Ohinemuri School District.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2506, 17 January 1877, Page 2

Ohinemuri School District.

We have .been favored with the following report of the Committee of the above school district, which is to be presented to the annual meeting of ratepayers to be held to-day. Owing to the state of the weather we cannot expect any report of the meeting by pigeongram to-day s—

FIEST EIPOBT OP THE ' OhINEMUBI School . Committee to the.■ House, . HOLDEBS OF THE OhINEMUBI EDUCATIONAL DISTBICT. ' ' ■■■■•;■■■■ Tour first School Committee, elected on 6th "May last, have the honor to report that their efforts to make the necessary provision for the educationalrequiienients jof the district were at first retarded by 'the inability of the Board of Education to supply funds for building purposes, and the difficulty of renting suitable temporary premises for school houses. With, the approval of the Board of Education they, however, succeeded in starting a halftime school at Paeroa on the Ist August, and one at Karangahake on the 14th of the same month. These schools have been placed under the charge of Mr John Ritchie, who', has attended each school on alternate weeks with satisfaction to your Committee. They regret the present necessity for half-time schools, which, however well managed, are but makeshifts, but they trust that the improved prospects of the district will, at an early date, justify better arrangements. The following is a statement of the number of children on the school rolls, with the average attendance at each* for the months of October and November; 1876j- *

•. i PAEBOA SCHOOL. October.—Number on Roll, 25 j Average Attendance, 13£. November. — Number on Holl, 27 5 Average Attendance, 21. , * kabangahajet: school. ,

October.—Number on Roll, 13 5 Average Attendance, 10|. November. —- Number on Ro'V 16; Average Attendance 11. .

Whilst the number of children on the Roll and the average attendance at Paeroa has slightly, increased, the number on the Eoll at JKarangahake has from the commencement decreased, owing to the stoppage of mining operations there. The Committee trust that this stoppage I may be but of a temporary nature. Your Committee have much pleasure in ißtating that, at their request, Messrs tTackson. and Russell, the proprietors of the Paeroa township, have liberally agreed to convey a suitable site for a school reserve, consisting of two allotments at Paeroa, to the Board of Education, in trust for the objects specified in the Education Board Actj 1876. Instructions have been given for the preparation of the deed of conveyance without delay, and it is hoped that before the next annual meeting, a school house adapted to present requirements will have been erected at Paeroa as well as one. at Mackaytown in lieu of the present temporary buildings. - Your Committee believe that a large sum of money is now Or will shortly be available for the erection of school buildings within the Hauraki peninsula and at Ohinemuri. The Chairman of your Committee communicated with the Chairman of the Waiotahi School Committee with a view to the holding of a general meeting of the Thames and Ohinemuri School Committees to consider our respective

requirements and to make some representation to the Board of Education on the subject. ' But no reply having been received, your Committee recommend this matter to the immediate attention of the new Committee. The attention of your Committee - has ' been drawn by the inhabitants of the Waitekauri district to the necessity of providing school accommodatioa in that locality. A comparatively central position for the site of a school has been selected and approved by your Committee, and they have recommended the Board of Education to authorise the necessary arrangements when further information, which is now being obtained, shall have been supplied. • Your Committee have to draw the attention of householders to the fact that this educational district has been considerably enlarged. The district now includes Hikutaia and Puriri, and comprises the greater portion of the riding of Ohinemuri, extending from the Warahoe river to the Te Aroha mountain. . The precise boundaries of the district may be seen by reference to a notice by the Board of Education published in the Thames Advertiser of the 12th instant • • 1 As a consequence of this extension of the district, the new Committee may «4_ pect that an application will be made toX them by the inhabitants of Puriri for v school accommodation. Your Committee have no doubt that any .recommendation to'the Board on that subject will have due attention. ; : . Your Committee have suggested to the Waste Lands Board tte importance of setting apart suitable blocks of land for public school reserves and educational endowments within any areas that may be declared* open for settlement in this district. • In conclusion,' your Committee would i-emark that greater responsibility and importance frill be attached fo the duties of a local Committee in this large district in proportion to the increase and more permanent settlement of the population; and it will be for the householders themselves, by their annual choice 1 of members of such Committee to ensure that the - local administration of thrir affairs under the Education Act shall be the best that c.-.a be obtained.—l am, &0., Albert J. Axiom, x Chairman. Mackaytown, Ohinemuri, Jan. 16,1877.