TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 324, 6 August 1898, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU.

School Committee.—A meeting of the school committee was held on Wednesday evening in the school-room. Present : Messrs C. A. Taylor (Chairman), G. Ahier, J.. 8. Teasdale, J. Gibson, T. Greaham and W. North. After the Chairman had read the minutes of the previous meeting, Mr Teasdale raised the question as to the legality of the two previous meeting?, on the grounds that they were cot held in a public place, and asked that all correspondence received since the last meeting in the school be read. He did not believe in any hole and corner business being done. —Mr Gibson said he did not think there was any hole and corner business, as he understood that all the members had received notices where the meetings were to be held. —The Chairman stated that Mr Grcsham had signed the minutes of the meeting held in his office.—Mr Teasdale said the meeting was illegal, a quorum not having been present, and requested that the whole of the minutes be read over again. This was done by the Chairman, who stated that he had called the meeting at his residence as it was more comfortable, After the minutes had been read Mr Teasdale drew attention to a resolution passed at the last meeting, "That the schoolmaster be instructed not to grant any school holidays without the sanction of the committee being first obtained." The speaker said there was nothing to warrant the inference that the head teacher had taken upon himself to grant holidays, and moved that the resolution be rescinded.—After some discussion the minutes as read were confirmed.—Mr Teasdale next drew attention to reports which had appeared in the press of the previous meetings. The reports did not state definitely what had been done and gave altogether a false impression as to a matter which as was reported had better not been made public. People had asked him what this reierred to, and he had told them he did not know.—Mr North, who was present at that meeting, said he had heard nothing mentioned which was not to be made public. The Chairman said he knew nothing of the matter. —Mr Teasdale thought the chairman should have written to the press, contradicting the report and have explained the matter in some way.—The Chairman said he did not care to write to the press. In order to clear the headmaster and teaching staff the following resolution was carried unanimously : ** That the chairman wait upon Mr Rees with reference to the matter, which was rot to be made public, and explain that it had no personal relation to either Mr Rees or the staff of teachers."—A letter from the Board of Education intimated that the Board had decided to acquire a playground, and were taking steps to that end.—A letter was read from the District Traffic Manager of the Railways, regrettiug that on account of the steep grades and the consequent heavy expenditure of engine power, a school trip to Rotorua could not be entertained. He was willing to take the excursion party to Te Aroha and back provided there were not less than 300 passengers all told. It would not pay the Department to do it for less, as the necessary engines, carriages and staff would have to run from Auckland and back.—The Committee thought there would be no difficulty in getting the required number for the different schools: Te Awamutu, Kihikihi, Rangiaohia, Te Rahu, Mangapiko and Pirongia, the date of the excursion to be about November 23rd. Pares : Children under 15 years, Is 2d ; senior scholars, 2s ; adults, 2s 9d.—The Chairman thought it would be better to endcavcur to arrange a visit for the children to the Auckland Exhibition.—Mr Greaham thought that there would be sure to be other excursions to the exhibition and that a journey to Auckland and back was too much for one day. The majority being in favour of Te Aroha, it was decided to accept the offer of the Traffic Manager and invite the neighbouring schools to join iu the excursion.— The Chairman stated that at the last meeting a letter was read from Mrs Bearsley making several charges against the teacher. He had written to Mrs Bearsley requesting her to make her charges more definite. A letter was received that day in which the charges were fully set forth, and ho commenced to read the letter, when Mr Bearsley, who was present, requested that the letter be not read as he understood it contained certain charges which he was unaware of.—After Mr Bearsley hud spoken, it was resolved not to read the letter but to return it to Mrs Pearsley. Ckeameby.—The local creamery commenced operations on Monday last under the management of Mr 'Burton. The quantity of milk received was three hundred gallons.—(Own Correspondent).