SOUTH RAKAIA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 543, 25 January 1882, Page 2

SOUTH RAKAIA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The Annual Meeting of householders wis held in the School room, South Riakaia, on Monday evening last. iThe report of the retiring Committee was read as follows : —“ Annual report of the South Rakaia School Committee : The School Committee have much pleasure in giving a short report of their stewardship. During the year 17 meetings have been held, with an average attendance of six members out of seven. In March last the late Miss Ausley died, and the Committee had much pleasure in testifying to the useful way she worked her classes, and how much she was beloved by the children. Messrs Veel and Malcolm were requested by the Committee to choose a successor to Miss Ausley, and their choice was our present Mistress, Miss Milsom, who has proved the wisdom of their choice, as she has given great satisfaction. In August Mr Hale tendered his resignation, and, as before, the Committee requested Messrs Yeel and Malcolm to choose a successor ; their choice fell on Mr Dixon, and the way in which he has managed the school since his appointment by the Central Board has again proved that those gentlemen knew what they were about. The Inspector’s report is a most satisfactory one, and your Committee have every reason to hope that the next will be better. Great improvements have been made in the buildings, which enables the master to better classify the children, and gives the mistress an opportunity of teaching singing without interfering with the regular class work. The pupil teacher, Miss Doherty, is still attentive to her duties. She has passed one examination, and is now preparing for another. In consequence of the great increase in attendance, the Act permitted the appointment of a second pupil teacher, and the Committee unanimously choose Miss Rose Bruce, and requested the Central Board to appoint her, which they have promised to do. In consequence of the Chairman doing the clerical work, the Committee were able to save LlO ; which (with a small sum from the incidental allowances) was used for painting the school room. In December a concert was held, which proved a thorough success, and the sum of LlO Is was netted, part of which was spent on the picnic, and the balance—L2 11s—is being used for providing a football and swings. J. C. Wason, Esq., kindly invited the children to Corwar, and gave them a hearty welcome and plenty of enjoyment. In conclusion, your Committee wish to state that you have now got a first-class staff of teachers, and a fair attendance of children, and hope you will use the former well, and do your best by keeping up the latter; as without the punctual and regular attendance of the children, the teachers cannot be successful. The; following gentlemen were elected members of the local Committee ;—Messrs Hardy, Bryne, Gaarder, Bowler, Kemble, and the Revs. Chambers and Westbrook, all the old Committee being re-elected with the exception of Mr Davies, who declined to stand and the Rev. Mr Westbrook was elected in the place of the above named gentleman.

At a meeting of the newly-elected Committee, held immediately after, Mr O. A. C. Hardy was unanimousely re-elected Chairman. It was resolved that the usual monthly meeting of the Committee be held on the second Monday in the month, at 7.30 p.m. It was also resolved that tenders be called for cleaning the school room for 12 months, one to be accepted next Saturday evening at 8 o’clock.