TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3307, 7 November 1883, Page 2

TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL BOARD.

An ordinary monthly meeting of the Board was held last evening. Present — Messrs J. H. Sutter (chairman), J. C. McKerrow,J. Manchester, G. F. Olulee, J. Jackson, Archdeacon Harper, Dr Lovegrove, Rev W. Gillies, S. W. Goldsmith. the secretary. The chairman stated that the secretary Mr G. C. Miles, having to meet some friends from England arriving in Christchurch that day, had requested leave_ of absence which he had taken upon himself to grant. The action of the Chairman was confirmed. Mr Gillies offered to act as secretary during the meeting; his offer being accepted the secretarial duties were performed by him. At a susequent stage of the proceedings, the Chairman stated he thought it only business-like to appoint the Secretary to act also as Treasurer requiring from him a fidelity bond for, say, £SOO The Board lo pay the premium. It was proposed by Mr Manchester seconded by Dr Lovegrove and carried unanimously. “That the Secretary be appointed Treasurer, and that he be requested to obtain a fidelity bond of £SOO, this Board to pay the premium, subject to their , approval of the security offered.” ME CLULEE’s BEAT. Before the minutes were read, the Chairman stated that Mr Clnlee had already been ruled out by him. He (the Chairman) perceived that that gentleman was present in spite of his ruling, and though he (the Chairman) could not of course use force, be should refuse to record Mr Clulee’s votes. Mr Clulee said he was unable to fall in with the Chairman’s ruling. He had obtained a legal opinion from Messrs White and Smithson, and had since received a further opinion from Messrs Harper and Harper of Christchurch, which bore out that of Messrs White and Smithson.

The Chairman said he could not agree to Mr Clulee remaining, as he bad retired from the County Council.

Mr Manchester asked the Chairman to state the grounds he had for his ruling. The question was one of grave importance, and he presumed the Chairman had not ruled so decidedly without being backed up by some substantial reasons. The Chairman said Mr Clulee was the nominee (not an elected member) of of the Geraldine County Council; and, on the severence of the County, he had fallen out of the Council. It was the spirit and intention of the Act that a nominee on ceasing to become a member of the County Council, should also cease to be a member of this Board. He knew very well what was the spirit and intention of the Act. Messrs Harper and Harper had said Mr Clulee was no longer a member of the Council, and he (Mr Clulee) bad bowed to that opinion and retired. He (the Chairman) regarded the High School Act bb, in that particular the same as the Counties Act.

Mr Clulee observed that the High School Act made no provision for loss of seat in the Council through severance of the County. The Chairman repeated that he had ruled conscientiously, and would decline to receive Mr Cluloo’s votes.

Archdeacon Harper said the matter was one of groat importance, involving a principle. He had listened very attentively to all that had passed, and he now desired to say a few words. He thought the Act provided that the Board should consist of nine members, and if a vacancy was caused by Mr Clulee being ruled out he could not see why he the speaker) and Dr Lovegrove should continue to sit, they having been balloted out at last meeting. A process was provided for filling up vacancies, and there should bo a process for filling up Mr Cluleo’s seat, and ho (Mr Clulee) should clearly remain until his seat was filled up, as was the case with Dr Lovegrove and himself. The Chairman said this was only taking up time. He would not allow Mr Clulee to vote, for he represented no constituency. Mr Manchester said he should be glad

if the Board would relieve the Chairman of his painful responsibility by deciding whether Mr Cluleo should sit as a member at this, the last meeting of the Board. He did not think it fair to saddle the Chairman with so grave a responsibility, It should be thrown on the Board.Hedid not think the Chairman was called upon to interpret the spirit of the Act. Ho always understood that public bodies had to take the letter of the law, not an individual interpretation of its spirit. He repeated his request that the Chairman would put it to the vote whether Mr Clulee should sit at this meeting or not. The Chairman refused to allow the adoption of this proposal, and said he had been made aware that Mr Clulee meant to sit at this meeting ; and knowing this, he (the Chairman) had asked Mr Lough’s interpretation of the Act, and that gentleman (than whom no one had better knowledge of this sort of law) had agreed with his (the Chairman’s) view of the position. Mr Manchester said, in his opinion, the Chairman was clearly in error. One point was clear—a member must hold office till his seat was filled up.

The Chairman said it was not the slightest use arguing. He should simply abide by his ruling. Mr Manchester remarked that it might indeed be of no use to try and convince the Chairman that he was wrong. Still there could be no harm in trying even a forlorn hope, could there ? The Chairman repeated that the Counties Act laid down the law in the case ; and this was his authority. Mr Manchester said unfortunately the Chairman’s arguments did net carry conviction. (The Chairman—“ No, I dare say not.”) In his, (the speaker’s) opinion the cases were not parallel. Dr Lovegrove remarked that the position taken up by the Chairman was quite against everyone’s view. He reminded the Chairman that, though he held the chairmanship, he had been raised to that post by the Board, and he considered some deference was due by him to the wishes of the Board which had selected him. He (the Chairman) bad made an arbitrary ruling, and the only remedy left to Mr Clulee was an appeal to the Supreme Court at a cost of £4O or £SO. The Chairman said he intended asking those members who intended proposing certain motions on this occasion, to postpone them for a week or two. He did this in order that they might be discussed by a new Board, and that nobody should be able to say that he (the Chairman) was actuated by personal motives. He was satisfied that he had acted within the spirit of the Act, and with the utmost conscientiousness.

The subject then dropped, MINUTES.

