ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1899, 27 January 1885, Page 2

ELECTION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

The statutory meeting, of householders fqrthß purpose of electing a Sclidbl Com%p'e "was" held last night at the*' Public •School, Year after year the interest in these meetings has increased until it culminated'.last night in tlFe necessity of an .adjournment to a larger room than any the school could provide, for the ticcoinmoliiPa.9l.t!io'%ee, or .four luuidred per-• sons assembled, The meeting was opened .-.at tlie public school-in due tWby''Mi' J. ' P.; JBodc]in<rton, „ tho, [Chairman. of the. .Committee, for-the past year, and a formal "motion, jyas put to tho meeting and earned unanimously that an adjournment immediately take place to the Kuripuni Town 'Ball. When tho business of the evening ■*as resumed.it'. was estimated 'that'quite 1 '4OO persons were present, there, being itlso a.number. outside, including several Mies,-who did hb't "care to venture -into the closely packed building, The' report' .and.balauce, sheetnf; the Committee having been read by the Secretary (as published in our-columns on Saturday), "•• The •Chairman said it was usual to congratulate the parents at tho annual me'eting'.iipbn-the progress of the .school during the preceding year, but he thought in no .-year had such success attended the school'as on that just past. '.The in-' auguration of the higher classes was/cry much in the nature of an experiment",.-, and'that it'had turned out a great! sucde'ss" •wasknown-td;t}ie.m'.all r from the reports of the Inspector, and of the Rev. W. E. Paige who had examined' the scholars to •award prizes'.-- ;The feotithat the Inspector ■hacl never; Ifdund : : tte; primarpschbof stronger;thah dunng:th& past year was-i-J complete answer tar those who hadsur-J m«ed that, the Jhjgher- : cli»s education'' would interferenvitii'tll'e primary educd timi.-:; The percentage- had risen from 80 to 93 last year, (cheers), and the Inspector., had stated that' the result io.f tlje! i ..examination proved the'school to be strong throughout.-. (Cheers);.; J Their school .had also won three.scholarships, which was very satisfactory'.'; In .the report they had .expressed -their .thanks to the■. Town.. -Lands ftust to whom they owed a'great ••deal. ■ Tlieir,:graht- of-^so'had -Been'- of great -assistance to the" Committee in .enabling them t0..-procure' scientific .apparati and to furnish a school library. '(Cheera)._ They would doubtless re'mem;kr that in the competition in free hand drawing, Thorndon and Masterton who tied, headed the list, and they were to be congratulated upon tho fact that tho Masterton School was second to none in tho educational district of Wellington, (Cheers). He would now formally move that tho report and balance sheet of- the retiring Committee bo received and adopted,

Mr Wickerson seconded the proposition which was carried unanimonsly. The meeting in accordance with. the. regulations''then proceeded to elect a Chairman for the meeting for the purpose of electing a comjnit;tee for the ensuing ; .year, anion the motion of Mr„Wrjodroofe '•the- Mayor was elected to that'position',' His .Worship oaiaking the chair said they had done him the honor to elect him Chairman, and he trusted they would assist him to,keep it, as the-purpose-of the meeting.was .a..very...impor'tant one. He -remembered the time when it had been difficult to get a dozen persons sufficiently interested to. meet for the annual election,- and those who did come were the •same few who attended year after year, but he. was glad to see' so", many new faces there ■that night,' as it; showed, the increased' interest that was taken,in these elections. He trusted the 1 various speakers would get a fair aiid impartial •hearing, and-any who- differed" with' them could come forward and state their opinions in turn. This was not a meeting where a lot of young men could give., vent to the exuberance of their youth..'. Tli3y hid now advanced to an age when education, was looked upon as "everything in the great battle of life, and they had met as earnest men and women to see that their children got well and fairly educated (hear,- lie'arj,. and they could only do that by .electingmen of integrity and ability on the Committee (cheers). Tli9 nomination of candidates was declared open and the. following gentlemen were duly proposed:—J. C. Boddington, W. Lowes, J. : Payt6n,'A. W. Hogg,"lt. M. Galloway, A. Johnston, A. Reese, G. W. Woodroofe, T, P. Gfrdroxl, T.C. D'Arcy, J. Walker, J. W. Lang, A. Yule, R. Donald, and F. Chapman. Messrs Caselberg, Feist, Muir,. Vile, Rapp, and Shute were also nominated but declined the honor. ■

