SOUTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 9 May 1901, Page 4

SOUTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION BOARD.

Hhe -monthly meeting of the Board of Education was held yesterday. Present: Mr Howell, chairman, Kev. G. Barclay, .Messrs -and Keddie. . „,.„, CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The "chairman stated that two deputations would wait upon the Board. With reference -to the one from the Timarn Main School, he had wired to the Department the previous day, asking for the decision of the Minister re District High School* where High Schools already exist.. A reply was received from the secretarv that the question was not yet settled. Five school districts had faded to elect committees—Kakahu Bush, Waitohi Flat, Silverstream, Kapua,and Claremont. He lad confirmed the appointment of Miss Ellen Smith to Gapes' Valley, Miss Gorman at MaMkfhi, and of' Miss Fifield as sewing mistress at Orari Bridge. Mr Riordan had resigned from Totara Valley.

The Commission re colonial scale would arrive in Timaru this month. The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will on their arrival telegraph a message to the schools, the Minister hoped that the principal schools would be assembled to* receive the message. A pressing invitation had been received to the chairman and members to attend the reception of the returning "troops. QUESTIONS. Mr Farnie asked whether the fees collected- in District High Schools would be refunded, and whether any arrangements would be made in regard to the scholarships held in District High Schools, as making the schools free reduced the value of the scholarships.—The chairman said that fees collected would be refunded. The non-collection of fees from others did not affect the value of the scholarships.—Mr Talbot said it affected the scholarship funds.—Mr Barclay said the change would affect the masters' salaries, and if the Board did not- get a grant from the Department thev would have to make up the

salaries otherwise. Mr Jackson asked whether the Truant Officers' services were worth the money they cost, £26 a year.—Alter; a little discussion, in which diverse opinions-were expressed, further consideration of-the matter- was postponed. Mr Jackson and Mr i-arnie doubted whether value was got for the money in all cases. r>T ,„__ CORRESPONDENCEThe. Secretary to the Department m<nnred how many pupils above VL were available for a Distal High School at Geraldine, and acknowledged jeceipfc of the Board's resolution deciding District High School and he was sure the Minister would be glad that the Board had adopted this

Secretary also sent a voucher for £460 lis 9d, for increases to public school teachers' salaries for the March quarter; also £125, a grant for making temporary arrangements for the instruction of teachers in manual and technical work. In regard to the grant for salaries, Mr Barclay said the Department had sent a new scheme, different from both their original scheme and the Board's suggestion of 12£ per cent, increases. The Board were coerced into adopting the Department's scheme. He observed that this Board's comment, that they did not approve of either the distribution or the manner in which it was made, -was practically the same as had been made by other Boards. A good deal of discussion took place ■on the- "way the grant for instructiott of teachers should be expended, and it -was Tesolved that the Board take steps to elicit the opinion of the Teachers' Institute on the subject. The chief discussion -was on the question whether the chairman and the Inspectors should meet the Institute or not, and this was 'negatived. ___„

BUILDING COMMITTEE. The Building Committee made the following recommendations :—Temuka, committee to find chloride of lime for urinals, and architect to report on request for repairs. Orari Bridge, painting has been arranged for; architect to report on other matters. .Te Moana, painting and spouting, _ and Orari Gorge painting, to stand -oyer;.,the. painting fund being exhausted. WaitaM's request- for enlargement, committee t6 be asked whether an alternative ■would not be preferable. Opihi, porch to be granted on the committee contributing £6. Winchester, new bell, not recommended, as bells have not.been granted ior years. Pleasant Point, committee's proposal for improvement of! water supply to be referred to the architect. Albury,

architect's estimate for repairing flooring, spouting, and blinds; work to be done, .provided the committee supply £B, as the damage to the floor is largely due to dances and other entertainments held in

the schooL Te 'Ngawai, porch should be supplied. Timaru M™ School, ar- ' .phitect's ; estiinate of cost of refloating, papering, new range; the Board agreed that thfl estimate is cot large considering that little has been spent on the house since it 3 erection 20 years ago. St. Andrews, Mr Black's tender. £l6, for porch to be accepted. Timaru South fencing, tenders far too high above architect's estimate;. ila stand over for further consideration. The . chairman of tie Arundel Flat SchooL Committee waited on the Board to urge the erection., of a residence. The question of removal or non-removal of

the school had been fought out, in favour «S-the. present site. The Committee disapproved of the attachment of rooms to *fche schooL—Mr Patrick having been heard, the matter was referred to the Building Committee. TIMARU MAIN SCHOOL.

