NAPIER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3598, 23 January 1883, Page 2

NAPIER.

The annual meeting of householders for the election of a School Committee for the Napier district, and for receiving the annual reports, kc, was held last evening in the district school. There Avas a fair attendance of householders and others. The fifth annual report of the school was read by Mr C. B. Winter, the retiring chairman. The report referred to the efficiency of the teaching staff, and stated the number of scholars on the roll to be 718, and the average attendance 550. In the upper school there were 203 male and 191 female scholars, and in the infant department 167 male and 157 female children. Out of 336 scholars examined in the upper school 320 passed satisfactorily. The pupil teachers all passed their examinations Avith credit. There were only tAvo competitorsf for the scholarship offered by the Board o Education—value £20 per annum and tenable for tAvo years—Avhich was gained by Harold Large."—The prizes offered yearly by Captain W. R. Russell for mending, darning, «.tc., Avere aAvarded to Mary Miller, Minnie Springs, and Susan Bunting, all belonging to the Napier school. Some changes had taken place in the teaching staff, the present staff with their classifications being :—A. B. Thomson, Head Master, Cl ; Assistant Teachers—W. Murray and Mrs Doab, Dl ; F. W. Wake, D 3 ; Miss Robot-torn, E3 : Miss Corbin and Miss Reid, not classed. Pupil Teachers—Miss Monteith, Miss Harrison, Miss Davis, Miss Burden, Miss Spriggs, Mr LaAvs, and Mr Alpers. Tho compidsory clauses of the Education Act had been put in force shortly aftor the election of the retiring committee, but it had been found there were not many children of school ago but what Avere attending some sehoel in toAvn. OAving to epidemics the attendance had been retarded during the earlier part of the year. The committee had held altogether tAventy-six meetings for the despatch of business. Two very successful public entertainments have been provided by the scholars, and some kind amateur friends, the preparation for AA-hich depended upon Mr W. Murray, the second master, Mr G. Garry kindly undertaking the musical direction. Besides affording a'considcrable number of books, &c, for prizes to scholars there is a balance of £-18 for the purpose of erecting a gymnasium and the purchasing of books to form the nucleus of a school library. The report concluded Avith a reference to the increased accommodation for a playground recently acqmred by the committee. The balance-sheet attached to the report showed the receipts during the year to have boon £30S 12s 4d, and after proA'iding for the expenditure there was left a balance in hand of £17 0s 7d. Mr Davis moved that the report and abstract of funds as read be adopted. The motion Avas seconded by Mr F. W. Garner and carried. A vote of thanks Avas accorded to the retiring committee. After some delay the folloAving were nominated for election on the committee :— Messrs F. W. Gamer, T. LaAvs, C. T. Williams, J. S. Large, E. Bourgeois, W. A. Dugleby, S. Caniell, M. D. Spriggs, JosephTar'ker, and W. A. Shanly. Several others who were nominated refused to stand. Messrs A. B. Thomson and Mr J. Malum were appointed scrutineers. Tho voting resulted as folhnvs: —Laws, 188 ; Large, 107; Williams, 102 ; Garner, 63 ; Carnell, 63 ; Shanly, 51 ; Spriggs, 36 ; Parker, 28 ; Bourgeois, 25 ; Dugleby, 18. The first seven were therefore declared duly elected, and the proceedings of the public meeting terminated. Tho analysis of votes shoAvcd the number of persons Avho voted for the respective candidates to be as follows :—LaAvs 51, Large 38, Carnell 30, Williams 27, Garner 26, Shanly IS, Sprigs 16. Dugleby 9, Parker 8, and Bourgeois 7. Subsequently tho hcav committee mot and elected Mr LaAvs chairman, Mr Large treasurer, and Mr Hodgson secretary. Messrs Carnell and (Shanly were appointed as the visiting committee for February.