SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1500, 1 May 1886, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

The annual elections of School Committees throughout Canterbury took place last Tuesday, 27th April. We have received the following reports since our last issue PLEASANT VALLEY. householders’ meeting. The annual, meeting of householders was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday, 27th JApril. Mr Lysaght, Chairman of the School Committee, occupied the chair. ... ■ The minutes of the lest annual meeting were read and confirmed. The annual report was read and adopted, which was as follows • “ The annual meeting of householders having come round jOnce more, your Committee have much in laying before you an account of their proceedings. . o wing to an amendment in the Act the dufe of the annual meeting has been altered from January to April, thus extending our term of office by about three months. Since the last election fourteen . ordinary and five special meetings have been held. The balance to credit of Committee’s account whoa they took office was 17a 4d, and the amount icceived during the year was £49 16s Bd, making a total of £SO 14). Of this sum £33 16a consists of money paid to the Committee by. the Board for incidentals, the remainder, viz., £l4lßs, is money collected on behalf of ibe Committee for books sold to the children. The expenditure amounted to £2B 13s 2d, thus leaving a balance of £22 0a 10J. The books and accounts were all sent in to the Education Office, where they were duly audited and found correct. At the first regular meeting held after the election Mr Rice was.appointed Chairman. That gentle- ; man, however, resigned bis position as a member of your Committee on April 9th. . Mr K. Qaaid being next among tbjse nominated was selected to fill the vacancy, while Mr Lysaght was appointed Chairman. Soon after your Committee took office they found it necessary to request the Board to remodel the teaching stiff of the school, with the result that ’ the Board gave Mr Manning notice to "leave. 1 . Applications were then called for the mastership of the Pleasant Valley school. Thirteen applications were received, >nd were forwarded to the Committee, who were told to recommend two. After careful consideration your Committee decided to recommend Mr F. Betbune and a Mr Russell, with the result that the Board accepted the application of Mr Bethuae, and we think, gentlemen, you will agree with us iq saying that it was a happy change. The Board’s Inspector wrote to us recommending Miss Miller, of Waimate, as assistant mistress. He spoke very highly ot her, which induced your Committee to request the Board to appoint her, which request was /glinted. She took office with Mr Betbune pn July Ist, 1885, and since then to the present time your Committee have no / reason to regret the steps they have taken. With regard to the Inspector’s examination, we have not received the report yet, but we would remind you that Mr Bethuae and Miss Miller were greatly handicapped when they took charge of the school , , , . , . The present torching staff has worked energetically since they 'took office, and bed the children fairly well prepared for the Inspector if he had , come before Christmas. As he did not , come Mr Betbune determined to keep school open during the usual Christmas holidays. In this, however, he was ■ frustrated, as the attendance fellaway ' : ’ from nearly 70 to 25, thus making it ttseless to continue. The school was therefore closed for a fortnight, and almost immediately after re-opening the Inspector caipe to examine the school. ; v Tbo percentage of passes gained is not high, but ia the absence of his remarks it is impossible to tell what his opinion of the /' work leally is, but we think the parents themselves must be in s position to know fairly well whether justice is being done to the children or not, It is the opinion of the Committee that the teachers are doing their best to promote the welfare of the school. Your Committee having found great difficulty in collecting the money for books sold, arranged the present master to sell all that remained

on behalf of the Committee, and in future to sell the hooka ou his own account, thus relieving the Committee of any responsibility in the matter. At the request of the teacher the Board were asked for a special grant to erect a curtain across th# room, and the sum of £3 was • received for that purpose. The whole of the buildings being in a most dilapidated state your Committee urged upon the Board the necessity of at once attending to them. The Board’s architect having inspected the buildings considered that the school at least was not worth any very extensive repairs, as he behoved it would be necessary to erect a new cne at no very distant date. The walls have been braced up with two iron rods and distempered, the verandah and roof repaired, and the outside painted. Three rooms in the master’s house have been papered, and a cooking range procured. The house has also been repaired and painted. A very successful treat and concert was held in January, and after paying all expenses the sum of £5 I.ls