KAUAERANGA.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3103, 28 January 1879, Page 2

KAUAERANGA.

The householder of this district held their annual meeting in the new schoolroom, Baillie street. There was an average attendance, and His Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair upon the motion of the Rev. J. T. Hinton, seconded by Mr Farrell. The Chairman, after a few remarks, read the clause of the Act under which the election was being conducted, and called upon the Hon. Secretary, Mr Grigg, to read the report for the past year:— I;

The Kauaeranga School Committee have muchjileasure in reporting that the schools in this district have been well attended and satisfactorily conducted: during the. past year. A. full and efficient it ff of teachers, under the able superintendence of Mica Haselden and Mr Phillips, has been maintained by the Board of Educ»tion, and all hare fulfilled their duties in such a way as to merit our approval and thanks. The average attendance at the Girl's School hare been about 200, and at the Boys' School about 310. The most urgent matter that hai claimed the attention of the Committee i». the insufficiency of accommodation at the Girls' School,- and frequent representations hare been made to the Board op this subject, and repeated promises have been received that; a new school-house' shall be built as soon as funds are available. The plans are now ready, and we expect that a large' and commodious' building will be erected before 'the wiriter aetst ihV Early 'in the year the desirability of adopting the compulsory clauses of the Education Aofc'was carefully discussed,' and in May a resolution in favor of the proposal 1 was carried by a sihall majority, but as both tohool houses "are already overcrowded, and no pressure of public opinion has been brought to bear on the subject, the' Committee have refrained from exercising the power which they possess, but think it their duty to' take this opportunity of informing parents and guardians that it is now illegal to perßflitthe education of the children-in this district to be neglected. The Committee have held 18 meetings during the year, which have been well attended. InJJuly, one member (Mr Power) left the district. He omitted to send in his resignation, and his seat has since remained'vacant. In October, Mr T. James was elected on the Committee in lieu of Mr G-rigg, who had resigned ', but who consented to continue to act as Secretary during the remainder of the year. In the month of Jane the Committee received the first instalment of the School Fund: provided for under the present Education Act. to meet incidental expenses,. and they' immediately discontinued collecting subscriptions from scholars for cleaning, &c, .but as such subscViptfqns had been received during' the half year just completed, the Committee considered they were entitled to request authority from tbe Board to expend the balance of the School Fund in hand, and add to the pleasure and health of the children by'erecting a gymnasium. This authority has been granted, but its administration will devolve on the new committee to be elected to-day. By. the liberality of parents and residents the Committee were enabled to make ample provision for prizes, &c, at the recent breaking-up, and a copy of receipts and expenditure in this head is appended.—J. Q-Aiao, Hon. Seoretary, Jamesi XiKtot^Chawman.- -^ ;' l_-^~i___

I Tb« balance sheet shewed a credit balance of £25 ss. . „ Upon the motion of Mr Scott, seconded Mr Jefferson, the report was adopt3d. ■ ■ The next business was : the nomination of ft itlemen as members of the Committee for the ensuing year. > The follow ing gentlemen were proposed:—Messrs Renshaw, R. Farrell and McCullough. (Mr McCullough asked his proposer and seconder to allow him to retire in the event of their being more than seven gentlemen proposed, in order to prevent the necessity of a ballot, which arrangement was accepted.)—Dr Eilgour, who! declined to act, said he could not afford the necessary time. —The Mayor regretted very much that Dr Kilgour, who had given a great deal of time and attention to the affairs of the school, could not make it convenient to accept office again. Mr Speight, who also asked to have his name withdrawn; Mr James, who accepted upon the same condition as Mr McCullough; Messrs Aitken, Greenville, Scott, Bernewitz and Newton. There being seven gentlemen proposed, the Mayor and Mr James retired, when, upon the motion of Rev. J. Hinton, the remaining seven gentlemen proposed were elected the Committee.

Mr Robfc. Scott proposed a rote of thanks to the late committee. This was seconded by Mr Greenville and carried. Mr Renshaw referred to the excellent way the schools.had been worked, and said it was in a great measure due to Mr Grigg, who, though he latterly had ceased to be a member of the Board, continued to act as Secretary. SDr Kiljour endorsed the remarks of Mr Renshaw, and seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Grigg returned thanks saying that it was to him a labor of love. - f «, „. -

Dr Kilgour moved a vote of thanks to the chair, which was seconded by Mr Eenshaw and carried, and the meeting broke up. At a meeting of the newly elected committee held subsequently, Mr Benshaw was elected chairman, and Mr Newton secretary.