EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 66

EDUCATION BOAR D.

The ordinary ai-seting of the Otago Board of Education was held in the beard's office on the 16th in&t., when there were present — Messrs H. Harraway (chairman), D. Borrie, T. Mackenzie, J. Mitchell, W. Snow, J. Sim, and Rev. P. B. Eraser.

ELECTION OF XEW lISIIBEE

The voting papers for the election of a new member cf the board, vice Mr J. M. Gallaway (resigned), were opened, and the votes having been counted, the result was announced by the Chairman as follows : William Nicolson 55, J. M. E. Garrow 46, Robert Glendining 25, J. 'C. Arbuckle 24-, and Frederick Knight 10.

The Chairman declared Mr William Nicolson duly elected.

In connection with the election, the following legal opinion was received from the board's solicitors, Messrs Mondy, Sim, and Stephens : — "We think that the chairman of the board, in exercising the power conferred by section 22 of ' The Education Act, 1377,' of anpointing the dates for the nomination of candidates and the election of a person to fill sn extraordinary vacancy in the board, is not bound co regard in any way the dates or tirnei mentioned in section 13 of the act. In fixing O.s dates under section 22, it would of course be the duty of the chairman to allow the committees reasonable time to enable them to nominate and vote, and at the same time to secure the vacancy being filled within a reasonable time; but, subject to this, we think the chairman has uncontrolled discretion in fixing the dates."

WEST TAIEBI.

Messrs J. W. Joseph and William M'Pherson waited upon the board as a deputation from the West Taieri School Committee to ask that they should be allowed to retain the old school on its rire&ent site, as the old site was the best, and the committee had not the means at their disposal to remove it.

The Chairman said that the board at its last meeting had passed a resolution that t?ie old school should be removed or sold, and intimated that the request now made should be * considered, arid the result communicated to the committee.

Subsequently, on the motion of Mr T. Mackenzie, it was resolved — " That the committee be allowed six months in which to remove the building ; but that the old building in no case be left within thirty yards of the new school."

EBPAIES, ETC,

-Applications for repairs, etc., were granted as follows: — Owaka Valley, shelter shed, £6;j Waikouaiti, gravelling, etc., £5 10s; Palrnerston, repairs, £8 ; Luggate, stove, £2 ; Pukeuri, filter, £2; Portobello, gravelling, £3;' Wakari, improvements, £12 10s; Lovell's Flat, enlargement of sheds, £5 ; Owaka "Val-. ley, outbuildings, £7. The application from Tokarahi for outbuildings was declined.

The board's Architect reported on the state' of the Union street School building, recommending that the stone and brickwork be repaired at a cost of £30, the fences at a cost of £5, and that next summer, when the walls are dflsk the outside of the building be Daisied!

