EDUCATION BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 4380, 2 November 1888, Page 4

EDUCATION BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Board of Kducntim was held to-day. President Mr S. W. Goldsmith (chairman'. Kevs. G. Barclay and T. Jasper Messrs Pearpoint, Talbot, Barker and Howell chaibman's statement. The chairman in the course of his usual stnten ent, stated the total average attendance for the September quarter was over 200 less than that of the June quarter, in consequence of inclement weather, and the operation of the 'strict average 'srstem would cause a loss tj the board of nearly £20U for the quarter. This falling off would afiVt the staffs of several schools, Timaru main scoot, Pleasant Valley, and possibly Fairlie Creek. lh.> average of the i imaru Main School, 789, does not show «uffic'ient recovery to warrint the retention of the tenth teacher, it being questionable whet' er the attendance would equal that of Ihe Juno quarter for some- time, as about 40 Children who had been regular attendants hud gone lo Melhourne. The board should express au opinion as to what should he done in the case of tho schools he had referred to. <s to the proposal lo substitute a well at Glenavv for tanks, enquiry showed that tho saving would not am <u»t to more than £5 10. The plans of the Geraldine sections had been prepared and were now in the hands of tho solicitors fur the preparation of the bill to a'low of their sale. THE ABCH'TECT. A discussion took place, concerning an alteration by the nrclii'ert of a contract for alterations at Pleasant Valley school, che iri'hitect sent in an eiplnnation, in which he stated that as soon as he found th-re had been a mistake made he did bis best to rectify it. He regrette'l that he did not lay the whole thing before the chairman before acting. inspector's repobts. A number of reports >oa schools examined were presented by the inspector and the pass percentages were read. I he following are tl>o figures : — (a) I'ercentHge of passes on roll number. (A) Per cent of failures in standard classes. (c) Percentage on class suhj-iMa. (d) Additional marks for optional subjects. (a) (4) (c) id) Burke'sPasß 45 31 42 2<5 DpperWaitohi 34 47 41 . 48 Kangitira Valley ... 23 60 41 43 Pareora 64 7 69 80 Kairlie Creek 45 25 58 51 Totara Valley 50 0 60 61 Makikihi 41 23 42 53 Hairview 67 15 60 51 Mount Ony 31 30 54 34 Pleasant Point 4S 25 68 80 Silrerftream 33 35 23 54 Sutherland3 45 22 49 35 Otaio 53 36 42 45 Opihi 3t 50 46 39 Waihao 29 47 38 69 CAVE AND 80TBEE1AND8. Deputations were r ceived from Sutherlanda and Cave, the former to protest agauint the remo?al of their school buildings to the Cavo, and the latter to support this and request a separate building, 'the deputations having been heard, Messrs Talbo , Jaokion, Barker, and Pearpoint spoke in favour of hasingtwo schools Messrs Smyth and Howell said it was a question of funds. They could not afford to build a school, and if i hey did not shift tho school tho Cave people would have to wait. Mr lalbut relieved that aided schools are not so eipensive to the board as those between 40 and 50 Mr fmyth did not like the idea of shifting a school, but he was sure the Sutherlands fchool would be greatly reduced at ones when the other van opened He did not think the board could afford to build one ■ chool ab tho expense of another Mr Barber asked why th* state of their fum's Wiiß not taken into account before th'-y called f"r tenders for a building at the Cave, and collected m ney from the residents towards tlis co-t. Mr How. 11: It is not the initial cost but the keeping up of the school. Mr Smyth : It would cost £100 a year to keep up the two schools. If they put up a school at the Cave they would have four schools alongside the railway within 7 miles Alhurv, Care, Sutherland! and Pleasant Point. Such a thing would be poipted at by the whole oolony. Mr Jackson : I oould name four schools within nine miles — I'areora, Beaconrfleld, Clarpmont and ' airview Mr Barclay opposed the erection of a school ,»t the Cave at pre-ent, on the ground that the board could not afford it. After a long discus-ion Mr 'albot moved nnd it *a» parried— "That th« ottifo take it,a ppaeeiary Heps to si-cure a school site at tin) Owe, jn 'Uch position as may be recommended by' Ibp Cave School Committee ; further thar., Jjrljen the site i* secured, tho tender of Mr Hack for the erection of a school be aconptpd, pro yjried he i« still prepared to go on with the work i failing this, fresh tenders to be invited." Mr Barclay said that tho question was so dilflcult that he would not pole upon it. SOHor.ABSHirs. 