Elections of School Committees.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5005, 27 January 1885, Page 2

Elections of School Committees.

The meeting of householders for the election of School Committees for the various Thames districts took place last night, the following being the particulars of each meeting :— . WAIOTAHI DISTBIOT. . Abont 90 persons assembled in the Waio»Karaka schobl, and after Mr Jas. McGowan had been voted to .the chair, the Secretary (Mr W. Smith) read the report and balancesheet. The former Btated that during the year some necessary repairs had been affected, but the renewing of the Waio Karaka fence had not yet been attended to by the Board of Education. The Committee had supported Mr Goldie's petition to the House of Representatives that the Education Act should remain as it then was. B,e» ports from head masters, re 'subordinates, had now to pass through the Committee's hands, and this plan was found to work well. Pleasure was expressed at being able to report very favorably on the work of Mr La Trobo and assistants at the Waiotahi Creek school. Mr O'Donoghue hating been removed from the headmastership of the Waio-Karaka school, Mr 11. D. Stewart had been appointed to take charge after the holidays. The work at this school had, on the whole, been better than in former years. The acquisition of Mr D. Schofield as assistant master had done much to bring the school into the present satisfactory condition. The other assistant teachers deserted credit for their behavior under trying cir« cumstances. ' Satisfaction 'was expressed with the visiting teachers—Messrs Grigg (music) and Barlow (calisthenics). The balance sheet showed that the year was commenced with a balance of £2 6s 2d, besides which £85 bad been received as ordinary grant, and £10 15s 6d for special purposes, making a total of £98 Is Bd, which had been expended aa follows :— Cleaning schools, £57 8s ; fuel, £6 10s; repairs and furniture, £21 4s lid; stationery, 18s Id; clerk's salary, gas, and sundries, £10 14s ; balance on hand, £1 7s 2d. On the motion of W. Eowe, seconded by W. S. Laurie, the report was adopted. A hearty vote of thanks to the retiring Committee was, on the motion of Messrs Brodie and Woodward, carried by acclamation, the Chairman returning thanks for the compliment. The election for the new Committee was then proceeded with, Messrs Brodie and Woodward being chosen scrutineers. The following was the result, the first named seven gentlemen beiDg duly declared elected:—J. Coutts, 109; W. Ord, 90; W. D. Eeid, 86; Fletcher, 81; J. McGowan, 58 ; J. Finlay, 47; W. Bowe, 44; J.Patterson, 43; G. S.Clark, 25 ; 0. Hill, 23; Sawyer, 0. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings, s The Committee afterwards met and elected Mr J. McGowan their Chairman, Mr W. Smith being also appointed Secretary. PARA WAI DISTRICT. The annual meeting was held in the schoolroom. Mr H. C. Gillespie, Chairman of the Committee presiding. The report was very encouraging shewing that during the past year everything had progressed, the attendance having largely

increased,'the rull shewing 191 scholars with an average* attendance of 145. Considerable credit was due to the Head . Master (Mr Rested) the Mistress, Mm Osbaldiston, and the' assistants Missel Sestrell and Fletcher. Several repair! wore referred to as requiring to be " attended to by the incoming Committe. The Committee reported that special thanks were due to Mr Restell for the iulerest he took in his work more' particularly for gratuitously establishing a French and Algebra class outside his ordinary duties and - the =■* staff was commended for the excellent conduct of the school during the*year. The . balance sheet Bhewed that £31 .13s 9J had been received and expended daring the year, and this and the balance sheet were received and adopted. A vote of thanks to .theretiriog Chairman (Mr Gillespie) was passed, and the following committee elected for the ensuing year :—Messrs Gillespie, Han sen, MaN shall, Dunlop, Hickey, Lloyd, and E. West. The Committee afterwardi met and elected Mr Gillespie Chairman. " KAUAEEaNGA DISTRICT. There was a large attendance of householders at the Boys' School, Mr W. Wood being voted to the chair. The Secretary (Mr K. Newton) read the, report, which stated thai throughout the year good work had been done in both schools, and the attendance had increased. At the Boys' School the accommodation was insufficient, and there was.none too much room at the Girls' School, the attendance at which was nearly 300. The. Inspector gavea somewhat derogatory report concerning the Standard examination at this school, but the Committee believed better results would be obtained next examtna* tion. The exertions of both head teachers and assistants were highly spoken of. The drainage of both schools had been im* proved; the Boys' School needed a thorough overhaul, but through want of funds the Board had deferred the work. In order to effect these repairs and get the school enlarged, the Committee bad been promised that a series of, entertain* ments would b# initiated, by which it was hoped some £100 would be secured, when the Board would be asked to find the remainder of the money needed. Consider* able trouble had been taken in trying to start a free night school, bat the scheme had been found impracticable at present.. When elected the Committee bad been requested to enforce the compulsory attendance clause, -but no funds being available, and the percentage of iron-attendants-being small, they had contented themseves with being ready to take up any special cases. The subject of recommending that the Christmas boli* days be restricted to a month had been left in abeyance this year as the teachers examinations were, being held on the Thames. The balance-sheet showed :— Receipts: Balance in hand,, £9 Os Id; from Board, £120; do. (special grant), £10; for gas used by Choral Society and meeting, £3 ss; total, £I^2 5s Id.—Expenditure : Cleaning, £7014s 3d; repairs, £29 7s Id ; erecting new closets, £10; committee's expenses, £11; balance- in hand, £6 9s.

The report was adopted on the. motion of Messrs Nddder and Hi Drirer, the latter hoping the suggestion re the holi. days would be adopted by the j new Committee. . '* ■

Od the motion of-the Ber. W. B. Woolley a vote of thanks was accorded to the out going Committee.

The election of the new Committee then took,*place, Messrs Nodder and Gibbs being scrutineers. The following was the result-Messrs Greenville (101), Farrell(B9j, Pitkethley (66), McDonald (54), E. Scott (53), Newton (43), J. Renshaw (39 . There were also, nominated Messrs W. E. Woolley,Grarit,A. Bruce, T. Black, E. Bateman, M. Whitehead, J. Hudson, and J. Danby. , ■ "ji After passing a vote of. thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated. * ' A Committee meeting was then held, at which MrE. Farrell was chosen Chair*— man, and.Mr,Newton Secretary.- -,-,

TABAEU DISTRICT ~

There was a fair attendance of residents in the Schoolroom. Mr B. Wolff presided. The Committee reported that 205 1 were on the roll; at tbe examination for , High School scholarships, three of the , four successful competitors were from thr Tararu School, and three of the four from the school who competed at the District Scholarship examination were successful; 80 per cent, of passes obtained bj the competitors was the highest in the district ; these results were very gratifying. Several improvements in the. matter, of. painting the school building, enlarging tbe play ground, and other necessities were referred to, but the Board of Edam* tion had declined to effect'them/; The bahnco sheet showed expenditure £34 19s 7d, and to the incoming Committee it was pointed out that increased capitation allowance from the Board should be sought. The report and balance sheet were adopted, and the Committee for the ensuing year elected—Messrs. Darrow, Dennerly, Eea, Brownett, Crawford, Vivian, and Ellis were, after a ballot had been taken, selected for the ensuing year. At a meeting of the Committee, held sub* sequently, Mr Crawford was elected Chairman, and Mr Dennerlj Secretary, of it., ' ,• - '-\ ■-.*.'•':