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XX

DUNEDIN. Thursday, 16th May, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. in the office of the Education Board. Present: Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.H.B. (in the chair), Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.H.8., Mr. P. Y. Lethbridge, M.H.8., Mr. M. Gilfedder, M.H.B. ; Mr. T. S. Weston, Mr. S. Luke, Mr. H. Hill, 8.A., Mr. J. Smith, Mr. W. Davidson, and Mr. B. D. Stewart. Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., also attended. The minutes of the previous meeting were-read and confirmed. A letter was received from the secretary of the Marlborough Educational Institute recommending an allowance to retiring teachers. Mr. Weston laid before the Commission a statement, by Mr. L. B. Wood, M.A., of suggested amendments to the scale submitted by Mr. Hogben (Exhibit No. 49). Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., Secretary for Education, placed before the Commission, and explained, a suggested alternative scheme of staffs and salaries in connection with schools of from 15 to 330 in average attendance (Exhibit No. 50). Evidence was given by Bey. P. B. Eraser, M.A. (who handed in Exhibit No. 51), and Mr. J. Mitchell (members of the Otago Education Board), and Mr. P. G. Pryde (secretary to the Otago Education Board). > Mr. Pryde laid before the Commission a statement of allowances to Committees, &c. (Exhibit No. 52). The Commission adjourned at 5 p.m. till 10 a.m. next day.

Friday, 17th May, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.H.B. (in the chair), Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.H.8., Mr. F. Y. Lethbridge, M.H.8., Mr. M. Gilfedder, M.H.8.; Mr. T. S. Weston, Mr. S. Luke, Mr. H. Hill, 8.A., Mr. J. Smith, Mr. W. Davidson, and Mr. B. D. Stewart. Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., also attended. . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Hogben stated that the increase involved in raising the salaries of assistant teachers, according to his suggested alternative scale, to the rate of payment obtaining in Otago would practically be not more than the proposed grant would cover. Further evidence was given by Mr. P. G. Pryde, and Mr. P. Goyen (Inspector of Schools, Otago District) also gave evidence. Mr. Pryde laid before the Commission a statement of the amounts raised locally by School Committees' (Exhibit No. 53). A meeting was held in committee at 5 p.m. to consider the dates of visits to the remaining Board centres. It was decided to meet in Invercargill on the 22nd May, and a committee was appointed to prepare suggestions regarding later dates. The Commission adjourned at 4'45p.m. until 10 a.m. next day.

Saturday, 18th May, 1901. ■ The Commission met at 10 a.m., in the Agricultural Hall, Dunedin. Present: Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.H.B. (in the chair), Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.H.8., Mr. F. Y. Lethbridge, M.H.8., Mr. M. Gilfedder, M.H.8.; Mr. T. S. Weston, Mr. S. Luke, Mr. H. Hill, 8.A., Mr. J. Smith, Mr. W. Davidson, and Mr. B. D. Stewart. Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., also attended. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The secretary of the Otago Education Board presented an estimate of receipts and expenditure for the Otago District under the suggested scale (Exhibit No. 54). A report was received, prepared by a committee of the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute, on the scales submitted by the Inspector-General of Schools (Exhibit No. 55). Evidence was given by Miss Hooper, Messrs. D. B. White, M.A., W. E. Bastings, and W. G. Macdonald (representatives of the Otago Educational Institute). The Commission met in committee, and adopted a list of dates of visits to the remaining Board centres. The Commission adjourned at 5 p.m. till 10 a.m. on the 20th May.

Monday, 20th May, 1901. The Commission met at 10 a.m. in the office of the Education Board. Present: Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.H.B. (in the chair), Mr. T. Mackenzie, M.H.8., Mr. P. Y. Lethbridge, M.H.8., Mr. M. Gilfedder, M.H.8.; Mr. T. S. Weston, Mr. S. Luke, Mr. H. Hill, 8.A., Mr. J. Smith, Mr. W. Davidson, and Mr. B. D. Stewart. Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., also attended. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. An application was received from Mr. A. Stevenson, on behalf of the teachers of the district, for an opportunity to appear before the Commission in Woodville. It was decided that the request could not be granted. Statements were received from Mr. James Smith, Mr. S. C. Owen, Mr. W. Winchester, and Mr. A. 0. Maxwell.