GISBORNE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 52, 29 January 1884, Page 3

GISBORNE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Tat annual general meeting of the above was held in the School-room last night. There was a good attendance, and much interest Was shown by those present in the welfare and progress Or our schools; Mr. Johnstone opened the proceedings by proposing that Mr. DeLautour take the chair. Mr. J. W. Nolan having seconded the motion, it was carried unanimously. The Chairman then read the notice convening the meeting, and then briefly stated the business of the evening. The annual report, as printed in our last issue, with the following balance-sheet, was then read Abstract of the School Fund accounts for the year ending December 81,1888

Mr. Lewis having proposed, and Mr. Butt seconded, the adoption of the same was earned unanimously. The Chairman then said, before proceeding to elect the new Committee, he should like to say a few words. Of course, all would know that he had every facility and opportunity of seeing how the secondary education system worked, and, from what he had seen, he could confidently say that nowhere in the Colony had the system been brought to such a high state of efficiency as it had been in our school. But if they wished for a high-class school here, they must assist Mr. Morgan by every means in pushing on the education of our children. If they were to get a high-class school, they must do all they could towards that object by public meetings or such like. The matter rested entirely in their hands, but could not be accomplished by looking on. They must all unite in bringing the matter about. With respect to the recommendation contained in the report relative to an extension of the present school-ground, they had only to raise the sum of £lOO, and the Board of Education would then guarantee the other £4OO.

As showing the necessity which existed for more space as a play-ground, the Secretary said 50 new scholars had joined the school last week. Until lately, the school children were enabled to play on several adjoining sections, but they were all fenced, and the only place now available was the road.

OUTGOING COJUIXXIEX. Mr. Butt said he had great pleasure in proposing •• A cordial vote of thanks to the teachers and the outgoing committee for their efforts during the past year.” Mr. Faram having seconded the motion was carried unanimously, ELECTION OF NEW COMMITTEE. The Chairman Raid the next business of the meeting was the election of a committee for the ensuli g year. He would now receive nominations, but first, for the information of voters, he would state that each householder could exercise 7 votes. The following gentlemen were then nominated :— Messis. Johnstone, Nolan, Hall, Faram, Canndn; Humphries, Goldsmith, Lewis, Butti Taylor, and Humphries. Messrs, Boeie and Bushnell were elected scrutineers. On the thirtyVoiing*papcri« haying been scrutinised, it was found that the following gentlemen were elected Nolan, 515 Johnstone} 37; Hall, 20 ; Foram, 24; Cannon, 39 1 Lewis, 41; Butt, 41. NEW FLAV-GHOt’NDi The Chairman then stated that there were already 450 children on the sohool-roll, and there were fifty more who would be entered next week, This would make a total of 500 children in the school, and, if they subscribed a sum of ss. each, the money would be forth, coming in a fortnight. He thought the sooner the Board's offer was accepted the better. His experience had taught him that, if these sort of offers were not speedily taken up, they soon melted away. If the Government had to make up a large deficiency, they wood soon cut down grants. He would ask the newly-elected committee to consider the proposition he made, and, if they were to act upon his suggestion, the money would soon be forthcoming. It might be urged that some parents were not in a position to give ss. each child, but then there were many others who would give much more, and that would equalise the thing. He himself had several children, and he should be most happy to contribute considerably more than the ss. eachj and there were numbers like him,

Mr. Rosie would suggest that the committee do the same Rs the Hospital one, and get voluntary subscriptions. A number would give more than ds. Mr, Butt agreed with Mr* Rosie’s proposL tion. He thought the thing should be started at once, and with this view he would put down his guinea. Mr. Lewis thought that ss. would be too much for many large families. He thought Is. per head would be a more reasonable sum. The balance of the money might be collected from the general public. Mr. Adams proposed that an entertainment be held for the purpose of raising funds for the object suggested. The Secretary agreed with the last speaker, as children’s concerts and entertainments had always proved most successful. Mr. Nolan believed the Chairman’s suggestion to be a good one, and thought it should be tried before appealing to the public. Mr. Tucker agreed with the Chairman and Mr. Nolan. He certainly thought the parents, who were the most interested parties, should be annealed to first, Five shillings per head would surely be little enough for parents to pay when it was for the health and welfare of their children. Another gentleman had suggested Is. per head, but he thought that a ridiculous sum. Perhaps it would be best to strike a happy medium and say 2s> 6d. He thought they should nominate a sum not lower than that, and then follow it up with a supplementary list. He certainly thought they should first go to those whose children were to be benefitted, and then, if that failed, they could go to the public. Mr. Hall said there were some parents who could not afford to pay the sum of 2s. fld. for the school, but who could easily afford ss. to go to a concert* He would commence operations by putting down his money at once. In the space of about ten minutes there was about £23 16s. subscribed by the gentlemen present and handed to the Secretary* The Chairman then proposed, and Mr. Rosie seconded—“ That this meeting approve of the purchase of a playground as recommended by the outgoing Committee, and is of opinion that the people of Gisborne will support the new Committee to at once close with the Board's offer, and urges the Committee to claim the ground, and to take such steps as it may deem advisable to raise £lOO by voluntary rates on parents and concerts, &o.; and all householders present undertake to support the Committee whatever course it adopts providing it secures the ground. On being put, the motion was carried without any dissentients*

A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings*

A committee meeting was at once called, when Mr. Johnstone was again elected chair, man and Mr. Piesse secretary for the ensuing year. It was also resolved to send a telegram this morning to the Board, informing them that the Committee had accepted the proffered terms for the grant. This closed the business, and the meeting adjourned.

RECEIPTS. £ e. d. £ 8. d. To balance in Bank and in hand July 1,1883 Receipts from Education Boara— 21 4 11 (1) Granta for incidental purposes .. ., (3) Granta for special 87 11 0 purposes named— Grant for play. grounds .. ,. Sew chimneys ,, 8 0 ) 31 0 0 0 0 Donations, dec., from other than the Educe, tion Board— (1) For general purw Sr apparatus 7 0 ) Frizes ,, 15 8 9 6 Sale of pencils .. 14 18 Total.. £187 18 2 EXPENDITURE. d. 4 Cleaning schools ,. . 89 8« 18 Fuel for school use Repairs . 0 . 6 0 19 0 10 Books, maps, and furniture . 8 3 6 Expenditure of special grants from Board— Gravel for play-ground Two new chimneys . 8 . 35 6 1 0 0 Printing 0 10 0 Advertising.. . 0 10 6 Stationery .. . 0 12 10 SecretAfc .. PostagTand telegrams . 20 . 2 0 7 0 8 Half cost of chemical apparatus 7 1 0 Prizes . 15 8 9 School regulation .. . 10 14 6 In Bank . 23 10 8 £187 18 2