaage was now made in tbe system of standard pavi examinations. The Chairman thought that although ,it might" be ti^hs tv take the step Mr MacGiegor suggested, ifc should not be mixed up wifch the approving cf the report. It should ba & separate resolution, un!eiß Mr MacGrfCgor [ wished to amend the repcrt. ! Mr MacGregor did not wish that. ! The draft of the annual teport wafi adopted. I THE OFFICE OF CADET. ! Gordon Suiheriaud, cadet in ihe tffije, wrote resigning his position, and it was decided to advertise for a shorrhfcnd wiiter and typewriter (male or female), at a salary commtnc'ng a.t £40, Trith en annual increase of £10 up to The board decided to place on record their appn-eiation of tbe efficient method in which, iSu't.herland had dischargsd his duties ia the office. SHAN2-TON. Messrs Wm. Kennedy and David Peat, representing settiers m the Shaunou district, waited on the be.i7d to ask for tha erection of a schotol at Shannon. They were 13 miles from the Lee S'reani School and 12 miks from the school ab Suhioa. , The request was referred to one of the inspectors tor a r^pocb. THE PUPIL TEJSCHEES' TEST EXAMINATION. • ! Inspector Woven wrote, under aate March 16, as follows :—"lu: — "Iv our memo, of June 16, 1897, we wrote : ' There i?, we. think, liit'e doubt that; ! the pupil teachers' tesb examination has in a ; large measure tendered unnecasßary the foutlh ■ clasa examif-ation- We think that pupil j teachwa ftrpoinled uader the present arrangei ment3 might omit this^examiuation and proceed to the third class f xamination ia Jane or July ! of the jear i'o'kwmg that in which they aie ' appointee.' The board's resolution does nos | appear to the iD3pec;crs to bear upon, this pa^t :of the mpnxo. The inspeclors would ha glad to receive from tha board either approval or disapproval ot is ." It was resolved to agree to the suggestion, BOKO&ES. Mr J. 5. Tennant wro-e : — " As all the tearh^rg in the board's service have now .been working for some t'me under the amended regulations of 1895, I would beg to point out that maay ace eveu jet not e.t> joying tbe financial advantages thereof. This in itaeTf'wrt eaunot object to, bus several teachers like n-yself were most seriously sffected by what to us appeared the arbitrary reduction of bonuses iv IS9O. I would therefore most respectfully ask tha board to once more consider our case." Mr MacQ-segok said he intsnded to give a notice of motion dealing with bonuses, and moved that consideration of the letter be deferred till nest meeting. This was agreed to. Later ou Mr MacGregor gave notice of motion — "That the inspectors ba requested. to report to the board the np.me3 of any teachers who would have been entitled to bs advanced to the first rank of their clasß but for the new practice introduced" by the inspectors of reserving the highest marks for teachers who have been head masters of a school." Or in the alternative — " That regulation 13 be repealed and tha following substituted : ' The minimum qualification for the positions o£ head teacher and first male assistant of a district high school shall be A 2, 82, or G2.' "' JUNIOB SCHOLARSHIP SYIXABTIS. Inspectors Goyen and Fitzgerald wrote forwarding the junior echolarship syllabus, as amended by tha committee of teachers, heads of tho high schools, and themselves, and recommended us adoption. The amended syllabus was as Follows :— 1. English.— Explanation of words, phrases, anc passages selected from No. VI of the Readers pre> scribed for use in the Otago schools, psefixes a u> ' affixes, the Latin and Greek roots contained v Chambers's "Graduated Reader" (No. 6), para-" phrasing, composition. 2. Grammar. — Classification and inflexion, syn tax, analysis and synthesis of easy ieatences oi* not more than four clauses.

