SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 988, 24 January 1883, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

PATE A. The annual meeting of householders for the Patea school district was held on Monday evening at the school-house. There was only a small attendance, ami but little interest taken in the proceedings. Mr Barton was voted to the chair.

Mr Aitchison, Chairman of the School Committee for the district for the past year, .read the following report : —The Committee have to report that they consider fair progress has been made in this school for the past year. The attendance has increased from 200 on the roll on the 31st December, 1881, to 248 on 31st December, 1882. The' passes in Standards for 1881 were 90, and, for 1882, 126. The number now on (lie roil is 261. In March last one pupil teacher and two cadets were appointed as additional assistance in the school, and steps have been taken to get one of the cadets appointed •as pupil teacher. Application was made to the Board for additional accommodation for scholars. The Board granted the application, and tenders are now called for the work, which is to consist of a large room on the western end of the present school, and will be a great improvement, not only for use, but also for appearance of the buildings.

The annual balance-sheet accompanies this report, audited by Mr Bright, to whom the thanks of the committee are due. There is also a statement in the cash hook respecting the accounts since 31st December to the present date, shewing that every known liability of the committee has been paid ancl a balance of Is 2d in the bank and Is 4d in hand, making 2s 6d to the credit of new committee.

In answer to Mr Miller as to why there was no mention of the committee's visits to the school Mr Aitchison said he had experienced a difficulty in getting members of the committee together to inspect the school during working hours. On the motion of Mr Milroy, seconded by Mr Dixon, the report and balancesheet were adopted. Mr Milroy considered the small attendance of parents at the meeting to be indicative of their satisfaction with the teachers and the way in which the school was conducted.

Balloting was then proceeded with for the new committee and the following gentlemen elected. Messrs Aitchison, Miller, Barton, Kenworthy, Howitt, Eyton, and Smith. The proceedings then concluded.

The first meeting was afterwards held, and r.n the motion of Mr Aitchison, seconded by Mr Howitt, Mr Barton was elected chairman ; anti on the motion of Mr Aitchison, seconded by Mr Eyton, Mr Kenworthy was appointed secretary and treasurer. WAVE RLE Y. The annual meeting of householders for file purpose of electiu."- a School Committee for the coming year was held in the School Room, Waverley, on Monday! 22nd instant. Mr F. P. Fookes being voted to the chair, called on the Chairm.an of the late Committee t6 read the report and’Balance sheet for the past year. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £l3 2s 7d. Mr G. S. Bridge, the late Chairman of Committee, then read the following report :—“ln presenting their report to the householders of this district the Committee would as forcibly as_ possible point out to parents the necessity of regular attendance of children at school if they are to make such progress as will bo satisfactory to their parents or any'credit to the school. The average attendance has been considerably reduced during the last three months by (ho prevalence of measles. During the whole of this time it has rarely exceeded one-half of the roll number, and on the day of examination it was less, being only 91 out of 190 on the roll’.

“ In the month of March, Mrs Horneman was appointed assistant mistress, but in consequence of inability to obtain a house she was compelled to resign. In the same month Mr ELF. Mason resigned his seat on the Committee, and Mr John Muir was appointed in his stead. During the year the Board has re-roofed a portion of the teacher’s residence, and considerably enlarged the porches of the school-house, making them large enough for lavatories and for caps ; this alteration has added to the comfort of the children and saves confusion in entering and leaving school. In electing the Committee for the ensuing year, this committee would venture to suggest that the householders should appoint those who take sufficient interest in the school to be fairly regular in their attendance at meetings ; as during the past year the work of the Committee has practically been left to only a portion of the members. There have been 16 meetings held during the year at which the following attendances were made. McDonald 16, Bridge 15, Davis 13, Muir (appointed in April) 7, Caldwell 5, Hair 4, Mason 2, Jackson 2. Upon receipt of the Inspector’s report upon the result of the examination the Committee wrote to the Board forwarding a letter from Mr Scott giving reasons toi the unsatisfactory results. In reply the Board recommended that Mr Scott should receive three months’notice. . This recommendation was agreed to at a special meeting hold on 4th inst. by the casting vote of the chairman. Since the above report was adopted by the Committee Mi Scott has handed in his resignation which has been forwarded to the Board. The above report being adopted, the following persons were proposed as members of committee Messrs Cleary, Davis, Thurston, Duncan, McDonald, M. McLean, 11. F. Mason, VG. S. Bridge. W. Winchcombo. A Imilot was taken, resulting in the election of the first seven, who were declared duly elected. .Messrs Seed and A. B. It. Cookes acted as scrutineers during the proceedings. A meeting of the new committee was hold immediately alter the election, when Mr M. J. tileary was elected Chahmau of Committee for the coming year. On the motion of Mr .Mason, aeeoodo> 1 by M\ Tli unit on, it. was resolve.! "That the Board, in forwarding (ho name o( (he master for approval of (ho, committee, he also requested (o forward the moors ot asaislanl mislrova'P. who would h<- : mttah'e for a school.” It was (hen icsolv.-d, on th<« motion of Mr Thurston, seconded hv Mr Mi l uniiv—" That (he ordinary nuviimv of the commit(et> ho held on the thisd Wednesday in each month, at ft p.m. AVI AVI AM .1/ AVI. The annual meeting of householders, for the purpose’ of electing a new school committee, was held at the school on Monday last. Them was a most misnatilc attendance, which may he attributed, perils ps, partly to an enforced absence of <Olllll on account of the harvest, and oartly through lack of sufficient interest n things educational. The Chairman, Mr Payne, delivered his report as follows : The committee have hold six mootings luring the year (1882). A room in the teacher’s residence’lias been papered and

varnished by the Board. A fence and verandah begun in the previous year have been finished. A’ chimney has been rebuilt and hearths laid recently. There lias been no complaint against the teacher during the year. The committee wish to thank the Board for their liberality, and to thank their secretary, A A Brown, Esq, for his attention to letters sent to him. The election was then proceeded with, and the following gentlemen were chosen to serve during the present year : —Messrs Payne, Clover, J Drury, J Williamson, Whishaw, Stanford, and D Michie. Mi Clover was appointed Chairman, and Mr Payne secretary to the new committee, WOODVILLE. A good number of householders attended at Woodville schooihouse, and much interest was evinced in the proceedings. The following were elected a Committee : —Messrs T. Allen (afterwards elected Chairman), T. Johnston (elected Secretary) J. Nicholson, W. Beskey, P. O’Donnell, P. Hurley, and J. Gibbs. WHENUAKURA. As only five persons attended at Whenuakura, no election took place.