at a cost of. £150. — It was decided that this matter should stand over in the meantime. The board's Architect reported that the stone and brickwork of the George street school required attention, and that the cost of painting the walls outside would be about £120. — To stand over in the meantime. The Architect reported that the school building at Pine Hill was in a bad state, and recommended repairs to cost £20. — Report agreed to and work to be done. The Waipori School Committee asked for permission to lease the teacher's residence, and the teacher offered to sell the range in tlie residence. — Declined. The Ravensbourne School Committee asked that the teacher's house be sold for removal, and the infant room be moved on to the residence site. — The board resolved to maintain its former decision. GEKEiIAL. The South Canterbury Board of Education asked the co-operation of the Otago Board in securing the continuar.ee of the matriculation examinations at the smaller centres throughout "the oolony. — The secretary was directed to reply that the board had no knowledge of any intention on the part of the senate to discontinue- holding the examinations as heretofore. A letter was received from the St. Clair . School Committee enclosing a resolution protesting against the ,. change of school books commanded by the Education Board. — The Rev. P. B. Fraser did not think the board's action was rightly represented in the resolution of the - committee. He presumed the board had done what wp.s within its rights, and what in the diccharge of its duties it was compelled to do. lie did not think it had' ''commanded,." tins "to be done 'in the senas implied in the resolution. Of course the committee was entitled to its opinion, and so also was the board.— The Secretary spiel the position was this: The school books in" use were Chambers" s Graduated Readers* which were now practically out of print. The Educational Institute, the teachers, and several bodies had approached the board relative to a change of books. A committee of ths boar"! had been set up, oiid had made a recommendation. The books were \o be used after the examin.uions tliis year, whicli gave tv. elve months for the change, ar.d tk'o books formerly used could not be got, so that there was no hardship inflicted by the change. — The Chairman remarked that the books 1,1-at we.c here cf the kind formerly u?od had been bought up, and flipped away to the old country pgain.— M.- Mitchell' raid thai on this subject they had received a. commuTHcatkr.i from the Minister of Education, and the school committees had asked them to fix a set oi books. As there were no recognised books, the teachers were introducing aI 1 sorts, and so considerable expense wss entailed on the public. The action of the board had been taken purely in the interests of the public. — The Chairman slid the books the board had adopted were those in u>,e throughout the colony. — Mr T". Mackenzie thought that the information that had been given to the board ought to be sent to the committee : that the books were practically out of prim, those in the colony having been re-shipped, end that it was as the result of a conference that the decision as to Vie books to tc u~erl had been arrived at. If a rer>ly were cent embodying that information it ought to satisfy tho committee.— The Chairman wa= requested to repty accordingly. ' The Tap3iiui School Committee asked that i the board should support r the petition for temperance instruction to be given in the ! schools. — The secretary to reply ' 'int the bear J. is not 3 ware of ihe existence of the petition referred +o. — The eorrniuUee renewed it', ap- , plication for desks, for infant class. — Granted. — The committee renewed its application for the establishment of a district high school. — Mr Borrie thought the consideration of this question should si and over unti 1 Mr Macken- . zie's notice of irtoiibn was considered, but on the motion of the aev. P. B. Fraser. it vros* TeSblvec 1-—"1 -— " That ? raiir.iittee consist in fv of Messrs Hnrraway, Mitchell, Borrie, Sim, and . the mover be appointed to report on ways and" means for providing, if possible, secondary . education at. Tapanui." ~ ! The Educational Institute asked "tbotj counsel be allowed to aw pear for Mr Jack | at the proposed inquiry." — Mr T. Mackenzie i was not in favour of counsel appearing for | teacher?. His pxooriencs in select committe-js , of Parliament was thst counsel sinralv en- ! deavoured to throw witnesses into a state of : confusion, and that they never got on pro- ] perly with business -when lawyers appeared for ; the parties. He moved that the application ] be declined. — The Rev. P. B. Fraser thought j they should decline to allow a lesal gentle- ' man to represent a teacher or the institute. If they allowed a lawyer on one side they j must allow one on the other, and in that j event he believed the teacher, who as a «rofessional man was open to attack, would be the most likely io suffer. The board only desired fair play, and he did not think it "would leod to fair pliv in ths long run to admit legal gentlemen to the inquiries. Ho thought, however, thai Ihe institute ought to be repre?ented by one of its members, and moved — " That the board decline lire application for counsel to attend at the inquiry : but the board will readily allow a representntive of the institute, being a teacher in the board'? service, to attend the inquiry."— Mr T. Mackenzie accepted the Hey. Mr Eraser's motion, and seconded it. — Mr Mitchell opposed the motion. He thought these inciuiries- should be kept within as narrow limits as possible. Tf people were allowed assistance on one .«id< s , the same privilege should be accorded the other, and this would lead to inconvenience. It ousrht, he thought, to be sufficient if they brought accuser and accused face io faco. and heard tl.-e witnesses. He moved th?t all the words after inquiry be omitted. — Mr BorTie seconded the amendment, which was adopted, the decision of the board being sim ply to decline to allow counsel io appear. The Educational Institute also asked " thet the board do not make public any matter referring to any charge aa'sinst a teacher until the board has inquired into the matter and p-iven its decision." — On the motion of Mr P. B. Fraser, it was resolved — "That the institute be informed that it is the invari»b 1 s practice of the board io consider matters affecting teachers in private, but when a school committee waits on the board the board cannot prevent the deputation stating the object of its visit in public." Ths meeting of the Education Board was resumed on Thursday morning, when there were present — Messrs H. Harraway (chairman), ,r. Kirn, T. Mackenzie, W. Snow, J. Mitchell, D. B&rrie, W. Nicolson, and the Bey. P. B. Fra&er. EESIGXATIOXS. - The following resignations were accepted : —Andrew Chesney, he?d tercher, Otakia; Kfete J. Treye's, npad teacher, Macrae" ; William G. Don, first assistant, Mornii'«lon ; Henrietta Nicoll. pupil teacher, Lawrence. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made: — Joseph Hunter,, head teacher, Bald Hill, vice