3. Writing and Dictition. — A passage of about ft dozen # lines and 20 selected words. 4. Arithmetic. — The parts of the mbject prescribed for Standard V of New Zsaland public schools, decimals ; the metric system not to be included. 5. Geography. — Physical features, political divisions, principal towns, climates, and chief industries and products of Europe and the British Em wire, and the drawing ana filling ia of rough outline map 3of the British Empire. Mr W. Eudey, secretary of the Educational Institute, forwarded a resolution passed by the* Committee of Management of the Educational Institute approving of the above amended syllabus. It was decided to consider the question at the next meeting of the board. THE ARTHUR STREET COMPLAINT. Mr J. Edgar, secretary of tbe Arthur street School Committee, wrote: — "With regard to this committee's inquiry re your recommeadations for vacancies on the staff, and your reply thereto, it was resolved — ' That, having laid the matter before your board, this committee consider they have done all that is necessary, and your board may now follow up the question if it deems fit.' " Mr J. F. M. Fraser : That is very unsatisfactory. They should not have sent the first lettsr unless they had reasons for it. I move that the letter be received. The motion was agreed to, THE TRAININU COLTJBGB. The Rector (Mr White) submitted the results of his examination of candidates for entrance to the Normal School, and recommended thaS all who made 50 per cent, and over of the total marks be admitted. A length*' discussion ensued on thi? matter. Mr MacGregor moved, and Mr Gallawat seconded — '* That Mr White's recommendation be agreed <o." Mr J. F. M. Fraser moved as an amendment, and Mr P. B. Fjrasbr seconded — "That, iv view of want of due notice of subj^c's for entrance to the Training College and possible hardship to candidate?, Mr White be requested to admit the candidates down to and including the name of George A. Turner." The effect of the amendment is to admit; 13 candidates to the Training GMvge, which is five more Mian the number Mr White recommended. V.ll the candidates are girls, except one. The amendment was carried by a majority. On the recommendation of the iu»p?ctoLv> f Miss Tansy Hay Brownlie was admitted as a student in training at the Normal School, and the application of Miss Janet A. Farquharaon, of Livingstone, was referred to the inspectors. A SUGSESTION BY MR MAIXARD. Mr F. Mallard, of Dunedin, wtote recommending that the motto " F<?ar God and Honour the Queen " should be painted on the east wall of each school in the district, and that every morning the children should be made to face eastward and repeat the words. The reading of the letter occasioned a good deal of laughter, and it was minuted as received. BELIEVING TEACHER. It was decided to advertise in the ordinary way the vacancy of relieving teacher at the present salary of £240. THE SELHCTION COMMITTEE. The Chairman «aid that as two of the. members of the board who were retiring were members of the Selection Committee it would be necessary to take etep3 for carrying on the committee's work till next meeting. Mr P. B Fraser said he intended to resign his seat on the S? k-ction Committee. His experience of the Selection Committee was that it was a sham, a delusion, and a snare. It did not promote the teachers, and it had not the power. The last appointments made in Oiago were witness to the proof of that. The commit' ees were not requested to act on the grounds that guided ths Selection Committee —viz , service to tbe board in out-of-the-way places. He had always contended that the board should make a selection, but send forward all the names as an evidence of bona fide on the part of the board, and then require from the committee the reason in writing for departing from tha% selection if they choae any other of the applicanta. Mr Ramsay moved — " That Messrs MacGregor and Gallawa? act with Mr P. B. Frater on the Selection Committee for the next month." Mr J. F. M. Fraser seconded the motion. Mr MacGr*GOß had watched the working of the Selection Committee, for the purpose ot" noting its operations. It was nob any fault of the committee tbat the 6ystem had broken down. They had spent a lot of time every month in their task, but the system did not work. It •was really working itself out. The committee went over the names of the candidates, and if Ifcerr. were any who were objectionable on suEcific groutids they were struck out. Then a line was drawn at some purely accidental point, &nd the rest were 'shovelled forward to the committee. That was not making a selection, In most instances this month a large proportion of the names wera seat forward , in one case as many as 17. Tbe motion was carried, and Mr P. B. Fraser consented to hold over hia resignation until next meeting. Mr P. B. Fraser gave notice that ab next meeting he would more to rescind the regulations for the appointment of teachers (26 to 35), with the view of substituting others. Mr Nicholson's case. The Clutha Presbytery wrote asking for a copy of all the information connected with Mr Nicholson's dismissal from the position of head teacher at the Kaitangata School. The request was conaidered iv committee, and on resuming it was decided that Mr P. B. Fraser should be authorised to produce tho documents to tbe Presbytery of Olutha, on the

