ANNUAL ELECTIONS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2435, 25 January 1882, Page 3

ANNUAL ELECTIONS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

LYTTELTON. The annual meeting of householders in the Lyttelton district was held on Monday evening in the schoolhouse, when the report of the committee and statement of accounts for the past year were submitted. The accounts showed a balance to the credit of the committee of £36 11s 4d. The committee reported that the progress of the school was very satisfactory and the attendance good, although the average had been reduced somewhat, owing to sickness being so prevalent during August, September, and October, that the school had to be closed on that account for about five weeks. The strict average attendance for the quarter ending March was 630; June, 666; September, 535 j and December, 637. The committee reported having been in communication with tne Board of Education regarding the state of the bank at the back of the playground, and they hoped that the matter would be seen to before the winter set in. They had also through the Board obtained the assistance of the police in enforcing the compulsory clauses in the Education Act. Dp to the present time, however, no legal steps had been taken in the matter, although several cases had been noticed by the police, which had resulted satisfactorily without the committee having had to resort to extreme measures. The committee had not received the report of the inspector, and they were of opinion that it would be found that the very high results hitherto attained by the school could not be expected this time, owing to the sickness which had, as a matter of course, greatly retarded the advancement of the scholars in various subjects. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the following chosen as a committee for the ensuing year :—Revs. Jno. Townsend and Jas. Hill, Messrs S. E. Webb, A. Joyce, W. H. Turner, H. Allwright, and N. Neville. At a meeting of the committee, it was decided to meet on Monday evening next, when the election of a chairman will take place KAIAPOI. At the annual meeting here on Monday evening, twenty householders were present, Mr J, Lowthian Wilson was voted to the chair. Mr 0. E. Dudley, secretary, read the report, whioh noticed that the number of scholars on the roll was 499, the average attendance 300. Ohanges bad been made in the teaching staff by the resignations of Messrs Kauffman, Taylor, and Monk and the elections of Messrs Pashby, Veysey, and Johnson ; and the resignation of Mr Dixon, who had been succeeded by Mr Kitchingman. The entertainment in aid of the prize fund realised £2B, whioh sum bad been expended in prize books and affording the children a treat to a waxworks show. The annual examination was held on November sth, and an advance report showed that 89 per cent, of the scholars passed in standards. The total receipts for the year had been £969 Os 9d, of whioh £846 12s lOd had been expended in salaries, £ll3 13s 9d in incidental expenses, leaving a balance in hand of £8 14s 2d, against which there were outstanding accounts amounting to £35 14s Id. The amount allowed by the Board for incidental expenses was totally inadequate, the items of fuel and cleaning absorbing most of that allowance. Mr H. Revell, in moving that the report and statement be adopted, referred to the unsatisfactory way in whioh prizes had been awarded at last distribution.

Mr J. D. Hean, seconding the motion, pointed out that one of his children had been put back for the examination, and thought such a system was not calculated to show the progress of the school. Mr B. Parnhatn, chairman of the committee, said no one regretted more than the committee did, the fact that the distribution of prizes had been not quite satisfactory, but the fact was that the inspector’s report was not available in assisting. The examination took place in November, yet the inspector’s report in the briefest form possible had only just come to hand. The committee had made a new arrangement upon which the prizes would be awarded next year. The motion was carried.'

The gentlemen nominated, and numbers polled for members of the committee were Messrs F. Robins, 18; E. Parnham, 17 ; B. Moore, 15 ; W. Fraser, 13; E. Eevell, 13; K. Maofarlane, 13; R. Coup, 12; T. Pashby, 10; B. H. Mathews, 8; O. J. Champion, 6 ; and B. Woodford, 3. Messrs Robins, Parnham, Moore, Fraser, Bevell, Maofarlane and Coup were declared elected.

Mr Bevell moved—“ That it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to limit the dinner hour to an hour,” pointing out that by this means children from a distance could return homo sooner in the day. Mr Hean seconded.

