ANNUAL HOUSEHOLDERS MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2349, 28 April 1892, Page 3

ANNUAL HOUSEHOLDERS MEETING.

The annual meeting of householders for the election of School Committees in the various school districts took place last Monday evening. GERALDINE. A moderate number of householders and parents met at the Geraldine School on Monday evening to nominate and elect a committee for the ensuing year. Proceedings commenced about eight o’clock, when, on the motion of Mr George Taylor, seconded by Mr T. Bowkett, Mr R. H. Pearpoint was voted to the chair. The chairman, after pointing out that they were now entitled to nine members on the committee, instead of seven, as heretofore, read the minutes of the previous annual meeting, which were confirmed. BAD WATER, Mr George Taylor drew the attention of householders to the fact that there was at present considerable sickness amongst children attending the school and that it had been rumored that the cause was put down to children drinking impure water. Mr Pearpoint did not think that there was any truth in the rumor. The water drunk by the children came through specially-made charcoal filtering, which had been fitted in the tanks. Mr Taylor said if it was the tanks Mr Pearp >int referred to, he had been told that the children had not been allowed to drink from them, and were obliged to drink pump water. Mr J. D. Gore affirmed Mr Taylor’s remarks, and the latter said his reason for bringing the matter forward was because parents were anxious about it, and the attendance at school would perhaps be affected. Mr Pearpoint said on behalf of the committee that they had never before received a complaint about the water being defective, and he thought it a pity that it should be left till the annual meeting before bringing it forward. Mr Shiers, as a member of the visiting committee, said that on his last visit to the school he drank a mug-full of pump water, and found nothing wrong with it then.

Mr Gore thought if Mr Shiers had a glass-full that evening ho would see a difference, and Mr Shiers said he did not know what might have happened since he tested the water. Mr Pearpoint said he very often had occasion to visit the school, and at times tested the water, and always found it good. Mr J. M. Sutherland, who fixed the pump at the well, said he found the water, on testing it, to be unfit for drinking purposes. Other householders said that children had pumped up worms, beetles, and pieces of brick, and on the motion of Mr Gore, seconded by Mr Pizzy, it was carried as a recommendation to the incoming committee that they get an expert to test the water, and see if it be fit for children to drink. ANNUAL REPORT. The chairman then read the annual report as follows : Gentlemen, — “ At the close of our year of office we have •the pleasure to submit to you our yearly report and balance-sheet. “Meetings—Your committee have held M meetings during the year withanaverage attendance of six members. “Teaching Staff—The only change that has taken place during our year of office is the resignation of Mr Aitken, and the j appointment of Mr T. Oheyne Farnie in his stead, and it behoves parents to make a special effort to send their children to school so as to enable Mr Farnie to produce favorable results at the next examination, which is now only a few months hence. “ Examinations—During the year the usual examinations have been held, with fairly satisfactory results. “ Attendance —The number of children on the roll is 2(57, a slight increase from the last year, but we are pleased to report that the average attendance has materially increased, being over '2OO, and the highest attendance reached 218. as against 220 last year, but we still hope to see this further increased.

“ Finances — The finances are in a satisfactory state, when you consider the large expenditure entailed on your committee by repairs to fences, and gates, and plantations. The balance-sheet is qn the table open for inspection, dvily audited. Your committee during the yea): had to make a call on the public and their own pockets iii aid Gx bh“ incidental fund, apd th§ sqm ot ' collected, aud ft further w '^ was raised by a - ot M U * hindio" ' -oncert. The balance in /■ - yow iCii 12s, and there are outstanding liahilitiesof CI !)s!»d, but as the quarter’s incidentals are duo on May Ist, the incoming committee will be in a fairly good financial position. Entertainments—Two concerts have been held during the year. The first

