PUTARURU HOUSEHOLDERS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 130, 29 April 1926, Page 4

PUTARURU HOUSEHOLDERS.

ANNUAL MEETING. To Elect School Committee. There was a very poor attendance of householders at the annual meeting- in the Putaruru school on Monday for the purpose of electing a new committee and receiving the report on the past year’s work. Rev. C. W. Brown was elected to the chair, and an apology for unavoidable absence was tendered on behalf of Mr. F. C. Barnett. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The financial statement submitted by Mr. H. C. Wheeler, honorary secretary, showed that the total receipts for the year amounted to £l2l Is 6d ; of this sum £l6 8s 9d was from voluntary contributions. The credit balance amounted to £Bl 18s 7d. SCHOOL OVERCROWDED. Mr. J. G. Gasparich, headmaster, in a brief report stated that at the beginning of the year .the school went up a grade to 4A. The averag-e attendance for the last quarter had been 162.5 and the total number on the roll was 182. The school was sadly qvercrowded and it was hoped that the Education Department would shortly give a grant for further additions to the school. He believed that the school was on the urgent list. If an | average attendance of 160 or over could l be maintained for 12 months i the school would he graded 4B and become entitled to further assistance on the teaching staff. APPRECIATION. On the motion of Mr. Alcorn it was | decided that an appreciation of the work of the secretary and committee during the past year be recorded in the minutes. SMALL ATTENDANCE. A further resolution expressing regret at lack of interest shown by .the small attendance was also passed unanimously. ELECTION. The following members were elected t without opposition to form the new ' committee for the ensuing year : Messrs. H. C. Wheeler, J. W. BanBrown, F. C. Flyger, A. R. Vosper, C. W. Brown, H. J. W. Scott and F. C. Barnett. At a meeting of the new committee at the close of the meeting of householders Messrs. F. C. Barnett and H. C. Wheeler were re-elected to the positions of chairman and secretary respectively. TIRAU. I There was a fair attendance of householders at the annual meeting, and the following were elected to the committee for the ensuing year: Messrs. A. Mouldy (chairman), W. H. 1 Allen, P. Amoore, E. W. Jordan and J. Fraser (secretary and treasurer). ARAPUNI. There were thirteen householders present at the annual meeting-, Mr. E. J. Darby presiding. The chairman, who also held the position of secretary, intimated that he was not seek- | ing re-election for the coming- year, and it was decided that a hearty appreciation of Mr. Darby's work for the school be recorded in the minutes. The following members were elected to the committee for the coming year: I Messrs. A. Dinnie (chairman), T. Rabone (hon. secretary and 1 treasurer), R. S. Lee, E. Hjorth and H. C. Scott. SELWYN. Messrs. J. L. O’Flagherty (chairman), W. L. Richmond (secretary and treasurer), H. Geddes, C. Duff and H. Craig. TE WHE-TU. Owing- to lack of a quorum it was decided to adjourn the annual meeting of householders till Wednesday nig-ht. WALTON. Messrs. A. Adams (chairman), A. E. Gillingham (secretary), J. B. Nieholls, L. Mapp and W. C. Carter. There was a small attendance. KIWITAHI. Messrs. W. E. Mikkelsen (chairman), H. Miller (secretary), D. Jones, F. Smith and J. Ganley. There was a small attendance. ICEREONE. Messrs. W. E. Watts (chairman) 46 votes, D. Reid (secretary) 47, A. Cunningham 47, J. Mclntyre 45 and J. Owens 45. The unsuccessful candi- I dates were : A. Topham 31, T. Eynon 30, T. Davies 30, F. J. Norman 30 and H. Munro 29. The meeting- was a most extraordinary one, lasting- from 7.30 p.m. till

about 11 p.m. There were present 115 adults, representing- 38 children on the school roll, butonly 78 of those present were eligible to vote. The reason for such a large attendance was owing- to a difference of opinion regarding- the proposed new school site. One section of the people, it is stated, desired the site to be at Aitken’s corner and petitioned the Education Board accordingly. The other section did not desire the school at this location. The consequence was that the rival factions attended the meeting in full force, every household for miles around being represented. The meeting, which was a heated one, resolved itself into a voting contest. The chairman (Mr. Watts) refused to allow any discussion on the school site question.