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'THE MEMORIAL TO THE LATE…

A DINAS POWIS HOAX.

SHOOTING MATCH AT DINAS POWIS.

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BARRY (U.D.) SCHOOL BOARD.

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BARRY (U.D.) SCHOOL BOARD. —— LIVELY MONTHLY MEETINGS. THE BOARD AND ITS BYELAWS. On Monday evening an ordinary monthly meet- ing of the School Board was held in the Board- room, Holton-road. Mr. John Lowdon presided, and there were present:—Mr. John Rees, Dr. O'Donnell, Dr. Edwards, Dr. Livingstone, Dr. Treharne, Rev. John Price Captain Davies, Mr. Benjamin Lewis, Mr. W. H. Lewis (clerk), and Mr. Treharne Rees (assistant clerk). MR. BENJAMIN LEWIS AND CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. The minutes of the meeting of the 16th February was read by the clerk, after which Mr. Benjamin Lewis said, with reference to the power of inflicting corporal punishment, he per- ceived they (the Board) had empowered the certifi- cated teachers to use canes or straps —— The Chairman: You are out of order, Mr. Lewis. The question now before the Board is whether the minutes are a correct record of the meeting. Mr. Lewis It is usual, before the minutes are confirmed. that members should have an opportu- nity of speaking on them. Capt. Da vies pointed out another mistake in a paragraph which stated that the salaries of the headmaster of the Holton-road School, and the headmistress of the Cadoxton Infant School be increased £ 10 per annum on account of extra merit. The paragraph should be amended to read that the salary be increased £ 10, £ 5 being the ordinary advance, and £ 5 extra advance for merit." The Board decided that the pragraph should be amended as above. Dr. Treharne recommended that the pages and paragraphs of the printed minutes should be numbered. It would be much more convenient if this were done, if the members wished to refer back to anything. Dr. Edwards thought Dr. Treharne's suggestion a good one. They would then be able to dis- tinguish between special and ordinary meetings. Mr. W. H. Lewis said the minutes were printed exactly as those of the Local Board. It was decided that the minutes should be altered as Dr. Treharne had suggested. Mr. Benjamin Lewis Mr. Chairman, when will you give me an opportunity to speak on the minutes ? The Chairman If the minutes were approved I may consider it. After the minutes of the 6th had been passed. Mr. Benjamin Lewis said with reference to the infliction of punishment by assistants, personally he objected to either certificated or non-certificated assistants inflicting corporal punishment. Then he objected to the power being given to the certi- ficated assistants, and not to the ex.P.T.'s. They had ex-P.T.'s in their schools 30 years of age. The Chairman I must rule you out of order, Mr. Lewis. These are resolutions of the Board duly passed, and you cannot upset them with- out giving notice of motion. Otherwise we can- not hear you. Mr. B/Lewis I am sorry to differ, Mr. Chair- man, but until the resolutions are confirmed by the Board they are not passed, and I objected before they were confirmed. Dr. O'Donnell asked whether these were the recommendations of the School Board Committee and passed by the last Board meeting, whose minutes were now read and confirmed ? The Chairman Yes. Mr. Benjamin Lewis They are not law until they have passed this Board, and I objected. The matter then dropped. TEACHERS' CERTIFICATES. Dr. Treharne mentioned the resolution passed That the Clerk be instructed to prepare a list of all teachers who are in possession of the D cer- tificate for drawing, and who are is. receipt of the -15 provided in the scale of salaries for the same." He understood from the Clerk that he hadn't pre- pared it as yet, and he was agreeable to let it stand over for another month. He should like the cer- tificates themselves to be brought up for them to see. He should be more satisfied if they had the certificates before them. It was agreed that this should be done. INFRINGEMENT OF THE BOARD'S PREROGATIVES. Rev. John Price (chairman of the Finance Com- mittee), moved the adoption of the committee's report. The report stated that Mr. Milner's esti- mate for school requisites had been accepted for a year, to end March, 1894, and the committee also recommended that the balance of Mr. Williams's bill for stationery should be paid. Dr. O'Donnell drew attention to the last paragraph of the report, which recom- mended that Sidney Heskett should be paid weekly, instead of monthly. He should like to know what were the