ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 2, 28 January 1879, Page 2

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Towx. The election of the Town School Committee took place at the Provincial Hall last night, when there was a far larger attendance than usual. Mr P. Cooke having been voted to the chair, called upon Mr H D. Jackson, the Secretary, to read the following RErORT. To the Householders of the Nelson District of Education, Town SchoolsGentlemen,— The Public Education Act of 1877 requires that your Committee shall report fully their proceedings during the time they have held office, which in the present instance is seven months. In doing this they beg to remind you that the Town Committee have charge of five groups of schools, with 20 teachers and 1087 children None of the Town Committee are at present serving upon the District Board. The absence of some direct communication betweeu so important a group of schools, and the District Board marks one of tbe weak points of the recent Act. The chief point of administrative difference between our former system and the present Act is in the appointment of teachers. The Nelsou Provincial Act allowed the Committees much greater influence in the selection of teachers than the Public Education Act of 1877 prescribes. Under the latter the Committees are to be consulted, but the appointment rests absolutely with the Di^trct liuard. In the opinion of your Committee this arrangement tends to disincline competent men to act upon the Committee, seeing that little beyoud care for the school property is left in their hands. In the appointments which have been made, however, during the past seven months, the Committee are happy to acknowledge the general courtesy with which they have been consulted by the District Board. It ha 9 long been the wish of your Committee to provide in tbe Ist Division of Bridge-street School as high a standard of education aa the Act allows without payment of fees. It is clear that a higher standard ia the subjects pre- j

scribed for H o 'ic schools is possible thaa lias yet bf' n attained, and the opportunity for atw D ' n £ tn * s i 8 due to so important cpotco of population as Nelson. The wishes j»n<* plans of your Committee have been cordially concurred in and promoted by the District Board, and are now ready to be carried out. A disappointmeut in one master, whose retentionata higher salary in his former position justified the Committee's selection of him, threw back their plans forsereral months. They hope that at last satisfactory and permanent arrangements have been made by the appointment of appointmeut of C J.H.Chepmell, Esq., M.A., Christ Church, Oxford. Special adiuissiou to this school is nece33ary, but none will be excluded who can satisfy the Inspector of their fitnes'. by present acquirements. A first examination for admbsion has been held, aud 21 out of 29 candidates have been admitted. A second examination is to be held cm February Ist. Your Conimiitee hope that a similar higher standard of education for girls will bo provided iv the | new school in Toi Toi Valley, to which Mrs Gaskin has beeu appointed, with Miss YVitney and Miss Sunley as assistants, transferred from Haven Road and Vanguard street. These changes, and the consequent reorganisation of some of the schools, will affect the salaries of the teachers concerned, and your Committee have invited the attention of the Board to this matter. The Committee congratulates Mr J. Hodgson of the Ha vim road school upon the success of two of his pupils in gaining the Government scholarships to the Nelson College. The over-crowding of some of the school has on several occasions occupied the attention of the Committee. We have recommended that a maximum number be fixed, compatible with the comfort and health of the children. The Committee regret the wanfon injury done from time to time to the school buildings, windows, Sic. Some diminution has been effected by offering a reward for information, but the matter is sail far from satisfactory. The Committee are happy to congratulate the householders upon the character and efficiency of the teachers in their schools, aud the insepction to which they are subject; and concur in the report of ] the Inspector as to the general happiness, | freedom, order, aud progress of the schools. A statement of receipts and expenditure, audited as required by the Act, is appended to this report. I have the honor to be, &c, Ou behalf of the Town Committee, Pet eh Cooke, Chairman. Jauuary 27th, 1870. Mr T. Harley objected to the establishment of a liigb School into which boys were to be drafted from the other schools, as it did not give the other masters an opportunity of receiving the credit of preparing boys to win College scholarships. A very discursive conversation then took place between Messrs Harley, Jackson, aud the Chairman, after which the adoption of the report was moved by Mr R. Burn and seconded by Mr S. Johnson. Mr Graham explained with reference to what Mr Harley had said that the masters of the other schools would not be deprived of any of the opportunities of gaining credit that they previously possessed, as this might vow be obtained by them in so preparing their boys that they should p.-iss good examinations prior to their admission to the head school. Mr Boud thought that the action of the Committee with reference to the head school would meet with general approbation, as a higher class of education than has hitherto been within their reach was now open to the children of working men. Mr Haddow caNed attention to the reference iv the report to the general courtesy of the District Board, and pointed to their action in the selection of a head master. Mr Graham spoke at some length upon the proceed iugs of the Board, aud found fault with them in reference both to the appointment of the head master, although he agreed with their choice, and of the mistress of the Toi-Toi Valley girls' school. On being asked how it was he had subscribed the report when he did not approve of its conteuts, Mr Graham replied that he had asked for a definition of the term " general courtesy," as applied to the Board, an 1 was told that it was a very different thing from " uniform " courtesy. After a wordy skirmish between Mr Graham and the Chairman, and an amusing scene, in which the latter gentleman and Mr Moutray were the principal actors, something like order and decorum was restored, and the election proceeded. The following is a list of the candidates, and their proposers, together with the result of the election, Messrs Pickering, Bethwaite, and Greig being he scrutineers: —

