THE STANDARD. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 18, 15 January 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15, 1873.

4 ‘ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right:, We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

The sparse attendance of Ratepayers at the School-room last evening in answer to the invitation by the Committee to receive the report of the retiring Committee, and to a new Committee for the ensuing ’’year, can only be taken as an index to the general apathy which pervades the community on matters of the most vital importance. It does seem strange that with all the responsibilities of citizenship hanging over us we cannot excite sufficient enthusiasm, to say nothing of the performance of a positive duty, so as to secure a workable majority at an annual school meeting. Next Thursday week the Race Course will ring again with the delight of holiday seekers; and in the evening the Beauty and Fashion of the Bay will congregate by the hundred, to worship at the shrine of Terpsichore through the weary hours of a long night, and the more enervation the greater the enjoyment; but the imperative call of duty’ a duty which demands a strict attentiveness at the hands of the passing hour, obtains no response. This is too bad 1 As a people having to look out for ourselves, we must adopt the maxim that if we want anything done we must do it for ourselves.

AVe have only space left to glance at the proceedings of last evening. The Report of the "Committee gives a favorable account of the financial position of the school; and the Statement shows that the large balance to debit has been reduced to seventeen pounds twelve shillings and ten pence. If we may take the cash account of fees received, as an evidence of the number of pupils attending the school, there seems to have been a falling off of attendanceduring the December quarter of last vear, as the fallowing figures will show -—To fees recovered for June quarter twenty two pounds, sekehteen shillings and sixpence, September quarter twenty one pounds eight shillings and sixpence December quarter thirteen pounds four shillings. This, however, must not be accepted as indicating a loss of, pupils, or an unsatisfactory management.!' -a — About ' ten adults attended the meeting, t but ’ beyond receiving the report, and adopting a resolution referring to the Central Board for further instructions a® to procedure in the difficult circumstances in which they

are placed, nothing was done. The old Committee have consented to actuntil communication ca£ be -opened up with . the Board. We hadjntended to devote ourselves to a consideration of the new Education Act but must defer until our next.'