The Clause of the Act showing the qualification of voters was read by the Chairman, and telegrams relating thereto from the Secretary to the Board and the Board's Solicitor, to W, Sellar, the Secretary to the Committee, i Messrs Brandon, 'the Solicitors to the Education Board, had wived to tho effect that mere lodgers and .navvies were not qualified I 'to vote, but their votes could be taken under protest. This was in reply to a telegram from ; Mr Sellar, stating that 1 an opposition candiv date, up country; proposed to bring jus navvies to voto, insisting they were qualified, as they had slept m Masterton and thereby, oeoupied or .used a dwelling, •house,' and asking if they were qualified. The Chairman said it .would be very unfair if ;a nvittiber of nav.yies were ? brought in for such.a purpose.; .. -..-... .•':.'"- ■•. . Mr'Girdwood said-lie;was'a candidate and the; navvy, referred ..to'-.'who was supposed .to'bring down-men'-to', vote. Although he was a.ccmtractor he/had no . contract in' hand 'at the. present! tijiie and'' it-would be altogether unfair if because lie. was a navvy;hewas not allowed a;y6t'e. As to bringing down.his,- meirforsucli...a. purpose he denied that-.he/had done so, but he contended tho men had a perfect right to .votoif thoy came in. (No, no, no.) , ...Mr Hogg said before the; votes werere- - "; cordedthey ought to have a v fair explanation of the telegram sent and he would like an explanation from the Secretary as to how, he became possessed of' the information contained in his message. It wasonly due to the Secretary, togivo him such' an opportunity of explaining r s he felt certain ho had not done this of his own volition, '•,. ' ,"•.':

Mr W, Sellar said ho as Secretary was only the instrument of the Committee, from whom ho took orders through, the Chairman. Mr Boddington said Mr Reese had told him he should insist upon th? votes of the navvies being accepted and it was in con-; sequenco.of this'the telegrams had been sent so that the Chairman should know his legal status in the matter, as a great responsibility rested upon him in accepting or refusing votes, (Hear, hear). Mr Reese said he thought ho could make it quite evident to Mr Boddington that he was in error 'in say ing he gave"him the information as stated. |f r Boddington had come up to him himself and asked him if it was true that such was the case. (Cheers and laughter). Mr Boddington said after jspeaking with Mr Reese on the matter of voters qualification and going through the clauses of the Act together and .not agreeing upon the interpretation thereof, the telegrams had been sent that there might bo no misunderstanding at that meeting ' Mr Hogg-eajd notwithstanding the opinion of Brandon and Sons (which was only worth 6b. 8d), he maintained that 'every navvy had as good a right to vote as himself..who was an editor of a. newspaper'or Mr'Boddington who. was a manager of a bank. • (Yells and cheers). 'The'Chairman said he thought .enough had pasaed"upon'the matter; he would tako-the namjs-of the voters and allow

anyone who chose to do bo enter a pm tost. -

Messrs J. lorns, E. Feist, and R. Brown were appointed scrutineers. . Each voter was'supplied with a voting paper and-tlien Jeff; the building. The. rjajl being cleared the voters wero admitted singly, gave their names to the .Secretary, deposited their voting 'papers in the Chairman's hat, took, their seats., and patiently awaited the finale.-, .. •■ • .'■• The voting papers we're thenopened by by Mr Peist who passed thenron to' Mr loniß whc-'called out the names recorded on the paper with tho number of votes awarded to each candidate. Great fun was caused by the plumpers as';they cropped up now and again and the au'dience!showed great patience throughout the wearisome work of tallying the nearly 2000 votes recorded. Upwards of an hour was occupied with the work and when the last paper was announced .'quite aicheer went "lip. The audience was breathless whilst the result of the polLwas? read by the-Secretary in a loud clear voice a3 follows:

