SCHOOL MEETING.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 69, 26 December 1863, Page 4

SCHOOL MEETING.

| A meeting of the residents of Queenstown and the district was held in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday, 23rd December. The meeting was influentially attended, and every religious denomination was represented. The majority consisted of heads of families. The greatest unanimity prevailed, and the one object—to establish a good central and unsectarian school, was kept solely in view, anc warmly supported throughout. .Richmond Beetham, Esq., 11.M., was called to the chair, and said he quite agreed with tiiose who had waited upon him, that the time had arrived when a public school, with the assistance of the Government, might be safely established here. (Hear, hear.) He had been in other dis-

tricts in New Zealand, who, though possessing a less population than their own, and far less advantages, yet had their schools, and he thought they had the means and power to carry out their views. (Hear, hear.) He would read for their information the most important clauses of the Education Ordinance, by which they would perceive the course of action they would have to take. The Chairman then read the following clauses:—Clause 12. Educational districts, how to be formed; Clause 13. Election of District School Committee; Clause 17. School and Teacher's House ; Clause 18. Teachers to be selected by School Committee; Clause 19. Engagements of Teachers defined; Clause 22. School-fees collected by teachers; Clause 24. District portion of expenditure, how to be raised ; Clause 25. Mode of assessing; Clause 31. Grants in aid of educational efforts in certain cases. And he thought they should confine themselves to the clauses No. 24 and 31, as most suited to their requirements. Mr Harris moved that a Committee, consisting of Messrs Beetham, Boyne, Cochrane, Fletcher, Carnegie, Manders, Wood, Gash, and the mover, with power to add to their number, be appointed, and that they be empowered to collect subscriptions for erecting and maintaining a school in the di*trict, and organize the necessary arrangements for calling upon thj Educational Board for their assistance in accordance with clause 31 of the Education Ordinance. The mover, in an eloquent speech which we are unable to give in our present issue, pointed out the necessity of establishing a good school in the district, that could be used by all. The advantages to be obtained by the heads ot families, the disgrace that would fall upon the district if education was to be neglected, or to be left to casual efforts, while other meetings could be successfully carried out.

Mr Wood briefly but pithily seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. - After remarks from several other gentlemen, a vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to the Chairman, and the meeting adjourned to 30th December, the meeting to be held at 8 p.m. at the same place. COMMITTEE MEETING. Present —Messrs Beetham, Gash, Wood, Harris, Manders, Boyne, Fletcher, Cochrane. Mr Wood was elected chairman. Resolved—"That Mr Worthington be added to the Committee." "Resolved—"That Mr Worthington be requested to undertake the office of hon. secretary." Proposed by Mr Gash, and seconded by Mr Harris—"That Messrs Boyne, Cochrane, Carnegie, Fletcher and the chairman (Mr Wood) he a Sub-committee to [ascertain all matters connected With the establishment of a general school the number of children in the district, to obtain the signatures and subscriptions of the residents, and to communicate with the Government under the resolutions passed by the General meeting, the Sub-committee to bring up their report on the 30th."

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded thje proceedings, which we have been unavoidably compelled to condense.