EDUCATION BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9534, 5 May 1909, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD.

The North Canterbury Education Board met this morning; present — Messrs C. A. C. Hardy, M.P. (chairman), C. H. A. T. Opie, T. W. Adams, J.Renhie, H. W. Peryman, J. Dalziel and Dr J. Hight.

Th© Appointments Committee reported that the following appointments had been recommended : — Addington —Mr A. R. Blank, assistant master; Christchurch East-r-Mr C. M'Carthy, assistant master; T'ai Tapu — Mr B. PenlLngton, master; and as pupil teachers: — Christchurch West — Ruby Miles, as of the third year, on matriculation, with two years' service ; Rhoda Foster, as of the third year, on matriculation, with three years' service; Sumner — Mabel Gainsford, third year on matriculation, two years' service; Akaroa — Miss M. J. Martin, mistress; Ashburton— -Miss A. G. Thwaites, second assistant mistress; Christchurch West — Miss A. C. Finlayson, first assistant mistress, secondary department ; Kaikoura suburban- — Miss J. Waterston, mistress; Longbeach — Miss A. Jacobs, mistress; St Albans — Mr H. F. Wilkinson, second assistant master, and Miss L. Rugstead, fifth assistant mistress; Springburn — Miss L. Dalby, mistress; Springston South — Miss E. Early, mistress ; Riccarton-^-Mr William Grieve, as pupil-teacher of the third ytar, with two years' service. The following resignations had been received and accepted :— Hinds — Miss E. Greer, as mistress; Hornby — Mr A. Dunnett, master; Killinchy — Miss R. Mason, assistant mistress; Darfield — Mr B. Penlington,' as master; Dunsandel — Miss vL. Rugstead, mistress ; Mason's Flat — Mrs M. Wilkinson, mistress ; Westerfield — Miss C. Davies, mistress. Miss E. A. Hampton, Horsley Downs, had been granted an additional month's leave of absence owing to illness; Miss B. Joyce, mistress at Riccarton, had been granted two months' leave of absence, and Miss R. Smith, Winchmore, six months', on account of illness.

The report was adopted. The Normal School and Technical Committee, in the course of its ' report, si-ated that Mr E. Wilkinson, supervisor of school gardens, had reported having visited seventeen schools during the latter part of March, at which seven were, taking up the work. It was agreed to call the attention of those interested to the absence of a garden at the Normal School, to the need of pruning trees at Ashley, and to the possibility of forming a garden at Loburn. The inspector had submitted a report on the matter of instruction in agriculture, pointing out the importance of the subject, and recommending the Board to delay further action as regards the provision of Saturday classes until the arrival of the new director at Lincoln College, whose advice it might be possible to obtain. The committee approved this suggestion, and supplied members of the Board with copies of the inspector's report. The report was adopted. The Rev J. Mackenzie wrote, asking the Board to receive a deputation 01 ministers towards the end of May in regard to the matter of religious instruction in schools. The Brookside and Springburn School Committees also wrote, advocating that Bible instruction should be given for half an hour -each week. It was decided to receive the deputation of ministers at next meeting. The Ashburton Technical Committee wrote stating that the Ashburton Borough Council had offered a reserve of an area of one acre as a site for a Technical School, at a nominal rental. The matter was referred to the Technical Committee. * A complaint was received from the Halswell district that at the annual meeting of householders persons not entitled to vote voted, and that the ballot papers were burnt after the first count. It was decided to write asking the chairman of the meeting for an explanation. A similar complaint of irregularities was received from the Wharenui district. The chairman of the Wharenui School Committee wrote explaining the circumstances of the- meeting. The election at Wharenui was declared null and' void. A question was received as to whether the Rev J. Hawkins was a duly elected member of the Southbridge committee. He was absent on a holiday, and had been away since February. His wife and children were still resident in the^ district, and his consent to nomination had been left. The question for the decision of the Board was whether the Rev Hawkins, having been absent for more than three months prior to the election, was entitled to be ranked as a householder resident in the district, and therefore eligible for election.

It was resolved to refer the matter to the Board's solicitor.