Mr . Bopthroyu, chairman, and Rev. G. Burgess, another member, of the Timaru Main School Committee, waited on the Board to urge the Uwtrd to recommend.to -.the Minister of "Education the Committee's .request that the sdio.--I be made a district "high schooL Mr Burgess said thn deputation had been appointed because the Committee was not : represented at the uonlereence convened by the Board, to consider the matter, and thev came to urge the Board to consider the rase independent of. the opinion expressed by the Conference. He was sure the Board were at one- with the Committee in their desire to do-their-Jbest for the pupils in the school, and so far the Committee could see no Hiethodjby which the best could be dcrie,other ..than .by raising the status of the school. It was unfair that Timaru chi'dren should be at a rUxidva-itage compared with Temuka.and -Waimate, because there is a High School here. The methods of instruction must be so different, that a, District High School could be no real rival to the .High SchooL For instance he explained ihat only two or three of the pupils, who aae looking forward to become teachers, are -takinglanguagcs. There was a strong feelring throughout- the 7»\ra in favour of the -Committee's application, and the case was .exciting' much interest in Christchurch. 3018 Board : had been regardful of the in--terests of a school not under their jurisdiction, lest those interests should be imperißed. -He asked the Bo:ird to be more regardful of the needs of the school which dsjjnder their, jurisdiction. ,He.asked that ■£ie Committee's ray nest- T je jj sn t forward to ■tile-Minister, in vrder that it might be dealt "with by the hiirlie«t -;iiitriority. r Mr Boothroyd criticised, the constitution <tt the late conference, as there was a majority of repr,j.==ri!.-it£ves of the High School, imd not ihe school committee whose application wa.< beinic discussed. 'He did not think the ci.iu-Insion ->f the Conference would be,sati.-:i\:>.-iMy even rf it could be carlied out. Bui- t'> cany ir. out legislation would be necessary. a;id the Committee's proposal could ixi applied at once. The majority of p;<reuN -miei-.illv did not want their boys to g> i , ;i, O SchooL He pointed out, ;•.<? ;>;> itnrx.rf.-.nf. feature of the case, that if tr>.- O.mercr.r-'s recommendation, was carried .nr?. i-he Board and the school wouid J..v5 iho --.pitation on the forty pupils who would h L , transferred to the High"Scli«ol. He iisiccl the Board to take the apnlicKi'-Ti int-; favourable consideration, and got- io:' Timaru the advantages possessed by Teainka and Waimate, and probably nvm by Geraldine. •In the course ox n. desulfii-y discussion, it iras admitted x'n.v -"here i< jiothing in the Act or the retraliT: '"l.* against the application, but there ■» r., c;be where a District High School ". : been mi'de in a centre where a Hifjii >■ '* ~.>l exi-i..*. Mr Burgess suggested th-i-f. :'. • B'.-n-.T should try to win the distinct. <;: a precedent. (Laughter.) The chairman read the reply

from the Department, that the question was \ not settled, and the Minister was absent. \ The Board then adjourned for lunch, and on resuming, Mr Jackson moved, and Mr Keddie seconded: —" That the application of the Timaru School Committee to raise the status of the school to a District High. School be acceded to, and that the application be forwarded to the proper quarter with a recommendation that it be granted." Mr Jackson did not see why Timaru should sot have the same advantages as Temuka and Waimate, and Mr Keddie used a similar argument. Mr Barclay suggested that the subject should be postponed, while Mr Farnie for settling it at once.- They should have the first word, as the Minister would take more notice of the application if the TJoard recommended is. The chairman deprecated any hasty dealing with the question, as the new colonial scale might have a great effect upon it. j Mr Barclay moved that the matter be relegated to a special meeting on the ISth inst, and on this Messrs Jackson and Keddie withdrew their motion, and Mr Barclay's motion was carried. APPOINTMENTS.

Applicants were selected for the posts of sole teacheri at Cannington, infant mistress at Kingsdown, and infant mistress at Hilton.

The appointments of Mr Strong ;at Hilton and Mr Renton at Hakateramea were confirmed by the Board. DISPUTED ELECTIONS.

A petition was read from Glenavy asking that the election of the committee J be annulled, because the chairman of the meeting refused to accept the nomination oil a qualified -candidate. The chairman of the meeting wrote that he irifused the nomination, holding that the person is not a househslder, because he occupies a house held under the Land for Settlements Act by another jperson, who has no) power to let the house. The petitioners argue that the nature of his tenure did .not affect the status of the householder: A second and minor question was mentioned by the petitioners. A petition was also received from four persons asking the Board to annul the election of committee at Redcßff, on the grounds of undue influence, by the teacher in several different ways—inducing householders ip vote for candidates named by him; the iballot was irregularly conducted; the chairman of the meeting was elected to the committee though not entitled to sit; that two persons elected to the committee were not eligible, -because their wives and not they are the householders, as tenants under the liand for Settlements Act; that another does not reside within the school district; that a person who voted was not entitled to do If} was agreed that the accuracy of the statements in the~Redcliff case be tested by referring the petition to the School Committee and the teacher, and that both cases be referred to the solicitor for advice on the questions raised with regard* i» the effect of the Land for Settlements Act. MISCELLANEOUS. Bequests from Morven for enlargement of school; Rangitata, for gate; Orton, Orari Bridge, and Waimate, for repairs, were referred to the Building Committee. The Board were of opinion that £lO is due from Temifka Committee towards cost of site for residence. The secretary, Major Bamfield, was granted three weeks leave of absence. _ A question regarding corporal punishment at Temuka school was postponed. Some reports by the Inspectors were postponed. The Board rose at 3 p.m.