THE MILFORD SCHOOL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1136, 7 February 1884, Page 3

THE MILFORD SCHOOL.

The following is the report submitted to the householders at Milford by the outgoing School Committee. We have already given the result of the election of the Committee for the Milford ochool District.

“ Gentlemen, Your Committee has the honor to submit the report for the year ending 26th January, 1884. You will doubtless remember, that at the early part of the year there was great difficulty in finding persons willing to serve upon the School Committee ; indeed, it was almost impossible to get together at the annual meeting, a sufficient number of householders to form a Committee. This is to be very much regretted, showing, as it does, great apathy on the part of parents. However, after overcoming many obstacles, and many other things which are now bygones, and of which, it is to be hoped, we shall not see the like agaiu. Your Committee held its first meeting on March the sth, 1883. The balance at the Bank was then £7 19s 7d. The gross receipts cf the year have been £4B 16s Id, and the expenditure £4B 4s 31, leaving a balance of 11s lOd, “ Your Committee regrets to say (hat the School year has been a very barren one, and your Committee has found itself completelyhampered by the parsimonious manner in which the Board doles out its funds, and hopes the incoming Committee may be treated more liberally and receive a larger share of the money so liberally bestowed on the town schools.

“ The failure in the School results is largely owing to irregularity of attendance on the part of the pupils and perhaps partly to inefficient teaching. “ A change of masters took place on Sept. 16, when Mr Collins resigned his charge into the hands of Mr Ansted, and your Committee hope that the change may be productive of better things, although well aware that it will take time and patience ere the school will be on a footing to compare at all favourably with other schools. The annual inspection took place on Nov, 15, resulting in a most crushing report from the examiner, but exonerating the present master from all blame, “ Your Committee with difficulty prevailed upon the Board to grant a small sum to be expended in making the master’s house habitable in some degree, but your Committee find that to make the Schoolbouse and ground convenient and commodious a piece of land will require to be purchased, on which a new house for the master should be erected and the present site devoted entirely to the children. “ The attendance having fallen below the required average, your Committee regrets to report that Miss Burton ceases connection with the school on the 23rd of February,”

The Annual Distribution op Prizes. A dance in aid of the prize fund was held in the schoolroom on Friday Jan. 251 h and the annual treat and Attribution of awards took place on the Friday following. The proceeds of the dance, supplemented by donations from parents and friends, amounting to about LB, were devoted to the purchase of suitable books and toys. The tables were supplied by the efforts of the Milford ladies. The children, with a number of their parents assembled at 12 o’clock, and after some preliminaries the ceremony began at 1 p.m. Mr Woodley (the Chairman) before distributing the prizes, said : “ Ladies, gentlemen and children—lt gives me great pleasure to meet you here to-day—a day looked forward to by the Committee, parents, master and pupils—and, although the yearly examination has revealed the unsatisfactory state of the school, and financially we are worse off than on former occasions, we may I think with condence, look forward to a better future. I ask the parents to second the Committee and master in their exertions to promote the educational advantages of the children, not only by sending the children to school, but also by ensuring regular attendance. Nodoubtyou have often had little inducement to send them, but I hope and believe that time, tor the present, has passed, and thAt we are entering upon a year that will yield a good harvest if we only sow aright,

Let us see to it then that we do so. I say to the children, Do not put upon your teacher blame which ought to he upon yourselves. Remember, if you wish to succeed you must make use of your own powers, you must read, work and think for yourselves. Your teacher will guide and help you over the sometimes rough road. He will show you how to do, he will tell you when to do, hut you yourselves must do the work. See to it then that you do your part, and next year there will be a longer list of deserving boys and girls than I have to day.” Mr Woodley then handed the awards to the several recipients, adding to each a few bappy words of congratulation and good advice. Prizes were awarded to six pupils for passing a standard at the rnnual examination, viz., David Parke, Robert Colville, Percy Christmas, Agnes Wareing, Gertrude Wareing, and Harriet Woodhead. A special p r ize was awarded to Emily Wareing for general efficiency. Four sewing prizes weregiven—Emily Wareing Ist, Harriet Woodhead 2nd, Annie Brown 3rd, Sarah Woodhead 4ih. Special prize for cleanest sewing, Agnes Maze. A number of small books were distributed among the other children by way of encouragement. Having finished the distribution, the Chairman on behalf of the Committee presented Miss Burton (the pupil teacher) with a handsome pair of vases as a mark of esteem. r l he young lady returned thanks in a few suitable words.

Cheers were given for the old and new Committees, the ladies and friends who had helped so kindly, the Chairman, ani the teachers. The children then went inlo the playground, while the tables were spread. The whole party, numbering about 60 children and the same number of adults, sat down to a nice little luncheon. Having satisfied themselves, sports became the order of the day, which were held in a paddock kindly lent by Mr P. Wareing. Flat races, hurdle races, walking matches, high jumping, etc., for a number of toys, filled up the time till the hour for tea was called, when all returned to the schoolroom and partook of a choice repast accompanied by a good cup of tea.

The party then separated, thoroughly satisfied with the day’s enjoyment.