CHRISTCHURCH WEST.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 416, 12 October 1875, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH WEST.

A public meeting of the householders of the educational district of Christchurch West, was held last evening, at seven o’clock, in the Lincoln road school room, for the purpose of receiving a report of the proceedings of the school committee; also a statement of accounts made up to the date of meeting, and to elect a school committee for the ensuing six mouths. Mr Gavin, in taking the chair, opened the proceedings, and said that he did so in accordance with a warrant from the Deputy Superintendent. He then called upon the chairman of the committee to read the report. Mr Tancred, chairman of the committee, read the report as follows : “ Since the last meeting of ratepayers in October of 1874, an amended Education Ordinance has been passed by the Provincial Council, which has in some respects altered the relation in which the ratepayers and their representatives, the school committees, stand to the Government. “ In most points the new Ordinance is substantially a reprint of the Ordinance previously in operation. “ It will perhaps be desirable to give a general view of the alteration which has been made in the machinery, as it affects the action of the ratepayers. “ In the first place the Board of Education which formerly directed the education of the province, has been abolished, and the administration of the department has been placed in the hands of an officer appointed and removable by the Superintendent, under the title of Secretary for Education. This officer holds his office during good behaviour, but may nevertheless be removed as though he held it during pleasure. He may not hold a seat either in the Provincial or Executive Council. “ Such at least is the position of the officers who administers the Education Office according to the terms of the Ordinance, but. he has no power to decide upon questions relating to the distribution of funds available for the purposes of education. This can only be done by the Superintendent acting under the advice of the Executive Council.

“ Practically, however, the Education Office has been made a department of the Government, and is presided over by a member of the Executive Council, who decides upon all applications from the school com mittees.

“ The second alteration is as to the election and constitution of district school committees. The school committee, for the election of which the present meeting is held, will hold office only till the second Monday in April, 1876, that is to say, for about six months. The committee so elected is to consist of four, six or eight members, one-half of whom will go out of office at the election in April next, and the committee then to be elected will remain in office to the following April, when the half will again retire. “ The third alteration which I notice relates to the contribution by the districts for school buildings and sites. Until the 31st of March next the rule as to this is the same as that which has obtained hitherto, that is to say, the district contributes one-sixth, and the Treasury five-sixths. After March 3 1st, 1876, the districts will bear one-half of the cost, or up to one shilling in the pound of the rateable property. “ With regard to the position of this particular district, it will be no doubt gratifying to the ratepayers to learn that the number of children under instruction is steadily on the increase, and that the reports of the Inspector as to the efficiency of the schools are upon the whole satisfactory. The numbers on the books for the quarter ending September 30th last has increased from 1063 to 1171, while the average attendance has risen from 520 to 677, being an increase of 111 in the one case, and 157 in the other. From this it will be seen that not only have a greater number of children been under instruction, but also that a greater number have attended regularly, and thus are more likely to have obtained benefit by the instruction given. “ Two great evils have made themselves felt in the organisation of the schools, especially in the northern part of the district, want of sufficient space and the prevalence of illness.

“ The Durham street school has been, ever since the formation of the district, in a very unsatisfactory condition as regards accommodation for the children. The old Wesleyan schoolroom in which it was held proved altogether inadequate, and the committee, with the sanction of the Board, succeeded in making arrangements for renting the new Wesleyan Sunday schoolroom temporarily.

“ It is hoped that before long the newly erected Normal School, towards the building of which the district has contributed its share, will be available for the northern portion of the district.

“ The want of room and of proper ventilation have, no doubt, had the effect of keeping away many children who would otherwise have attended.

“ Here too, the attendance has been affected during the autumn, principally by the prevalence of measles. “An additional schoolroom has been also found necessary for the younger children of the Lincoln road school, and the committee has been in communication with the Government on the subject. Nothing has as yet been definitely arranged, but it is understood that the Provincial Architect is preparing a report on the best method for meeting the increased requirements. “ The committee have also made arrangements for putting the grounds at the Lincoln road school in order.

