SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1297, 31 January 1885, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

ORARI BRIDGE. The annual meeting of householders was held at the Orari Bridge Schoolroom on Monday evening, Mr Lewis Grant in the chair. The Chairman read the advertisement calling the meeting and then the minutes of the last annual meeting, which were adopted. The report of the outgoing Committee was read, as follows : “To the Householders of the Orari Bridge School District.—Your Committee have again the pleasure of meeting the householders for the purpose of presenting their annual report as regards the working of the school. Your Committee have hast every reason to be satisfied. The teaching staff shows a great interest in the progress of the school, and to this fact the Inspector’s report bears ample testimony, the average of passes being 64.6 per cent., and this average would doubtless have been larger but for the necessary absence of several pupils at confirmation classes in Geraldine. The report is open for your inspection now or at any time. Your Committee have held 11 meetings during the year, which were attended aa follow :—Lewis Grant 11, A. Metcalf 8, William Ashby 8, C. Hewson 7, Wm. Hewson 5, G. Helein 4, B. P. Bartrum 3, Tlios, Markham 2. Mr Wra. Hewson resigned his position on account of leaving the district, and Mr George Helem was elected in his stead.— We commenced the year with a credit balance of £l2 5s 7d and liabilities of £6 5s 3d, and we now hand over to the incoming Committee a balance of £7l4s 9d in the Bank of New Zealand, and £5 9s 10d due by the children for books ; total, £l3 4s 7d, The amount due for books is too high. These items should in future be collected weekly, or, at farthest, monthly. Your Committee recommend this suggestion to the careful consideration of their successors. Your Committee received the sum of £5 from Mr Wm. Postlethwaite, late M.H.R. for the district, as a donation to the incidental fund. This was duly acknowledged, and you will notice our funds would have been in a very low position had not it been for that gentleman’s timely generosity. The number of children on the roll is 49, and your Committee would express the hope that the improvement shown in January, 1885, will be continued throughout the year. The account books are laid on the table, duly audited by the Board’s Secretary, Major Barafield. —Lewis Grant, Chairman.” The meeting then proceeded to elect a new Committee according to clause 64 of the Education Act 1877, with the following result ; —L. Grant, 15 ; C. Hewson, 10; A Metcalf, 9; W. Ashby, 8; S. Gould, 8 ; G. Helem, 7 ; J. Wharton, 4 ; B. P. Bartrum, 3. The Chairman declared the first seven duly elected as a Committee for the ensuaing year. At this stage the householders withdrew, and the new Committee held their first meeting, when Mr Lewis Grant was re-elected Chairman. The Chairman stated that one of their first duties was to submit to the Board of Education the names of two persons qualifiad to act as members of the Board, when the following gentlemen were nominaied, viz., Dr Foster and John Talbot. It was resolved to close the school for three weeks during harvest, the holidays to commence on the 6th of February, and the school to reopen on 2nd of March. It was decided that three prizes should bo given in each Standard in conjunction with a treat on Friday, the 6lh February. It was resolved that the Chairman and one member sign all cheques; also, that the ordinary monthly meetings ot the Committee be held on every third Saturday in the month, Messrs Gould and Wharton were appointed visitors for the mouth, and the meeting then terminated. inspector's report. The following are a few extracts from the report of the Inspector on the above school ; “Staff: Head Teacher, Mr G. W. Westropp ; Sewing Mistress, Miss Helem. Number of children on roll, 49 ; average attendance, 26; average age, 8.5. Presented in Standard IV. 3, passed X ; Standard 111. : presented 5, passed 4; Standard 11. ; presented 8, passed 7 ; Standand I. : presented 4, passed 3 ; below Standard 1., 15; percentage of passes, 62,5; percentage of those who have made 250 attendances, 64.4. Classification after examination : Preparing for Standard V., 2 ; Standard IV, 7 ; Standard 111., 8 ; Standard 11., 6 ; Standard 1., 9; infants, 7; total, 39. BELFIELD.^ The annual public meeting of householders was held in the schoolhouse on Monday evening for the purpose of electing a School Committee, Mr E. Griffiths beiog voted to the chair. The annual report of the retiring Committee was read as follows : “ Since the election of the Committee for the year 1884, there have been held nineteen meetings, viz., eleven ordinary and eight special, the meetings throughout having been well attended. For a long time a school at Belfleld was a thing hoped for, but now it is an accomplished fact. The first Committee meeting held in the new schoolroom wis held on June 21st. 1884, when five applications for the post of master were received and considered, and one selected, the school being opened on July Ist, commencing with an attendance of about thirty-five. All went well till about the end of July, when the teacher misconducted himself and had to be discharged, the school being temporarily closed for one week. An interim master was engaged, and the school was opened again, the master afterwards being appointed permanently by the Committee, and the school has since progressed favorably under his charge. For the first quarter the school was under the aided sphools regulations, and the Committee found it necessary to collect a subscription to pay part of the master’s salary, but the average required by the Education Act being obtained, the school has since been taken over by the Board, The average attendance, however, is only just above that required ; therefore, it is to be hoped parents will see the necessity for sending their children more constant and regular. With regard to the financial condition of the school, the Committee are happy to state that there is a credit balance of £3 4s lOd.” A vote of thanks was then passed to the retiring Chairman and the Comm I*’'*' 1 *’'*' . , , ° . • -vsCO for their past service* a.*v#ive persons being nominated for the new Committee, a poll was taken, when the following wore duly declared elected :— Messrs E. Griffiths, F. Crown

W. Ellery, W. Greenaway, J. Hansen, H. Newport, and G. Palmar. At a meeting of the new Committee, held immediately after the election, Mr E. Griffiths was unanimously re-elected Chairman for the ensuing year, and after some routine business had been gone through the meeting terminated. SOUTH ORAEI. The annual meeting of householders of this district was held in the schoolroom on Monday, January 26th, there being about 20 persons present. Mr Barker was voted to the chair. The minutes of the last annual meeting was read and confirmed. The balance-sheet and report of the outgoing Committee was read. Proposed by Mr Loucb, seconded by Mr Coles, “That the balance-sheet and report be adopted.”—Carried. Tlie election of a new Committee was then proceeded with, and, there being eight persons nominated, a ballot was taken, Messrs May and Fraser acting as scrutineers. It resulted as follows; —J. Gregg, 44; R. Coles, 22; J, Ellis, 12 ;J. Naughton, 12 ,J. Binskin, 11; W. Stewart, 11 ;T. Bates, 9; J. McLeod, 4. The Chairman declared the first seven duly elected. A meeting of the new Committee was then held. Present Messrs Gregg, Binskin, Bates, Naughton, EUis and Coles. Mr Gregg was elected Chairman, Moved by Mr Binskin, seconded by Mr Coles, “That the school break up for harvest holidays on the 6'h February and reopen on the 2nd of March.”— Carried. The Committee decided to enforce the Compulsory Clause after the harvest holidays, and to hold Committee meetings every third Monday in the month. Proposed by Mr Binskin, seconded by Mr Naughton, “That the Chairman sign cheques.”