Harvey, left the service ; Marion S. Loan, ! head teacher, Rongahero, vice Amiett, pron.oted; Jane Pilkington, head teacher, Glenledi, vice Paul, promoted ; Elizabeth W. '. Saunders, head teacher, Lauder, vice West, promoted ; Andrew Chesney, first assistant, Eaitangata, vice M'Laren, promoted. ALBANY STREET. A deputation from the committee of the Albany street School, consisting of Messrs A. j Restieaux (chairman), J. F. Kirby, F. Gunn, W. Dickson, and J. W. Butler, asked the board to carry to a finish the work started three years ago in 1 connection with the playground. The ground at present being Eimply covered with Ecreenings, water lay about, and the children's feet got wet, and this, the committee thought, affected the attendance. — Messrs Sestieaux, i Dickson, raid Kirby briefly spoke to these i points. — The Chairman said that a reply 1 would be sent. Meantime, if the committee wished to put anything before the board, it would save time if the matter were submitted in writing instead of by deputation. — One of the committee said he was very glad to hear that, but it was generally understood that a deputation had more weight than a letter. — On the motion of Mr Mitchell, the matter was referred to Messrs Fraser, Kyle, Nicolson, and the mover' to report. BELIEVING 'IJACHEES. The - Selection Committee recommended that ike iipuics be sent clown to rhe. Albany fii-oct co:rrn:Uo? as candidates for the vacancy caused by. Mr Fergus o's death. Mr Fraeer moved thet the name of the teacher who was acting as relieving teacher at that school ba not included in the list. I r To send that Jisme down would be to directly j contravene the board!s rerolution on the &ub- i ject,^ that a relieving \eacher should r.ot be i % eligible as' a candidate Jor appointment in the school where hs was iclievaig. j The Ohair-iia-n resnarke.l that the relieving tsacher iv thit case was simp]}- se:u down j while Mr Ferguson was ill. Mr Mackenzie thought ths board were in n. difficult pc&itiop. TLey had better rescind the resolution, iicee it was not meeting with favour at, the booid. and *ra« being broken. Tiicre onglit to be no need fcr the present motion. If the leac-sr re -erred to wns -a- I eligiMe, his r.ame should not go to the ecmmiiise : ii he was eligible, there was no ne?d fortl s motion. He would like the chairman's ruling as to whether this teacher wai eligible. The OhsiriTUiti said it occurred to him that a lelicving teacher s&iit to a school temporarily was r.ot a relieving teacher in tue ordina.'y seres. This man' was sent owing to j l.lr tVi'^uooa's illreis. The iegalatic:i was i never intended to cover a ease oi that sort. Mr Nicolson: lie was a servant of the ' board, and had to go. The Chairman: I an disposed to rule that tLe teacher referred to is eligible. — -^_ j Mr Borric said xhau the lesolution \ias never intended to apply to a case like the present one. The teacher referred io (vas a servant of the board, and bound to go wherever sent. The board wes bound' to have a relieving teacher capable of- taking the highest position in the service. The teacher cow spoken, of \ias tho only relieving teacher who had that qualification. If he had refused to go to Albany street, the bor.rcl would probably have discharged him, and justly se. His case j wss cliti'erdin, from that oi a man who was fcimplj' sent to fill a, vacancy. itr Kicolson endorsed what 3.1r Borrie had 1 saitf. ', Air Mackenzie suggested that the resolution should ba rescinded. \ Mr Fraser would protest against that. It seemel io him that the board broke the regulations vi henever the;v- liked. iVir