PARAWAI SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2821, 28 February 1878, Page 3

PARAWAI SCHOOL DISTRICT.

The annual meeting of the Parawai householders was held last night in the Parawai School-house, at half-past six o'clock, tho business being to ulect the Committee for the ensuing year, and to receive tho outgoing Committee's report. There was a good attendance of householders present.

Mr McLaren, on the motion of Mr Vernon, took the chair and announced the purpose of the meeting. He said the first item to attend to was reading the outgoing Committe's report, which was accordingly done by Mr Spencer. It was as follows :—

Your committee congratulate tho residents of Parawai upon tho steady increnso of the number of pupils attending the school of this district. The average attendance during the past year being in round numbers: —For the quarter ending March 30th, 60; Juno SOMi, 65 } September 30th, 74, Decorn er 31st, 74 j and at the present time the attendance roll numbers upwards of 80. No complaints have been made to the committee during the year, and the conduct of tho children has been orderly and their progress 'generally good. During tho last session of Parliament a new Act has been passed and brought into force •uniformly over the wholo colony, tho provitibns of which arc mostly liberal. Under the new Act the Board of Education will be elected by the committees now being dissolved, and the number of members on the now committee to be electee! will bo seven instead of five as heretofore. Tho qualification for j election is,3eQned to bo a householder tesident within the district. Every voter is entitled to seven votes, which may bo. given to one candidate or distributed am np the candidates, as the voter thinks fit, and the election is to take place by ballot. A combined meeting of the School Committees of the Thamos was held on tho 16th January for the purpose of nominating two representatives for tho wbolo district to a seat at the Board of Education, when Messrs Win. Davies and Henry Vernon were selected. The result of tho election will not be made known till the Bth of next month. Your committee consider thatconibined action should bo taken to secure enlarged powers lo school committees, such as, for instance, instead of being compelled to communicate with the Board of Education for trifling suniß required to pay for mending broken windows, cleaning schoolrooms and clesets, whereas at present any sum required causes unnecessary correspondence and delay. During tho past year jour committee have been eble to effect great improvement* in the school and play-graund, tho latter having been properly filled in and levelled, and a substantial coat of sheila put on. A new fireplace has Been builfc, and a washhouse and cloak-room fitted up. Tho cost of these works, amounting to nearly £100, woro done under the superintendence of Mr McLaren, who has earned the thanks of tho committee. Your committee have to thank the teacher, Mr Compion, and also Miss Bennett, for the attention paid by them in tho general management of the children, and also to congratulate tho laltar on having obtauifld a high-class ceriiflcato during the last teachers' examination. It will how be your j duty to elect seven resident householders to acrve as committee-men for the next twelve nonths.

Mr Hume moved that the report be received and adopted, which was carried unanimously. The same gentleman also proposed that a vote of thanks be given to <'the retiring Committee for their services during the past year. This was also carried unanimously. Mr Spencer returned thanks on behalf of the Committee. The ballot for the election of members of Committee for ensuing term was then proceeded with, the Chairman having lead clauses from the new Education Act concerning the procedure in election of committees. The number to be elected was seven, each householder having seven rotes. The following persons were duly nominated:— Messrs A. J. Allom, H. Vernon, J. E. Hansen, Thomas Spencer, J. B. Stoney, Kichard Hudson, Frederick Paul, H. Stiiwell, J. B. West, W. Creighton, E. F. Tizard, an 4J. Bull. Messrs Bay and Landy acted as scrutineers. The following gentlemen were declared elected :—H. Vernon, 74; J. E. Hausen, 66; J. B. West, 28; T. Spencer, 22; A. J. Allom, 18 ; J. B. Stoney, 18 ; E. Hudson, 17., Mr Vernon returned thanks for being placed at the head of the poll. The Chairman congratulated the meeting on the Committee they had elected, and said he felt glad that the proceedings had passed off so satisfactorily. A vote of thanks to the chair, proposed by Mr Vernon; was carried, and the meeting dispersed.