LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 425, 13 January 1875, Page 2

LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

The annnal statutory meeting for the elec- ■ tion of a Committee for the Lawrence Grammar School was held in the Schoolhouae, on Monday evening. There was a good attendance, >the majority of whom were parents. Mr. M'Coy, President, occupied the chair, and read the report and balance-sheet. The following is the report : — " The Committee has the honor to report that for the last twelve months the school has been most efficiently worked in all' its brandies, the head master and his assistants having been assiduous in advancing thepupils under their charge. No additions to the School buildings have been made during the year, as there is a probability of new school buildings being shortly erected. " The attendance during the year has been on the whole' satisfactory, although an outbreak of measels in the School and district interfered with the attendance in the hitter part of the year, and also has made it expedient to postpone the annual examination. " It will be seen by the annexed statement how the School stands financially." The balance sheet showed that salaries to the amount of £676 had been paid during the year. Improvements to the amount of £31, and general expenses to the amount of £95. The receipts were made up as follows : — School fees, £228 ; Government subsidy, £332 10s.; subsidy for fencing, £40; bill discounted, £70 ; leaving a debit balance of £131 17s 4d., The present position of the school * as" follows :— Cash in hand £47 ' 65.; due from Government, £110 ; accounts considered good, £150 ; total £307 6s ; liabilities—baknee as aforesaid, £131 17s 4d.; bill running £70/ thus leaving a balance in .favor of the school of £106 8s Bd. On the motion of Dr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. Fraer, the report and balance sheet were received. Mr. Copland referred to the items in th» statement — "Bill" and "interest," — which, he thought did not sound well, and the sooner they were got rid of the better. Some efforts should be made to avoid these items in the future, seeing the school was so prosperous. The President explained that the school had an overdraft at the bank, and as the Committee were required to pay off the same, they gave their bill for it. The report was then adopted. On the motion of Mr. Jeffery, seconded by' Mr. Carr, it was decided that the election should be by ballot, and that nine should form a committee. The following person* were then nominated : — Messrs, 1 Jamison, M'Coy, Hayes,' Squires, J. Thompson, Abel. Fergusou, Jeffery, Fraer, Harrop,- Copland, M'Xinlay, Eev. Mr. Menzies, Pressly Sutbe*» land, and Hay. Mr. Adams said there was a matter he intended to bring before the meeting before the Toting mn taken. He thought it was.

desirable that clergymen should not be connected with Pubjic School Committees. He ■aid there was latelya great squabble at Clinton through a clrfgyman being on the School Committee. He made these remarks with all drfe deference to the Bey. Mr. Menzies./ for whom he entertained a very great/egard. His own opinion was in favor of denominational schools, and in these the pr*per place for a clergyman was at the head. The P^sident here asked Mr. Adams if he had * proposition to make. Mp Adams said he would move that no (ueriyman De elected to serve on the school Committee. The President said he could not receive tuch a motion. Mr. Alexander held that sucb. a motion was •imply an insult to Mr. Menzies. If Mr. Menzies, Mr. Cameron, or Father Larkin were eligible for election they could not be prevented from taking part in the conducting of the school if elected. The President told Mr. Alexander that he could not allow discussion on the motion as he would not receive it. The Rev. Mr. Menzies said he had been a member of the committee for a few years and bad no wish to join it again. He would challenge anyone to show that during the tune he had been on the committee be had shown- any sectarian feeling. He had all along acted from the purest motive, v;z., the welfare of the school. However, as there seemed to be a disposition to edge ministers out of the Committee, he begged to withdraw from nomination. Mr. Ferguson also wished to say something with reference to the motion, but the Chairman would not allow further discussion. Mr. Freer moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Committee for the efficient manner in ■which they had performed their services. , Mn Adams seconded. — Carried. yjjthe result of the ballot was the election of the following-named gentlemen : — Messrs. Jamison, M'Coy, Hayes, Squires, Thompson, Abel, Ferguson, Jeffery, and Fraer. This concluded the business of the meeting. At a Committee meeting held afterwards, the following business was transacted. Mr. Jamison was unanimously elected President, and Mr. Hayes, Secretary. It was decided to hold the annual examination on Wednesday week, the 20th January — the day before the races. The sum of £10 was voted for prizes, Messrs. Abel and Ferguson were appointed a sub-committge to select prizes ; and Messrs. Jamison and M'Coy to conduct the examination. ! On the motion of Mr. Fraer, seconded by Mr. Jeffery, the suggestion of the Rector that old fees &c., amounting to nearly £200 •hould be taken over by the Committee, so that he could state with a clean sheet, was adopted. It was understood that the bill would be the first payment chargeable against these fees. The secretary was instructed to insert an advertisement in the local paper stating that accounts owing at the end of the year must be paid at once to the secretory. Messrs Fraeraud Thompson were appointed vinting members for the first quarter. Meetings in future to be held monthly instead of quarterly. TEe secretary was also instructed to advertise that donations of prizes* would be thankfully received by the committee. Permission was grantea to the Church of England to hold their annual meeting in the Schoolroom. The meeting then closed.