BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5045, 16 January 1891, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

oThe Education Board met yesterday. Present— Mr S. W. Goldsmith (chairman), Her. T. J. Smyth, Messrs J. Jackson, R. A. Barker, W. B. Howoll, J. Talbot, and M. Gray. Mr Howell moved a vote of condolence with the Rev. G. Barclay on his unfortunate accident. The chairman aaid he had a letter From Mr Barclay stating that bo wa9 progrest-ing very well and hoped soon to bo ablo to stand on his leg again. (It will be remembered that Mr Barclay some weeks ago fell through a trap- door m a store, and broke his leg.) CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The chairman m his usual statement said the board had now 56 schools open, and an average attendance of over 4000. Ho would on glad to receive advice us to the expediency of making arrangements to open tho Sandhurst school. The bouudarieß had been Droelaimed and a committee elected, and (ho board had promised that the school should be openod after the Christmas holidays. Returning to the number of schools, m tho lastsevon years 15 bad been added to the list, and m tho same time tho average attendance hud grown by 1000. Of course the work of the office and the travelling of tho Inspector bad increased proportionately. He had to report one resignation, that of Miss Wallace at Gapea' Valley, whose place was temporarily filled, by Miss Oxby The Soadown and Waitaki schools had been opened with very good attendances. An application would be renewed for a school for Rhubarb Flat, first made two yenrs ago, several families having recently settled there. The offlco was not closed during the Christmas holidays owing to the large amount of work to be done, many of tho schools not taking their holidays yet, and requiring requisites for the new year. The building grant had been received, £1800; the building committee would be called together at an early date, and he hoped by next meeting to have a list to lay before the board of the most pressing requirements. In the meantime he thought it would not be out of place to call attention to the urgent necessity for additions to Belfield, Wai iti, Rangitira Valley, Adair, and Kingadown. These were all urgent cases. There were also urgent requests for fencing at the new schools at Beadown, Arundel, and Waifcaki. Perhaps the Board would give the Architect instructions at once to prepare plans and specifications for some of tho additions. THE BUILDING GBANT. A letter from the department stated that the total vote of £35.000 for sohool buildings had been divided, first on the principle of Is per head of the population at the last census. This absorbed £28,617. The balance was then divided among tho districts so as to give an advantage to the smaller districts, The share of this board on the Is por head waß £1152; and this had been made up on the second division to £1830. It W3B Btated that the building fund was now m debt to the maintenance fund about £1300, so that when this was repaid there would be only £500 for buildings, unless the other fund were again drawn upon. It was reaolved on the motion of Mr Talbot — "That the building committee bo authorised to instruot the architect to prepare plans and speciScations for such additions to existing schools as may be deemed most urgently required," — Carried. An account from tho architect garo rise to a good deal of diaoussion and it was resolved on the motion of Mr Howell, " That a roturn be laid on the table at next meeting, showing the amounts paid to tho architect for commissions, travelling expanses, and personal expenses, for one year, and the porcentage of such payments to the expenditure on buildings." STANDARD EXAMINATIONS. The Inspector submitted reports on schools examined, etc, pass results being as follow, (A porcentage of passes ; B, peroentago of failures; O, porcentage of class subjects ; D, additional marks) : — A. B. 0. D. Seotßburn 54 14 fi3 46 Kakahußush 55 0 58 73 Hilton 6<A 10 54 74 Gernldine Flat 51 22 58 36 Hunter 41 37 54 70 Rangitata Station 85 81 39 46 Bel Geld 39 32 fi6 27 Pleasant Valley 55 20 53 63 Kangituta South 0 8(5 29 22 Geraldine 41 17 59 77 Woodbury 58 18 73 76 Waituna Creek 42 33 45 42 Temuka 47 17 62 77 Orari Bridge 47 13 65 64 Gapes Valley 33 52 38 43 Rangilata Island 60 7 68 63 Waimate 59 7 67 76 COMMITTEES' COEBKSPONDENCE The Tirnuru School Oommitteo recommended Master Oxby and Miss h. Campbell us pupil teaohors, the latter having matriculated, to enter a« a 3rd year p.t with loavo to norve a second year at 4th year's pay. — Appointments confirmed. The Waitaki Committee asked for fencing. —Estimate to be asked for. The Geraldino Committee again pressed for improved ventilation m one of tho rooms of the new sohool. Tho room was also overcrowded. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Talbot "That tho committee be informed that tho architect, having stated m reply to the board's enquiry m this matter that the ventilation of tho room wa« quite sufficient, tho bonrd cannot m face of this eUtpmcnt accede to tho request Tho board would suggest uaing ono of l.ho larger rooms for the infants, as the present overcrowding seems to ho accountable for the difficulty comp!ftin< d of." Tho Waimatai'aiCommittne wroto that they had received 29 ftpplioantß for the iioad mastership, and they had met to consider them, but owing to the BhortneßS of tho notice given they had not been ahlo to go through all tho applications and make a selection, and the businoßS was adjourned till tho ordinary meeting on February 2nd. The committed pointed out that a locum tenants would bo wanted, and that the board was to biamo for this bb tho vacanoy waßknownon Nov Bth, and nothing wasdonoto fill it for a month. — Motnbors expressed surprise that tho committoo adjourned for so long the completion of their selection, when they professed so much concern about it. Tho Timaru oommitten wroto that they met tho previous evening, but had not completed their choice of a second master, and they had adjourned till next Monday, 'fhoy requested tho board to mnke some arrancoment to confirm their soleotion at onco, and save time. Tho chairman suid he had a general authority to do that, provided tho candidate waß woll up on tho Inspector's list of roeommondaliona. A lettor from Mr Wako iv his brother G. P. Wako's scholarship was referred to tho scholarship committee. The board then roße,