SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 127, 27 October 1874, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

BAST CHRISTCHURCH.

The adjourned meeting of ratepayers of this district for the elect!op of a committee and auditors for the ensuing year, was held last evening in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Mr Wynn Williams in the chair. There was a very small attendance, not more than forty persons being present at the opening of the proceedings. The Chairman said that this was the evening appointed by the Superintendent on the recommendation of the Board of Education for the election, the original meeting having lapsed. He would first read the report of the committee, which was as follows “ The committee in presenting this, the first annual report for the East Christchurch educational district, have much pleasure in being able to congratulate the parents, guardians, and ratepayers generally, on the great progress already made in the cause of education under the Education Act of 1873. There can be no doubt that greater progress might have been made, and greater results attained, had it not been for many difficulties with whi< h the committee have had to contend. Some of these difficulties have already been referred to in the short report presented a year ago. The want of suitable schoolrooms has been one of the greatest obstacles to success, and the delay in the erection of the main school has been caused by the necessity of appealing to the Provincial Council for an increased grant, owing to the cost of building materials, and the price of labor having increased to such an extent, that the lowest tender considerably exceeded the original grant. Notwithstanding this delay, the committee have much pleasure in reporting that the progress in the erection of suitable school buildings, has, on the whole, been very satisfactory. At present there are two new schoolrooms built and opened—viz, one at Bingsland and another on the South town belt; these are intended eventually as schools for the younger children only. The expenditure on land and buildings up to the present time is as, follows: —On sites, Gloucester street, £2300, South town belt, £343 2s fid ; Bingsland, £341 7s fid; on buildings, South town belt, £1905 455; Bingsland,with furniture and some fencing, £1384 6s; total, £6274 10s. The proposed expenditure on the school in Gloucester street is for the building, £7674, An abstract of the receipts and expenditure for (he year is annexed, duly audited. The number of children on the books, and the average attendance for the quarters ending

March 31st, June 30th, and September 30th, respectively is as follows ; —Quarter ending March 31st, number on books, 964, average attendance, 645 ; quarter ending June 30th, number on books, 974, average attendance, 703 ; quarter ending September 30th, number on books, 1144, average attendance, 627. The teaching staff of the schools necessary to effectively instruct this large number of children consist of 7 male teachers, 4 female teachers, and 11 pupil teachers (4 male and 7 female), or a total of 22, whose yearly incomes at present amount to the sum of £l9Ol. During the year the committee have presented prizes to the children, but they trust when the whole of the schools are built the then committee will be able to carry out on an improved scale a more regular system for the distribution of rewards. The committee consider that it will be advisable to arrange with the West Christchurch and the Lyttelton school committees, for the purpose of conjointly engaging drawing and music masters; they are also of opinion that these two branches of education should be afforded without requiring ‘special fees, as all the children of sufficient age attending the schools would thus be instructed in each, an advantage that to many of the children might afterwards prove a means of livelihood, and certainly would enable a large number to add very considerably to their means. The committee therefore hope that this important question will not be lost sight of by the incoming commitiee, wherever the necessary funds may be forthcoming. In conclusion, the committee trust, notwithstanding the great but necessary expense which has been incurred, the ratepayers will find that the educational system now in force has been so far satisfactorily established as to justify such expense ; the committee also hope that the work they have done during their year of office will meet with the approval of the parents and guardians and ratepayers of the district.” The Chairman then read the abstract of accounts of the school committee duly audited, shewing a balance of £lll9a lOd, to the credit of next year. Rev H. C. M. Watson moved that the report as read be adopted. Mr A. A. Dobbs seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Chairman then said the next part of the business was the election of the new committee. The outgoing committee had prepared a return of the attendance of the committee which he would if required read; [Hear.] The number of meetings had been forty, and the attendance as follows :—Mr Williams, 30 ; Rev H. C. M. Watson, 37 ; Rev Mr Habens, 28 ; Messrs Pratt, 31; Dymock, 28 ; R. D. Thomas, 25 ; John Anderson, 22; J. D. M'Pherson, 15 ; C. Cuff, 13. In answer to Mr Jameson, The chairman said that Messrs Pratt, Anderson, and Huff, had informed him that it was not their intention to come forward again. The following gentlemen were then proposed : —Revs H. C. M. Watson, B. A. Lingard, W. J. Habens, and H. B. Glasson, Messrs F. Hobbs, G. L. Lee, Ward, W. R. Mitchell, H, Packer, A. Kirk, W, H. Wynn Williams, Dymock, J. P. Jameson, and R. D. Thomas.

The Bov B. A. Lingard said that he wished to take this opportunity of refuting a stater ment which had gone forth that the clergy of the Cfturch of England bad set themselves as a body agaipst the Ordinance. This was not the case, as the clergy, and himself particularly, were willing to work with the Ordinance. He had consented to allow his name to come before the ratepayers, and he had felt it his duty to come forward to state what were his reasons why he wished to get on the committee. They had been reproached with not having taken advantage of the permission to visit the schools, but he might say that he was not aware that the permission for the Wednesday morning visit had been made use of. The fact that the Church school in his parish had been kept open, was perhaps one reason why he had not taken ad vantage of this. If hewentonjthe committee, he should be prepared to support carrying out of the Ordinance, and he said now, in the most emphatic manner, that ha should go on to the committee, with the intention of endeavoring to get the committee to carry opt the sixty? second clause so ag to allow of one whole school day or two half-days for religious instruction, and this in the school, as to draft them off to the different churches would not be productive of order. He was glad to see that Mr Habens, in his letter, was of the same opinion. He might further say, that should the committee determine, as the West Christchurch committee had done, to exclude clergymen, he should at once place hia resignation in the hands of the chairman and allow some other householder to be elected. As he had said, he had thought it right to bring the matter before the meeting, but if elected he should do his best to work with the committee in carrying out the Ordinance. [Hear, hear.] In answer to Mr James, The chairman said the committee had recommended the erection of a bridge over the river in continuation of the East town belt, but nothing had yet been done. However, it would, he thought, be done shortly.

Rev Mr Habens said that he had been in communication with the chairman of the Board of Education, who had said that there were no funds for the purpose, but that the committee and residents should endeavor to get the City Council to do the work. Mr James said the locality appeared to be a sort of no man’s land. The best way for tke residents to do was to apply to the Provincial Council for a grant in aid. A show of hands was then called for with the following result:—

The Chairman then declared the show of hands to be in favor of the following—viz, Messrs Wynn Williams, Dymock, Kirk, Thomas, Jameson, Mitchell, Lee, and the Revs H. C. M. Watson, and W. J. Habens. A poll having been demanded by six householders on behalf of the Rev E. A. Lingard, the Chairman announced that the poll would take place on Monday, November 2nd, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, between tlie hours of 9 a,in, and 4 pm. '

The Chairman said the next business was the election of two auditors. He had a letter from Messrs T, B. Craig and H. E. Alport, expressing their willingness to serve if re-elected. , Mr James moved that the auditors or last year be re-elected, which was agreed to, A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business.

Mr Jameson ... 2i Mr Hobbs ... 8 Mr G. L. Lee ... 15 Rev H. C. M. Watson ... 28 Rev B. A. Lingard ... 13 Mr Ward ... 9 Rev W. J. Habens ... 28 Rev H. Glaeson... ... 9 Mr W. R. Mitchell ... 23 Mr W. H. W. Williams ... 31 Mr H. Packer ... ... 18 Mr R. D. Thomas ... 21 Mr A. Kirk ... 20 MrDjmock ... 29