LITTLE AKALOA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 48, 2 January 1877, Page 2

LITTLE AKALOA.

[from our own correspondent.]

A meeting of the Little Akaloa School 'Committee was held on Wednesday evening last, all the members present. „Mr. Barker (Chairman) submitted the following correspondence from the Education office.-— Ist., voucher for salaries for quarter ending September. £35 10s. 2nd., for salaries for current'quarter £39. The increase was explained tobe owing to the improved attendance at school. 3rd., requesting to be furnished with a statement of the Committee's accounts. 4th., relative to the bonus of £5, due to teacher, for teaching music, and oth,, requesting to be furnished with a list of works needed to be done in the shape of improvements. Works and supplies to the value of £51 4s were considered tobe necessary, including levelling school ground, and porch to-masters house.

Mr. Pawson proposed, and it Avas seconded by Mr. Turner.—" That the beforementioned estimates be furnished to the Board as soon as possible. Meeting adjourned sine die. The Little Akaloa School Avas examined by Mr. Harris, of German Bay, and the Rev. D. O'Hampton, on Thursday last, when prizes Avere aAvarded as follows : — Standard V.—lst., Robert Speight, and special prize for home lessons and progress. Standard IV.—lst., Margaret Gordon, and special prize for good conduct ; 2nd., Ronald Mcintosh ; 3rd., Isabella Kirk. Standard lll.—lst., Alfred Hunter; 2nd., Elizabeth Hunter ; 3rd., Thomas Kirk ; 4th., William Barker. Standard ll.— Ist,, George Craw; 2nd., Sarah Craw, and special prize for home lessons ; 3rd., William Mcintosh ; George Bailey, and special prize for home lessons and regular attendance ; sth., Henry Barker.; Standard I.— Margaret Mcintosh, and special prize for home lesson ; 2nd., Hubert Speight; 3rd., Manly AsliAvin; 4th., Robert Craw. After -several smaller prizes had been awarded, .Mr. Speight, the teacher, stated to the parents present that the attendance had improved during the current half year, but that the attendance had decreased during the present quarter, from 77 per cent of the number on roll to to 58 per cent, and that the attendance of the boys in the third standard AA*as especially bad. Three boys out of eight had never attended a whole Aveek out of the eleven weeks of the present quarter. He also called the attention of the parents to the defective way in which the home lessons -were, prepared. One boy, who attended Avell, not having prepared a home lesson for eA-en Aveeks in succession, and that several others Avere quite as bad. Mr. Harris remarked that the reading of the junior classes was very good, the singing excellent, the notation simply perfect, spelling good, composition and . history fair, and the geography very good, especially by Robert Speight. He futher stated ■ that he thought on the whole the school generally would compare favourably Avith most schools on the Peninsula. The Rev. D. O'Hampton remarked, that he considered the scripture defective, but from the statements previously made by the teacher he concluded that it might be due to the indifference parents often manifested in reference to that subject. The children were then regaled with tea and cake, provided by Mrs. Speight, at-the conclusion of' which, games became the; order of the day. It is but just to state that the competition prizes Avere provided by W. Montgomery, Esq., and the; special prizes by Mr. Speight, In the evening. Dr. Carr gave his usual phrenologic and mesmeric entertainments tojm appreciative audience.