Mr Gillies, aeting as Secretary, read the minutes.

Mr Clulee entered a formal protest against the confirmation of the minutes. Mr Gillies called attention to the fact that the numbers in connection with the recent balloting out were not recorded in the minute book. This he considered ought to be rectified. In the event of any legal proceedings being taken, it might be as well to have the numbers duly registered. The Chairman remarked that the Secretary had according to his (the Chairman’s) instructions sealed the voting papers up; and they could be produced as evidence. After some slight discussion, Mr Gillies was allowed to interpolate a record of the voting in the minutes, which were thereupon confirmed. FINANCIAL. The Chairman read a statement of the finances of the Board, which showed a balance to credit of £584 3s 9d (less salaries £167 lOs, and sundry accounts, £27 lls lOd, to bo passed that evening for payment.) The salaries and sundry accounts as specified above were then passed for payment. EXAMINATION OF THE SCHOOL. Mr Gillies read the report of the subcommittee of the Board appointed to arrange for an examination of the School, It was to the effect that the services of Professors Brown of Christchurch and Shand of Duuedin had been secured as examiners, and these gentlemen had agreed to hold an examination of the schools during the current month. The question of remuneration would be settled hereafter. The report was adopted, on the motion of Dr Lovegrove seconded by Mr Manchester. UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS. Mr Gillies said the University of New Zealand had decided to make Timaru a centre for examinations for matriculation and junior scholarships, and bad requested him to officiate as supervisor. He, therefore, on behalf of the University, asked the Board to grant him the use of one of the School rooms for the purpose of conducting the examinations on December 10th and eight following days. The Board granted the application, subject to the work of the school not being interfered with. INCREASE OF SALARY. Mr Miller, one of the school staff, wrote asking for an increase on his present yearly salary (£150) on the ground that, while engaged to do primary work, he had conducted classes in the higher branches, pending the appointment of Mr Wilson, the second master.

Mr McKerrow remarked that Mr Wilson having now joined, there no longer existed any necessity for Mr Miller to undertake extra duty ; but he certainly ought to be paid a bonus for what he had done. This was generally assented to; and, on the suggestion of Mr Gillies, the matter was referred to the Hector to report on. NOTICES OF MOTION. Tho Chairman asked, as a personal favor, that the two members, Messrs Gillies and Manchester, who had given notice of important motions, viz., to exclude the Press from Board meetings and to call upon the Hector to resign his position —would postpone them. He did not wish to express any opinion on either point; but, if tho motions were pressed, he should vote against both, because ho considered they should be left to tho now Board to deal with. Further, if the motions were pressed on, he should be obliged to lay nefore tho Board some very painful matters, and ho had no desire now to cast reflections on anv one.

Mr Gillies said for his part he had no desire to force bis motion on, and was willing to comply with tho Chairman’s request. At the same time, ho thought there should be no postponement in the case of Mr Manchester’s motion; because, to postpone that, was to keep a sword hanging over the Hector’s head. The Chairman reiterated his request, Mr Manchester said gladly would he grant tho Chairman a favor and oblige him in any way—if he could. But he regetfed to say that his notice of motion could not bo withdrawn. After watching the school for twelve months, with many disadvantages as to distance, &c., ho had arrived at the conviction that a change was needed. If the mutter were left to the now Board, it would still

have to be dealt with. He felt he must bring it on. Bat, if the Board ruled in favor of postponement or withdrawal, of course he would submit. Ho believed the discussion would not last long, as all their minds, he felt sure, were already made up—one way or the other. Ho thought the interests of the school demanded a change, and that forthwith. The Board, he knew, was divided; and evidently public opinion was also divided. He asked members to express their opinions, Mr Goldsmith opposed any postpone, ment.

Mr McKerrow followed Mr ManChester’s argument. He thought the business should be proceeded with at once.

The Chairman again pressed his request. The postponement would be a special favor to himself. There followed an interval, during which no one spoke, until

Mr McKerrow remarked—" It is useless to sit here in this manner.”

Mr Manchester proceeded to remark that he could not forget the firm and resolute stand taken by the Chairman at the beginning of the meeting. How he (the speaker) felt it was his turn to be resolute. He had marked the fortitude and courage with which the Chairman had assumed a grave responsibility, and now, however unpleasant it might be for him (the Chairman) to allow the business to proceed, he felt compelled to ask him to display the same fortitude in this case.

The Chairman said he should vote against it, if it were pressed forward, for he thought it was a matter for the new Board to deal with. However, if Mr Manchester insisted, he had better move.

Mr McKerrow observed that the Chairman might easily get over the difficulty by removing from the head to the side of the table end letting some other member preside during the discussion of Mr Manchester’s motion,

Mr Jackson favored postponement. Archdeacon Harper said he had thought over what had been said, and in the present maimed state of the Board, he should be inclined to urge a postponement also. Mr Manchester gave way to the opinions expressed; and by declining to move, allowed bis motion to lapse. Mr Gillies’ motion lapsed in like manner. PRIZE FUNDS. It was decided, on the motion of Dr Lovegrove, seconded by Mr Manchester, to grant the sum of £2O for school prizes this year. It appeared that nearly £4O bad been expended on the previous occasion, and the Chairman remarked that the system of making prizes too common, was a reprehensible one. Last year there were 123 pupils on the roll, now there were 90. hectors’ report. The Chairman, having lost or mislaid the Hectors report, it was not forthcoming; Messrs Harper, Gillies and the Chairman, were authorised to deal with any requirements that might be mentioned in the report. The meeting then terminated.