realised £ll 3s 3d in aid of the prize fund, [ and the second £1 13s 6d in aid of the school fund. Prizes were distributed, on a liberal scale, and there remains a balance in hand of £3 12s 7d. “ Repairs and Improvements —The Board | of Education have lately granted a sum of £lO towards gradingthe infants’room, and when this is completed should prove a great boon to the teachers. The fences, buildings, etc., are in good repair, and should require ' very little expense for some time in keeping , them in the same good order. _ Some grubbing in the school ground is now j required, and attention is needed to the j urinals. j “ Alterations in the Act —Under the amended Act nominations can be made at the meeting as well as at a stated time, viz., the third Monday in April, but as no nominations were received on the latter date, it devolves on you this evening to elect j your committee. As the average for the year has exceeded 200, you are now entitled to elect nine members instead of seven as heretofore. I would ask you prior to the election to choose a fair number scrutineers, which will very much facilitate the proceedings. “ In conclusion your committee desire to thank the teaching staff generally for the efficient manner in which they have carried out their labors for the year, and for the harmonious manner they have worked with your comraitte. “ Signed on behalf of the committee, “11. EE Peakpoint, “ Chairman.” BALANCE-SHEET* The chairman then read the balancesheet, which stood thus : Receipts : Balance on hand on April Ist, £7 5s lid ; grants for ordinary incidentals, £36 10s ; grants for s ecial purposes, £5 ; voluntary contributions, £4 11s; total, £53 6s lid. Expenditure : Cleaning schools and outbuildings, £25 18s; fuel for school use, £G 12s ; repairs to buildings, &c., £7 17s 6d; expenditure board special grants, £5 17s; advertising, 4s 6d; stationery, £3 9s 5d ; balance, £3 8s 6d ; total, £53 6s lid. On the motion of the Rev. Mr Todd, seconded by Mr Walton, the report and balance-sheet as read were adopted. VOTE OF THANKS. Mr George Taylor moved a hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing committee for their services during the past year, and Mr R.' H. Pearpoint, on behalf of the committee, replied that honestly every member of the committee had done his best for the good of the school, and he had no doubt the incoming committee would do likewise. (Applause). THE ELECTION. Messrs Shiers, Pearpoint, A. White, Maslin, J. W. Pye, and Ferguson were appointed scrutineers, but their services were not required, as only the exact number of candidates needed was nominated. Those who were nominated are as follow : W. Walton C. Groves G. Taylor J. Boughton Thomas Sherratt T. Bowkett C. E. Sherratt G. H. Patrick J. D. Gore No other names being forthcoming the above were declared duly elected, and a vote of thanks to the chairman ended the meeting. Committee Meeting. The newly-appointed committee then met, and appointed Mr George Taylor as chairman, and Mr C. E. Sherratt secretary'; also fixed their nights of meeting for the third Tuesday in each month at 7.30 p.m. It was resolved that it be left in the hands of the visiting committee and the chairman to call for alternate tenders for fuel, and to accept the lowest. Messrs Walton and Patrick, with the chairman, were appointed visitors for the coming month. It was decided to call for tenders before next meeting for grading in the school. It was agreed that Mr McLeod, of Temuka, be allowed to act as an honorary teacher in the school under the supervision of the head master. It was left with the visiting committee to have the school water tested, and report on the matter. The meeting then adjourned. RANGITATA ISLAND. The annual meeting of the householders of this district took place on the 25th inst. Mr A. McDuff was voted to the chair. The report and balance-sheet for the year were read and adopted, after which the following gentlemen were duly elected members for the ensuing year, viz., Messrs Snell, Grainger, Sheehan, Wright, and Watts. Mr H. Grainger was elected chairman. The financial position of the committee for the coming year is by no means very bright, owing to the limited number which attend the school, but the committee can do a great deal to change this state of matters financially if they put their shoulder to the wheel. WINCHESTER.. The meeting was held in the schoolroom, and was the largest of the kind ever held in the district, theie being over 60 persons present, including several ladies. Mr T\yigg proposed, “Mr Deßenzy seconded, and it was carried, that Mr Langdou take the chair. The chairman then called upon the chairman of the School Committee to read his report and balance-sheet. These showed that the attendance for tfie last year was satisfactory, and "that there was a small bala nee to the credit of the committee. Several questions were asked re the working of the school, the chairman also being asked to give a.fi estimate of the outstanding liabilities, eq that the incoming pommitteq npght |nmv what position they would b‘q in financially, Wr R. Smith proposed that the report and balance-sheet b.e adopted, which was seconded audparriod.

