SOUTH CANTERBURY -BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1774, 7 June 1895, Page 3

SOUTH CANTERBURY -BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Education Board was hold yesterday. Present: Mr J. Jackson (chairman), Rev. J "White and G. Barclay, Messrs R. H. Pearpoint, W. B. Howell, G. H. Graham, J. Talbot, and T. R. Seddon. chairman's statement. The chairman apologised for the absence of Mr Gray. Mr J. L. Cooke has returned from England, and taken charge j of the St. Andrews school again. Several changes in the staffing of schools is reported. Albury and Redcliff had again failed to elect school commmittees, and the Board must appoint commissioners. The Timaru committee recommended that three months' leave be granted Mr Hugh Wake to enable him to attend Canterbury College ; he hoped the Board would sanction it. A locum tenens was also asked for. Mr Childs, who had beon for many years chairman of theMakikilii Committee had resigned, and the thanks of the Board were due to him for the attention he had always given to all matters connected with his office. Inquiry was being made of the Adair committee into a complaint that they had let three acres of the school site without applying to the Board or advertising. St. Andrews had given up the use of the Library as extra accommodation. J. Goldstone applied to be allowed to take his scholarship at the Waimate school, his mother having gone to live at Waimate. He presumed there would be no objection to this. The pupil teachers' examination would begin on the 25th inst. He asked for an instruction as to the meaning of a resolution passed at the previous meeting, respecting the purchase of the Redcliff residence. Two alternatives were given, payment at once or later. Which alternative did the Board adopt ? Mr Barclay said that point was not discussed. It was resolved that the balance due, £83, be paid forthwith. SCHOLARSHIP SUBJECTS. Mr Barclay moved on notice — " That all teachers be requested to intimate that for the future, under the head of • History,' as prescribed for Senior Scholarship candidates, questions will be put on the 'Elements of Social Economy,' as prescribed under Standard VI., as defined by the Government regulations." Mr Barclay explained that the Board had adopted the principle that the scholarship requirements snould be kept as closely as possible to those of the sixth standard (apart from the extra subjects). The Department from time to time revises the standard requirements, and the latest revision includes the work for the sixth standard. Under the head of " History " he found, "Also, the elements of Social Economy ; that is to say, a very elementary knowledge of such subjects as government, law, citizenship, labour, capital, money and banking." This was an addition made at the latest revision. Mr Barclay spoke of the importance of the subject, and the wisdom of giving some knowledge of it. Mr Howell seconded the motion, and it was carried. GERALDINE STATUS. An inquiry was received from the Department as to what change of staff ana salary would be required if the status of the Geraldine school is raised. — Referred to the committee. TENDERS. Tenders were received for various painting works. Before these were dealt with Mr Barclay pointed out that in this case the Building Committee had not been consulted, as to the specifications etc., as was contemplated when the committee was appointed, and as was specially provided for in the agreement with the architect. The chairman explained that it was an unintentional infraction of that arrangement, for he was not aware that it existed. An animated discussion took place. Mr Talbot and Mr Pearpoint said the Board never understood that the Building Committee was a permanent institution, a " standing" committee, and they objected to the committee being permanent on the ground of expense. Mr Talbot said the practice had been to appoint a committee to allocate the grant, when it was received, and when the allocation was made there was nothing more for them to do.

Mr Barclay urged that there was frequently something for the committee to do, and insisted that the Building Committee, having been appointed, must exsist until it' was abolished. This committee had been appointed on a different footing from previous ones. Messrs Talbot and Pearpoint emphatically challenged this statement. Eventually Messrs White and Graham moved—" That the Building Committee be continued until the next annual meeting, and that the chairman be requested to exercise discrimination in calling the committee together." — Carried nem. con. Mr Barclay said he would move that the omission to call the committee together be condoned, and that the tenders be dealt with. Mr Talbot denied that there had been any omission. The minute was turned up, and it simply wag that certain members •' be appointed a building committee." Mr Barclay asserted that tlje appoint; ment was intended to tje. permanent ; Mr Talbot was. as positive' that it was not. The matter then dropped. It was resolved that the lowest tenders lon accepted in each case for painting school buildings. The tenders were as follow : — Milfovd, school and house — Clinch, £20 Is 6d ; Cooper, £19 10s ; Bates, £17 158 ; Surridge, £15 ss. Sutherlands, school only — Lyle and Lund, £13 19s ; Edwards, £9 15s ; Burmester, £9 10s ; Fyfe, £7 6s. Totara Valley, schoql only— Lyle and Lund. £87s, 6d ; Burmester, £8 ; Edwards, £.Q178<3d7 ' " ' ' Makikihi, sehqol and house— Bis.hop, £15 12b ; Diekensou and Ob.. £13 14s ; Smith, £12 lQs ; Fyfe, £10 lQs qdi Huntersj schqol and' hqiiße-^-Bißhqp, £1$ $? ; Sm jth ' £14 19s M. Gevaldine Flat, school and house— Pratt, £23 10b ; Cooper, £18 10s ; Bates, £14; Clinch, £12 7s; Gore, £10 10s; Surridge, £9. Orari Bridge, school and house— Pratt, £24 14s ; Cooper, £20 ; Clinch, £18s 5s ; Gore, £12 : Bates, £11 19s ; Surridge, £9. Tenders for an enlargement at Adair were— Foden, £63 ; Black, £62 ; Tubb, £60 ; Peterson, £59 9s ; McKay and Co., £59 (accepted). Material for roofing Huntei-s, A. Phillip, £15 14s (accepted).