SCHOOL MEETINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 533, 30 April 1878, Page 2

SCHOOL MEETINGS.

TERRACE SCHOOL. A meeting of householders In the Terrace school district was held at the schoolhouse yesterday evening. Mr. Baird occupied the chair. Sir. Knowles read the following report of the committee : Although the 63rd section of the Education Act does not contemplate the presentation of a report at this the first meeting of householders called thereunder, yet, acting in the spirit of the 61th section, the .retiring committee of; the Terrace school have considered it desirable to lay before you the following information relative to the progress and present state of the school, over the interests of which they have watched during the last two years. . The situation of the Terraco school—lts not being located in the centre of the district, bub at a comparative distance from any part of the population—is to a certain extent a drawback. This, however, has been more than counterbalanced by the healthiness which its breezy position secures, and the wise selection made by the Board-in reference, to its teachers. The school opened in the early part of 1876 with 17; scholars, increasing by the close of that year to 120, and now number 244. :

The building being.iuadequato to accommodate so many children, the infant class is necessarily held in a room hired for the purpose until the enlargement now in progress has been completed.'. It has been a source of much regret to the committee that this enlargement was not carried outloug since, as numbers of children have meanwhile been refused admittance. The Education Beard were unable to see their way. earlier to sanction the recommendation of the committee, owing to pecuniary difficulties. ■ ; The committee have not yet been able to Induce the Board to erect a master’s residence. This is very much wanted, and they hope the incoming committee will be able shortly to secure one. The progress made, by: the .scholars has been most .satisfactory to the committee, and reflects great credit on Mr, Young, the . master, and on Mrs. Young and Miss Beresford, the schoolmistresses. While you may learn from the Inspector’s published report that the younger pupils are well grounded, andpass the lower grades successfully, " the fact speaks for itself that the, Terrace school, although fourth a* regards the number of children la attendance, ranked first in the number who were able to pass the 4th Standard, i.e., the highest in which the schools have hitherto been examined. . Not only has the school been successful in this respect, but the gold medals intended to be given by the Board to the premier boy and girl of the district were last Christmas earned by David Hutchens and Tellira Watson, two of the Terraco scholars. A difficulty having occurred with respect to the design of the die, some other presentation is however to be substituted. .

The utmost harmony has prevailed between the committee and the school teachers, and the committee have the pleasure of handing over the school In a state of thorough efficiency. The committee having appealed to the public, funds were subscribed to the amount of £24 12s. 6d., out of which prizes have boeu distributed at the breakings up of Christmas 1876 and 1877, and merrymakings provided on each of the re-openlngs. There is a balance in hand of 4s lid. It only remains to state that the present committee consists of five, four of whom, viz.; Messrs. Baird, Burne, Lindsay, and Dr. Diver, offer themselves for re-election, Mr., Knowles being ineligible because of his not residing within the newly-deflned boundaries of the Terrace district.

Oaths motion of Mr. TooiiATH, seconded by Mr. Mtli-3, tho report was adopted, and the thanks ■ of the meeting were given to the - committee.

The following were elected the committee for the ensuing year :—Messrs. E. P. Field, Gore, Liiidsay, Burne, West, Cook, and Baird. After Mr. Knowles and Mr. Toomath, the scrutineers, had presented the meeting with the result of the ballot, the Rev. W. H. West proposed a resolution to the effect that an analysis of the voting should be published in the daily papers. This resolution was unanimously _ue£rativedL and—minded by Mr. Toomath that such a course of action would at once subvert the first principle of the ballot by destroying its secresy. Accordingly Mr. West withdrew his resolution ; and Dr. Newman moved that the voting papers should be at once destroyed. Upon this Mr. West put it to the meeting as an amendment that the papers should he enclosed in an envelope, that the envelope should be sealed and placed in the custody of Mr. Baird, the chairman of the meeting, in order that if ' required the papers might be forthcoming. at the next session of the House of Representatives. This amendment was put, and carried on the voices.

THOENDON DISTRICT. . A public meeting of householders of the Thorudon district was held according to the Education Act 1877, in the schoolhonse, Sydaey-street, last night, when the following gentlemen were elected as a school committee Aleasrs. J. Woodward (chairman), A. Maginnity, Parsons, H. T. Clarke, J., Knowles, Koch, and O. T. Richardson. TK ARC DISTRICT. A public meeting of householders was held in the achoolhouse, Ghuznee-street, last night, ■when the following gentlemen were elected unanimously as a school committee Ven. Archdeacon Stock (chairman), Eav. 0. De Castro, and Messrs: Didshury, C. Eous Marten, W. F. Cheeseman, E. Anderson, and E. Dixon. .MOUNT COOK DISTRICT.

A public meeting of householders was held in the Mount Cook boys’ school, Taranakistreet, last night, for the purpose of electing a school committee. There waa only a very meagre attendance, there not being more than a dozen people present. Mr. .W. Hutchison was voted to the chair, and remarked that he was gaeatly disappointed at seeing such a poor attendance. He had hoped to have seen much more interest taken in such an important matter. He, however, had nothing more to, say, but to ask those present to nominate seven or more gentlemen to be elected as a committee. The following gentlemen were then nominated: — Mr. W. Hutchinson, proposed by Mr. Costall, seconded by Mr. Hopkins ; Mr. James Smith, proposed by Mr. Mclntyre, seconded by Mr. Eussell ; Mr. J. H. Blow, proposed by Mr. Sweeney, seconded by Mr. Eussell; Mr. H. Gaby, proposed by the Eev. E. Coffey, seconded by Mr.. Cheeseman . Mr. ;W. F, Cheeseman, proposed by Mr. ,T. Smith, seconded by Mr. Oostall.. Mr. Costall, proposed by Mr. J. Smith, seconded by Mr. F. Smith ; Mr. Eussell, proposed by Mr. J. Smith, seconded by Mr. Cheeseman ; Mr. Mclntyre, proposed by .Mr. Cost ill, seconded by Mr. J. Smith ; Eev. E. Coffey, proposed by Mr. Gaby, seconded by Mr., Cheeseman ; Hr, ’ Hopkirk, proposed by Mr. Costall, seconded by Mr. Eussell. There being more than seven candidates a ballot was taken, with the following result J. H. Blow, 22; J. Eussell, 14; J. Smith, 13; T. Cheeseman, 12; W. Hutchison, 8; Eev. E. Coffey, 7; Oostall, 6; Mclntyre, 6; Hopkirk, 5; Gaby, 5. As there was a tie between Messrs. Costall and Mclntyre Mr. Hutchison retired. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the business.