understanding that the documents should be treated in confidence. The Inapector of Police reported that no traca of the missing registers of the Kaitangata School could be found, and asked if further action would be taken. It was derided to thank the inspector of police for his assistance, and to take no further action in the matter INTEGRITY OV SCHOOL RECORDS. A letter was received frota tne Education department thanking the board for the action it had taken iv the cass of two of its teachers who were recently dismissed, and stating that the Minister was much gratified by th« evidence of the careful regard shown by the board and its officers for the integrity of th 9 public school records. The letter was received. THE RETIRING MEMBERS. Mr P. B. FfiASER said ifc was only right that some motion should be brought forward concerning the retiring members. Someone else might have moved the motion better than he could, but owing to what had tr*n*pired duriug the late election perhap3 it did not fall to those who had been longer on the board to move such a resolution, swad therefore he might be pardoned for moving that the following motion should bo placed on. the minutes : — •♦ That the board deaire to place on record their high appreciation of the services rendered to the cause of education by Mr Henry Clark during his 20 years' tenure of office as a member of the Otago Bducatiou Board smoe the ioetitution of this board, during which time ha has more than once occupied the position of chairman with credit to himself ai,d to the satisfaction of his Mlow members, Mr Clark during that locg period at all tini2B devotiug cloie attention to the affairs of the boird, and journeying to all parts of Otago in the interest* of the educational needs of the province." He was sure that this resolution would have the commendation of the people of Otago, and that it was tha desire of tbem all thai, iv his retirement from the board, Mr Clark should have health and happiness. — (Hear, hear.) Mr Clark's advice had always been in the way of moderation and kindness towards the teachsrs, and it was not quit? crodit&ble to the board that Mr Ciark should be in the position he was. He had fallen — not for his own sins, but for the sins of oth«r members of tke board, and if other members had dove their duty as well as Mr C)«rk he would slill have been a member, giving his kindly advice when i'< was needed. ; Mr J. F. M." Fsaser seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Clark, in returning thanks, said he stood there that day for the first time as a defeated candidate, but in leaving the board he felt a good deal of satisfaction that he had so long been able' to retain the on&dence of the committees. He had no great desite to come forward again, but feeling that he was as competent as t-ver for the duties of the office, and remembering the loyal support he had ever received from the committees, he deemed it his duty to offer hims i -lf again. The committees bad now given their verdict, and he would say aft once that he accepted it without regrec. When he first joined the board ib was a pleasure to meet and do the work. It was all done in an orderly and pleasant way, much more so than it was now. Ttere was tben less of the party epirib in the board and less personal feeling, and there was none of the wrangling and rising to points of ordsr so common nowadays. He sincerely hoped that tbe incoming board would turn over a new leaf. Unless they did so he was sure that the interests of education in Ooago would suffer. Ooe thing he regretted was the unscrupulous and contemptible tactics adopted to influence ths election, and the base insinuations that bsd been thrown out. He could not help saying that. He again thanked the board for the vote they had kiudly passed. Mr J. F. M, Fraser moved— " That a vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Borrie for his services as chairman during the past 12 months, and that; the board express their appreciation oV the work done by Messrs Borrie and M'Kerrow in the interests of education in tfeis provincial district." He said the mos - valuable mambera of the board were the country mt-m-bers. Mr Borrie had been chairman for tho last 12 month?, and ha defied anyone to say that that gentleman .was responsible for the way things had been carried on. They were ail to blame, and to blame Mr Borrie for the disorder was very ungenerous As for Mr M'Kerrow, he could say he had often found that gentleman's sound common sense & pleasant reJuge in time of trouble. Mr Gallawast and Mr P. B. Fraskr supported the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman, in returning thanks, said he had had more kicks than ha'pence since he had occupied the chair, aud now that he was retiring he was pleased to get the ha'pence. It had not been altogether pleasant to him to be chairman. When he took the position he really had no wish for it, and during the year he had frequently considered whether he should not retire from the office, as he often felt very much annoyed. Respecting his retirement, he had only to say that if bis sacrifice as a member of the board was to bs the cause of remedying matters at the meetings, he was very pleased to sacrifice himself for that purpose, and he hopad that in the future things would be conducted more orderly than they had been in the past. Mr J. F. M. Fraser had said that aa long as hot words were bandied across the table there would be disagreements, and no chairman would be able to keep order, and that was the fact. He had been connected with public matters since he was 25 years of age ; so that he was not allogather devoid of experience in conducting meutjnga, but he had never felt bis shortcomings more than since he had acted as chairroan, and there was uo membsr of the board who re.tlieed his position more keenly than lie did himsellc

Mr M'Kerrow tbauked ths board for tn« motion they had passed. He had never shirked his duties, and had always tried to act fairly and conscientiously in giving his votes. He had not asked the committees to return hitr, as he could no longer attend to the duties, seeing th*t he had taken up another position in life. A» for Mr Borrie and Mr Clark, with both of whom he had worked or many years, he had always found them honourable and straightiorward men. While a member of tbe board he bad bean classed along with the official party, and now that he was going out ot tho board he desired to say that so far as their officers, one and all, were concerned, he did uot think there was a better terved office ia New Zsaland in connection with education or any other department.