Mitchell said that this was a resolution, not a regulation, and that when it was carried the present circumstances were never contemplated. Mr Fraser, in reply, said it was a case of ihe heart speaking against; the head. Members were letting their kindness run awoy with their judgment. The regulation was Assigned to prevent tbs board from being misled in these ca-es. It was absurd to say that the teacher was subjected to hardship. ! The teacher's duty in this case was to comj municate with the chairman as scon as the : vacancy was created and a^k that r.nother j relieving teacher be sent, and then ho would j have been eligible under the regulations. I There voted for the motion Messrs Snow, ! , Mackenzie, and Fraser: against, the Ciiair- ' man, and Messrs Mitchell, INicclson, Sim, and ; Borrie. The motion was lost by sto 3. i Mr Mackenzie then mcved to the effect that • the resolution be rescinded, and this was car- ] ried, ofter discussion, by- 5 to 3. j SCHOOL COJISIITTEE3. ] The Secretary reported that 'altogether 26 ; districts had failed to elect committees, and | recommended that Saturday, Bth of June, be fixed as tks night for the election of committees, the first meeting to be held immediately thereafter. .Recommendation approved. The Secretary also reported that in the case of 20 districts full committees had not been elected, and it was for the. board to appoint members. — On the motion of the Rev. P. B. Fraser, the names of those recommended by ihe committees were added to complete j the committee?. j TSE DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOLS. i Mr T. Mackenzie, in accordance with his ! notice of motion, moved — " That the rcsoluj tion with respect to the fees payable for instruction in higher subjects at the district | high schools carried on the 15th March be j rescinded/ In spaaking in support of the j motion, the speaker said tt had been his intenj tion to deal with the whole question, of secondary scliooli and their cost, but as the Education Act was evidently going to be materially altered and, so far as he could gather, the Minister was going; to take from the control of the board the fixing of salaries for teachers. I and was al^o going to increase the grant for technical instruction, it did not appear to him to be wise pust at present to take-up time in discussing the financial aspect of these schools, | ou the present basis of the board's income. What lie thought they should do was to rescind the resolution mentioned in order that ; the status of the schools, should not at present bo altered. If they reduced the advantages \ now given in the district schools and ths cost of thoso advantages, the Minister would pay | a contribution to the educational district oil ; I tho reduced amount upon which they declared they were able to carry on their work. The question of dealing with these secondary schools was, he though I, one thai must engage most serious attention. II had been , j contended that they were not fulfilling their . ; functions. Well, that vias a debatable point, and his opinion was thai, if they were not , fulfilling their functions then they should be so altered as io increase the advantages of education in ihe country districts. The method of training at the district high schools j was not bringing the best results to the great i permanent industries of the coim/iv. Th" 1 larger portion of tho pupils who iee<.i\od [ higher education in the country distnrt \im J diverted from the industries of agricallnr^ rrnd ' mining, and were turned into profea. ion a .".id into the civil service, occupations lliat were