Mr H. J. Wood, Mr J. O. 8011, Mr Fraser, and Mr O. E. Dudley urged that the period of the midday recess remain as at present. Mr Parnham said the committee had found the proposition generally an unfavorable one. The Chairman suggested it was rather funny to talk of limiting 11 the dinner hour to an hour.” Ho put it that the midday recess be limited to an hour, which, on being put, was declared negatived on the voices. A division was demanded with the result—For the motion 5, against 8. The motion was therefore lost.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

At a subsequent meeting of the committee, Mr F. Farnham was re-elected chairman of the same. WEST OXFORD. A meeting of householders of this district was held in the schoolroom on Monday, to receive report of committee, and elect committee for ensuing year. Mr Q. A. White took the chair as chairman of school committee. The following were elected as a committee : —Messrs White, Luers, Forbes, Prichard, Cooper, Brown and Agassiz. During the year the committee has received £76 6s 2d for incidental expenses, and the expenditure has been £6O 6i 2d, leaving a balance to credit of this fund of £l6. Mr White acted as returning officer. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. A committee meeting was held, and Mr A. P. Prichard waa elected as chairman for the ensuing year. LOB URN. At the annual meeting of householders there was a moderate attendance. Mr 0. A. Cunningham presided. The report and statement of accounts, the latter showing a credit balance of 7s, wore discussed and finally passed. The members of committee reelected were Messrs O. A. Cunningham, J. Barker, A. Hodgson, P. Brady, D. Banks, and Messrs S. Harwell and E. O’Conner were newly elected. At a subsequent meeting of the new committee Mr Cunningham was unanimously re-eleoted chairman. WOODEND, At the annual meeting of householders there was an attendance of about twenty persons. Mr Wm. Salkeld was voted to the chair. The report and statement of accounts, the latter showing a balance of about £7, was read and adopted. The exact number of candidates being nominated to constitute the committee Messrs J. Little, J. Conway, Oatchpole, J. Winsloe, J, Stanton, Judson, and O. J. Norton, were declared duly elected. At a subsequent meeting of the new committee, Mr James Little was unanimously reeleoted chairman, ASHLEY. At the annual meeting of householders there would have been a good attendance, but the meeting was not constituted, and after waiting some time for the chairman of the committee, those who assembled dispersed. It is expected that a further meeting will be convened by the Board of Education, EAST OXFORD. There was only a very poor attendance of householders at this meeting. Mr R. H. Parish, chairman of the committee, took the chair. The report stated that Mr Hamilton, the late master, had resigned to join the ministry of the Church of England, and Mr Thornes May had been elected in his place. The inspector had held an examination of the school at the end of Jane, but the committee deemed the report a totally unfair one in every way to the late master, and the committee had asked the Board to have another examination held by Mr Edge, but the Board had refused the application. The attendance of five quarters had been as follows December, 163 ; March, 171; June, 177 ; September, 147; December 1881, 145. The receipts for the year were as follows : Credit balance at bank, £27 12s Id ; receipts from all sources, £541 14s sd. Total, £669 6i 6d. Expenditure—Salaries, £465 17s ; furniture, repairs, and pump, £75 8] lOd ; balance, £2B Os Bd. Total, £569 6t 6d,

