N.P. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 75, 17 April 1901, Page 2

N.P. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is a precis of the report to be presented at the meeting of householders en Monday next : The number of children on the roll at the Central School on 31st March was 284 beys and 258 girls, total 542 ; and at the West Infants' School 64 boys and 57 girls, total 121 ; aggregate for the town, 663, or an increase of 28 as compared with list year. The average attendance at the Central School for the quarter ended 31st March, 1901, was 483, or nearly 88| per cent, of the roll number ; and at the West Infants'Scheol, 110, or W per cent. The Committee desires to thank the following donors of prizes for the Central Sc'iool:- Messrs. E. Dockrill, T. Avery, G. F. Robinson, A. 'Waller, Gray, and R«v. S. S. Osborne; also Mrs. Copland for an offer of ill for prizes for this year. The headmaster reported that the conduct of the scholars at the Central School had been excellent during the past year, and the senior boys had rendered valuable assistance in keeping up the high tone of the school, The senior girls had also interested themselves in matters tending to promote the welfare of the school, and the success of the bazaar held in aid of the school library fund had been largely due to their efforts. A successful swimming carnival was held, by which, through the liberality of townspeople, a sum was cleared sufficient to pay for the beat at the Central School, which besides b ing necessary in connection with the Sohool Swimming Club, had proved a source of plessnre to many of the children, The teachers had entered heartily into matters affecting the welfare of the scholars, and the. latter's appreciation was shown, in the anxiety to please they? teachers. After quoting nn extract from the Inspector's report referring to the excellent discipline at the Central School, the report proceeds to state that Miss Shaw had resigned the charge of the West Infants School; but though the Committeo regretted her loss, it was pleased at having secured the services of so aWe a successor as Mr?. Dowliug had proved. Thanks were due to Mrs. Dolling and those who assisted to promote an entertainment recently held, by which fund* were raised to erect a shelter shed for the children.

The annual picnic of the town school children was held at Mr Simpson's grounds at Sentry Hill. The Oommjttea regretted that ithad, through the action of the Eluc itiou Board ia reducing the capitation allowance, to make a levy on parents to cover the cost of stationery supplied for tha children's use. The hardship oiuseil by the redaction of tho. capitation allowance will be Felt in many directions, and the Committee strongly deprecated sucb a retrogade action on tbe part of the Board. TKe income of the Committee will suffer to the extent of between £4O and £SO by the reduction. The balance-sheet shows; —Receipts : Balance 31st March, 1900, £6 16s 4d; Education Board, ordinary grant*, £lB5 12s 9J, and special grams, £8 10s; levy collected from West Infants School, 7s; total £2Ol 6s Id. Expenditure: Cleaning schools, £lll Is 7d ; fuel, £l2 16s; repaiw, £l9 7s 34; stationery and furniture, £1& 11a Id ; expenditure on repaits, etc, of special grant from Education Board, £8 10*; stationery, postage and advertising, £1 16s 9d ; clerk and treasurer, £25; rent of meeting room, £1 8s 6d; total, £l9O 143 Id; leavißg a balance to credit of £lO 12s.