EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 335, 9 July 1875, Page 3

EAST CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual fortnightly meeting of this committee was held last Thursday in the vestry of St John’s church. Present —the Rev. W. J. Habens (chairman), Rev H; C. M, Watson, and Messrs Jameson, Kirk, Thomson, Packer, Thomas, and Mitchell. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Rev Mr Habens, who occupied the position of chairman for the first time, said;-'

Gentlemen of the Committee, —This meeting, at which I occupy for the first time the position which you have done me the honor to assign to me, is remarkable not only on account of the large number and important character of the questions which will be brought under your notice, but also because it is our first meeting subsequent to a change in the administration of the Education Act, which has had the effect of closing the channel through which some knowledge of our principal transactions has hitherto been conveyed to our constituents and the public. By the newspaper reports of the meetings of the Board of Education publicity has been given to many of the proceedings of the various school committees, and their relations with the central authority have been clearly exhibited to the view of the country. Now that the Board has been abolished, our communications with the Government are not likely to be less interesting to the ratepayers, and it seems desirable that publicity should still in some way be secured, especially since the children under our care constitute about one-seventh of all the children in the district schools of the province. I have, therefore, invited the attendance of the representatives of the press for this evening. If you approve of my action in this respect, and desire that reporters should be ordinarily present, it would be well to do something to improve our habits of discussion. The form of our existence as a committee admits of our conducting our business by conversations of a very informal kind, but it would be quite feasible for us to adopt some standing ©rders, to be generally observed at our meetings, and to suspend those orders at any time when it becomes necessary to secure the freedom which, in the case of many deliberative and administrative bodies, is attained by going into committee. Among the more important items of business to be submitted to-night are the following—l. Mr Dymock’s resignation. I hope it may be found possible to fill the vacancy (which I am sure we all feel to be a matter of great regret) by the election of some gentleman whose judgment will be of service in our deliberations, and whose devotion to the interests of education will strengthen our hands in whatever labours lie before us. 2. Mr Coates’ letter, declining the appointment to the office of headmaster. You will remember that the report of the sub-committee is still available as a guide in coming to a decision upon the best means of supplying the place which there is reason to believe Mr Coates would have ably occupied. 3. A letter from the Minister of Education sanctioning the appointment of Mr Hill and Mrs Haughton, but containing one expression which appears to me to be very significant, and to call for very serious consideration. The expression to which I refer is as follows ■“ Both being subject to any alteration in the scale of payment which may very possibly hereafter be made.” I hope I may prove to be mistaken in assuming that this remark opens up a very grave question as to the policy which we may expect to be pursued under the new administration. 4. The draft of a letter to the chairman of a public meeting at Bingsland. 5. The furnishing of our large school. 6. A report upon the proceedings of your sub-committee as to the suggestion for a bridge. 7. Three resignations ot teachers. 8. The purchase of land in extension of sites. I think it right to say that as often as in my position as chairman I find that I have earlier and more detailed information on any subject than other members of the committee can be supposed to possess, I shall deem it my duty to be provided, if possible, with suggestions which I shall submit to you as a matter of obligation and duty, and not as of right or prerogative, and I hope it will be understood that such suggestions are not to be supposed to have any claim to respect other than in your judgment may be due to their intrinsic value. It seems right that, being not merely chairman of ourmeetings, but chairman of 1 his committee, I should be prepared to lead if necessary, and not simply to preside. If at any time I err on the side of being in your opinion too well prepared, you will find ready means of protecting yourselves against undue influence.

The chairman read a letter from Mr Wynn Williams, late chairman, stating the reasons why he had resigned that position. Referring to the next minute on the programme of business, he was glad to see that Mr Thomson had accepted the position as a member of the committee.

The secretary read a letter from Mr J. Coates, Sydney, apologising, and giving the circumstances, for his not accepting the appointment of head master of the Central East Christchurch school, and stating that he would probably pay a visit to New Zealand in January next with a team of cricketers from Australia, when he would offer his apologies in person. A report from the sub-committee was read, recommending Mr Loughrey, 8.A., of Melbourne, for that appointment. Mr Jameson proposed that Mr Loughrey be appointed to the position. Mr Mitchell did not think it would be judicious to confirm the appointment that night until the relations of the committee with the Minister of Education were more clearly defined. He would, however, second the motion,

The chairman expressed an opinion of the desirableness of appointing Mr Loughrey, now that Mr Coates had declined the position.

The motion was put and carried. The secretary read a letter from the secretary to the Minister of Education, stating that Mr Hill’s appointment to the Gloucester street school at £250 per annum, with £SO house allowance, and also Mrs Haughton, as mistress, at £l5O per annum, had been sanctioned bj the Minister of Education, both being subject to any alteration “ in the scale of payment which may very possibly be hereafter made.” A discussion of a conversational nature followed on the inadvisableness of inducing any master or mistress to come from a distance on such an understanding.

Mr Jameson would desire that the chair man should confer with Mr Knight on the last clause of the letter. The Rev Mr Watson said that he believed it would exercise greater influence if two or three members of the committee waited on the Minister of Education.