remained. Of this sum £4 10s was spent in prizes by the master in Timaru. The prizes were a warded according to thenia'ks gained in the Inspector's examination. IW sewing was examined by Mrs Slack and another lady, and the prizes were given according to their judgment. The remaining facta in connection with the above are so well known that it is quite unnecessary to dwell any longer upon the subject. “ Andrew Ltsaght, “ Chairman.” The following new Committee was then elected - Messrs A. Lysaght, iV. Quildford, D. Qregan, G. Gale, A. Bast, J. Qregan, and K. Brophy. SGOTSBUKN. householders’ meeting. A meeting of the householders was held in the Scotsburn schoolroom on Tuesday. Mr W. E. Barker was voted to the chair. The report of the retiring Committee was read and adopted : “ Your Comnrttee for the better conduct of the school bad to dismiss the then teacher and to apply to the Board for a change, and fortunately for the welfare of the school the services of Mr Roskruge were procured. During the year one vacancy has occurred in the Committee which has been filled by Mr G. S. Maister. The Committee have had to incur a considerable outlay of funds in carrying out such alterations and improvements, as a new stile, removal of closets, firewood, and numerous repairs to the schoolhouae itself, and also in the procuring of a swing, horizontal bar. and Roman rings. This has reduced the reserve fund, but ha# proved such a benefit to the children as will repay the expense, and we would earnestly urge the incoming Committee to finish this year the gymnasium, which will only mean an outlay of £7 more. Another heavy expense too, was in re-stocking the school with books, those in use being found very antiquated and insufficient, owing to the rapid increase in the attendance. Over £lO has been expended in boots, and only £3 15s lid has been paid by the parents, so that £6 6s remains uncollected. It is utterly impossible for the Committee to make many improvements in the grounds when a quarter of their funds are invested in bad debts, and we would urge all parents to pay for books received as soon as possible. It will be the duty of the incoming Committee to collect the outstanding debts. However, the school is now well fitted out, and we trust so large an outlay will not b.-> necessary another year. The teacher’s house has been vacant a whole year, owing to the teacher preferring to be nonreaidant, and we have been unable hitherto to procure a tenant. During our term of office, a concert was instituted to procure prizes for school, leaving a clear gain of £4 5s fid. The prizes amounted to £3 Is 6d, leaving a reserve of £1 3s lid to be carried on to the next year. We trust now that these conceits will be held annually for the same purpose. The sewing class hitherto conducted outside the school regulations whl this year, if practicable, be brought under the school curriculum, and t'ie Committee wish to convey to Mrs Irvine their th&nka for the generous way iu which she has sacrificed her time for the good of the children attending the school. The Inspector’s report is most satisfactory, and we cannot pass too hearty a vote of thanks to Mr Roskruge for the great pal ns and perseverance he has shown in bringing up the standard of the school to its present state of efficiency, and next year, wheu he has had more time, we expect to see an even more marked improvement. But that this may be attained, we musi urge upon the parents to exercise more self-denial and strive to send their children more regularly to school, i’he number on the rolls is now fifty, more than one teacher can adequately manage, so . that in the coming year'a pupil teacher may have to be engaged. On referring to the balance-sheet you will find the total receipts for the year were £63 4s 10d, and the expenditure £SO 10s 101, leaving a balance to the good of £l2 14s; that was up to January 30th. The receipts up to the present date amount to £34 le 13d, and the expenditure £B l2s Id and outstanding accounts, say, £7, leaving a balance of £lB 9s Qd, The proceedings of the Committee having been favorably discussed by the householders, and the Inspector’s report having been road and approved, Mr R. Thew proposed and Mr J. Dean seconded, a unanimous vote of thanks to Mr Roskruge for Ihe painstaking way in which he had conducted and iiqproyed the school. The meeting then proceeded to elect a new Committee, with the following results}—Mr W. E. Barker, 15 ; Mr R. Thew, 14; Mr W. Handford, 10; Mr J, Freeman, 8; MrJ. Pitbie, 8; Mr W. Johnston, 7 * MrJ. Rae, 7 ; MrJ. Dean, gjMr W. Sowerby, 3; Mr 6. Jenkins, 3 ; Mr G. S. Maister, 2, The Chairman declared the first seven duly elected. NEIf OOIfMipCBE MEETING. A meeting pf the new Committee was thee held, all the members being present. Mr W. E. Barker was elected Chairman. The Chairman and Mr R, Thew were authorised to sign cheques. The Chairman was requested take steps to get the amounts owing fer children’s school books paid, and get the roof repaired and the fireplace mended. It whs decided to hold the meetings on the first Saturday in every eeconcl mouth, the next meeting to be on, the first Saturday in July.

