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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 266, 4 February 1879, Page 2

The following is the report of the Little River School Committee, which was read at the annual meeting of householders, held on Monday evening, the 27th Jan.:— "In accordance with the Education Ordinance, 1877, we lay before you a report of the transactions for the last twelve months, also a statement of accounts. At the last annual meeting of householders, held on the 28th day of January, 1878, the following gentlemen were duly elected, viz.—L. Jacobsen (chairman), G-. R. Joblin, H. E. Tyson, John Reynolds, S. Harris, W. Fulton, and — Stanbury. The Committee have met fourteen times during the year. It was resolved to raise the price of the schoolroom, when let for recreation, from 5s to 10s. The master's house was found to be out of repair ; the Committee have remedied the defect by having two of the rooms matchlined, and the south-west end of the house weatherboarded. The well has also been repaired, and the flow of water is now abundant. The report of Mr Edge, the inspector, was not favorable, compared with the reports of former years, but the defect may in a great measure be caused by the irregular attendance of the pupils, owing to the unsuitable site of the present school, and your Committee has tried to remedy the matter by enforcing the clause of the Ordinance gendering attendance at the school compulsory. The total number of children now on the books is 56, 27 boys and 29 girls, with an average attendance of 42. The Committee are of opinion that one person cannot properly instruct so many, and hope the Board will grant the master assistance in the school. On June 27 Mr P. Ralfe was elected a member of the committee, in place of Mr Fulton, who had left the district. , Application has again been made to the Board of Education to have a school built in a more central position. The Board replied that they had no funds then at their disposal, but would consider the applicatien in preparing estimates for next year's expenditure. The t annual school treat took place on December 27. A public examination also took place on that day, when Mr Curling kindly undertook to examine the children. In the evening two lots of prizes were distributed, one by the Inspector's report, the other by Mr Curling's, and those children who were not entitled to a prize, received a small book as a present. Supplementary prizes were also awarded for mapping, writing, conduct, attendance, and general proficiency."

The new Congregational Church at Timaru is about to be opened for Divine Service on Sunday next, and the following week a meeting of ministers and delegates from the Congregational Churches in the colony is expected to take place to discuss the most important matters connected with the Churches. We are informed that Mr W. Barnett, of Le Bon's, has acceded to the request to be present, as representative of the Akaroa and Le Bon's Churches.

Wβ are informed that the time for sending in returns under the Land Tax Act has been extended to the 15th inst. Mr Latter, the Deputy Commissioner, was in Akaroa yeaterday on the business of his department. An important opinion has been given by the Atorney General to the effect that purchasers of land on deferred payments are only to be regarded as occupiers, the seller remaining liable as owner until he has signed a conveyance.

A meeting of the Akaroa School Committee was held last evening at Mr Meech's residence. Present—Messrs Meech (Chairman), Billens, Missen, Fenton, Tosswill, Dalglish, and Wiggins. The minutes of the meeting held on January 23 were read and confirmed. The Chairman read correspondence from the Board of Education re well at master's house, sanctioning expenditure of £6 on the work. The matter of the appointment of a pupil teacher was next gone into. A communication was read from the Board of Education, stating that the appointment made by the Committee would be confirmed provided the lad appointed was between 13' and 15 years of age, and had passed Standard V. Also a letter from the schoolmaster on the subject. After discussion, it was agreed to defer the settlement of the matter till next meeting, the Chairman in the meanwhile to be requested to obtain definite information as to the age of candidates, A letter was read from W. Montgomery, consenting to act on the Board of Education as the Committee's candidate. Mr Billens was appointed to countersign cheques. The question of higher education waa also taken into consideration.

Tins was deferred till next meeting, Mr Tosswill promising to obtain information on the subject to lay before the Committee. The, Committee arranged to meet Mr Kane to-daj- at 12 6*cloek at the school in order to consult aa to school extensions at present contemplated.* The Committee then adjourned. '