Mr Petrie proposed, and Mr Aldridge seconded—“ That the accounts as read be passed." Carried. Mr Dobson asked if the chairman could give any reason for the falling off in the average attendance in tha corresponding quarters of December 1880 and 1881. The Chairman said that tha master bad reported that fourteen families had left the district, and that eight children under five years of age bad been counted in the average attendance. The following were elected as a committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs Oomyns, W. Fisher, Parish, Aldridge, Sedcole, Thompson, and Petrie. Mr Ingram acted as returning-officer, and as nine members were proposed a ballot was taken. A vote of thanks to the returning-offioer terminated the proceedings. NOETH EGAD. The annual meeting of householders (took place on Monday, the 23rd instant, in the schoolroom. There was a fair attendance, Mr Johns being elected to the chair. The chairman of the retiring committee read the report and statement of accounts. The election resulted in the following being chosen as the committee:—Messrs Johns, Cochran, Spencer, Wolff, H. Tiscb, Englefield. The committee immediately afterwards held their first meeting, Mr Cochran being chosen chairman. SALTWATEB OBEEK. At the annual meeting of householders there was an attendance of about six persons. Mr Hopkins was voted to the chair. Mr E. Bevell, commissioner for the district read the report and a statement of accounts, which were adopted. After some discussion it was decided not to elect a committee, as the requisite number of householders—seven—would not consent to act. FLAXTON. At the meeting of householders on Monday evening there was a fair attendance. Mr B. M. Wright presided. The report and statement of accounts were then read, the former showing an average of 96J- per cent, of scholars as having passed at last examination, and the latter a balance of about £l2 to credit, and were duly passed. The candidates nominated and numbers polled for the committee were —Messrs B. M. Wright 30, Baker 25, Ohapman 18, Hopkins 12, Inwood 9,' B. Mulcock 8, T. Pickard 6, H. Bowling 3, J. Stevenson 1. Messrs Wright, Baker, Chapman, Hopkins, Mulcock, Pickard, and Eev. F, B. Inwood were elected. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr Wright was reelected chairman.

AMBBELBY. At the meeting of householders held here there was a small attendance. Mr T. Douglas occupied the chair. The annual report was given, but the accounts had not been audited. The members of committee elected were— Messrs T. Douglas, IST. 8. Smith. F. Holder, W. Eutherford, A. Taylor, J. Harrison, and H. McLean. At a meeting of the new committee Mr Douglas was elected chairman. KAIAPOI ISLAND NOETH. The annual meeting of householders in the school district of Kaiapoi Island North was held in the schoolroom on Monday, the 23 rd, at 7 p.m., for the purpose of passing the accounts of the past year; Mr George Paterson was in the chair. The accounts were read and passed. The following gentlemen were then ohoseu to form a school committee, viz:—Messrs T. Burgess, Hassall, Neeve, Menneer, Keith, Humphries, and Paterson. At a meeting of the committee Mr George Paterson was chosen chairman of the committee. SOUTH EAKAIA. The annual meeting of householders in the educational district of South Eakaia was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening. There was not a largo attendance. Mr Hardy having been voted to the chair, read the annual report and balance sheet, both of which were adopted. Messrs Hardy, Chambers, Kemble, Bowler, Guarder, Byrne, and _Eev. Westbrooke were elected a new committee for the ensuing year, eyeeton. The following gentlemen were elected the committee for this district Messrs Miller, (chairman), Thos. Giles, Ed. Butters, Thos. Lord, F. Moore, O. Fairweather, B. Chilton, Geo. Bailey, and E. Clothier. BEOOMFIKLD, The following gentlemen were elected a committee :—Messrs Hale, Wornall, S. Coleman, George Wornall, D. Eobertson, John Stanton, Thomas Orampton. At a meeting held afterwards, Mr David Eobertson was elected chairman, NEW BEIGHTON. The general meeting of the householders for the election of school committee, resulted as follows ;—Messrs Corser, Suite, Free, Gibbon, Campbell, Jackson, Hoyder. Mr Corser was elected chairman. PAPANUI. - The meeting in this school district was largely attended, Mr Qoodland being in the chair. The meeting was a very stormy one. The following gentlemen were elected : Messrs Goodland, Godfrey, Oreswell, James Said, De La Hunt, D. Thomaa and Calvert.

BALOAIEN. At the meeting in this district, the chairman, Mr W. B. Fendall, stated that the inspector had given a good report of the progress of the school, and that the average attendance had impioved. A statement of accounts was read, showing an expenditure of £219 Is 3d, leaving a balance in hand of £5 Is 4d. A vote of thanks to the retiring committee was proposed and carried. Ten persons were nominated for the new committee, and a ballot having been taken, the chairman declared the following persons duly elected : —Messrs A. St. John White, W. B. Feudal], J. Cameron, O. Fitzpatrick, J. Connor, J. Simms, and Y. Mathias. At the meeting of the committee held subsequently, Mr W. E. Fendall was re-elected chairman, and Mr J. Cameron was appointed to countersign cheques