J. Freeman and W, Johnston were appoi- ted v : sit''rn. BICLFi FLU. HOUSEHOLPERS’ MEETING. The annual meeting uf the householders of the Bvfield Education District was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday, the 27th inst, for the purpose of electing a Committee for the ensuing year. There were r e n householders present, and Mr E. Griffiths, Chairman of the retiring Commit ee, was voted to the chair. The report of the retiring Committee was read und adopted. The election of the Comirrtt e then took place, ad the householders present being nominated. As only seven were required a ballot was taken, resulting in the election of Messrs iS, Griffiths, W. Groonawav, J. Hansen, F. Brown, R. Latimer, H. Newport, and W. Food. NEW COMMITTEE MEETING. 3JA meeting oi th ne»vty-eleol*-d Commit tte was then ueld. Mr E. Griffiths was unanimously re-elected Chairman. It was resolved that the Committee continue to meet on the third S-.turday in every month. Messrs Brown and Latimer were appointed visitors for the ensuing mouth. The meeting then terminated. SOUTH ORARI. HOCSKHOI.DEES’ MBKTINO. The statuiory meeting of householders for the election of a School Committee for the ensuing year was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday evening last. Mr Janus Gregg, Chairman of the retiring Committee, pieeHed. There were about 25 persons present. After reading the notice convening the meeting the Chairman read the report of the outgoing Committee. The report showed that tne Committee during their term of office held sixteen ordinary and two special meetings, which were well attended by the raaj >rily of the members. Reference w- s I hen made to the changes in the teaching staff—Mr Munro being appointed head master vice Mr Fraser, resigned, and Mias Stewart, sewing mistress, vice Mias Harrison, resigned. The attention of the new Committee was directed to the very irregular attendance at the school of the children. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £2l 15s 9d at dale. The concert in aid of the prise fund was well patronised, and realised a bands >me snm. No questions having been asked Mr R. A. Barker moved, Mr Naughton seconded, and it was carried nem con. — M That the report be adopted as read.” A vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring Committee. The election of the new Committee was then proceeded with, Mr Gregg still presiding, with the following result ; —Mers-s B. A. Barker, 23 ; J. May, 18 ; Coles, 17 ; Ja-. McLeod, 10; J. M, Naughton, 10 ; Bisaet, 9 ; Yemail, 9 ; Turpin, 7 ; Stewart, 2. The first seven were declared duly elected. Messrs Binskin and Munro acted ss scrutineers. The customary vote to the chair terminated the proceedii gs. NEW COMMITTEE HURTING. A full meeting of the newly-elected Committee was held immediately after the election. On the motion of Mr Naughton, seconded by Mr Coles, Mr R. A. Barker was unanimously elected Chairman of Committee After the appointment of beoretary, etc., the following were the principal resolutions passed That meetings of Committee be held on the third Monday of each month at 8 p.m;” 14 That certain necessary icquisites for the school be procured forthwith;” and "That notices be at onoe served on the parents of children attending school irregularly.” The other buisnees was of a routine character. wiaMMiMMMMU faiklie OREEE. The annual mewing of householders nt Fairlte Creek took place on Tuesday evening. The report submitted by the Committee showed that an addition had been made to the school at a cost of £lB9Of tills amount the Committee had to find £l4. The attendance had increased 25 during 15 months. The receipts bad exceeded the expenditure by 3s 41. The report was adopted, and Messrs H. Walsh, J. Mdoe, R. Allan, J, W'lson, 0. Pye, T. Caskey, and Morris were elected a Committee. At a meeting of the Commiitee Mr J, Milne was elected Chairman^ PLEASANT POINT. The annual meeting of householders at Pleasant Point was held on Tuesday evening. The retiring Commutet’s report was read and adopted, and Messrs Acton, Bui'er, Greig, J. Cartwright, Morris, Maze and ihe Rev. J. White Weie elected. At a Committee hold afterwards Mr Butler was e ectod Chairman,