ASHBURTON BOROUGH SCHOOL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 849, 23 January 1883, Page 2

ASHBURTON BOROUGH SCHOOL.

Election of School Committee.

There was a large attendance of householders at the Schoolhouse last evening, when the annual election of a Committee for the ensuing year took place. Mr Thomas Taylor pronos ‘d and Mr J. R. Steel seconded, that Mr R. Alcorn take the chair.—Mr W. R. Boyle moved, and Mr John Orr seconded that Mr St Hill be chairman, and on a show of hands being taken it was decided that the latter motion was carried. Mr St Hill having taken the chair, Mr J. Ward, Secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were passed. s Mr St Hill said that the Committee had much cause for congratulation on the success that had attended their efforts during the past year. Whatever difficulties had arisen had been surmounted, and great credit was due to Mr Dempsey, the schoolmaster, for this. At the last meeting of householders it had been determined to bring the compulsory clause of the Education Act into force. Circumstances had, however, prevented the carrying out of this, but he hoped the new Committee would strictly enforce the clause. He trusted that the attendance of the children would be better in the future than it had been in the past. This affected not only the scholars but also the teaching staff. When reports were sent showing that the attendance was not large it afforded an argument to reduce the staff, and thus too much work was thrown upon an insufficient number of teachers. Ho concluded by thanking the householders for the support that they had given to the Committee during the year. The Secretary then read the following annual report and balance-sheet, whi h were adopted ; The Committee of the Ashburton Borough Schools have pleasure in presenting their annual report and statement of accounts to the householders of the district. During the past year one of the members of the Committee elected at the last annual meeting left the district, and as a consequence ceased to be a member ; your Committee thereupon, in terms of the Act, elected Mr Weymouth Roberts to take his place. Fifteen meetings of the mem- , hers have been held in the course of the year for the transaction of business, vu.,. thirteen

monthly and two special, and in accordance with the usual custom, the following statement shows the attendance of each member at these meetings, viz ; —Messrs St Hill (Chairman), 14; Williamson, 5; A. Orr, ro; J. Orr, 4; G. M, Robinson, 9 ; Hodder, 2 ; Boyle, 13 ; and Roberts, 8. Your Committee desire to take this opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the liberality of the householders and Borough Council in supplying funds for the annual treat and prizes for the children, and also to the Board of Education and its officials for their continued liberality, urbanity, and promptitude in supplying all the reasonable requirements for the efficieftt working of our I schools. The Committee have pleasure in stating generally their satisfaction with the staff and the improved system of working the schools as introduced by'the present head master. The staff is in accordance with the Regulations of the Board of Education ; sufficient in number for present requirements, and consists of headmaster, a mistress, an infant mistress, an assistant master, and seven pupil teachers, in various stages of their several terms of apprenticeship. A number of changes in the staff has occurred, and which has necessarily exercised a deteriorating influence upon the discipline and instruction of the pupils, as also of increasing the labor and responsibility of the headmaster. Your Committee have also to express their satisfaction with the steady increase in the numbers attending the schools. In February, 1882, when the present headmaster took charge, there were on the roll, 390 ; on Deo. 31st, 476 ; —showing an increase of 86 for the year. The average daily attendance for the year 1881 was 290, for the year 1882 it was 364; showing an increase of 74. To secure the regular attendance of the pupils, your Committee, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, determined to prosecute those parents who (after repeated notices sent to them) habitually neglected to send their children to school, and selected a number of names for that purpose ; but the Christmas holidays intervening caused them to postpone their determination. 'they, however, strongly recommend their successors strictly to enforce the compulsory clauses of the Act, for unless the children are present it is impossible to instruct them, and regular attendance is an essential condition to their success. Your Committee, in conclusion, strongly urge the parents to send their children regularly to school, and spare the Committee the unpleasant duly of compelling attendance, and at the same time, by so doing, they will assist and encourage the head master and his staff in their efforts to impart a moral, sound, and efficient | primary education to the youth of our Borough [ and its suburbs.

The balance sheet showed the receipts for salaries, L 784 14s, and expenditure L 784 14s ; receipts for incidentals, L 123 6s 3d ; for special grants, L 92 7s 6d ; expenditure for incidentals, Ll2B 14s 2d; expenditure of special grants, L 92 7s 6d. Mr St Hill proposed, and Mr G. M. Robinson seconded, the adoption of the report, which was carried mm. dis. Before proceeding to the election of the ; new Committee, a vote of thanks to the late Committee proposed by Mr J. W. Mcßae, and seconded by Mr T. Crooks, was carried by acclamation. The following gentlemen were then proposed as candidates for the new Committee Mr John Orr, nominated by Mr 0. W. Parnell ; Mr G. H. St. Hill, nominated by Mr W. H. Gundry; Mr Sparrow, nominated by Mr 6. M. Robin-. son ; Mr F. T. Mayo, nominated by Mr Johnson ; Mr G. W. Andrews, nominated < by Mr T, Crooks; Mr W. Roberta, ; nominated by Mr Oates; Mr T. Sealey, nominated by Mr A. Orr; Mr W. R. Boyle, nominated by Mr St. Hill ; Mr Joseph Sealey, nominated by Mr J. W. M‘Rae ; MrE. Reddin, nominate'dby Mr : Wylie ; Mr W. H. Barrett, nominated by - Mr Gundry ; Mr R. S. Bean, nominated by Mr G. W. Andrews. Dr. Trevor and Mr W. H. Zouch were appointed scrutineers. The election then proceeded, and re-

lowing gentlemen to be the Committee chosen by the householders for the ensuing year :—Messrs W. Sparrow, G. H. • St. Sill, J. Orr, E. Reddin, F. Mayo, T. ■ Sealey and G. Andrews He then pro- \ ceeded to pay a tribute of respect to Mr.; Joseph Ward, who had so welt discharged the duties attaching to the office of Secretary, and concluded by moving a hearty vote of thanks to that gentleman, wh : ch was heartily responded to. A similar ■ compliment was paid to the scrutineers and the Chairman, After a motion had been carried to theVeffect that steps should be taken to secure > the abolition of cumulative voting, the meeting separated.

suited as follows — W. Sparrow ... 175 G. H. St. Hill 116 J. Orr 109 E. Reddin 84 F. Mayo ... 78 T. Sealey ... 56 G. Andrews 43 W. Roberts ... 32 ' J. Seale>... 25 W. R. Boyle 25 W. H. Barrett 25 R. S Bean 23 W, Leggett I The Chairman then declared the fol-