BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4713, 3 August 1893, Page 3

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

North Canterbury.

THIS DAY.

The fortnightly meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education was held this morning, there being present Mr E. Westenra (Chairman), Messrs H. W. Peryman, T. W. Adamß and T. H. Anson. BUILDINGS COMMITTEE'S BBPOET. The Buildings Committee reported that the School Committee of Oxford west had called attention to the roof of the building and general want of painting. The Tinwald School Committee had forwarded particulars of fencing applied for. The Clerk of Workß had been instructed to report on these matters when in the neighbourhoods. The Hinds and the Leeston Committees had applied for fuel sheds for the masters* houses. They had been informed that no funds were at present available. The Amberley Committee had been allowed JBBO for extras on the improvements authorised. The Methven Committee had been allowed £4 10s for repairs to the schoolroom roof, which had been damaged dnring the recent gale. The Riverside Committee had asked for posts and rails for tying horses to, and had been told that no grant could be made for the purpose. The tender of G. Mazey, £9 10a, had been acceptod for repairs to the master's house at Harewood road. The report wae adopted. CLOSING OP THE NORMAL SCBOOL. The Chairman said he had thought over the advisability of closing the Normal Sohool. Out of 1100 children 500 were now absent, and the number was getting less. He had conferred with the teachers, and had corce to the conclusion that it would be best to clobo the school for a fort* night and let the period count as holidays. In November a week's holiday could be given to break the long spell of school work. He had caused the school to be oloßed a week ago, and it would open again on Monday next. The Chairman's action was confirmed. APPOINTMENTS. The Opawa School Committee wrote/ that it had selected Mr George Petrie for the position of master. The Prebbletoh Committee intimated that Mr Marney had been chosen for that sohool. These appointments were confirmed. Mr Finlay son was conditionally approved as master for the Leithfield school. Mr Livingstone, selected laat meeting for both Eangiora and Eiffleton, wrote, accepting tbe Eiffleton school. This appointment was confirmed. The fiangioia Committee wrote ,that Mr C. W. Atkinson had been chosen aa master. This was confirmed. The Sydenham Committee wrote reoommending the second assistant for the position of first assistant. This matter was deferred. ■ | The resignation of tbe mistress of the South Loburn school waß received and accepted. MISCELLANEOUS. The Inspectors reported on the Normal school, and the Papanui and St Albans schools. The Secretary, Mr Colborne Veel, reported that applications for trees for Arbor Day had been received from eighty School Committees, and that 14,845 trees had been distributed. The Secretary said that he had received a communication from the Minister for Education, concerning drill instruction in the schools in Canterbury. Upon his | replying that only one school in the district had the services of a drill instructor, the Minister had stated that in the four principal towns cf New Zealand the services of artillery officers could be secured for the purpose of imparting instruction in calisthenics and military movements. In Auckland such instruction was given by officers in sixteen schools. Mr Peryman Baid that this was a matter worthy of consideration, and the attention of the principal School Committees should be drawn to it. It was decided that a copy of the letter from the Minister ehould be sent to the various Committees, and the wish expressed that they would take steps to have drill instruction imparted to the children attending the schools. Numerous letters were received, some concerning complaints, and others on routine matters. These were considered and attended to. NOTICE OP MOTION. Mr Anson gave notice that ho^ would movo at next meeting — "That, in the opinion of this Board, the present system of paying the salaries of teachers on the strict average is unfair and unjust, and that the Minister for Justice be asked to adopt a little more equitable ba&ie for the payment of teachera' salaries." The meeting then adjourned.