wages, and who appointed Heskett. He, therefore, proposed that the para- graph be eliminated from the report. Dr. Livingstone seconded, subject to the appointment being confirmed by the Board. The Chairman pointed out that if the Board dealt with the Bye-laws Committee's report first, there was a paragraph relating to the question, and perhaps before dealing further with the matter it would be advisable to take the report of the Bye-laws Committee. Captain Davies proposed, und Dr. Treharne seconded, the adoption of the Bye-laws Com- mittee. Dr. O'Donnell: With reference to paragraph 4, page 3, as to tha appointment of Sidney Heskett, caretaker of the Cadoxton School, at 26s. per week, and in the event of his not accepting the appointment, it be offered to J. Colman, Barry Dock. I want to know the authority of the Bye- laws Committee for making this appointment. Captain Davies There was a minute of the last Board empowering the Bye-laws Committee to make the appointment. Dr. O'Donnell: I fail to find it. Vaptam uavies 1.13011 to nna it also. Dr. O'Donnell I understand that this man was appointed by two members of the Board, the com- mittee was equally divided, and the Chairman declined to give his casting vote. The two mem- bers who made the appointment were the men who made a terrible to do about our Chairman making appointments. I object either to the Chairman or to any committee making appointments. Dr. Treharne considered this an attack upon himself. No doubt the Board would remember that he distinctly objected at the last meeting of the Board to taking the responsibility of appoint- ing a caretaker of the Cadoxton School when it was proposed that the appointment should be made by the Cadoxton members, and he suggested that it should be left to the Bye-laws Committee to make the appointment. The members of the Board thought the committee should make the appointment, and it was made. Two members voted for Heskett, and the chairman (Captain Davies) did not vote lat all. They acted by the direction of the Board, and they had the authority of the Board to make the appointment. Dr. Livingstone could not see how they elected Heskett if the voting was equal. Dr. Treharne It was not equal. The Chairman said there was an informal agree- ment that the Bye-laws Committee should make the appointment. Dr. Edwards There were two in favour of one, and one for the other candidates for the appoint- ment. Captain Davies (chairman of the Bye-laws Com- mittee) said there was another applicant for the post, who was out of employment, and he (Captain Davies) preferred giving it to him, instead of to a man who had constant Work, but did not want the responsibility of having ap- pointed him by his casting vote. Dr. Treharne If there has been a mistake made, the mistake his with the clerk. Dr. O'Donnell asked if the man had received any salary. He had made enquiries that day, and he had heard that the man had not left the Burial Board. Mr. John Rees: Sidney Heskett was at the school. Captain Davies asked if the Committee had power to appoint or only to recommend. He thought the minute was passed that they had the power to make that appointment, but now he found that they had exceeded their power and acted illegally. Dr. O'Donnell remarked that the minutes were read and confirmed by the Board, and no ex- ception was taken by any of the members to the omission of that particular minute. The members who had been on the old Board would recollect that he took exception to the committees hav- ing power to make appointments or dismiss teachers. The Chairman said he must rule that as the minutes of the Board had been confirmed time had been given for the members to make complaints on any matter which was wrong. No exception taken could alter it. Dr. O'Donnell said the best way would be to alter the paragraph to read that the appointment of Sidney Heskett be recommended by this com- mittee." Captain Davies proposed that the report be accepted. Dr. Treharne seconded. Dr. O'Donnell objected to these minutes being accepted. He moved that the paragraph be amended to read that the appointment of Sidney Heskett be recommended to the Board." He objected very strongly to its remaining as it was establishing a precedent. Dr. Treharne maintained that the committee had the authority. Mr. John Rees seconded the amendment. On being put two voted for the amendment and four aga ins b. It was therefore declared lost, and on being put the motion was carried. FINANCES. The adoption of the Finance Committee's report was next moved by the Rev. J. Price, seconded by Mr. Rees, and carried by the Board. SCHOOL MANAGEMENT 'COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Chairman moved the adoption of the minutes of the School Management Committee. Captain Davies seconded. THE EOMILLY-ROAD SCHOOL. Tenders were opened for the erection of the Infants' School, Romilly-road, as follows :—J. C. Jones, Gloucester, £2,887: Powell and Mansfield, Cardiff, £ 3,111 William Richards, Barry, £2,850 Richards and Cranstone, Barry Dock, £ 2.856 9s. Id. George Rutter, Barry, £ 2.577 Jones Bros., Cardiff, £ 3,130 F. Small, Barry, £ 2.640 Williams, Baker, and Co., £2,710; Stephens, Barslow, and Co., Bristol, £2,999; H. J. Money, Barry, £ 2,760.