MEETINGS OF HOUSEHOLDERS

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 May 1914, Page 5

MEETINGS OF HOUSEHOLDERS

HELENSVILLE SCHOOL

THE annual meeting of householders at Helensville for the election of a school committee for the ensuing year was attended by about a dozen. Mr E. T. j Field was voted to the chair. The annual report and balance sheet, to February 28th, showed I a credit of £ll 13s 7d. Following are the particulars thereof: — j Your committee has the honour to i present to you the following report for the eleven months ending February 28th, 1914: During the period mentioned the Committee has received from the Board 'or incidental expenses the sum of £46 8s ; in addition to this the sum of £3 5s was raised by 1/ subscriptions for the purpose of assisting towards improving the newly-acquired school ground. These sums, with the addition of the balance of £3 6s lid brought forward from last year, made a total of £52 19s lid available for expenditure. The cost of cleaning school and outbuildings was £35 9s ; fuel, 16s 6d ; repairs, £1 16s 6d ; expenditure on school grounds, £6 7s 3d ; stationery, £6 3s 7d ; bank charges, 7s 6d; advertising, 6s; making a total expenditure of £41 6s 4d, and leaving a credit balance in the bank of £11 13s 7d. NEW SCHOOL GROUND The Education Board authorised a grant, not exceeding £30, for fencing the newly acquired ground at the school. Tenders were called for the work at the stipulated, price, but met with no response. The Committee then authorised the getting of the necessary material and construction of a fence according to specifications for the sum stated, but, owing to the labour strike disorganising the" timber industry, and making it impossible to obtain the necessary quantity of timber, the work has been held up. However, the timber merchant has / now promised to forward what is required immediately, and upon its receipt the work will be at once proceeded with. SCHOOL BUILDING i When the Committee took office the | school was already seriously over- I crowded, and as the attendance has been ! steadily increasing ever since, the teach- j ing at present is being conducted under I very unfavourable conditions. This j matter, however, need, not be dwelt on, j as the Education Board has accepted a ! ender for the enlargement of the school, j and no doubt the necessary accommoda- ! tion will soon be provided. ; SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS | Up to the present, owing to there I having been no water or drainage system* | the sanitary arrangements have been of ■ a very primitive and unsatisfactory nature ; but the Committee has communicated with the Education Board in reference to the matter, and trusts that, when the authorised enlargements to I the school are being carried out, the j necessary connections with the recently j installed water and drainage system will j be made. In this connection it may be mentioned that the old method has not only been very unsatisfactory, but also | expensive ; and since the attendance of children from other schools in the district to the technical school the expense ! in this direction has been increased. j TECHNICAL SCHOOL \ The technical school has been well j attended and appreciated by children ! from other* schools, but, unfortunately, ! no doubt on account of the difficulty in : getting instructors, the boys' classes were not receiving instruction from the , end of last year until towards the end ; of last month (March). i GENERAL | All the members of the Committee ' have been most assiduous in their attendance, and worked together most harmoniously, and, in fact, had a successful and pleasant term of office. As regards the school there have been no complaints, and the reports of .the Inspectors and Headmaster indicate a most satisfactory state of affairs as regards the teaching staff and the instruction imparted. As has been already stated, the teachers have been working under very great disadvantages owing to the overcrowded state of-the school, so the harmonious conditions that prevail are, therefore, the more to be commended. —I am, etc., A. BECROFT, Chairman. | The report and balance sheet I were adopted. | Eight nominations were made for the Committee, of whom the following were elected: Messrs lA. Becroft. L. L. Bailey, F. J. Eames, E. T. Field, A. M. Hanr I mond, R. Smith, and H. L. Thompson. j At the subsequent committee I meeting) Mr A. Becrqft was jre- ; appointed chairman, and Mr F. IJ. Eames re-appointed as secretI ary. Various routine business j was then proceeded with, ac- | counts, etc., being passed for ; payment. The meeting night \ was fixed for the second Tueday I in the month.