LITTLE RIVER SCHOOL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 472, 1 February 1881, Page 2

LITTLE RIVER SCHOOL.

The following is the report of the Committee of the above school for the last year which was laid before the meeting of householders held on the 24th inst: —We are sorry that we have not a very good report of the school's progress to lay before you this evening, but in consequence of the many changes in the teaching staff wo could expect nothing better. We may state that we commenced the year with Mr Watson in charge (Mr Westropp being in Christchurch, studying). Mr Westropp took the school over at the end of March, but unfortunately at the beginning of June he met with an accident which kept him from his duties three months, during which time Mr Johnston was in charge. Mr Westropp resumed office on the Ist of September, but it was only temporarily as he was obliged to have another leave of absence. The school was closed for two or three weeks until Mr Lee was sent up by tbe Board of Education, and on Mr Westropp again resuming his duties, Mr Lee was appointed to assist him. The assistant mistress resigned at the end of August and although your Committee have advertised on two separate occasions it has not been successful in getting a successor. Your Committee also applied to the Board of Education to appoint one, but it also failed to do so. We may say that the cost of teaching during the year has been £2G9 3s Id,and that the Inspector's report was not at all satisfactory in comparison to tbe cost, mainly, owing to the disorganised state of tho school and teaching power ; which it has been out, of tho Committee's power to alter. Tbe school broke up for the Christmas holidays on .the 23rd December, when the annual treat was held and prizes were given to those children who bad passed the examination for standards, and a Christmas tree for the wlnlc school at a cost of £15 4s, which had been voluntarily subscribed. MrMontgomery, tbe member for the district having kindly forwarded £3 3s towards the fund.

During the past year your Committee has been in constant communication with the Board of Education, shewing the urgent necessity of a new school in a more central position, as there are large numbers of children unable to attend the present school; the result of which has been an exchange of sites between Mr Allan and the Board ; and that a tender has now been accepted for the erection of new school buildings, and when completed theieisno doubt tho attendance will be nearly doubled.

The accounts have been audited in compliance with the Act, and any one wishing to see them can do so. No doubt the retiring Committee has had shortcomings, but it lias endeavored to do its best for the advancement o? the school.