ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8168, 24 April 1895, Page 1

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

MiAl'AItA. Tho annual mooting of householders in tho Ngapara School district was held in tho sohoolhouso last evening. Mr Thomas Reid was voted to tho chair, and Mr G. Livingstono, chairman of the outgoing committee, rend the annual report and bu'fuico-shcot. Tho roport was us follows : " Gentlemen,— Your Commi'teo have tlio honor to lay before you a very f.ivorable report of tho past year's pro cecdin<;s, both as regards tho work of tho school and finance. Tho number on tho roll for tho past year has boon higher tluu in any pi\ ceding year. Your Committee wi-h to dr.iw your attention tj the advisability of keeping tho children regularly at school, as irregular attendance is ono of tho most serious drawbacks to the advancement of tho Bchool mid of tho bcholars individually, and also affects the allowance from the Education Boaid. Your Committee wish to dmw Bpecul attention to section 7 of tho Act, for the 4 compulsory attendance at public schools, 1894.' The annual examination was held on October 29th by Inspector Taylor, who reported vory favorably on tho management of the school in every particular. Tlio percentage <>f p^bsua w.»h !>7, which shows that the Ngaparu S'hool still maintains its high position among the public scho >ls of Otago. Of tho two senior scholars for tho year, ono p<is.sod tho junior Civil Service examination, and tho other gained ono of the Education Board's junior scholarships, being fourth on tho list, which speaks for itself. Your Committeo aro very sorry to have to record the resignation of Miss Johnston, on account of ill-health. Miss Johnston proved herself to bo an ablo and zealous I teacher of high ordor, and was dearly i beloved by her pupils, as well as benng highly respected by their parents ai d the public in general. Miss Macgr. gor, whom your Committeo choso to (ill tlio vacancy caused by tho resignation of Miss Johnston, commenced her duties at the beginning of tho month, and judging by her work so far, they havu every reason to believe that sho is worthy of tho conlidenco reposed in her. Your Committee aro sorry to have to record tho doatliH of two of tho oldest and most prominent founders of tho Ngapara bchool, Mr John Conl.ui and Mr 11. Paulin, who were liber il subscribers to any fund in connection with tho school. Following tho usual custom, your Committee, sfter duo examination, distributed prizes to the children, at the breaking up of the school for Christinas holidays, winch they wore ablo to do on a liberal scalo owing to tho paronts and public frooly contributing money aa well as many valuable special prizes. Your Committeo decided to t'iko advantage of tho facilities oifered by tho railway authorities to givo the scholars a trip, and tho children were taken by Bpeeial train to Ilampden on April sth, where a ploasant day was spent. Arbor day was celebrated by tho children, and imdor the supoi vision of Mr Thomas Patorson, and a number of (ho School Committoo, a largo number of trees were planted around tho school grounds, and the results so far aro very Miti&factory. A concert and danco was held on May 25th in aid of the school funds, and the proceeds, togethor with tho liberal grant from tho Education Boards enabled tho Committee to carry out tho various improvements suggested by thoir predo cissors Boforo concluding your Committeo -.vish to return their sincerest thanks to those who subscribed so liberally to tho prize fund, those who kindly assisted in making the annual concert a success, and specially to Mr Edwards for supplying gravol freo of oost for improving the bchuol grounds. In conclusion your Committeo would recom* mend to their successors tho advioability of erecting a shelter shed for tho children as booh as possible" Tho report and balance-sheet wero adopted as read, tho latter showing a credit balanco of HI 17s Md. On tho motion of Mr Treahy, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to tho outgoing Committeo. There wero eleven nominations, and the following seven gentlemen were duly elected a Committee tor tho ensuing ye.v : Messrs John M'Culloch, W. Nimmo, Henry Webber, (Jeoigo Livingstone, Thomas Pdiorson, James llowdon, P. Treahy.

I'AI'AKAIO. Your Commitieo liavit pleasure in pro-t-enting their balance-hheeb ami annual report. Both are happily on tho winning side. Of prime inipoi tanco are tho teaching stall' «uid their daily woik Your Committee) leavo on record tlieir grateful recognition of tho good work UifU is being dono in tho school undor ia prcHonb stajf; and fond'y hope the teachers will roc- ivo incicvbing encouragement in thoir laudable desire to "break tho iccord," by raibing tho school to a higher btate of efliciency than ever before. Tho annual statutory examination was inoHl MUibfrictoiy in its ohanotcr. The nii'inbers of your Committuo present were particularly pleased with the kindly, encourtiging, and efliciont way in which, under Inspector Taylor, tho examination was conducted, and they wero specially gmiilied with the results of the ex.iniii.iliuii, as witnossed by thomsolves, and fully embodied in tho ofiicial report. | Tho aveinge daily attendance for tho year has boon 52. Tho number at pretjonb on tho roll stands at 07 . Tho average daily attendance for present quarter, thus far, is happily up to 58 This regular and full attendance is a source of great encouragomont to tho teachers, mid it pets the minds of your Committee free from any haun ing fear, eat, in an evil day, the teaching staff should be reduced. The superior loohnical knowledge poßbesbed ty tho heud master has been tound of great value, nob only in tho way i.f training the senior boys to tho intelligent and skilfu 1 use of tool.s, but also towards soouring that buildings, furniture, appliances, appiratus, eto , should be kept m good order and twpAh' — up to the mark of thorough eflU'iency. Special thunka are due to Mr Reiihio id this connection. A word of commendation is also dv» to Mis Johnh one for the efficient way in which tho duties of bchool cleaning Imvo boon oarried on duiing this, as during many foimor years. A school picnic was hold at Christmas time on grounds kindly placed at thoir disposiil by Mr Borrio. Special thanks are due for tho liberal supply of funda (over L8) no readily furnished to ensure buoccbb. Had iho hchool ox cure ion Holiemo been thor in vogue, with tho funds on lund, your Committee might easily have given the children u grand trip lo somo eh ico ppot, evon at a great distance from tho P.ipakaio Plain. Just before tho expiry of thoir term of office, your Committee were uppioachod with (v view to co-operation in arranging

for a trip to Waitnato. Tho matter received full considenitioti nfc thoir hands. While cordially reciprocating the desire to co operate with other Committees, they wore sorry they could not sco their Vrfiy to t*ke action, especially at this season of tho year. They were unanimously of tho opinion that tho season wad too fur advanced to make an rxcursion. safo so fur us weather was concern* d. They also doomed it desirable to choose a season of the year when parents and guardians would be able, without inconvctuonco, to accompany their children on the tiip. They lo.»vo chia whole ma' tec to tho wise discretion of their successors in oflice. Nino meetings of Committee have been held during tho year, all of which have been veiy largely a« tended. Pktkk FiUKKR, Chairman. John Steven, Secretary, Papakaio School Committee. Tho meeting of householders at Papakaio was well attended there being seventy eight perseub who were qualified to vote. The balance sheet shored that the Committee entered on its duties with a credit balance of L 3 11s 8d ; that besides tho ordinary expenses for cleaning, fuel, etc., it had expended Lll Is in asphalting ; »«d tint it left to tho credit of tho ingoing Committee tho sum of L 5 12a 2d. Tho voting for members <<f the near , Committeo resulted as follows: Messrs John Hall 24, Alex. Ridddll 15, John Fricker 17, Peter Frasor 28. William Edwards 18, Alfred Godsull 24, Henry Elston 12. Mrs White also stood for election, being proposed by Mr Fricker and seconded by Mr Gods ill.