'lbs Revs. Barclay and duijth, and Mr M Gray wer* opp'-inted a committee to conduct tb» board'»aonm»l scholarship ex>iminßtions, with power to make u/l nrrangements, and procure the services of examiners. THE BTHICT AVKHAOB. Mr Wood, liesWmasfer at Timaru, wrote rc(iue«tin(> that. hi« salurv «h<uild not be »tJj>wcd to i-uffer on account of tho recent full id jtliu ari-rog" i.ttendaHce Mr Wood gugl>"^.etl Ihtfl t.h<t averai/e of tlui side «eh.iol i.iTer which ht/tifittsitn nupervi-ion), should liKiiildicl to I hut of the «ihi/i i-chnol in orHer to iustiiy his hating his salary retained in full. M r Barclay pointed out that if this wai

done in thec^se oi the bead master, it must be applied to the other teachers as well, and would come to a big turn. Mr Howell com-batt.-d this, and a lone conversation followed ad to the actual relations of the headmaster to the siHe school. Mr Barclay said if this request was granted. h» would move that ail olher salaries, which had been reduced should be reinstated. The secretary stated that the redu tion was only £2 for the quarter, and members said it w»s nut worth walking about, and the matter » as allowed to drop. Several members favoured passing a specia 1 resolution that in vi»w of the importance of his position Mr Wood's salary should not fall below £300, but no one moved in that ilireetion. Vis OF BCBOOIBOOMB. Mr Barclay pointed out thai the resolution passer) by m e b ard proliib ting the u-e of sehoolbuildings unless insured went beyond ! the Government circular on the subject, as it prohibited iheir me for all purpoves, includi ing re lg oua service*, whereas the cir ular only requested the board to prohibit their use for " mere amu-emerits." He moved a resolution to correct the former one in that respect, which was carried after a discursive discussion. architect's bepobt The architect reported on defects in the i guttering and roofing of t.l'e I emuka school, which were the cause of leaks and damage to i the interior. He estimated the cost at £6 10s to £tf.— Necessary repairs to be effected. COHBEBPONDENCB A letter from tlis t'tago Hoard expressed approval of the board's protest against the " strict average system." They had protested against it before. Albury was granted £5 for repairs to outbuildings blown over by the late heavy gale. Mr Smyth wondered how they were going to ! do the repairs for £5, as some of the build ings hnd been reduced to matchwood. I The Adair (late Beaconsfleld) committee , w'r»te describing the defects of the tank supplied, and recommending Miss Jefcoate »s . mistress. A petition from householders proi tested against the recommendation being , confirmed, as Miss Jefcoate was not the I highest in attainments among the applicants. . The circumstances being' explained, the rei commendation was confirmed. i Kiagsdown applied for a pupil'teacher, and recommended Miss Munro --Approved. i A report on the leakage of the roof of Woodbury school by the chairman of committee showed that a good deal of expense . would be incurred to put things right. i Mr Kdmiston wrote demanding that the closets at Waimataitai school be shifted from the boundary, and that steps be taken to stop annoyance to him arising from them.— Secretary to try and arrange with Mr Edmiaton. The Pleasant Point committee rocon>mended that the ground be drained. I could be done for £5, or so, by sinking two or three large holes in the shingle, filling , them with boulders and digging drains leading to them. — £1 was grunted to allow of one hole being dug as an experiment. The residents of Arundel Village Settlement wrote asking the board to re-consider their decision refusing, on the report of Mr 1 Pearpoint, to erect a school there. The board derided to take no steps at present. ! he Waimate Committee asked for £12 for > re-erection of pioket fence round janitor's ' house, blown down. Mr Jackson proposed to have the fence i replaced by barbed wire The chairman to examine and report, r i Ihe Timaru Committee drew attention to t' e dangerous condition of the lintel of one of the doors, supposed to bare been damaged by the earthquake of September Ist. — No action taken. 1 The following resolutions were carried : — "That Mr Barclay he requested to submit, on next board day esitmate3 for certain expenditure at Qeratdine ; also of cost of repairs at Woodbury " " I hat tenders be called for the class-room to the South ururi Hchool, to be laid before the board ai next meeting." The meeting then terminated.