LOCAL COMMITTEES OF EDUCATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 23, 27 January 1880, Page 2

LOCAL COMMITTEES OF EDUCATION.

TOWN. A meeting for the purpose of electing seven householders as the Local Committee for the town was held at the Provincial Hall last night, the chair being occupied by Mr D. Burns. Considerable discussion took place relatire to the insufficiency of the notice given of the meeting, and there was some talk of adjourning till another day, but ultimately it was decided to proceed with the business. The Rev. J. Leighton, the Secretary, read the report and balance sheet for the year. The first paragraph of the report congratulated the teachers and the public on the satisfactory report of the Inspector upon the Town schools. The second paragraph ran as follows : — Your Committee hare labored during the year to take such steps as would Becure to the elder children attending the Town schools opportunities of higher education. They were anxious to secure this under the working of the Education Act without altering the constitution of the schools. When, however, it was ascertained that the extra subjects, not beiog included in the course prescribed by the Act for public schools, could not be introduced, your Committee made application to the Board to take steps to have the Ist Division of the Town boys' schools, and the Ist Division of the Toi-Toi Valley girls' school, converted into high schools under the Act, coupling with the application a recommendation that the fees chargeable should not be more than 10s per quarter. But upon the Board recommending that the fees be £1 per quarter, instead of 10a, your Committee withdrew their application, considering that such a fee would be prohibitory of the attendance of many of the children for whom the school* exist. The suspense which has attended these negotiations, together with the resignation of Mrs Gaskin, has materially interfered with the progress of tiie Toi-Toi Valley ' schooj during tho past six months. Notwithstanding this, the Inspector has been able to report in very favorable terms upon the work of ,tho young teachers who have carried ou the ichool during that time. Your Committee have now. temporarily appointed a head teacher of this school. Reference was made in the report to the school buildings, many of which were stated to be in a decaying condition. It was also stated that a site had been secured for a new Haven Road school, and also for one near \ Brook-street, both of which would be erected during the ensuing year. It^was stated thtt the Committee purposed bringing the compulsory clauses into operation in the town. Reference was made to the drawing lessons given during the year by Mr Pownall, for Which a small fee was paid, the teaching b-ing out of school hours. The experiment was said to have been so satisfactory that the Committee recommended th« appointment of a teacher for all the Town schools. There had been an increase of 112 in the number attending the schools, there being 1201 against 1089 in the previous year. A vote of thanks having been accorded to the retiring Committee, the following candidate! were proposed : — Mrs Gibbs, Revs J. Leighton, R. Bavin, and J. Beokenharo, Messrs J). Burng, J), Qjajty ,

John Grahatn,.W. Clarkson, B. C. Roberts, J. P. Cooke, A. E. Cresswell, Hunter Brown, W. T. Bond, M. Campbel 1 , and P. Cooke. The four last named gentlemen declined to act, Messrs. Cooke and Bond stating that they had served before, and preferred to make room for others. On Mrs Gibbs being proposed several of those present fpoke of the valuable services that a lady might render on the Committee. Messrs H. Hounso'l, W. Bethwaite, and Webster having been appointed scrutineers they retired to another room, and in a short time announced the result of the ballot aa follows :— Rev. James Leighton 80, Mr John Graham 7(j, Mrs Gibbs 74, Rev. R. Bavin 58, Mr D. Burns 45, Rev. J. Beckenham 34, Mr W. Clarkupn 33. These were declared elected. The votes accorded to the o,ther candidates were:— Mr D. Grant 24, Mr J. P. Cooke 22, Mr B. C. Roberta 16, Mr A E. Cresßwell7. , A vote of thanks to Mr H. D. Jackson for his services as auditor was carried by acclamations It was suggested that the Committee should take care that the next annual meeting was more frequently advertised. A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close.