of only secondary importance. The presect was an opportune time to discuss the matter, in yip.w of tho fact that the Minister of Education contemplated changes, and the direction which he (Mr Mackenzie) thought the change in connection with the clirf'rict high schools ought to take was to change some of the higher pubjeelp thai were taught,. The time of the pupils ought to be occupied in learning matters that would have a bearing on the future of the permanent industries in their localities ; so that the best and cleverest of the lads should be kept to follow those industries which wci'2 the backbone of the country. In an agricultural district, instead of teaching the pupils x'\-encb f*nd algebra, l-iey should receive instruction in agriculture that crrald not _be given them just now in their own homes. They should be taught something about the mensuration of surfaces, the levelling of land, and ihe relative merits of fertilisers. They should lf>arn the difference in the quality between a 28 per ceiit. and a 38 per cent, superphosphate, and why they should pay more for ths latter, containing 'a maximum of advantage with a nnr-irtrair. of waste ; the difference between soluble and insoluble phosphates. They should be instructed in the proper selection of seeds, and should know, for instance, that with turnip they might get a badly grown &eed. grown . probably where there were other varieties of brastsica. the pollen of which might have hybridised* the sesd, and the consequence would be a poor crop resulting eveu after careful cultivation. Instruction of this character was of the highest importanc?. Then there should be instruction in forestry aiK? in fruit culture. iTis object in this matter was &imp]3f to spend the money of the colony in such, a way that ir would bilng back to the people t'^e very be;t return, and he ventured to cttivrji thai ihi=i form of elemenrary technical ii: ocruction0 cruction v.vrrc be given in the near future in thi^ cotmtry, and for the reason chat it was iiecesrary to give the best possible instruction in thesa industries to enable our people to compete in the markets of the world against others who bad sdvaiitares that we do not possess. The determination of the board should be to i: create the useful instruction given in the t'iftererit country districts, ir. order that they mig".;t, as far as possible, keep the people in tho;e districts, oncl not divert tLein into professional occupations and fie civil .service. He thought the inM ruction he had mentioned ought to be fies. Thpy got cut of their district, high school? 2136 per snnura. which was a mere bagatelle, and iliey should give thp instruction he hsd mentioned, not because they wanted to make brilliant scholars, but because the wisssl couise was to give that instruction which would leturn the best value to the colony. He thought they should not disturb the present expenditure, but keep it as it was. in order that they might get as much as possible from the Minister when ha brought down the proposals to which he (Mr Mackenzie) had made reference in his opening remarks. The Rev. P. B. Fraser seconded the motion, and expressed regret that the mover was not at once going to' tackle" the subject. Tie thought something ought to be done in order tT insure justice to this provincial district in ths matter of education. He believed the most strenuous .efforts would be made to rake away the funds of the Dtago Board and to distribute them from Wellington. It should be remembered that whoever" held ths purreEtrings held the real power, and that if the money was to he doled out from Wellington, then the education boards would be retained in name but abolished in fact. The proposal that was rominsr down from the Government was ons that had been dinned into the ears of the Minister by a few faddists end a feuteachers, and others interested, but it did not represent tho mind of the neople most interested in education throughout the country. He never objected io the teachers being heard, but when they got toaethe:- their opinion simply represented a union, and vhat some teachers were clamouring for was to escape the influonco of committees and the control of the board, to s-et apriointed and to gel their salaries from Wellington. It was the parties who weie anxious to centralise everything in Wellington who were backing up tho Minister in the proposal Io take the fun-Is away fro:a the bonrds and to dole them out as the Minister might think fit. What ought to be done was to centralize inspection and have the inspectors shifted about throughout the colony: in that woy the Minister might profitably exercise power. There was no proposal, such as a superannuation scheme, t'^at wculd justify the Minister in ccntiaHsing the payment of salaries, raid he hoped the members of the board would do all they could to keep a grip upon funds Ihol had for 20 years been ontrusted to the people of this -province. He considered that the board had no more right to suggest that it should close country schools than that it should close town school?. He bad had a list prepare;! showing the co«t of the schools, and ifound that on the Port Chalmers District PTiph Rchool the board made a profit of £109" 10s per annum; that th* amount spent upon the Palmerston School was £950, and the revenue earned £877 10s. showing a co.=t to the board of £121 10s : thr.t the Tokomairiro School cost £133 15ts : the Balclutha £115 10s : and the Lawrence School £96 5s over end abovo what was earned, a"d vet it wa« proposed to cut down these school?. This question, however, would bava io come up again, and more would then be said on this point. He submitted ihit the board ought to give great attention to the proposal to take the" funds from the district, and that the motion should bo adopted and something done to improve the curriculum of the district high school 0 . Mr Sim thought there wss a little misrpprehensi on regarding this matte? in the country. Ths desire was to extend the usefulness of the district high schools, and if it could be shown that the resolution would tend in thst direction he would support it. He wonted to know why they should not grant ibe same facilities for edtication to other districts, arid mentioned that from Tapanui niece from six to eight pupils attended the. Dauedin High School at a cost of from £65 to £70 per annum. Mr Borris thought they had had an excellent speech from Mr Mackenzie so far as tho question of tho curicurum of the schools wa°i concerned, but that no sufficient reason had been given why the board should rescind a resolution which had been recsnthj' come to unanimously. Weighty reasons ought to have been adduced to show that a mistake had been made. The matter of fees had not boon referred to, and until .some new reasons were adduced he was not prepared to take a backward stepj and ravcive what had be on done. The statement as to the cost of the schools he regarded as misleading, becanso in the case of Port Chalmers, where a profit was I ho\. c. Hie.p nr p (li--irii( l i--irii I <oViol connected I with \h" Ttisivi", ( 1-fjn;], School. He hoped ! i >lV vml 1 . J.bi-iv to t' ir tVf. ion that had I }>(»,! Jovnir.] ' an" cl at. j Mr Mite'" ll i itciiM' 'l lo vole for tho mot'ji. tL va, i,',, at ali enamoured with the

