SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 April 1901, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Grey School .Committee

; Of t 1 committee wa3 hutd last evening in Due smoolroom. There were about GO present IPs Worship the Mayor occupied the chair.

The secretary then read the following report : "Your Committee has tho honor to submit to you their annuil report on the Grey District High School as follows: High School.

The number of pupils has steadily increased,'the average on tho roll at the tnd of the year being 25-25 a 3 compared with 23*5 last year.

The presort roll number is 27. Five pupils passed the matriculation and solicitors' general knowledge, four tho junior civil service, and one a partial piss in the senior civil service examination.

The head' teacher informs us that there was no failure in the University examination, and only ono in the junior civil service, a result reflecting considerable credit on the teaching staff.

During the year five pupils received Government appointments owing to the high places they took on the pass list. Primary Department.

The average number on the roll for tb.9 year ended March 81st was 505, and the average attendance 449 , 0. The figures last year were 503 and 428'2 respectively, so that thero has bem an increase in both cases, that in tho attendance being the substantial one of 21-3.

■What with the dredging industry, the harbor works expenditure, the borough loan, and the increased timber trade, it is fair to .assume that the coming year will be more than usually prosperous, and the prospect of tn increased number of pupils at the school i* br.'ght indeed. Annual Examination.

In our last report we expressed the opinion that tho new regulations giving the head teacher discretion to arrange his pupils in different classes according to their ability and proficiency was a wise one, and we now add that the innovation has proved satisfactory The freedom of classification has allowed the head teacher to promote some children, who under the old regimo, would havo remained in the lower standard for a couple of years grinding away at the same lessons, but as soon as they realised that by working hard and attending regularly they stood a good chance of getting into the higher standard they took advantage of the opportunity, and a number were promoted accordingly.

As you are no doubt aware, the old system of percentages in the annual examination has been abolished and accordingly this year we cannot give detailed results, but we c»n safely say that the high standard of efficiency hitherto existing has been fully maintained. The two town scholarships wore won by Miss Maggie Garth and Pjter Clark, and the other five candidates from our school gained sufficient marks to enthlj them to a scholarship.

All the pupil teachers pass 3d their yearly examinations with credit, and four of them obtained second grado drawing certificates from tho Wellington School of Art, three of the papers being marked excellent. Drawing Examinations. 92 pupils gained certifica'e3 in Freehand models, Geometry and Scale at the examination conducted by tho Wellington School of Art. Tho pcrocntngj of passes was 89-3 as compared with 60-1 for the rest of t v :e colony. In order to ensure such satisfactory results the teachers of tie various classes must have given more than tho uiua! am ;u,nt of timo to this subject and the committee fully appreciate their effor;s in this direction. Frizes. The system of prizes established in IS9B continues to work with much satisfaction. Last year 75 children did noi absen' themselves one-half da3', but this splendid record has boen beaten, for this year no fewer than 88 missed no half-day, and in all 130 prizes were given for attendance, a re ult exceedingly satisfactory, but somewhat disconcerting to your committee who had scarcely expected the children to tako such full advantage of the prize system. However, if the little ones break this record in tho coming year tho incomiug committee will, wo are sure, have no hesitation in making full provision to meet their efforts.

Concert. As was intimated in our report of last year the concert was I eld just before the school cl wed for the mi hummer holidays and thanks to Miss Blair, Misa Eassjn, and the other lady teachers, and the liberal minner in which the public responded, proved a most unqualified success. Staff Changes. Owing to the illness of Miss Batchelor whose speedy recovery we earnestly hope for, Miss Bradshaw has been placed in charge of the infant room. Mr de Berry has completed his term of apprenticeship and left us to take temporary charge at Ahaura. We wish him every success in his profession. Technical Class. • The technical class is now under Mr Thomas Evans, who has given much timo to the instruction of the boys, and takes a deep interest in their progress. The amended Act passed last session recognises the Greymouth class, and provides fully for the payment of capitation out of the public funds. In addition two inspectors have been appointed, whose duty it will be to periodically inspect and examine the pupils in the class. Such visits must tend to increase the efficiency of the class and act as an incentive to both pupils and instructor.

Drill. The Cadet corps in their khari uniforms continue to be regularly drilled by Mr Pegler under the direction of Sergeant-Major Barrett, who visits ths schoo' twice a week for that purpose. The boys were inspected in December last by Captain Wolfe, the oflicer in charge of the Nelson and West Coast district, and he highly complimented the officers on the efficient slate in which hefound the corps. Congratulations * . The Rector of the High School (MiAdams), Mr Smith, Miss Blair, and the remainder of the teaching staff aavo given great satisfaction during the past year to your committeo, and wo feel sure to the parents, and we cordially return them our thanks. Finance. Tho Treasurer's balance sheofc will i-how you that the sum of £ll7 5s 3d has passed through his hands during the year £8 os6d of this sum having been collected by the caretaker from parent* for the purchase of coal during ths winter months The committee have a credit balance in hand of £l4 2s 6d. H. BIGNELt,, Chairman, Mr B. J. Smith moved and Mr Parfitt seconded that the report be adopted. His Worship the Mayor congratulated tftp otmnnittQQ on the way they had carried ow their duties during the year.

The election of a new committee for the ensuing year was the next business, and their being no other nominations the old commit'c-e, consisting of Messrs Bignell, t< >i- V". Gittoes. Harper, Kilgour, King. I 1 iv"a:nwH'»ht md Yarrall were re

Mr Petl'ia moved a nearly so.u of iuuuJm to the committee for their pass labors, and hoped that they would acquit themselves with as much credit this year. Mr Pftrfitt in seconding, also congmtulited the gentlemen who bad managed the s;hool with such success.

Mr Guinness moved a vote of thanks t° the Rector and his staff of teacher?, and paid them a high compliment f x their excellent teaching. Mr Ferens seconded, and the motion was carricl with acclamation.

In reply to a question Mv Bignell stated that owing to tho time lest during the year through sickness tho committee thought it advisable to postpone tha children's picnic last year. Mr Williams suggested that the business people and public men might be waited on and asked to give special prize-'. A voto of thanks to the chair terminated proceedings.

COBDEN SCHOOL. Considerable interest was taken in the school election at Cobden last night, the attendance being tho largest for years. Lengthy discussion ensued as to who had a legal right to vote, but the interpretation of tho Act made that matter plain and simple, resulting in disappointment to more than one and the reduction of the number of voters to few. The following committee were elected for the ensuing year:—Messrs Poulter, W. • Williams Skeats, R. Nelson, Ford, Willis, aid J. Nelson.

Paroa. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather a large number of residents attended the annual meeting of householders at Paroa.

The committee, in reviewing the work of last year, paid a marked compliment to the teachers for the efficient state of the school.

After a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the outgoing committee, when Mr. Byrne especially pointed out the able services rendered by the chairman (Mr. Keith) the following committee was elected: Messrs. Keith (chairman), Dowling (secretary) M'Gowan (treasurer), Gilbert, Keating, Colton and Farish. The usual compliment to the chairman (Mr. Byrne) terminated the meeting. Kokiri B Latter, G Blaimey, T Smithers (Junior), D Sband, R Fane. W Baxter aud T Baxter. Smithers was elected chairman, G. Blvim-ry Sccretaty and Treasurer. About SO householders were presant. The oil members retired in favor of the new committco who were declared elected by tho chairman.