SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 176, 28 April 1903, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION.

The annual meeting of householders was held in the High Schoolroom last night, when there was an attendance of twenty eight residents. Mr R. W. H. Rankin was voted to the chair, and after'the minutes of the last meeting had been confirmed, proceeded to read the report and balance sheet. The leport, which was a most comprehensive document, referred to the satisfactory state of affairs for the past year ; the roll of the school having increased from 147 to 187. "The Secondary School which was started last year with a roll number of 26, increased to 46 before its close, which is evidence of the great success it has pr >ved, the parents evidently recognising the benefits to be derived from such a school and your Committee would recommend that all pupils attend for a period not less than two years. U nder the able management of Mr-F. Wilkes the school has shown excellent results, better being confidently looked ior during the coming year, and your committee desire to express their appreciation of the services rendered by hicn. The Balance Sheet to be presented to you shows a Credit Balance of £0 4s 8d on March 31st 1903 but against this there are outstanding accounts amounting to £7, which, when paid will leave a deficit of .£1 15s 4d. Your committee when taking office found a debit balance of £7 against them, this, they are pleased to say has been wiped off with the assistance of the Education Boaid, who voted <£3, your committee paying' the balance, and considering they had to work on a decreased allowance, viz., 4s per head, they think you will consider the results as very satisfactory under the circumstances." Regret is expressed that the Committee's allowance had not been increased, which made ifc impossible to provide fires for all the rooms during the winter months Allusion was also made to the expenditure of =£2o granted by the Board for draining and levelling the grounds at the teachers residence ; to the conference of teachers and representatives of committees held to discuss matters of importance ; to the visit of Mr Hogben Secretary for Education ; to the examination of the schools during Sep tember ; also to the fact that two scholarships were gained by pupils attending the school, "a result your committee think highly creditable to both teachers and pupils considering that the only tuition the scholars received was given during school hours:" After referring to the celebration of Arbor Day, to the annual picnic held in Miss bush and to the fact that a piano had been purchased for the use < f the school, the report concluded as follows :—"The staff has been increased by the appointment of Miss Davis, and your committee wish to express its appreciation of the very capable and highly satisfactory manner in which Mr Harris and his staff have conducted the school during the year, and hope that the same pleasant relations will exist between them and the next committee as have existed with the present one."

The report and balance sheet were adopted, after which a long discussion took place with reference to the allocation of scholarships in the future. The position having been lucidly explained by Mr Harris the meeting decided not to ■ interefere in the matter.

Before proceeding to the election of the new Committee the Chairman ' stated that he had had a conversation with the Inspector in which he urged that the school be examined nearer Christmas than heretofore and had received a favorable answer to his request. Mr Rankin 'also impressed 1 upon parents the necessity of sending

their children to school regularly to make up for the time lost through raspberry and hop picking. The following persons were nominated as Committee men : Messrs R. Rankin, E. Knapp, W. Moffatt, W. Ryder. J. S. Wratt, C. J. Bartlett, W. Boyce, J. H. Boundy, P. Quayle, H. Boyce, S. Fowler and J. Jordan. The voting was as follows . Moffatt ... ... 24 Knapp ... ... 24 W. Boyce ... ... 21 Boundy ... ... 19 Wratt ... ... 17 Jordan ... ... 16 H. Boyce ... ... 12 Quayle ... ... 12 Ryder ... ... n Rankin ... ... 9 Fowler ... ... 9 Bartlett... ... 8

The first mentioned seven were declared elected, Mr Quayle generously giving way to Mr Boyce. There was one informal vote.

A vote of thanks to the late Committee, and also to the Chairman of the meeting, terminated the proceedings.

Immediately after the close of the meeting of householders, the new Committee, as required by law, proceeded to elecj. a Chairman, Mr Moffatt being elected. It was decided to meet on tiie first Monday evening in each month.