proposal to increase the fees, and it had been upon his suggestion the fees had been graduated with ths view of encouraging people to send their children for second and third years. He wanted to encourage people to send their children for the three years, as one year's instruction at these schools was of very little practical value. He fully approved of the proposal to give pupils instruction that would encourage them to enter upon the industries of ths countiy. and enable them to do co i with something like scientific knowledge. One , thing which ought to bs^ mentioned was that although the board had seen fit to raise the fees recently, it had also made concessions that had not been, so far a? he knew, acknowledged in. any direction. They had received no credit for granting free ediication to all children who passe:! tho scholarship examination with 60 per cent, of marks nor h&d they received credit for a step in the direction of returning io a system which prevailed under the Provincial Government of Otago — that was, by remitting entirely the fees in the case of children whose parents ware unable to pay them. The:e were facis thai should go before the public if they were to review the sj-stsm. He would vote in favour of reducing the fees again. It had been said that no argument had been adduced in favour of reducing' the Tees, but the rtrongesb possible argument was to"- be found in the faet^ that even the lower fees had not been paid, or had been paid in very few cases. They ought to make the fees as modest as possible, and, liavirg - done that,, if parents did net show their appreciation of \\e" provision made by rhe board in respect of the existi?ig high schools, than the board should transfer the advantage offered to districts wLoro it would be appreciated. la his opinion, they ought io proceed to redeem their promise to establish a district high school at Tapar.ui. Pie hoped Mr JMackeakio did noi propose to reirrn'to the system of allowing the fees to become the perquisites of the teaching stiff, but that proper salaries would be paid and the te?chei-3 made independent of the fees received from the pupils. lie was in favour of the motion, but when ihfi time arrived should be prepared to proceed a step further. Ali Nicolsou supports:.! the motion. Ths Chairman wished to remind the board that a committee had some time a-jo gone fully into thi« matter, and had viewed it from all possible standpoint?, and that the report of that committee had been adopted unanimously. He could not. say that he had since heard anything to cause him to alter his opinion or to ch.vige the vote ho had previously given upon, the subject. The amount of fees collected baa been ridiculously small, and he had' no doubt thai people who could well a*¥ord to pay had been allowed to escape payment of sohool fees. In the system that hnd prevailed there had been a direct incentive to the bead master to remit fees. He believed in equal educational opponuniiies being given, and should never raise his ■■■olee to prevent aiiy clever l ad in the country obtaining an education that would_ fit him for the bs&t position .in the land. Tie felt sure that the, colony would require llie best abilities of our ablest men to conduct its affairs, and he exceedingly regretted to find that thei-e was A want -of appreciation of the advantages offered to. the people in. this coimtrv by our frco secular system of education. It had recantly been remarked to him that the present generation did not. appreciate tlie benefits of education as the pilgrim fathers had done, and he was afraid there was but too good ground for the remark. If that were so, then the chances were a hundred to oue that the next generation would appreciate the benefits of education still le-s, and that would be a most deplorable condition for the colony tD fall into. There had been no desire o:i the part of any member of the committee io close any district hi°h school, with the single exception of the Port Chalmers liig'i School : but it had been felt thai in some of the schools the results obtained had not been satisfactory, and that the instruction imparted had not that direct bearing upon tl;e