"'"Hogg ;:.;.:.28S :; ' Boddington:;. ;.; .■ ■...■268Payton " ... ' ...219' Lowes „. \„ 1M 218 Reese ~.179 , Woodroofe ... ...-•,,. 158 - Girdwood • 135 ■■ Galloway •'-.„ , ; .' '"-,„< gg ' " "■ ; -'.:Johiistpn..;;... j. ... -G5- - ■ -,;.; r ;:.'i)'A-rcy : ~. - .„;]24«' v ' Donald -'■ : ■•',.. ..'....,"'.'■ "22' """"Lang,. '■■'•■;, il7v-;.\ Chapman 13''* \'--:Yule : ;r. •;,. ... . . .11 •.-,> . : ;Walkor . .;. ... i; ':.;;."':r';." The Cliaiman .announced"the first ■seven", names-as duly "elected members .of ,the. ; .Sch'6'6l,' Committee amidst cheers. He" also congratulated the householders .upoh-tlieir choice of represent*-' tives and proposed a vote of .thanks, to the retiring:: Gommitfee for the. good work thef had done during the past: year which : was carried with acclamation. ..::. .

Mr Boddington on behalf of himself and Committee,- returned thanks 'and. hoped at the end of, the current twelve months the ..present Committee would merit and receive the same compliment at their hands.

.. Mr Woodroofe returned thanks for the resolution and also, for the honorable position in which they had placed him on the poll. .. Mr W. Lowes proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for the very efficient manner in which he had conducted the meeting. Such an orderly meeting was a credit to the town and to the Mayor as Chairman. He very feeliugly.thanked them for returning him on the Committee. The Chairman replied in suitable terms and the meeting broke up. COMMITTEE MEETING.

. A.meeting.of the.Committee was then '' held'allthe members beingpreserit. On the motion of Mr. Lowes seconded by Mr Hogg ■Mr .JVC Boddington was unanimously elected as Chairman of the new. oom i mittee. On the motion of Mr Payton the standing orders of the previous Committee were adopted. ■ Messrs Woodroofe and Reese expressed a desire for a meeting of the Committee on the following day iii order to send a recommendation to the Board meeting on Wednesday -re a-second school. After some discussion it wis daciled to despatch this particular business that evening; Mr Payton suggested'that it would be detter'for the two sections of the Committeo to meet each other with a view to avoid losing for Masterton the £SOO vote. Mr Hogg expressed his - willingness to adopt such a cause, but Mr Woodroofe dissented and Mr Lowes also expressed himself averse to any arrangements as lie held-that a second- school ■would be detrimental to the interests of ■education in Masterton. Mr Hogg then moved, that the Board he recommended to give effect to the petition recently sent in to establish a second school in the northern end of the town, and was supported by. Messrs Woodroofe, Reese, and Girdwood, The Chairman pointed out "why he could noUute for such a" resolution aa tlio experience of other places, instancing Nelson in particular, proved that one central school was more efficient, Mr Hogg's resolution was carried. Messrs Bodding-. ton, Lowes and Payton, formally recording their dissent from it. Tlio meeting broke up shortly after midnight. TENUI, At the meeting held in the Tenui schoolhouse, Messrs Mackay, McHutcljon, Telford, Perry, Knight, Nicholls, and Brading were elected as a Committee, and Mr Mackay re-elected as its Chairman. Mr J, Young was nominated as a can* didato for the, vawut Beat, at the Board, GREYTOWtf! ■'"■ • Thofollowig Is-the new School Cora, mittee :-Rev. Young, J, ' Hillier, H, Udy.W.Udy.P, Trotter, Rey, Western, W.C.Cuff/ \ ;■ ;• : , ■ - TAUfiRU. ■''••'• There was rather a thin attendance of householders, Mr Nevillo occupied the chair. The balance-sheet showed a balance in hand of £ls 1.4s Id.' Mr Hugh Beetham declined to be re-elected on tlio. Committee^'at'which much regret was expressed. A'vote was. passed .'acknowledging Mr Beeth'am's past services to the-' school, and a vote of thanks to the retiring committee; The following committee were then elected :—Messrs Rogers, Neville, Hercock, O'Connor,.. ..Manning, •Smitli.and Gazzard. ' A meeting of the committee will be held, on Wednesday evening to' eleot chairman &c.., WAJNGAWA. At the meeting of householders held at the Waingawa'School on the 20th instant, for. the election of school committee,, the following were olected: W/yott, TUysh, Pledge, Gray, Raynor, Ingley," and Reynolds. At a subsequent meeting of the Committee' Mr' Reynolds was- elected Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary. OPAKI SCHOOL. The retiring Committee, consisting of Messrs Everett (Chairman), T. Brown Hush Campbell, Robert Campbell, D.' McPhoe, J. R. Welch, and R. R. Welch were elected unopposed. The report and balance sheet for the past year were adopted, CARTERTON. The votes recorded wero as follows ',-■ Fan-brother 15, Campion, 15, Carter J3, G. A.-Fan-brother-13, Anderson?, Aplin 7, Mqore 6, Weston Q, A, L. Whyte 2. FEATHERSTON, Tho monthly meeting of the Foathers-. ton SohoolCommittee waß held last evening, Present—-Meaara Bunny, Oakly, Brunskill, Donald, Matthews and Robertson. The minutes of the previous meeting , having been read ana confirmed, the Treasurer's statement was read which ; showed a balance 4f£i. 7b lOd. , ■. The following report- was submitted- to, •the Cpraraittep.and adopted;— '.^';.'...".' '■ The. first and'most-^portant'fatter

