OPOTIKI.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 95, 30 July 1873, Page 3

OPOTIKI.

(from oue own correspondent.)

m • , J uly 25, in a six members of the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry fired on Thursday, and made very fair shooting. Owing to some slight fault in Trooper iiirwan s carbine, the average fell short. [The scores appe ir i in our last.—Eix] The Libiary Conroittee met on Saturday, when it was rrsolv. d acce Mr Frank On on’s services as librarian with thanks, and to apply .’or a grant of land for building purpo 3, Arrived: Providence, cutter; Jure; Gray, cutter, with full errgo; Lc h, cm or, with c -rgo —Samuels and Jacobsoha, ajoo' .

SCHOOL MEETING. A meeting of the ratepayers was held at Mr Kelly s store-room on S tin day, for the purpose of electing trust. or the school for 1873. Ibomr Black, Jf q., w anat ‘mously voted to tho chair.

The Chairman briefly expla’n ’ the object of the meeting, and read the following report of the outgoing committee ;

“Your committee were elected in June, 1872, to arrange the t-ansfer of the mixed school, which had been established in Opetiti by the General Government, to the Auckland Board of Education. Shortly after tins, the jhool was formally taken over by the Board, who have since p id the t acher's salary. The Board in the first instan 3 object • to the Rev Mr Martin as teacher to toe school on account of bis being s minister of religion; but on the representation of the committee that he had been appointed by the General Government, who we "e bearing part of the expenses of the school, and that no religious instruction was given in the school, they subsequently withdrew their opposition to his appointment. During their term of office, your committee have erected a substantial school house, with teacher’s quarters under the same roof, which they believe will meet the requirements of the settlement for some time to come. The General Government have given to the district four acres of valuable land, which has been gazetted a reserve for educational purposes. The building has been erected on this reserve, and hag cost £lB7 Bs, of which £lB3 has been paid to the contractor, leaving £4 8s still due to him. The sum of £5 6s haa been expended on desks and other fittings. The General Government (on the understanding that natives are to be allowed to attend the school) have give £lf > tow rds the building, and the Auckland Board of Education £SO. Subao. iptiona to the amount of £SO were promised, but your committee regret to have to state that only £37 6s of these have been received. The committee trust that those gentlemen who have not already paid their subscriptions will do so at the earliest possible date, in order that the contractor may bo paid and sundry necessary extras (such as fencing, &0.,) provided for. The Central Board of Education have promised a further sum of £lO to purchase desks and forms, some of which have already been delivered by the contractor. The treasurer of the committee (Mr King) being absent, it is impossible to present the accounts for audit, but these will be banded over to the new committee on his return. Both the General Government and the Central Board of Education have given liberal contributions of books, maps, &c. Your committee are glad to be able to congratulate the settlers on the greatly increased numbers attending the school, although they believe that there are still many children of suit able age who do not attend. During the first quarter the school was in oj *at ion the number of scholars on the books was 63, and the average attendance 35 % for the qua ler just end. the number on the books was 71, average attendance 42, Your oomm'ttee believe that the progress made by the pupils prove the ability acd energy of the teacher. It now becom : the duty of the ratepayers to elect a new committee (of five only) to manage the school for the rest of the current year; and the outgoing committee would especially draw attention to the necessity of d oiding whether the compulsory clauses in 1-bo new Act shall be brought into opera’ion in this district or not. In conclusion, your committ trust that their exertions in the cause of education will meet with the approval of their fellow settlers,” After canvassing, the following gentlemen were elected trustees: —Dr Leslie, Messrs Brabant, R M, Black, McKenna, and John Thompson. COMHIITRB ]WBRTI3?<S. The committee met on Monday night, and Dr Leslie was voted chairmen.

Somedittle business was gone through, and the hours of attendance altered.