CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2394, 18 January 1900, Page 9

CLUTHA COUNTY COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the council was hold in .the County Buildings, Bulelutha, on Tuesday, 9th inst, for the purpose of electing a member of the Clutha River Board and to deal with tenders. There were present : Crs Johnston (chairman), Cumming, Clarke, M'Neil, Mitchell, and Hay. CLTJTHA RIVER BOARD. The Chairman having explained the object of the meeting, Cr Hay moved that Cr Mitchell be appointed member of the Clutha River Board. — Cr 'Clarke seconded the motion, which was cairied unanimously. — Mr Mitchell thanked the councillors for having again appointed $iifn. i TENDERS. Tio following tenders were accented:.—

Contract 826, formation and metalling on Clinton-Puerua road — R. J. Allison, £3 15s per chain, and earthwork 9d per yard ; contract £63, formation and metalling on Popo-tunoa-Wyndham road — -John Taylor, £18 ; for a supply of dog collars the tender of Alexander M'Kenzie was accepted at £1 17s per 100, and re-plating l^d each. Tenders for contracts Nos. 85*, 855, 859, 860, 861, 864-, £65, and 866 were accepted subject to the approval of the engineer and members for the respective ridings. On the motion of Or M'Neil, seconded by Or Hay. . it was agreed that the surfacemen bo sent to put in pipes in the water table of the District road at the junction of Meikle'B road, Waitepelca. BALCLUTHA DISTEIOT HIGH SCHOOL. A deputation from the committee of the Balclutha District High 'School "waited on the council with reference to the proposed disrating of the school by the Education Board. The deputation consisted of Messrs Dunne (chairman of committee), Henry (secretary. Paterson, and Rnmage.' Mr Dunne explained that the Education Board had notified the committee that it was intended to disrate the High School, and the committee desired to ask the co-operation of the council in "an effort to prevent" this being done. There were so many city members on the board that the country representatives were unable" to obtain- justice for the country schools. He said that want of money was the cause of the present move on the part of the • board, but he •• thought 'the proper course would be to endeavour to obtain a larger grant from the -Government so as to enable them to maintain the efficiency of the high schools. Mr Paterson- paid the object of the committee was. to obtain the co-operation of the council and thus strengthen their hands in opposing the disrating of their school. It would be a very serious matter if the country boys and girls were deprived of the advantages conferred by the district high schools, as many parents would be unable to send them to the Dunedin High School, and thus they would not have a fair start in life. He hoped the council would pass such a resolution as would strengthen the hands of the committee in the matter. Mr Homage explained that the committee of the Lawrence District High School had taken action, and had asked the co-operation of the Balclutha Committee, and intended appealing to the Minister of Education in the event of the board adhering to their present scheme. It was also intended to call a public meeting to secure co-operation. Mr Henry said the last intimation they had from the board was that they intended to modify the present system of the district high schools. This included a reduction of salaries, and under these circumstances these schools. could not expect equally able teachers and the children would suffer. Mr Dunne then thanked the council for listening "to the deputatio"n, which then withdrew. The Chairman said he wished to make a few remarks, on the subject introduced by the deputation. _ He had had something to do with educational matter* ever since he came to jbhe colony.' Under the Otago provincial • system every teacher was qualified to prepare ' scholars for entering the university. When the province was abolished an inferior system was intrqdueedj and all the teachers of the country schools were not now competent to qualify scholars for the university; hence it was necessary they should have district high schools. H would gladly support the school committee in their present efforts on behilf of their school. He moved — "That the Olutha County Council sympathise with the committee of the Balclutha District High School in striving to retain the high school in the district ; that the school embraces a wide extent of country, and enables many scholars to get the benefit of a higher education here, which they could not get were the district high school reduced in status." Or Cumming seconded the motion. In the school where he received his education in Scotland, the teacher nrepared scholars for the university, and the country teachers here should be equa-lly qualified. Scholars attended the, Balclutha District High School from Clinton and other districts, and were the school disrated these children would be deprived of the higher education, as their parents could not afford to send them to the Dunedin High School. He thought there was far too much centralising in educational matters and also in other matters. Cr Clarke supported the motion. It no doubt was a matter of £ s d in the board, but in reducing capitation allowances and salaries he thought they were not providing the proper remedy. Instead of this they should ask an increased vote from the Govern- • ment. Cr M'Neil thought it very desirable a certain number-of district liigh schools should be maintained. It was acknowledged on all hands^that the country had never enjoyed the same amount of prosperity as it did at present.' Then, why should our schools be crippled for the want of a, few thousands of pounds? If the district high schools were done away with many deserving Scholars would be deprived of the. higher branches of education. He was glad to see the school committee had taken the matter up so earnestly and energetically. There might have been a falling off in the attendance at some of the district schools ; the attendance at all schools was fluctuating, and it might be high next year. This fluctuation of attendance was no excuse whatever for disrating the schools or impairing their efficiency in any way. After some further remarks of a similar nature, the motion was carried unanimously. It was also agreed that should it be the desire of the school, committee, the chairman will form one of the deputation to the Education Board with reference to the matter.