« The committee, finding that the arrangements made for the ventilation of the Lincoln school, were altogether insufficient had been put to considerable expense in re-

medying this defect, as it is most important that this should be done before the summer. *• In-* two entrances to the Lincoln road school, which, during the winter were in a very had state, have been metalled, and the drainage of the grounds has been attended to. The road leading to the back entrance was also almost impassable, while the accumulation of water threatened to prove injurious to health. The committee have been in communication with the City Council on the subject, and the evil has been partially remedied, and an outlet has been made for the stagnant water. “ The buildings are, the committee believe in a good state of repair, though a considerable amount of trouble has been caused by the defective state of the roof. It was found, after the buildings had been handed over, that parts of the roofs admitted the rain. It is believed now, however, that they are watertight. “ The committee believe that the two schools under their charge have been conducted with efficiency during the past year. The following extracts from the inspector’s report in reference to the Lincoln Road school, will probably be of interest. “ ‘ The organisation, discipline, and tone of the school are uncommonly good. It is, as at present conducted, the best model of town school in Canterbury. .... The papers done by the upper classes, in all seventy-one boys, are highly creditable. They show a good grounding in English composition, grammar, geography, history, and arithmetic. Grammar is the most difficult subject with boys ; but the remarkable accuracy of these shews that it is well understood and skilfully taught.’ “ It would hardly be fair to institute a comparison between this and the Durham street school,because the imperfect appliances of the latter place it at a disadvantage. The committee feels, however, confident that all the teachers have discharged their duties zealously and efficiently. “ The above statement contains the principal matters which have engaged the attention of the committee during the past year. It would of course be out of place here to specify in detail all the questions which have come before it, but the committee will be happy to give any explanation which may be required either in reference to the points mentioned or as to others. “ The committee nowTays before this meeting the accounts for the past year as required by the Ordinance.” The statement of accounts as audited by Provincial Auditor, for the year ending October 10th, 1875, showed Receipts— Balance from last account, £624 Us 7d ; grants for maintenance, £3150 Is lOd; household rates, £724 11s; fees from children, including fees for extra subjects, £126; incidental receipts, £lB Os 7d; sale of books, £lO 17s 2d; total, £4649 2a 2d. Expenditure—Salaries, including £ll7 10s for extra subjects, £2912 7s 2d; repairs, £4O 2g; purchase of school necessaries, £36 16s 6d; incidental expenses, £486 2s sd; building and furniture account, £712 12s 6d; balance in hand, £461 Is 7d; total, £4649 2s 2d.

Mr Booth said that rather a large sum, viz, £486 2s sd, appeared as charged for incidental expenses. Mr Tancred explained that £SO was for the custodian’s salary, £7O for making the ground, £l6 school furniture, £69 for the clock, gravel £35, coal £SO. The detailed accounts were open to any householder to inspect. Mr Dawson asked whether the committee had actually been promised the Normal School, or was it only a hope expressed in the report ?

Mr Tancred said they had a right to the school, as they had paid towards its erection. The committee had also received a communicalion from the Government asking what number of children they wished to accommodate.

Mr Craig said that the committee had applied for accommodation for eight hundred children.

Mr Tancred said that the building would accommodate about 1400 children ; probably the Bast Christchurch committee would apply for 600 children. Mr Hobday suggested that in future the balance sheet should be printed and circulated in the meeting. The meeting then proceeded to nominate the committee for the ensuing six months, when the following were proposed :—Messrs 'fancied, D. Craig, Professor Bickerton, D. Bowie, J. T. Bell, D. Nairn, G, Booth, W. Harris, J. A. Bird, G. Thornton. The chairman then called for a show of hands, which took place as follows : Tancred 16 Craig 16 Bickerton 12 Bowie 13 Bell 12 Nairn ... 13 Booth 12 Harris 11 Bird ... 8 Thornton 10

The chairman said that as no poll was demanded he had to declare Messrs Tancred, Uraig, Bickerton, Bowie, Bell, Nairn, Booth, and Harris duly elected for the ensuing six months. Mr Dawson moved —“ That a cordial vote of thanks be given to the retiring committee for the valuable services they had rendered.” He thought that the very favourable mention made by the inspector of schools as to the efficient state of the schools in the district was due in great measure to the action of the committee.

Kev J. Cummings, head master of the Lincoln road school, said it might appear somewhat strange in him to second the motion, but he wished to state that he had ever received the greatest courtesy from the committee, who had greatly strengthened his hands in carrying on the work of the school.

The motion was agreed to unanimously. Mr Tancred, as chairman of the retiring committee, briefly acknowledged the compliment.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. The newly elected committee met at the conclusion of the public meeting, and unanimously elected Mr Tancred as chairman; Mr M‘Nie was elected as secretary. It was resolved that the committee meet the third Wednesday in each month.