Electing School Committees.

Patea Mail, 9 February 1882, Page 3

Electing School Committees.

PATEA. The annual meeting of Patea householders was held last evening in the school-house. About 30 were present, being an extraordii ary number as compared with recent years. Mr G. F. Sherwood, chairman of the retiring committee, was elected to preside. He said tbere had been two secretaries in course of the year, and the second one having removed to Manaia and left his school papers, the first secretary, Mr John Black, had promised to look through them and make up a financial statement for that meeting. The statement was not made up, and the committee could not therefore present a complete report. The chairman then read the committee’s annual report as it stood. The school’s progress during the year had been satisfactory, there being a large increase of scholars and of proportion in passes at examination. The number on boobs during the first quarter in the present year was 286, as compared with 187 in corresponding quarter of previous year. Average attendance during last week was 183. There were presented for annual examination 94, and 90 passed, ns compared with 82 presented in previous year and 69 passed. The school building had been enlarged during the year, but if the present .increase continues, a complete new building will soon bo necessary, and the committee recommend the rising ground northward of the present school as a suitable site. An increase of teaching staff should now be applied for. A grant of £25 had been expended in improving the master’s residence. The High School showed u decrease of attendance, caused by want of interest felt by parents, and by the closer application required to qualify scholars for passing the higher standards. An application should be made to the Education Board for a statement showing division of receipts from endowments for High School purposes, to ascertain what amount is actually due to Patea High School. The change in the head-mastership was referred to, and the report stated that Mr A. Williamson, 8.A., has conducted the school in a satisfactory manner; Mr Flood and Miss Gowland having also given satisfaction in their departments. In reply to questions, the Chairman said the capitation allowance for two quarters was dne, but the Board was holding the money until the fees collectable in the High School were paid over. The secretary had not collected these, as the committee understood ho would do, and so they had not been sent to the Board at Wanganui. This caused a deadlock.

Mr Hamerton, auditor, said the accounts appeared to be right, as shown by the bank-book, but some vouchers being absent he could not, as a matter of form, certify to their absolute correctness. As to the capitation, the Board's secretary at Wanganui had told him it could not be paid till the other fees were forwarded, and that unless they were forwarded the Board would have to ignore the Patea Ccmmittee and take the affairs into its own hand. The present liabilities of the committee are about 19s, but if the capitation were received, there would be a balance of £9. Mr W. Williams said he was a member of committee when the arrangement about fees for the High School was made, and the committee did not undertake to collect the fees. To withhold the capitation on that plea was high-handed. Chairman: A letter from the Board says the committee undertook to collect the fees. I have no other information. The Act does not require us to do so. The report was adopted, and thanks were accorded (o the retiring committee, on the motion of Mr W. Williams. NEW COMMITTEE. Nominations for a new committee were then taken, 9 being nominated for 7 vacancies, besides the following 8 who

declined to stand : Sherwood, W. Dixon, Hamerton, Gowland, Wilkinson, Bright, Haycock, and Parnell A ballot was taken on the remaining 9, with the following result:—H. Dixon, 31 votes, Kenworthy 27, W. Williams 20, Aitchison 18, D. Smith 16, Hollharn 16, T. Eyton 12, Howitt 12, Heron 8. The tie between the 7th and Bth was determined by lot, Mr Eyton being chosen to complete the committee, thus excluding Mr Howitt and Mr Heron, The committee are to meet this evening to elect chairman, secretary, &c. KAKARAMEA. (from our corbbspondes t.)

The election of a new committee for this school took place last evening, and resulted thus:—John Burke, J. O’Sullivan, J. Williamson, Powdrell, Slater, E. Payne, and Brodio. The committee have elected Mr Payne as chairman, and Mr Slater as secretary. The annual report of the retiring committee (Mr Clover chairman) stated that the last examination of the school showed by results a marked improvement, although there is a decrease in number of scholars, caused by removals and by the opening of Woodville school. The sum allowed by the Wanganui Board is inadequate for small schools, the current expenses being almost as heavy an in larger schools, while the capitation obtainable for a few scholars is much less in proportion to expenses. No complaints had come before the committee, this fact being creditable to Mr Brown as teacher.