BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5689, 7 October 1896, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

ORDINARY MEETING. A meeting of the North Canterbury Board of Education was held at the Normal i School at 11 a.m. to-day ; present — ) Messrs H. W. Peryman (chairman), J. W. Sawle, J. Munnings, J. Rennie, T. S. » Weston, T. W. Adams and R. Westenra. i Mr Adams drew attention to the agee J for the Gammack scholarships (16 to 19). > He thought they were too high. The matter was deferred; 1 The Chairman said that the statement ' of accounts prepared by the Treasurer showed a debit balance of .£1293 6s lid, , after all liabilities had been provided for. ' BUILDINGS COMMITTEE. i The Buildings Committee reported that • they had held meetings on .Sept. 21 and Oct. 6, at which the following business was » transacted :— Sept. 21 — It was resolved to call for tenders for repairing the teachers' houses at Harewood Road, Governor's Bay 5 and Sumner ; also for some repairs to the caretaker's oottage at the South Belt. Glarkville— The sum of .£3 for the purpose of carrying out some repairs to the teacher's house was allowed the committee. Teachers' houses — The remainder of the applications for repairs to teachers' houses were considered. It was resolved to have tho following houses inspected and reported on :— Fendalton, Riccarton, Richmond, St ■ Albans, Yaldhurst (also school), West Melton, Halkett (also school), Glen tunnel, ' Malvern, Kowai Pass, Prebbleton, Springston, Halswell, Irwell, Leeston, Lakeside, 1 Little Rakaia, Mason's Plat and Hurunui. In the cases of Opawa, Rolleston, South- " bridge, Sedgmere and Mount Grey Downs, there appearing np necessity for an inspection, the Secretary was instructed to reply to the inquiries made by the respective masters. With reference to the application of the master at Kaikoura Suburban, • it was decided to defer the matter till the new committee had been elected, Prebbleton— The committee wrote renewing their application for fur.th.er accommodation for the infants, and again suggesting the purchase of the library building. The Clerk of Works was instructed to inspect the school when in the neighbourhood. Hampstead — An application for additional accommodation was referred to the inspectors for report. Springston — A letter was received from the committee, supporting the application for a new school in the neighbourhood of Day's Road. .It was resolved to reebmmend the Board to erect a side school, provided the committee fcund a suitable site for the building. Plea Bay — The application from the settleis in this district for assistance towards the cost of educating their children, was further considered. It was resolved that the number of children being so small, this committee could not recommend any assistance at present. Science Requisites — A recent application for a small grant for the purchase of. science requisites, referred back by the Board to the Buildings Committee for further report, was considered. It was agreed to make inquiries as to how much was usually spent in chemicals in some of the schools where experimental science was being taught. Oct. 6 — Buildings Account— A statement wrs submitted showing that after maling provision for works authorifd, the excess of liabilities on the buildings account wa3 .£458 4s 3d. Teachers' -u.oua.ja— A report was received from the acting clerk-oi-works ■on the schools and houses inspected by him since last meeting. It was resolved* to call for tenders for repairing the houses at Brooinfield, Bromley, German Bay, main and side, French Farm, 'Okain's Bay, Kimberley, Cust (also part re-roofing of school), East Oxford, West Oxford, Woodside, Malvern and Glentunnel. In the cases of Amberley and Little Akaloa it was agreed to have the schools repaired during the next holidays. The following amounts were granted the respective committees for ropairs to teachers' houses :— West Melton .£3 10s, Halkett .£3, Summerhill £5 (also £4 for making some necessary improvements to the school grounds). The Yaldlmrst Committee wei*e given portnission to proceed with the construction of a swimming-bath for the school, the work to be subject to the inspection of the'clerk-of-works. Industrial A ssociation — A deputation from the Industrial Association waited on the committee, for the purpose of urging upon the Board the desirability of using colonial cement for its buildings in place of imported cement. It was agreed to instruct the Clerk of Works, on his return, to make cartain tests with the colonial cement, and report the results to the Board. Little River — An application tor repairs to the master's house was allowed to stand over for the present, as it was considered that the teacher should have made earlier reference to the 'matter. Riccarton — The committee wrote informing the Board that it had been decided to construct a'swimming bath outside the school grounds, i Okain's Bay — The committee forwarded a petition from some of the residents, asking that two acres of the reserve might be fenced off and a small shed erected for the use of those children having to ride to school.