MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1844, 20 November 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The ordinary monthly meeting was held last evening. Present-Messrs Boddington (Chairman), Woodroofe, Payton, Johnston, Bish, and Galloway. The minutes of the preceding meeting having been read and confirmed, the Treasurer reported a credit balance of £24 9b.. Correspondence was read from the Revs Paige, Isitt, and Fulton, acceding to the request of the Committee to examine the school for the annual distribution of prizes. From Mr Caselberg offering prizes for competition in the school, and from Mr Ford asking the Committee to support an application which he had sent in to the Board for a bonus. Mr Caselberg's offer of prizes was accepted with thanks, and the Chairman, Headmaster, and Mr Payton were appointed a Committee to give effect to his wishes. Mr Woodroofe expressed an opinion that Mr' Caselberg's conduct in offering prizes was noble and patriotic, The Chairman supported Mr Ford's application as Mr Lee bad spoken highly of the work*in his standard, 27 out .of 29 pupils : passing. He iriovetl that his request be complied with. The motion was seconded by. Mr Johnston <md carried. The Headmaster reported 497 children on the roll and an average attendance of 416 for the past month. He strongly urged the necessity of increased building accommodation, and reported that nine of his pupils had been entered for the scholarship examination.

Mr Payton moved that the Ohairruan be requested to urge on the Board the necessity of pushing on the additions to the building at once. Mr Woodroofe opposed the motion, He denied that the building was overcrowded, and urged the establishment of a side school for infants.

The' Chairman said the Board, the Committee, and the public had decided that it was not expedient at present to erect a side school

Mr Bish supported the molion, He had observed that in the infant room the children in warm weather were almost suffocated, The motion was carried,

The following accounts were passed for payment:—W.Sellar, £3 lis; Mi'B Shepherd, £2 10s; Mr Shepherd, 14s fid; Lowes & lorns, £1 8s; A. Bish, 7s 6d, An account from John Smith for cleaning around trees £2los, was held over for inquiry. The Chairman referring to the recent examination called special attention to Mr Kay's brilliant passes in the 4th standard. On previous years this standard had been the weak point in the school, and had pulled down the percentage of passes. He also referred to the success of the 6th standard. The Inspector was so well pleased with the arithmetic papers done by Mr Waitte's pupils that he intended showing them to the Board. A sum of £2O had been reserved at the boginning of the year as a bonus for good teaching. It had been understood that it was to be given to Mr Kay if the result of his work was favorable. He thought Mr Kay had thoroughly earned it, and moved that it be sent to him with a complimentary letter. Mr Galloway seconded the motion speaking in high terms of Mr Kay's industry,

The resolution was carried unanimously, On the motion of Mr Paytoa, seconded by Mr Bish, it was resolved that the Committee express to Mr Grundy and his staff their great satisfaction with the result of the late examination, Tbey fully appreciate the brilliant success of Mr Kay and they also recognize the ability with which other teachers have discharged their duties, They are gratified too with the result of the High School work done by Messrs Grundy, Waitte, and Oollotte.

The Chairman, in supporting this resolution said it was gratifying to find that Mr Lee was,, at.the late examination, better satisfied with the Masterton school .than ever. It was not the number of passes that pleased him, hut the fact that a considerable portion of the passes were strong ones. He also congratulated the Committee on the result on the High School teaching and claimed that tho children in their school would not have made greater progress if they had been attending the Wellington College.

Mr Galloway expressed a hope that a« there had been a strain on the children lately in preparing for the examination the headmaster would be able between then and the holiday to reward them for their exertions by relaxing home lessons as far as might be compatible with maintaining the efficiency of the school. It was resolved that the Institute Committee be requested to provide a proper table lamp for the use of meetings.

Mr Bish tendered Lis resignation as a member of the Committee. A. general expression of regret at his departure was expressed, and was formally embodied in a resolution thanking him for his past services. Mr Boddington ■ having been appointed visiting member for the ensuing month, the meeting adjourned.