On the motion of Mr Jameson, seconded by Mr Watson, it was resolved—“ That the chairman, Mr Thomas, and the mover wait upon the Minister of Education, submit the clause in the letter, enquire into its purport, and report, if necessary, to a special meeting.” The chairman read a draft letter from the sub-committee in reply to the chairman of

a public meeting held at Bingsland, which was agreed to. The chairman reported that Miss Matthews, teacher, was still absent through illness. A letter was read from Mr Mouatfort, architect, accompanying plan of school fittings for the central school, framed in a great measure under instructions from Mr Res tell. The chairman pointed out a difference in the arrangement of Mr Mouatfort to that of Mr Restell; the latter gentleman seeming in hs arrangement to have forgotten the existence of a chimney. He thought it would be desirable to accept the plan so far as it agreed with that of Mr Restell. No estimate, however, of cost was sent with the plan. It was ultimately left to the deputation previously appointed to obtain an estimate of the sclool furniture, confer with the Minister of Education, and report at the next meeting of the committee. A letter was read from the secretary to the Minister of Education, informing the committee they might increase the Barbadoes street school site by adding 1 acre 1 rood 21 perches, as proposed in their letter of 26th June. The quarter-acre in the corner of Bingsland school-ground could be purchased at the price mentioned. The deeds to.be forwarded to the Provincial Solicitor. The chairman said that he had written to Mr Wilkin and Mr Murphy to have deeds prepared and sent in to the Provincial Solicitor. He had also had a long conference with the Minister of Education that day on the ground, relative to purchasing additional ground on the site of the Gloucester street school, and that gentleman promised that he would consult his colleagues in the matter. A letter was read from the town clerk in reply, stating that the Council considered a bridge across the river at the Bast town belt a necessity, and on instructions received the surveyor had given an estimate of the cost of a cart bridge, 40 feet in width, as £1650, and including the necessary earth works £1750. • The building of the bridge would depend on the land on the north side of the river being conveyed as might be required for a road for the public, and the Council hoped for contributions to assist in so large an expenditure. The secretary read a letter written to the Minister of Education on this matter. The chairman said he had waited on the Minister of Education in connection with this matter and other business, aad that gentleman said he considered himself impressed with the necessity for a bridge being erected on the score of economy. Mr Knight promised to lay the matter before his colleagues, and forward a reply. A letter was read from the mistress of the South belt school, complaining of the wretched state of the footpath leading to the school, which was nearly impassable for small children. The children came into school wet and cold, with their boots covered with mud, and she had frequently to take off their boots and dry their feet; and asking the committee to use their influence with the City Council to have the footpath attended to. On the motion of Mr Packer, seconded by Mr Thomson, it was resolved that the sub-com-mittee communicate with the City Council, and draw their attention to the dangerous state of the footpath. A letter was read from the secretary to the Minister of Education sanctioning an expenditure .of £5 for gravelling the ground at the South town belt and Bingsland schools. Some members expressed their opinion of the absurdity of this amount for laying gravel at both schools. Mr Thomas gave a description of the flooded state of the entrance to the Bingsland school. With the concurrence of Mr Jameson he had authorised work being done at that school to render it passable for the younger children. It was resolved to represent the insufficiency of the sum for this purpose to the Minister of Education. A letter was read from Mr W. Dymock resigning his position as member of the committee, as he was leaving the province. On the motion of Mr Thomas, seconded by Mr Jameson, it was resolved that the resignation of Mr Dymock be accepted, and that an expression of regret be recorded at losing Mr Dymock’s services as a member of the committee. It was moved and carried—“ That the chairman communicate with the Government, asking how the committee are to proceed in the election of a member to fill the vacancy, and, if required, take the necessary steps towards that end.” A letter was read from Mr W. Ford, resigning his position as master of the Avonside school, as he had accepted the position of master of the Saltwater Creek school, and also tendering the resignation of his sou as pupil teacher. The resignations of Mr Ford and son were accepted. A letter was read from Miss Williams, pupil teacher at the South Belt school, asking to be relieved from her duties there, as she had an offer as assistant teacher at Prebbleton. Miss Henderson, of same school, wrote resigning her position as pupil teacher, as her parents had removed from town. The resignations of Misses Williams and Henderson were accepted, and Misses Eva Cleal and Caroline Allen appointed in their stead.

A letter was read from Mr W. Fidler, of Bingsland school, asking for an increase of Salary, The secretary was instructed to reply that on the eve of important changes in the educational system the committee must defer granting any increases of salaries. The chairman read the following attendance for the past quarter of the schools in the East Christchurch district:—

He might say that though this had been an exceptionably bad season so far as health and weather were concerned, the returns compared favorably with the attendance at schools in Victoria. On the motion of Mr Mitchell, seconded by Mr Thomas, it was resolved—“ That the reporters be invited to attend the meetings of the committee to report proceedings.” After passing several accounts, the committee adjourned.

Total Average number. attendance St Luke’s 262 1827 St John’s 322 147-1 Music hall 278 206-6 South town belt 216 721 Bingsland 278 129 Avonside 113 50 Total 1469 7375