- The committee were asked to have the work done out of the rent they would now receive from the remainder of the reserve, which fund could also be supplemented by the incidentals. Waltham— On the renewed application of the committee, it was resolved to recommend the .: to erect a teacher's house atWaltham. S •nngb.trn— The committea wrote protesting against the action taken with regard to their application for the adjoin- 1 ing reserve. They were informed that no further action than that of which it had been made acquainted had been taken, and that the Commissioner of Crown Lands had not been communicated with on the matter. Hanmer Plains — In reply to their inquiry, the local committee were informed that it was not the Board's practice to make incidental allowances to aided ' schools. Allenton — The Ashbur'ton Committee forwarded a petition asking that the Allenton side school might be erected. It was explained to the committee that the school would be one of the first works to be put in hand when the buildings' grant was available. The report was adopted. APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. The Appointments Committee reported that they held meetings on Sept. 29 and Oct. 5, at which the following business was transacted :— Sept. 29.— The following appointments were recommended :—Riverside, Mr J. C. Purchase, master ; Longbeach, Miss Elspeth Keid, mistress. The appointment of Miss C. M. Armstrong, of Amberley, as mistress of the aided school at Leamington, was approved. The Lyttelton committee wrote, asking that provision might be made for continuing the employment of an extra assistant mistress. It was resolved to recommend the Board to advertise for an assistant mistress, but at the same time to inform the committee that if by the end of the year the average did not exceed six hundred, the question of the school staff would be further considered. The resignation of the mistress at West Eyreton was received and accepted. The committee advised that the school had been closed for two or three weeks on account of an outbreak of a mild form of diphtheria. On the recommendation of the committee and the headmaster, the first assistant master at Hampstead was authorised to inflict corporal punishment. Applications for appointment as master at View Hill and as assistant mistress at Hampstead were received and considered. Examination reports were received from Mr Wood and Dr Anderson, jointly, on the Lyttelton School ; from Dr Anderson on tho schools at Springston, Irwell, Templeton and Hornby ; and from Mr Ritchie on Stoke, Oust, Summerhill, Pernside, Weedon, Ladbrooke, Broadfields and HalswelJ. Oct. s— The reports of the Inspector and principal teacher on the Southbrook school being satisfactory, the appointment of Miss Christina Frame as pupil-teacher was confirmed. Applications for appointment as mistress at Woodend and as master at Onuku were received and considered. Examination reports were received from Mr Wood on the schools at Amberley, Leithfield and Broomfield, from Dr Anderson on Doyleston, Little Rakaia, Leestori, Burwood and Prebbleton, and from Mr

Ritchie' on Rolleston, Chertsey (main and. side) and South Rakaia. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter-from the Ashburton School Cournnttee relative to religious instruction i* the local schools was read Mr Weston moved-" That the matter be left entirely with the committee to> arrange. ' Mr Munnings seconded the motion, which was carried. A. letter was read from Messrs Benjamin and Co. forwarding nrineraloeical specimens suitable for übo in schools. The letter was received and it was re- ■ solved that Messrs Benjamin ' and Co.. should be requested to communicate direct • with the school committees. The Inspector's request that the revision of books might be postponed was; granted. A letter was read from Mrs "Wilkinson,, infant mistress at Riccarton, asking the* Board's acceptance and approval, for use in schools, of a spelling book prepared by her' for Standard I. - The letter was referred to the Inspectors to consider and report on. A letter was read from the Medbury Committee protesting against the Board's action in declining to remove the master, and forwarding their resignation. - A letter was also read from Mr A. Gray relative to the dismissal of his boy from the Medbury school, and stating that he had withdrawn his children from the school while the present master remained in charge. ; The Chairman and Mr Westenra were appointed a commission to investigate the matter, and the resignation of the committee was held over till the inquiry had been held. The Board went into committee to consider a supplementary a-eport from the Appointments Committee; " . \ _ On resuming, it, was reported that theBoard had resolved to appoint Mr Adams and Mr Sawle a commission to investigate the complaints made by the Coalgate Committee in reference to the management of the school by the present teaclier. The Board then adjourned.