“Gazette” District News

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4406, 26 April 1922, Page 2

“Gazette” District News

HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETINGS NGATEA. There was a fair attendance at the Ngatea householders' meeting oh Monday evening, Mr W. MbDuff, chairman pf the retiring committee presiding. Mr McDuff briefly reported on the year’s progress,..acknowledging the greatly appreciated help given by the residents at working bees which had been organised to improve the school grounds. The speaker also outlined the endeavours of the committee to obtain enlargements to the school and also a teach; er’s residence. ; !

The financial position of the comjrnittee was briefly commented on by the retiring secretary, Mr C. W. Shultz, who said, that last year the committee had a credit balance of £27 to siart on. There was nothing like that this time, however, the failure. to obtain subsidies •as direct donations and several other minor details having the effect of considerably reducing the caslh balance thijs year. The committee was in credit at the present time to the extent of £lO 6s 6d. <

The meeting elected the following committee: Messrs W. McDuff, C. W. Shultz; W. J. Clare, E. Walton, anil W. Clark. Mr McDuff was later re 1 - elected chairman the committee and Mr Shultz was re-elected secretary. Messrs Hayward and Davidson, members of the' out-going committed, declined nomination. ■

Mr Davidson moved a. vote of appreciation to the teachers. The eld committee had fully: recognised the difficulties the teachers Were working under, and had urged for enlargements. Mr Clare seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. , TURUA. The following committee was - elected Tor the Turua school': Messrs R. G. Miller, F. Stephens, J. T. Davies, ’ C. Ansford, S. G. Williams, C. Dale, and A. Walker. Mr Miller was subseouently elected chairman and Mr Walker secertary. The congested state of the school was discussed, and it was decided that the Education Board be written to and asked to take immediate steps to have the overcrowding problem settle! as soon as possible. KEREPEEHI. There was a fair attendance at the Kerepeehi householders’ meeting. The following committee was elected Messrs W. Booth, H. Jamieson, L. A. W. Bagnall, S. W. Bridge, and W. Herkt. Mesdames Innis and Mur- f doch, members of the out-going committee, declined nomination. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring lady members. Mr Booth was reelected chairman of the committee and Mr Bagnall was re-elected secretary. PATETONGA. Keen interest was shown in the election of the school committee dt Patetonga on Monday evening, when Mr H. Taylor occupied the chair. A vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing committee. The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year: Messrs J. F. Mayn, O. Clarkett, J. Paterson, J. Patterson and GLindsay. Mr Mayn was later elected chairman of the committee. KOMATA REEFS. The following were elected to form the new school committee: Messrs H. . McCormack, P. Ryan, J. H. -Betiney. J. Rolt and F. W. Waite The committee re-elected Mr P. Ryan chairman and Mr F. W. Waite secretary for the ensuing year. NGATEA. z. THE HALL COMMITTEE/, The Ngatea Hall Committee met oa Safurelay evening, the following being present: Messrs G. T. Davidson (chairman),. S. Phillips, D. A. Vincent W. G. Hayward, W. J. Clare, R. E. Jamieson, W. McDuff, and C. G. Mellor (secretary). Mr Vincent contended that committees hiring the hall should depute some person to be responsible for the hall rent and for breakages to crockery and furniture. It was decided that the caretaker-should be responsible for all breakages not reported to the committee. On Mr Vincent’s-motion it was decided to let the hall to the local football club for smoke concerts at 15s- per night. Mr Phillips was deputed to take charge of the Hall Committee’s dances', and a vote of thanks was -passed to Mr Phillips for his past services. It was decided to ask the ladies’ committee which acted at the. hall opening to arrange some function for the benefit of the hall. Mr Hamilton’s tender of 15s per night and two benefits for the use of the hall for the showing of pictures one night a week was accepted. Mr Hamilton’s tender included a guarantee of £33 from the two. benefit nights. SCHOOL OVERCROWDING. Mr. McDuff, chairman of the Ngater householders’ meeting, on Monday evening said that the out-going committee had made strenuous efforts to obtain enlargements for the schopl.. The inspector’s report had classed* Ngatea’s case as "urgent,” but because the term had not been “very urgent” the Board had signified that they would do nothing in the matter at present.

At Mr Davidson’s request the headmaster, Mr, R. E. Jamieson, gave particulars of floor space and the number of pupils contained in each building. The floor space in the smaller building (the shelter-shed) was 285 square feet, and allowing 10 square feet per child, it should contain only 28 pupils, but it held at presept 34 pupils. The larger- school was built to accommodate 45, and it now held 57. There were 91 children on the roll, and the average attendance for the first three weeks of the present quarter was 82.5. If this could be maintained for a whole year the school would be entitled to another teacher,