Election of School Committees.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2820, 27 February 1878, Page 2

Election of School Committees.

KAUAEKANGA SCHOOL DISTRICT.

The first meeting of householder! for (he election of a School Committee under the new Education Act wai held at the Girls' School, Sandes street, yesterday afternoon at 6 o'clock. There were about 40 houseLjlders present, and on the motion of Mr VV. tiouter, seconded by Mr E. H. Power, Mr W. J. Speight was roted to the chair.,

The Chairman read a list of instructions receired from the Board of Education for the conduct of a first meeting. The instructions stated that the Toting if any should be by ballot, and they also gave the qualifications of those entitled to stand as candidates and rote at the meetin". He then called on the Chairman of the outgoing Committee to read the report. Capt. Souter then read the report, as follows:—

Mr Chairman, parents, and fellow-electors, —At the cloae of our year of office we give you a brief sketch of our stewardship. One of the first duties to which we had to attend was the selecting a head teacher for the Boys' School, and with the assistance of the Inspector, Mr G. N. Phillips, from Christchurcb, was approTcd of and appointed, and we hare every reason to be pleased with the decision, as the Mid gentleman is thoroughly well qualified for the position. He is also well seconded now by an able staff of assistant and pupil teachers. After getting B head teacher, our next task was to get a suitable school-house, the Volunteer Hail being little more than a mere shed. After a good deal of correspondence, and several visit* to the Board in Auckland, we got the present commodious boys' school built, the play-ground filled in and partly fenced. We have to thank Mrs Wheeler aud Messrs Martin and Bowie for giving up a portion of their leasts at a moderate rate, to increase the sise of the play ground, which is yet far too small for over 300 boys to play in. Tbig will require attention from the committee now to be elected As the Board in Auckland would do nothing to improve the Girls' School wntil there was a better title secured than a yearly lease, we purchased the leasa from the Presbyterian Church Committee, and also obtained the freehold from the owners of Block 27 at a reasonable rate. But we ore sorry. to etiy, by the time this was dono the cash at the disposal of the Board was expended, and this much-needed extension and improvement lapsed in consequence. The teachers and children at present are labouring under a great disadvantage, which, under the new regime, we hope to see soon rectified, as we think it a great hardship that the pratent head teacher, Miss Hazelden, who has so long and so ably conducted the school, should bave to manage with such limited school accommodation, and a play-ground open to the street. We have applied for £550 to enlarge the building and fence in (he playground, and hope the incoming committee will do their utmost to secure it from same of the first money obtained by the new Board in Auckland. As there i* nothing now to pay for education, we would suggest that a sum after the rate of one shilling per quarter be paid to supply pens, ink, pencils, and blotting paper, and alee to pay for cleaning out the school room. As fsr as attendance at both schools is concerned, there are over 200 children attending the Girls' School, an<i over 300 now attending the Boys', the number of children attending the Boys' School having more than doubled during the year. The committee and teachers have worked harmoniously together during the whole time, and they, with the parents of the children who attend the Girls' School, have to thank Mr Grigg for his attendance and the trouble he has taken in teachii g the children singing. Trusting that what we have dona will meet with your approval,—We are, &0., William Soutee Chairman Kauaeranga School District. For tho Committee.

The report was adopted without cornmeat on the motion of Mr E. if. Power, seconded by the Rer. J. T. Hintor.

It was tuen resolved on the motion of Mr JR. Skecn, that the blank voting-papers be banded round, and the electors write on them the names of such of the candidates they wished to vote for, wi+h the number of votes for each candidate opposite his name. The following gentlemen were then proposed :—Willian Souter, James Kilgour, James Benshaw, John Nodder, John Grigg, Scott Hunter, E. H. Power, Bobt. Farrell, W. J. Speight, Thomas James, E. T. Wildman, Bobt, Skeen, H. T. Howe, John Scott. -

Mr Souter declined to stand, but Mr Farrell and other gentlemen pressed him to let himself be nominated. Mr Souter thanked them, but still declined to stand.

Mr Mcllhone said that he would have stood this yeur as a member of the com* inittee, but ho had mored from the district and therefore was not eligible, lie took this opportunity of stating that his not standing was not on account of correspondence which had appeared in the papers concerning him and another gentleman.

Messrs Mcllhone and Macky were appointed scrutineers.

The Chairman said it was for the meeting to decide how long the polling would bejjcept open. After some discussion il was resolved to keep it open till half-past six, and should five minutes eh,jse after tilt time and no elector re'eofd *Hfa! vpte, the pojl. would be closed. " ■ ' ' : '

The election wa ■. then proceeded with. Mr J. Scotfc move 1, " That it be «n instruction to tne new C3mmittee, that the compulsory clauses 89 to 93 of the Education Act, 1877, be brought into force in the Kauaeranga School District." The Chairman read the clauses referred tO. - ■: . ' .;•■,;. ■■ .

- Mr Power had much pleasure in seconding the motion. When people had free education they could not; think jt« hardship to send their children to ichobl. He referred to the bid language lived by the boys of this place. Mr Scott said that the Committee would like to have their bands strengthened by

a vote of the ratepayers, if they wished to carry out the compulsory clauses. The Rev* J. T. Hinton moved as an amendment, "That it be an instruction to the Committee to seek for information as to how the compulsory education , worked in other places where it was tried, and. lay such information before ameotiog of ratepayers." Mr Koenau said that in Victoria compulsory education worked very well. Mr Kirkham seconded the amendment. Mr Renshaw said he had opposed compulsory education before, and would do so now. It would be well not to raise a fresh cloud of enemies against the Act. He re'erred to the fact that the compulsory clauses in England had caused BO.CDO prosecutions in one year. This showed there was something wrong. Mr Scott said that the very people who should be educated now escaped it. The amendment and motion were then put to the mect.'ng, and an equal number voted for each. The Chairman said he would not take the responsibility of giving a casting vole, as ho considered it was out of their ' province to do anything of the kin*?. At a quarter to seven the poll was declared closed. The following was the result of the ! poll :—Scott Hunter, 132; R. Farrell, 70; Renshaw, 68 ; Speight, 68 ; Kilgour 67; Power, 48; Grigg, 41; Rowe. 33; James, 26; Skeen, 18; Nodder, J7; Wildman,l6; Nolan, 4. The first seven were declared duly elected. The usual compliment to the chairman concluded the meeting.