School Committee Elections.

Kaikoura Star, 26 April 1904, Page 6

School Committee Elections.

TOWN. There was an attendance of thirty-seven District High School householders at the meeting last night. Mr 'R. T. Pope (Chairman of the outgoing Committee) presided. The Chairman submitted the Committee’s report, to the following effect: —The chief event of the year the Committee have to note is the establishment of a District High School. Mr Renner, ex-Chair-.man, started the ball rolling by approaching the Board of Education. After considerable correspondence satisfying the Board, 'that body recommended the Government to grant the school. The Committee regret that some parents who had ipromised that their children would attend did not keep faith, consequently the Board threatened to withdraw Mr Smith and close the secondary department unless the attendance increased or the Committee guaranteed the deficiency. The Committee guarantee was sent to the Board. A social to provide the necessary amount proved thoroughly successful. The examination lately held resulted in eight pupils passing into the secondary department, bringing the roll number up to twenty-one. The Inspector’s report on the examination is very favorable to the school and complimentary to the teachers. During the year the attendance has been very fair, the Master not having to report many cases of irregular attendance. A new shelter shed has been erected for the boys (with wood and coal house attached) at a cost of £35. The girls’ shed has been repaired with iron and renovated at cost of £6 7s. During the year two concerts, arranged by the teachers, were carried out and appreciated, the proceeds materially helping the CoiPi mittee in providing prizes ana carrying out improvements. The social tendered the teachers passed off very successfully. The Committee desire to tender the teacher and Mrs West their thanks for the untiring-efforts put forth in arranging concerts, also to those who kindly gave prizes and to all who assisted at concerts and subscribed to the Shelter Sheds Fund. Also to Mr Rutherford. M.H.R., for his kindly and valuable help in High School matters, generally, and the donation of a guinea to the High School Salary Fund, ami to Dr. Gunn for his subscription to the same.. At the beginning of the year a balance of £2O 5s 3d appeared on the books, but of this £l2 3s belonged to Shelter Shed Fund, and outstandings more than swallowed up the balance, leaving the Committee £6 in debt.

The Balance Sheet (duly audited) showed : Receipts : —Brought forward £2O 5s 3d, capitation £4B 17s 3d, donations (subscriptions and proceeds of concerts) £49 19s 3d, sale of books £l7 16s 6d, sale of furniture 17s 6d—£l37 15s 9d. Expenditure : Bank charge £1 Is, cleaning £26 6s 3d, requisites £2 12s. lOd, fuel £7 13s 3d, repairs, etc., £42 7s, school books £2B 19s lOd, expenses of Committee £2 9s 3d, prizes £4 13s, rent of hall and piano £1 2s 6d, balance £2O 15s Bd—£l37 15s 9d. (The Chairman gave asup= plementary balance sheet showing position as between 31st March and date of meeting). On the Chairman’s motion the Report and Balance Sheet were adopted without discussion. The Chairman read the report of the Inspector (Dr. Anderson) on the late examination, which was of a, very satisfactory nature. Discussion took place between the Chairman and Mr Renner regarding non-publication of the Inspector’s report, the burden Of the argument (pro) being that the Teachers’ Institute, inspectors and teachers were opposed to newspaper publication ; (con) that nonpublication was keeping things sub rosa. Nominations accepted for Committee were—Rev. W. Blathwayt, Messrs Pope, Haine, Has well, Wren, Renner, Stanlake, Orange, Lyford. Mr Renner said he accepted nomination at the request of several householders, but he had no real desire to retain a seat on the Committee The ballot, conducted by Dr Gunn and Mr Barton, was declared as follows Pope 34, Has-

well 29, Stanlake 29, Wren 26, Haine 25, Blathwayt 21, Orange 17, Renner 17, Lyford 9. Air Renner withdrew in favor of Mr Orange. Mr Pope returned thanks for his reelection. Mr Barton proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing Committee, applauding the good work done in connection with the establishment of the District High School, Mr Pope acknowledging the vote. The teaching staff were, on the motion of Messrs Boyens and Renner, accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the excellent results of their labors during the past year. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting. The Committee met afterwards and re-elected Mr Pope Chairman and Air Haswell Secretary and Treasurer. A vote of thanks to Mr Renner for his services in connection with the school was recorded, ami the Committee adjourned after agreeing to meet on the fourth Monday of each month. SUBURBAN. Fourteen householders were present at the Suburban School, Air H. J. Barratt, Chairman of Committee, presiding. The Inspector’s report on the recent examination was read, and was considered highly satisfactory, especially as the school studies had been interrupted by the illness of the Master. In reply to a question, Mr Bowbyes said that five children had failed to be promoted, though others had gained double promotion.

The Chairman said that the Committee's books not having been returned by the Board, a balance sheet could not be presented to the meeting. He gave a summary of the financial position, and stated that there was a sum to credit of about £7, which, with economy, would enable them to carry on. Referring to the irregular attendance of pupils, he said he had supplied the Police with a list of the offenders some time ago, but apparently very little impression had been made by merely warning the parents. He understood, however, that the attendance was now increasing.

z A circular letter from the Secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute regaiding the Public Schools Superannuation Scheme was read. It set forth the desirability of establishing a fund for the support of teachers on their retirement at a given age, and request was made that the householders pass a resolution in favor of Government aid being given the scheme. After discussion, in which the Chairman stated that he thought the matter was for the teachers themselves to carry out and also expressed his disapproval of Government pensions, it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Jas. Boyd and J. Veitch, that the householders express their approval of the scheme. After a vote of thanks to the retiring Committee, the annual election was held, with the following result:—J, Harris 9, H. J. Barratt 9, M. Yaxley 8, A. Boyd 8, J. Veitch 7, A. Clemett6, W. Chapman 5, E. Abraham 5, J. Rainey 5, R. Stretch 4, G. Boyd 3, D. Sweeney 3. The tie was decided by drawing in favor of Air Chapman. Air Jas. Boyd proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the teachers, and hoped that Air Bowbyes would be restored to a better state of health. The Chairman, in seconding the motion, eulogised the work done by Air Bowbyes, who replied, and the meeting closed. The Committee then met and reelected Mr Barratt as Chairman.