—Mr. Rees asked if the contractors understood that the regulation rate of wages was to be observed. He thought the fact should have been mentioned in the tenders. Dr. O'Donnell proposed that the lowest tender be accepted, provided that the usual agreement of the Bon.rd as to the wages, &c., be agreed to. Captain Davies seconded. Mr. John Rees proposed that Mr. Wm. Richard's (Barry) contract be accepted. He did not believe that it was always the best thing to accept the lowest tender. Work was apt to be scamped and done spasmodically. The Chairman ruled Mr. Rees out of order. If he wished the Board to appoint a clerk of the works he had better give notice of motion. Mr. Rutter had already carried out work for the Board, and as far as he knew had always done the work very satisfactorily. The motion was carried. DR. O'DONNELL'S MOTION. Dr. O'Donnell, in accordance with notice of motion, moved, That it be a standing order of this Board that no member serve on more than two committees." They had three committees of the Board, one of which consisted of all the members of the Board, and the two standing committees. There were nine members of the Board, and the chairman was an ex-ojficio member, of course, of all committees, and that would leave eight members, four for each of the two committees-the Finance and Bye-laws. He might say a similar resolution was in force in the Local Board. Mr. John Rees seconded. Mr. Benjamin Lewis said he should like to say a word. He was the person to be affected, and he did not feel troubled on that account. He could easily give up one of the committees of the Board, and it would not take him long to do so, but he failed to see how they could call upon him to give up one-the School Management Committee, which consisted of the whole Board. He claimed his seat on that committee as a member of the Board, and he was not on two committees besides and how could they displace him ? He should like to point a slight inconsistency in Dr. O'Donnell's part. He was on no less than six committees of the Local Board. Dr. O'Donnell denied this. He was a member of only two standing committees. Mr. Lewis They are all printed in the annual list. Dr. O'Donnell is a member of the General Purposes Committee, which corresponds with our School Management Committee, the Public Works Comittee, the chairman of the Health Committee, a member of the Parks Committee, or whatever they call it, the Public Libraries Committee, and the Parliamentary Gommittee. Continuing, Mr. Lewis said he was only a member of two committees on that Board, but if the Board was prepared to pass that resolution and call upon him to give up one of the committees he should be willing to do so. He failed to see any object in for carrying that resolution, and certainly their Board did not compare with the Local Board at all.. Dr. O'Donnell said he had never mentioned Mr. Lewis's name, nor did his resolution refer to Mr. Lewis. As a matter personal to himself, Mr. Lewis said he served on six committees. The General Purposes Committee was the Board, and it was not a standing committee. If Mr. Lewis read his Bye-laws he would see the difference between the committees. As to the Parks Com- mittee he knew nothing about it. Mr. Lewis They are all printed. Dr. O'Donnell said he had never attended it. As to the Public Libraries Committee, that was not a committee of the Local Board. A committee composed of an equal number of Local Board members, and a number nominated from out- side. Mr. Benjamin Lewis Appointed by the Board, and printed in the Board's list. Dr. O'Donnell said he was very sorry he could not explain it to Mr. Lewis-a man who had told them he had had so much experience, and could not distinguish between the committees. On that Board they had three standing committees, the Finance, the Bye-law, and the School Manage- ment. One of the committees the School Management, consisted of all the members—and it would be in the