THE CENTRAL SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8092, 24 April 1906, Page 3

THE CENTRAL SCHOOL.

ANNUAL MKETiNG. There was a poor attendance at the annual meeting of householders on Monday night. Mr P. P. Corkill was voted to the chair. The annual report showed a total roll of 519, of which 252 were boys and 207 girls. The average attend-: ance for the last quarter had been 485, or 88'3 per cent, of the roll. For the year the average attendance had been 89.1 per cent, The touhnical tnul continuation classes had been well attended, a total of 211 applications having been reetived for instruction in 30 different subjects. In all, 144 individual students applied. The total fees and deposits collected amounted to £lO2 5s lOd, and the ( iovernmcut capitation, and Board fees amounted to £47 15s 6d. Tlie finances hid bren very much strained in the pist year, and it would be impossible for the incoming committee to carry on and meet reciiiirenicnts unless a large grant was received from the Education Board. The balance-sheet showed a credit

balance of £5 8s 3J, although the year commenced with a credit of over £lO. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. A'otcs of thanks were passed to the outgoing committee aud to the headmaster and teaching staff for their work during the year. Upon the election of a new committee being proceeded with, Mr Collis, the retiring chairman, declined nomination, as lie felt it was time that someone else was given a hand. Bev. Osborne and Kev. Woolley declined to stand unless Mr Collis reconsidered his decision.

Many speakers mnele highly eulogistic remarks concerning the manner in which Mr Collis had performed his duties, members of the old committee paying a warm tribute to his methods, his judgment, and lijs illness to meet any emergency. At length Mr I'ollis consented to accept nomination, amidst applause, and was elected with Bcv. S. 8. Osborne, Ucv. 11. G. Woolley and Messrs Catron, Fretliey, ,1. Grant, J.ickson, G. H. Maunder, and J. T. White. It was decided to recommend the incoming committee to have the annual householders' meetings better advertised, oven at the committee's expense, if necessary. Speakers considered the paucity of attendance was certainly iue to the want of publicity given. At a subsequent meeting of the committee, Mr Collis was rc-cleeted chairman, I he mover remarking '■ there is uo alternative." ,•

The chairman and secretary were requested to prepare a statement of the committee's financial position and to lay this before next meeting. Mr C. T, Mills was re-elected sccre tary at the usual remuneration. It was decided to meet on the thi'd Monday in the month, and the chairman and treasurer were appointed to ign cheques.