life-work of the pupil which it ought to have. iie agreed with Mr Mac kenzic that it was absurd to teach French or Latin to people who were going to fulfil domestic duties or engage in farm work. Of course those studies involved mor.tal' training, but they had no direct bearing upon ihe work of the pupil in after Kfe. Other Fiibjecls ■"■might be sustituted with great advantage to the children. It was to him a matter of regret that so many children were deliberately kept from school, for that he believed to be the cause of the- falling off in the attendance, and not that there were fewer children to send, and he thought an amendment of the act would be required to meet this, for irregular attendance was the cau^-e of uttsr , disorganisation. As to the fees for the district high schools, ho thought they were very moderate, and should not be reduced, especially as there was the proviso that if people were not in a position to pay the fess they' should not be required to pay them. 110 hod heard nothing to cause him to alter his opinion, and should vote against the motion. Mr Mackenzie replied briefly, and upon the question being put there voted for the motion Messrs Mackenzie, Eraser, Miichell. and Nicolson, and against it Messrs Sim, Snow, Borrie, and the chairman. The chairman having exercised his deliberative vote, the voting was equal, and the motion was negatived on the casting vote of the chairman, ■who remarked that he should folios the usual pract'ee in voting- to leave matters as they stood. At the request of Mr Mackenzie, the motion of which notice had been given by him— " That the status of the Port Chalmers School be restored to that of a district high school "' ■ — was allowed to stand over to the next meeting of tlie board. GEXERJIL. On the motion of the Rev. P. B. Ersp&i-. Mr Nicolson's name was added to the Reserves and Normal School Committee?:. Messrs James Pindlay and Da's id Gibson, representing the Waianakarua, committee, asked the board to reconsider the determination to take away one of t^e-school rooms.— The reply was made that the board would send an answer. — It was resolved to delay calling for tenders, pending' further consideration. J The members of the committee appointed to reporc upon the question of the "Wetherstorje3 School brought up independent" report s. Mv Sim recommended that ttie school be reopened, Mr Borrie that it be not reoponed, and Mr T. Mackenzie that an ex-pupil teacher be sent to instruct the children up to and including the Second Standard. — Tlie Rev. P. J3. .Fraser moved — " That the Wetherstones School be reopened, and that a temporary teacher be sent there." — Mr T. Mackenzie moved at an amendment — " That his report be adopted." — The amendment was negatived, and tho motion that the school be reopened wo s carried. Mr Mackenzie moved—" Thai, eocli head teacher in tho board's service bo Asked to fur-

nish, on or before the 10th Jun-'. 1900, a r» turn of the number of children in his or hej sohool receiving instruction in military drill, and also a list of the military exercises and movements in which instruction is given, and a report of the state of proficiency attained." — Tnis was cirried without discussion. KEXSIXGTON SCHOOL TEOUELE. In connection with the decision arrived a% on the previous evening re the Kensington inquiry, the Chairman said that if he had been, able to stop to the finish, instead of having to run away to catch the last train for hime, he would have voted for Mr Mitchell's motion, which was carried, as it exactly expressed his opinions. Accounts amounting to £54-27 9s 4d were passed for payment.

Pour words wore omitted from the motion m'oposcd by the Rev. P. B. Fraser, as published by us yesterday — namely, "for his own amusement." The motion should have read: " The board, having^hcard the evidence given bearing on the head it aster's conduct of the Kensington School, consider him deserving of grave censure— firstly, for deserting- his school ■without proper permission, end for his own amusement ; secondly, for leaving the school without duly placing the first assistant in charge — and enjoin him to give no ground for simil?r complaint in future."