SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 27 April 1909, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Foxtou School Committee was held in the school, previous to the annual meeting of householders last night. Present: Messrs Hornblow (chairman), Coley, Read, Bullard, Henderson and Betty. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The annual report and balancesheet drawn up by the Chairman and Secretary for presentation at the annual meeting of householders were read and approved, after which the meeting terminated. ANNUAL, MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

The annual meeting of householders for the purpose of electing a school committee for the ensuing year, was held in the schoolroom last night.. There were about 40 householders present, and Mr Hornblow was voted to the chair. The minutes of the last meeting of householders were read and confirmed.

The annual report and balancesheet were read : —The former stated that during the year 15 meetings were held. The balance-sheet on April Ist of last year disclosed a credit balance of £9 10s Bd, and this amount together with other receipts for the year totalled £yi 4s Bd. The principal items of receipts were school capitation, £9 18s gd ; subscriptions to prize and picnic fund, £9 13 s 6d.' The chief i(;ems of expenditure were school cleaning, £29 8$ (?d ; fencing rear of school grounds, £l9 8s 6d; repairs, £4 2s 2d. school prizes, £4- 14 s °d, an d smaller items leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of is 1 id. As the result of the recent concert, the committee are enabled to hand to their successors a credit balance of £9 3s 6d. The committee’s application to the Board to have a path around the school building concreted was acceded to, the cost of same was ried out other improvements, involving an expenditure of upwards of 1033 d. The technical school was started,

in a room in tbe old school buildings, and instruction was given in dressmaking, millinery and arithmetic. Very little enthusiasm, however, has been displayed in regard to technical instruction. The average attendance at the school has been very satisfactory. For the first three months ot this year there have been 50 ad missions as against 105 forthe whole ol last year and 108 for the whole of the previous year. The quarterly examinations have also been very satisfactory. As a result of the proficiency examination, several scholars qualified for, and are now receiving secondary education at the Palmerston District High School. Several minor complaints have been made by parents to the Committee against the teaching staff, which, upon investigation, have proved to be of a trivial nature. Several changes in the teaching staff have taken place during the year, which have, to a certain extent, disoiganised class - work. The relations between the teaching staff and the committee have been very bar.nonious. In August last an attempt was made to convert the school into a District High School, but, owing to the lack of eligible pupils, the movement has not yet been successful. The committee were euable 1 to give the children a picnic at the Beach on March 171 b, and a most enjoyable time was spent. —Tbe committee suggests to their successors that an effort be made to complete the fence along Park Street frontage, and the front portion of the school ground be fenced off, with a view to beautifying that part of the ground which now presents a very unlovely appearance. The committee feel confident that tbe Board will favourably consider a subsidy for this work. The committee would also suggest that the boys’ and girls’ play grounds and conveniences be separated. Mr Stiles in proposing the adoption of the report and according a vote of thanks to the outgoing committee said that they had done a great amount of valuable work during their term, and on vacating their offices were leaving the finances in a very healthy,'state. He was sure that they, were entitled to the thanks of the householders. Mr Devett in seconding the motion endorsed Mr Stiles’ remarks. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr E. E. Reade in speaking to the motion said he looked forward to the time when a Foxton schoolboy would carry off the Rhodes scholarship.

Nominations for committeemen for taken, and the following gentlemen were nominated: Messrs. Aitken, Hornblow, Alex. Speirs, Coley, Betty, Bullard, Eevett, Read and Henderson. As the number of vacancies was nine and only that number had been nominated the above-named gentlemen were declared duly elected. On the motion of Mr Hornblow, seconded by Mr Read, a vote of thanks was passed to the teaching staff for their work during the past year. The meeting then terminated.

A meeting of the newly-elected committee was held after the householders’ meeting, and Mr Hornblow was re-elected chairman for the ensuing year. It was decided to ask Mr Aitken to again accept the position of secretary. It was also decided that the meetings of the committee be held on the third Thursday in each month, at 7.30 p.m. —Messrs Coley and Henderson were appointed a visiting committee until the next meeting. The meeting then rose.

The following are the results of the recent School Committee elections throughout the district; Himataugi—Messrs J. F. Conlan (chairman), F. Witton, T. Algar, H. Hartley, H. Hammond, J. Robertson, and P. Brady,

Bulls—Revs. E. J- Sola and C. F. Evans, T. King, J. E. Walker, W. McNicol, E. C. McDermott, R. C. Hutchinson.

Kelvin Grove —C. J. Garrity, J. A. McLeavey, E. Wiggins, A. Neilsou, A. Richards, and A. A. Allsopp. Feilding High School —J. W. Bram well, Rev. Innes-Joues, Rev. Budd, Rev. P. J. Cossum, P. W. Neal, H. Mclntyre, W. T. Bowater, G. Fitzpatrick. Lytton Street—E. Goodbehere, C. -H. Burnett, E. Fetch, F, Thompson, H. Tolley, J. Lockhead, J. Trewin senr., and F. Andrew.

Glen Oroua—J. Sanson (chairman), R- Boswell (secretary), W. Amon, J. Boyce, W. Farmer, A. Vowless, D. Young. Waitohi—P. Gifford, T. Penney, T. Hammond, A. Bowater, and J. Henson.

Ohakea —J. A. Bailey- (chairman), C. Masters (secretary), M. O. Tremain, G. Richardson, W. Frecklington, J. McNab, and R. Henderson.

Rongotea—Rev. H. F. Wilson. v (chairman), Rev. Carlisle (secretary), J. Broadbelt, F. C. Seddon, J. Penney, R. B. Sutton, and W. Jones.

Moutoa Old committee reelected :—A. Saunders (chairman), W. Carter, M. Newth, J. Burr, W. Hudson, E. Pigott and A. Wallace. Palmerston t Terrace End -=• Messrs J. A. Nash (chairman), Yortt (secretary), Eewis (treasurer), W. Mathieson, G. Walker, T. Tregurtha, P. Setter, G. Jarret, W. Robie. College Streets Messrs T. R. Hodder (chairman), Sanson, Carvell, Whitehead, Tyler, Jewell, A. F. W. Jackson, Stubbs, Gerrand, Campbell Street Messrs H. Palmer (chairman), A. E. Clausen, H. M. Simmonds, E. R, B, Hoi ben, A. Pickering, S. Thacker, R. Gittings, J. C. Swallcyv (secretary), and G. AU‘ man. A -