NORMANBY SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 397, 5 February 1879, Page 2

NORMANBY SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The following is a copy of the Report read at the late meeting of householders, by the Chairman of Committee : Normanby, January 23, 1879. Gentlemen, —In accordance with Clauses 82 and 103 of “ The Education Act, 1877,” and with the Order in Council dated 23rd January, 1878, the Normanby School Committee has the honor to present to your Board its report for the year 'ending 23rd January, 1879. Upon taking office the Committee found much required to be done. Scholars were increasing, and desk accommodation getting short. This was partly supplied by the Patea Board before its term of office expired. Drinking water was also greatly needed for the scholars, and a good well has been sunk and fitted with a pump in a suitable position near the School-house. This also was supplied out of funds granted by the Patea Board. But that which forced itself most strongly on the attention of the Committee, and which is the most important work it has had to deal with during the year, was the fact of the teacher’s residence being so far away from the school-house, and which was reverted to

at considerable length in Air Inspector Foulis’ report on 28th'May last. The inconvenience arising therefrom induced the Committee to recommend your Board to sell the old residence and site, and to purchase three sections adjoining the school-house on which to erect a new residence. With commendable promptitude your Board acted on the advice of the Committee, so far as the purchase of the sections was concerned, and secured them before the rise in property took place. After considerable delay the consent of the Minister of Education having been obtained —a sale by tender of the old residence and site was attempted, but the highest tender received not coming up to the reserve placed upon the property by the Committee, no sale was effected. It was shortly afterwards offered at auction, with a like unfavorable result, owing chiefly to the market being glutted at the time with town property, and also through a tightness in the money market. It is now in the hands of Mr W. Cowern, of Carlyle, for sale privately. The Committee regret that your Board could not have given its consent for the erection of the new residence without waiting for the old one to be sold, as, with the increase in the number of scholars, the inconvenience of not having the residence near the cchool-house makes itself felt more and more. The teacher, also, being unable to exercise that constant supervision so necessary over his pupils, together with the unsettled nature of his surroundings, becomes dissatisfied, and eventually tenders his resignation. We have had three different teachers during the year, and the Committee feel sure that to the above cause chiefly may be assigned their desire to leave. A new porch has been erected, affording hat and cloak accommodation for fifty children. The old porch may now be fitted up and used as a lavatory. Window blinds have been fitted up to all the windows; and the play-ground has been levelled. School requisites have been supplied as far as practicable by the Committee. After endeavoring unsuccessfully to get desks according to the Board’s pattern made in the district at a reasonable rate, the Committee have been partly supplied by your Board ; more are still needed, the number applied for not having been sent. The compulsory clauses of the Act were early put into force by the Committee, but extreme measures have not had to be resorted to in any case. The Committee at one time contemplated the formation of a Library in connection with the school, under Clause 57 of the Education Act, and a sum of ;!£7 (5s Id was placed at their disposal for that purpose, but as steps arc now being taken by the people of Nomanby to establish a Free Library and Heading Boom, the Committee have handed over the amount in aid of that institution.

In conclusion, the Committee, in offering this report to the Board, would bog to submit that its efforts as a pioneer Committee under the new Act have been directed towards carrying out the numerous duties pertaining to its office, and that although success may not have attended all its endeavors, yet much has been done, and the way has been smoothed for its successors. —I have, &c., Cuas. E. Gibson. Chairman Normanby School Committee.