recollection of the Board when the motion was proposed by Dr. Lloyd-Edwards, who was not on the cemmittee, that it should be open to all members, that Mr. Lewis spoke out immediately, and said he knew that he was the man whom the motion was directed at. Mr. Lewis must think a good deal more of hie individuality than any of the other members. He (Dr. O'Donnell) had been offered a. place on the Finance Committee, but he could not accept it, and one of the reasons was this—Mr. Lewis had communicated with some of the other members of the Board, and said that his great experience on the Finance Committee of the Local Board entitled him to a seat. Mr. Lewis I deny it. Dr. O'Donnell: Dr. Livingstone told me. so. Dr. Livingstone denied this. Talking to the Rev. Mr. Price, he said it would be advisable to have older men of experience on the Finance Com- mittee, and Mr. Benjamin Lewis's name was men- tioned. Dr. O'Donnell: Dr. Livingstone told me on the very same evening that the Finance Committee met. Proceeding, he said, in his resolution he never mentioned anything about Mr. Lewis's name, nor did he make it retrospective. He didn't say that Mr. Lewis should resign, but simply moved it as a standing order. Rev. J. Price said it was quite wrong to say that Mr. Lewis had asked to be put on the committee. He had been asked after Dr. O'Donnell had re- fused. He thought it was very unfair the manner in which Mr. Lewis had been treated, and it was a remarkable fact that Mr. Lewis was the only member who would be affected. The Chairman: This matter has gone far enough. Mr. Lewis said whatever he was. he was not a little mean piece of humanity. He thought the Chairman ought, in justice to call on Dr. O'Donnell to withdraw his untruthful statement. Dr. O'Donnell said that if Mr. Lewis had been represented to him untruthfully, and there was no foundatiou for what he had stated, pnd Mr. Lewis said it was not true he would withdraw. Mr. Price denied the fact. Mr. John Rees I must say, it looks rather funny. Dr. Treharne moved as an amendment that members of the Board sit on as many committees as they liked. Dr. O'Donnell's motion was put, and three voted for, and three against, and the Chairman gave his casting vote that the matter remain as it was before, the motion was therefore lost. MR. REES-S MOTION. Mr. Rees said his object in moving That the clerk be instructed to make a return of all trained and untrained assistant teachers employed in each school under the Board," was to see whether a proper proportion of qualified teachers wera in the respective schools. They had heard frequently a lot about the Barry schools. They would like to see if the staff were properly dis- posed of, and they would then know where the blame really lay. Dr. Treharne seconded, and the motion was agreed to. NOTICE OF MOTION. Dr. Livingstone gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that the chairman should have authority to fill any vacancy in the staff between the meetings of the Board, when he should consider it necessary for the efficiency 01 the schools, such appointments to be temporary, and subject to the approval of the Board. MISCELLANEOUS. It was reported that a teacher at the Barry School had left without giving notice, and it was decided that the vacancy should be filled up as soon as possible. Miss Barstow sent in her resignation. The Chairman mentioned that there had been no replies received to the advertisement for pupil teachers. Miss Wilcox had selected three out of six applicants for vacancies, two of whom could come at once. He thought the Board might authorise Miss Wilcox to have these teachers before her again. He would be present also, and make a selection of one, and present the teacher to the Board at the next meeting. Captain Davies proposed that the chairman and head-teacher have power to appointment, subject to the approval of the Board. A letter was read from Miss Hester Davies with reference to the Cookery Ciasses, and enclosing a list of the attendances at the classes. Applications from Miss Hughes, Barry, and Mr. J. A. Jones, Holton School, was referred to the School Management Committee. DR. EDWARDS' MOTION. The consideration of Dr. Edwards' motion re the teaching of Welsh in the day schools was post- poned, owing to the lateness of the hour, and the meeting was adjourned until Friday evening, when the matter will be brought on.

'■REVIEWS. '

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'"'-"-....Jr."'C'tt.-,..""_....-PROPOSED…

BRIDGEND I0TES.

A SUCCESSFUL UNDERTAKING.

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