EDUCATION BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2338, 4 September 1875, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD.

The Board met on Wednesday, when Mr. B. Wells presided. Present— Yen. Archdeacon Govett, Messrs. Andrews, Crompion, and Lawrence. School licsercc at OaTcura. — The Chaibmas stated that in obedience to the wishes of the Board, he had applied for a grant of the land at Oakura, which he supposed they would get in due course. Waitara School. — A letter was read from tho local committee at Waitara, pointing out tho necessity there existed for tho appointment of a school-master to tho new school ; and that the existing school should remain as it is at present ; also tho advisability of having the ground round the new school fenced in, to enable the scholars who come there on horsebaok to let thetr horses loose.— Mr. Crompton moved, Mr. Andrews seconded, and it was agreed to — "That the application from the Waitara local committee be deferred for the present, on account of the low state of the funds of the Board." The Urenui Homeliolders. — A letter was read from Mr. H. Good, Urenui, enclosing a list of tho names of tho householders at Uronui. Orphan Children. — The Board acceded to the request made that the fees for the schooling of Mrs. Roberts' children should be paid ; also tho fees for a hoy named Botham. Assistant Female Teacher to the Sell Bloclt, School. — A letter was read from Mr. Bennett, schoolmaster at Bell Block, stating that he hod sixty-three children at his school, and of which twenty-two wcro girls. He stated that the parents had desired that the latter should be instructed in needlework, and he had accordingly to pay a female assistant teacher for the last, three months to give lessons. He said this was a tax on him, and he asked the Board to consider the matter. There was ample room in the school, and the assistant now employed was well qualified to give the necessary instruction if the Board would remunerate her services. — Mr. Andrews moved, and Archdeacon Govett seconded — " That the chairman be instructed to appoint a female assistant teaoher at the Bell Block school, at tho rate of £15 per annum." — Carried. Examination of Teachers. — The Chairman announced that the day fixed for the examination of the teachers was Friday and Saturday next, the 10th and 11th instant. TJte Education Bates.— The Secretary stated that the rates for the ensuing year could not be estimated at more than £800 ; all that had been collected during the past year was £673. Supplying Fuel for Schools. — A letter from Mrs. Hogarth to the chairman of the Okato local committee was read, complaining that no firewood was provided, and that she had no one to clean out the schoolroom. — The question of supplying fuel wa3 then again discussed, and Mr. Andrews said he had paid for a load of firewood for the Huirangi school himself, the settlers agreeing to supply some in their turn. — Mr. Crompton moved and Mr. Lawrence seconded — "That' the Board will not supply fuel to schools, and that the teachers be responsible for keeping the schoolrooms clean." — Agreed to. The Salaries of the Teachers. — The Secretary, in reply to a question, said £1,100 per annum was paid for salaries to the teachers. Collecting the llates.— -The Secretary said that up to the present time only £25 had been paid of this year's rates, although last year at the same time £95 had been received. — Mr. Crompton moved and Mr. Lawrence seconded — "That the education rates remaining unpaid after the 30th September be sued for, and that an advertisement to that effect bo inserted in the local papers." — Carried. School in the WavtvaJeaiho D'utrbct. — The Secretary was instructed to see if a track for children to go to the school from a distant part of the district could be made. Amalgamation of Schools. — Owing to the few scholars attending the Tataraimaka and Okato schools, the advisability of amalgamating them was considered. The subject was postponed. Softools at Mangorei. — The Chairman said the Mangorei settlers had urged that a central schoolhouse be erected on the land selected by the Board would be very inconvenient, and that two schoolhonses — one in the upper and another in the lower part of the district — should be built. At present the district had no schoolhouse. It was then resolved that the subject of tho building of the school be postponed for the present. The Exemption lAst. — The subject of who should be exempted from paying the rate was then discussed, when Mr. Crompton moved, and Mr. Andrews seconded, " That the Local Committees be called upon to furnish to the Board the names of those persons in their respective districts whom they deem necessary to be excused from paying the education rate on account of poverty.'V'Agreed to. The Board then adjourned till Wednesday, the Cth October, at 2.30 p.m.