There being a tie between Messrs Leigh- j ton, Cooke, and Hartdow, tbe Chairman gave I his casting vote in favor of the former. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was proposed and carried ; a similar act of courtesy to the retiring Committee was completeiy ignored The new Committee then met, and elected Mr Burns Chairman, and the Rev J. Leighton Honorary Secretary. Stoke. The annual meetiDg of householders was held in the Stoke schoolroom last night. Mr W. Rout was voted to the chair, who opened the proceedings by reading the following report of the retiring Committee :- Report of the Stoke School Committee for the year 1878— Tee Committee for the past year, upon giving up their trust, have a duty imposed upon them by the " Education Act, 1877" of reporting to the householders the account of their proceedings while in office. They have great pleasure, therefore, in stating that there has been a very satisfactory increase in the number of children attending school, consequeut upon the action the Committee took when first electee*, by informing parents in the district of the necessity of sending all their children within the ages prescribed by the Act to school, and that regularity of attendance was necessary to prevent injury ac cruing to the school or tbe p pils. In response to this intimation, the average daily attendance has risen from 59, as shown in the December return for 1877, to 65, as shown in December 1878. Through this large increase in the number of scholars, of whom 87 are -on the books, the school-room has been found, for some months past, to be too small, and the juuior teacher has beeu compelled to teach some 20 children in the small entrance porch, to the great discomfort of all concerned. The Committee, therefore, applied to the Nelson District Education Board for an addition to the school buildings to accommodate the children of the district. The Board has agreed to the proposal, and giren instructions to the architect to prepare the necessary plans and specifications, which are now in course of preparation, and will I probably be laid before the Board at its next

meeting, when tenders will be called for, and the addition proceeded with without delay. At the request of the teacher (Mr Naylor), siud with the consent cf most of the parents as expressed by the children, the Committee hare given the school holidays at Christmas instead of ,as- formerly, at hop-pickiLg time They were induced to do this the more readily as they were informed by good authority that oaly a small number of child ren were of any use in the hop-ground 3, the greater number being a hindrance to both parents and bop-growers. During the holidays, therefore, the Committee have had the inside of the school -room thoroughly cleaned and renovated, and venture to hope that the householders will be satisfied with the manner in which they have discharged the duties entrusted to them. In conclusion, the committee desire to record their esteem and respect for the teachers, both master and assistant, iv imparting solid, useful knowledge to the children under their care, as shown by the Inspector's report of July 4, 1878, as also with the happy method of Mr Nay lor iv attracting and letainiug the confidence and itfliection of the children, as shown at the second very successful musical celebration of ths school children at the Christmas breaking up, which afforded such pleasing evidence of his extra care and attention to the scholars. The Treasurer (Mr Coudeil) has prepared a statement of the receipts and disbursements of the Committee for the time he has held the office, which he will now submit to you. W. Kout, Chairman of Stoke School Committee. January 27, 1879. Tile Treasurer, Mr Condell, then submitted a statement of accounts duly audited, after which candidates for the new Committee were proposed, and vote 3 were taken by ballot with the following results : — Win. Rout, 20; James Ctiiog, 17; W D. Cresswell, 15; Thomas Cbisuall, 14,' John Doidge, jun., 11; Alfred Harley, 12; Henry Cbing, 12; H. Hyde, C; G Best, 3. The first seven were declared elected, and the new Committee met immediately after the above meeting closed atid elected Mr W. Rout as the Chairman^ and Mr W. D. Cressweil as the Treasurer for the current year. Ranzatt. At a meeting of householders held in the Ranzau schoolroom, Mr Cowlesin the chair, the balance-sheet for the past half year was read and adopted, and the following gentlemen were duly elected members of the education Committee for the ensuing year : — Messrs C. 1\ Kearns, W. Jessop sen., A. Lankow, K. J. Malcolm { W. Lines, B. Primmer, E. Jessop. A vote of thanks to Mr Kearns for his services as Secretary, and another to the Chairman, terminated the proceedings. Mr Kearus was afterwards reflected Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer for the present year. Si-KixG Grove. About 25 householders were present, one of them (Mr R. Boddiugton, sen.) was elected Chairman The followiug were the retiring Committee:- Messrs G. \V. W. Ligbtband, J. Kobertson, J. Hill, W. Forster, C. Masters, J. Clurk, and J. A. Langford, jun., the latter having resigned some time ago. The following persons were nominated: — Messrs J. J. Rick'etts, T. Tunnicliff, E. Fowler, VV. Forster, J Hill; C. Masters, H. Hall, T. N. Newth, and \V. Ricketts, when H. Hall and T. N. Newt a having tied the Chairman gave his casting vote iv favor of the former, so that the first seven were declared duly elected. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings. Lower Mobtere. Mr H. A. Tarranfc was appointed Chairman. The retiring Committee (through its Chairman) gave a full report of its uroeeedings during the past year as required by the Act, aud produced a statement of receipts and expenditure up to December 31st last, duly audited. Nine householders were nominated as members of the new Committee, and a ballot was taken with the following result: — H A. Tarrant, 13 votes ; J. Drummond, lo ; A. R. Edwards, 9 ; W. J. Her.ick, 8; W. Cressweli, 8; B. S. Allen, G; E. Ho!daway,s; R.Hyland,4; R.Tennant, 4r. The Chairman declared the first seven to be duly elected.

I Candidate. Proposer. Votes. Mr B. Burns Mr Atoutray 162 Mr J.Graham Mr T. Harley 117 Mr Bond Mr Gowland GO Key J. Beckenham Mr J. Smith 58 Rev K. Bavin Mr T. Scott 50 Mr J. K. Little Mr T. Harley 45 I Rev J. Leighton Mr A. Davis 43 Mr P. ( ooke Key J. Leighton 43 Mr \V. Haddovv Mr A Adams 43 Mr Robertson Mr Hunter 40 i Mr T. Scott Mr K Carter 37 ! Mr Strioger Mr J. Edwards 23 Eev J. Newth Mr Ohepaiell 19 \ Mr J. Hounsel! Mr Miller 10 i