MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8125, 24 April 1906, Page 5

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS.

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTED. The nniu.'l meeting of households ,lf M-sterton for the p-',. pose ofee n « . a School Committee for the enßtu.' 1 g twelve mouths was helcf iu tho Drill Hall last evening. M/' R. Brown, Chairman of the' retiring Committee, presided, ( and the» wort? £ earlv 10 ° P er son° present. The follWhwr k M* annual report :—Under' tho abler supervision of the Headmaster, Mr W. H. Jackson, and with the did at his very capable staff the School throughout the year has done well'—ao well as to call forth the special commendations of your Committee, not only at the annual examinations in October, but also at the results obtained at the Civil Service and Matriculation examinations later in the year. The i Educatiou Board's Inspectors, in I their last annual report state that , "the general efficiency of the School is as satisfactory as ever. Mr Jack- | son and his staff have worked with enthusiasm and, in spite of the overorowdiug of some of the rooms, have maintained the high standard which is oharacteri&io of this School." As will bo seen from the statement of accounts that will be laid before you, the income of the Committee for the year (including a small balance from last year) was £3lO 10s 9d. This money has been carefully expended for the benefit of the Schools, and while a small credit balance of £4 7s 5d is shown as at March 31st last, your Committee has inourred liabilities to between £6O aid £7O, whioh will have to be provided for by the incoming Committee. Your Committee has to thank the Trust Lands Trustees for very liberal grants during past years, but this year the Trustees felt themselves obliged to cut down the School grants by one-half, and your Schools lost not only the amount out down, but also Government subsidy to ai equal amount. Your Committee wished to provide the children attending the Schools with writing materials, such as copybooks, writing pads, etc., free of cost, but in view of its reduced grants it has bben compelled to hold over this very desirable innovation. During the year the Education Board has bad the Main School buildings painted both inside and out, and in the coming summer the Side School will also be painted. In addition to this the Education Department has built in brick a considerable addition to the School, which will provide rooms for Science and Cookery Classes, and will relieve the overcrowding in the Primary Class rooms, which has been a source of anxiety to youi Committee. The Eduoation Board has recently appointed a special teacher for Agricultural Classes, and your Committee was oalled upon to provide the requirements for these classes. Your Committee approaohed the Trust Lands Trustees, and' these gentlemen at once s°t apart a piece of land close • to the School for the Agricultural Classes, and voted a sum of £SO for fencing, etc. Other local bodies were also approached, and from representatives sent by these a special Committee has been set up to look after the general welfare of the Agricultural Classes, and to provide necessary tools, seeds, plants, etc. The ground set apart has been ploughed and harrowed, and very soon your Committee hopes to see the Agricu'tural Classes at work. Your Committee has held 14 meetings during the year, 13 ordinary meetings and one special meeting, and the attendance has been as follows:—Mr Carpenter 14, Mr Brown 13, Mr O'Leary 13, Mr Heyboe 12, Mr Townseud 12, Mr Fendall 11, Rev D. J. Murray 10, Mr Waddington 10, Mr Pragnel'l 10. in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the Chairman referred to the grauts of the Trust Lands Trustees, whioh body had done so much in Maete.ton for the cause of Education. Masterton was so well endowed that the Committee ought to be able to supply free books to the pupils. If the Committee obtained the assistance of the Trust Lands Trustees it should be able to set the example to other towns and supply free books. Mastorton had every facility for being the centre of a great Education district. Mr C. E. Daniell seconded the motion, and on behalf of the Trust Land Trustees, thanked the Chairman for his remarks. He did not think, the Trust should supply free books. Mr W. H. Jaokson strongly urged tho advantage of free books to all children for several reasons. The election of the Committee was then proceeded with, and resulted in the following being returned.— Messrs R. Brown, J. Carpenter, W. A. Fendall, W. Gillespie, H. O'Leary, G. Townsend, E, H. Waddington, T. Duncan and C. Perry. On the motion of Mr Jaokson, a ! vote'of thanks was aooorded to the retiring Committee for their past services. At a meeting of the uewly-eleoted Committee, held subsequently, Mr R. Brown was elected Chairman for the ensuing year. The standing orders were adopted, and Mr Easthope's appointment as Secretary and Treasurer was confirmed, with an increase in salary to £25. It was deoided to meet at 7.30 p.m. during the winter. Messrs Brown, Carpenter and Fendall were appointed the visiting members.