dealt with by the committee was • tho appointment of a head teacher in place of Mr Tuckey resigned. Mr Bunting was deeme'd by the Education Board to be the most suitable candidate forthe post, and the Committee in ..confirAg, the Board's selection' felt that'Mr Bunting would prove a satisfactory' '..head 1 teacher, and now Consider that'the'result of the past year's work fully' bear out the anticipation .formed .at the •appointment was made/ -The school has "made 4 steady progress during ffie year,, Die "attendance at. the.closobeing 193 against 161 at the beginning of the year. , When your.'. Committee took office a balance of £3 14s lid was handed over, to-them by-the late committee. The"? income for'the year .has been £6116s 10d, made up as follows,:—balance, £3l4s lid; capitation, £4B 7s6d; other accounts, £9l7s total, £6119s ■'3d'; balance, UltoU. ■ The annual meeting then took place for :'the electionof the; School Committee for the-ensuing year, when the following I were returned':—Messrs Bunny, Donald, • Mathews,'Mcbougal,'Robertsoitfforton, 'and Keys. Mr Bunny; was elected Chairman. ' j^ Mossrs Zabell, Clarke, Stevens,' Aridersoh,"and Lovensen were elected. Mr' Morgan was' appointed •Chairman of the Comiftittee. •- :.T'l, >3PARK VALE. ■■■ /,' The.fpllow'ihg;.Committee was elected: —!\V. ; .JFairbrother (Chairman), 0. Deike, H, ,Edwards,.Young ) . , Aekerman, Reading, and Diver. ■ .-r . ; . ; CLAREVILLE. • 'At a meeting for election of a committee ;last; tiight; Mr A.'. Booth being in the chair,'nine.nariie's, were, proposed, with the following'result I VBoothV •10, 0. Goodm'lO'/'F.'Feist 9, Baylissif J. Neilson 5, Underhill 5. TheJrst seven haying been declared electedMh. Booth was unanimously elected chairman for the present year. The report "presented to meeting stated that the"work of the school for past'year had been most satisfactory, exceedingj-.tho committee's expectations, as although nearly-'all presented last year passed, the samelatisfactory result was again obtained, 95 per cent passing.- -The school had also again carried off the highest scholarship'at tho late Board examination.-.■