WEST END.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 272, 27 April 1915, Page 3

WEST END.

There was a fair attendance at the meeting at the West End School. Mr. A. K. Smart was elected chairman. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The report stated: — The following report by the chairman was presented to the meeting:— I have much pleasure in submitting the annual report and balance-sheet for the year ending March 31, l!) 15. The balance-sheet lias been duly audited, and found correct by the Board's auditor. The balance in the bank and in the treasurer's hands is £l7 13s fid, but there arc accounts which will reduce this bal-. arce to £5 14s (id up to the present meeting. This must be considered very satisfactory when it is remembered that no outside help from concerts has been received during the year. The gymnasium is a fruitful snuive of revenue, for £lB 7s (id has been received. At present it is being utilised as a classroom for Standard 1. This is" not faileither to the teachers, the scholars or the committee, and the Education Department should make an effort to have a new room built without delay. Until this is done the revenue formerly derhed from this source is lost. The attendance is rising by leaps and hounds. In March, 1!!14, the roll was 4S(i. Ir. March, 1!)13, it was 475. With the advent of the trams a further increase is confidently expected. The grading of the playground was effected during the year and £24 (is 8d spent on the work, which was badly needed. A iirst-class joU was made, and the money was well spent. The amount of space for playgrounds is getting res! ricted. and, as new rooms are added the position becomes worse. The committee have interviewed the members or the Education Hoard, and it is confidently expected that the l)e----|iaitinent will purchase the lirooking estate east of the school, as was suggeste 1 at the last householders' meeting. It is now on offer at a very reasonable price. If this is done, a- separate infant school in brick will he erected, which should he an acquisition to the town and district. The work of the school during the year lias been of a high order,, and the result of the examinations at th" end of the year relleetod credit on and stair alike. The hand of IVath has "been very lmsv among tlie member* of tlie eonimittop during the year. Our ex-chairman, Mr. I. Morrison. succumbed after a painful illness, home -with the greatest fortitude. lie was one of our oldest and most enthusiastic members, and lias Ijeen nmen mrssed. Messrs Russell and I'ullot have each lost 11 son, and letters of condolence were sent to tile relatives of each. The committee have worked very amical iv together, and only one complaint of a minor nature from a parent had to he investigated. In conclusion, I wish to tli;iilk all who have assisted me during the year. The work has been a real pleasure l'iaht through. T ho;ie the present, committee will offer them-elves for re-election, and that the coming year W' 1! be prosperous for one and all. The new committee was elected as

fellows: —Messrs. Hawker, Hardwidge, Brokensllire, E. F. Bullot, B. J. Deare, ,T. F. Bus; ell, AV. W. Thomson, A. K. Smith, arid iA. Bich. Mr. Smart was cl< (ted chairman and Mr. Thomson boc--1 rotary. ' A motion was carried approving of, j compulsory attendance at the Technical School. A motion was curried congratulating j Mrs. Dowling and her staff on the ■ work of the school, and votes of thanks • who passed to the chairman (Mr. Smart) :u.d the secretary (Mr. Thomson).

FITZKOY. There was on'.y a, small attendance at Fitzroy, Mr. Reid presiuliig' over thy meeting. The meeting of householders at I'itzroy was presided over by Mr. AV. C. Reid (chairman of the Fitzroy School Committee). The annual report stated that the past year had been productive of a measure of increased cordiality and sympathy between the members of the stall' and the parents of the children. That the school is. maintaining its standard of excellence as regards the work done the best criticism is afforded by the inspectors' recent report, showing the work that came under review gave evidence that the school had knowledge, ability, and discipline, three great cssentiaJs splendidly applied iiv the training of the j young people. If Fitzroy had been fortunate in its teachers in the past the committee could honestly say it was equally fortunate in the present, and parents in the Fitzroy district might think twice before sending their hoys' and girls away to schools further afield. The excellent, aVerage attendance, was partly own# to the efforts of the truant inspector. The committee would like to point out that the Department expects full attendance now, the only reasons for non-attendance being sickness. Even then, either a doctor's certificate oi a certificate of exemption is required if the child be away more than half a day. LTpon completion of tne tram& the committee were of opinion that the growth of the school attendance would be such in the not far distant future that further extension to the building and "Would be necessary. This should he one of the subjects ot the incoming committee's watchful care. AVith reference to the grounds the committee have had a considerable area raised, tarred and sanded at a cost of over £7O. The Board of' Education granted £36 to- • wards the cost, leaving the committee | to find the balance, part of which is still to raise. It is proposed at an early I date to start a, series of concerts to j clear this debt. AVhile it would'seem' invidious to single out any memjier of the committee for praise, yet there is i one by his onerous work must be jspe- ! ciiillv thanked. Air. AA r . Griffiths had ■ installed the electric light, the commit- j tee only finding the material. The re- ; moral of Mr. W." Bond to Dannevirke ; esused a vacancy on the committee, Air. H. Clrayling being elected to fill the j position. The report was adopted and the bal- J ance-slieet approved. j

The whole of the members of last year's committee were re-elected. Votes of thanks were accorded to the headmaster and his staff, to the chairman, and to the secretary. At a meeting of the committee held after the householders' meeting, Mr. Reid was re-elected chairman, and Mr. G. White secretary and treasurer.

BELL BLOCK. Seventeen householders at'-nded the meeting at Bell Block la '. i';lit, 1 constituting a record for the dist' ict. Mr. .7. W. Downs was voted to the "hair. r [l:e balance-sheet showed a credit of £B. Ten nominations were received for the committee, and the following, all members of the retiring committed, were elected:—Messrs. J. W. Downs. 8. Webster, I-I. Allen, C. Hoskin and J. Holmes. Votes of thanks were accorded the teaching staff. At a subsequent meeting, Mr. J. W. Downs was re-elected chairman, and Mr. S. Webster secretary.