Mr Hide asked why the balance from the school concert (£3 IBs) had not been expended on the purposes for 'whhdl ft had been viz,, a treat or school prizes. Ho said that it was very hard that the children and teachers had bow put to all the trouble of prepaid- ' ■ concert, and going ... t f e »Ml tl,on 1101“- . - tickets Wild » ' receive their Reward. —It ■ U ‘ replied that the money would be ■landed over to the new committee and > they would have the pleasure of spending f it. 1 Mr Philp asked that the letter he had sent to the school committee to be for--5 warded to the board might be read to the I meeting, which was done. —When the chairman asked for an explanation why it . had not been forwarded to the Board Mr ; , Carston said that it was not sent on

account of words that it contained, and I having asked Mr 1 hilp to scratch out j these words and he refusing, the letter was not sent. —A house-holder said : that he thought the committee had not ; done right in not sending the letter forward to the Board, allowing them to judge the matter, as the letter was to them and not to the committee. As these were all the questions, the chairman then called for nominations, and read over the names of those nomi- | nated. | Messrs Wreathall and Pepperill were | appointed scrutineers. After they had , been selected Mr McCarthy objected to Mr Wreathall as not being in the district but as the meeting had selected him the matter dropped. Mr Twigg was elected as a third scrutineer. The election resulted as follows: —J. Collie, 41 ; W. Deßenzy, 36; Robert Smith, 39; W. Stewart, junr., 38 ; J. M. Naughton, 37 ; AV. Philp, 34; T. Connolly, 22; J. D. Jones, 18 ; H. T. Hart, 17 ; C. Harr, 16 ; Opie 16. The chairman declared the following seven duly elected : —John Collie, Robert Smith, William Deßenzy, William Philp, Thomas Connolly, Wm. Stewart, and John M. Naughton. The new committee met and Mr Robert Smith was unanimously elected chairman, and the meeting night appointed for the last Monday in the montli at 7.30. Mr Hide interviewed the committee re the late hour that the children were let out of school, a quarter to four. That, having so far to go, it was often dark before they got home. This the ' committee promised to attend to and the I meeting closed. WAITOHI FLAT. The annual meeting was fairly well attended. Mr J. Fraser, chairman of the out-going committee, presided, and submitted a very favorable report of the proceedings of the past year, especially as regards finance. Mr Graham’s posi- 1 tion as head master was now filled by Mr j Forsyth, and hopes were expressed that the relations of the new committee would , be of as an amicable nature as those of j their predecessors. The balance-sheet j showed that the sum of £l4 had been expended in repairs to the building, &c., towards which the Education Board had contributed £7. There was now in hand some £ls. The following nominations ] were received for the committee, and the gentlemen named were declared elected : Messrs J. Fraser, M. Moore, J. Crawford, S. Galbraith, T. Curry, Scott, and A. J. Andrews. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the out-going commitee, and the meeting terminated. At a meeting of the new committee Mr J. Fraser was unanimously re-elected chairman. ORARI, There was a very small attendance. Mr Mason occupied the chair. The following were elected members of committee for the ensuing year. Messrs C. Bissett, R. Coles, D. McLeod, J. Cross, Elies, J. Bates and J. Bracefield. PLEASANT POINT. At Pleasant Point Messrs AV. J. Gibson, Thomas Bullick, J. Cartwright, AV. Ray, J. Edyveau, Charles Smith, and J. Leitch. At a committee meeting held after the election, Mr Gibson was elected chairman.