School Committee Elections.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2281, 28 April 1886, Page 2

School Committee Elections.

MASTERTON,

The statutory meeting fov.the purpose.ol electing a now committee was held in tho Theatre Royal last night. The chairman of the retiring committee, Mr J. 0, Boddington, presided, and, with a few introductory remarks, called upon the secretary to .read the report and balance sheet, which had already been published in tho hjcal papers.

. Wlion the report and balance sheet had been read, the chairman said it was some fifteen months since he had the pleasure of meeting them on a Bimilar occasion, and Ho thought they might be very fairly congratulated on the satisfactory re&ord just submitted. The infant school at the north end was established; and was progressing satisfactorily. They had also obtained the additions to tho main school, which the outgoing committuo considered so necessary, Mr Grundy, the headmaster,; had suffered from a change in his working staff, no less than four teachers having been transferred during the year. He thought the result of the examination showed that Mr Grundy had proved his mettle. Ho (Mr Grundy) had taken charge himself, of the standards which' were for a time without teachers. The result showed 90 per cent passes, and again it was satisfactory to them to find Inspector Lee reporting the work as very .Btrong throughput, especially the arithmetic in Standard YI. They.had every reason-to be proud of their school and their excellent staff of teachers. The Masterton Bchool stood first in the list of the seven large schools in the Wellington district examined. The per centage of passes of schools with oyer3oo scholars was 83 per cent, schools fronivlOO to 300, of which thero wp eleven,-averaged 81 per cent, and schools containing 100 and less, of which there were nine, averaged 77 per cent. This showed clearly that large schools were able to do the strongest work, There had been competitive freehand drawing open to all schools in the district. In that Masterton was first with' 32, Thorndon being second with .15 (cheers). In the skirls sewing, which all admitted was important, the pupils were satisfactorily taught, The Committee regretted they hud been unable to give annual prizes for the ordinary standards, but arranirements had been made for their successors to provide sufficient prizes for distribution at the end of the year. A system of marks had been introduced which would act more fairly and prevent tho cleverest boy and girl from running off with the best prizes from those who, though not so sharp, dovoted their time and imerpv to study. They had to thank- the Town Lands Trustees for a grant of £BS, which had enabled them to put in order the playground of botli schools, a want that was verym'uchfelt. The Education Board had appointed a board to examine pupil teachers.' Ho thought that system would enable the schools to obtain tho most efficient pupil teachers. They would sob by tho report that the number which attended the school was 653 scholars, 541 at the main school and 112 at the infant school. Six years ago tho attendance was only 340. At the rate the' population of Masterton was increasing they would probably in throo years timohiivo the attendance doubled, and two standard schools in the district (cheers). Ho knew they did not want to be kept longer than necessary. Ho was glad to seesuch a large attendance there that evening. It showed an increased interest in the school work. Iu returning into their hands the trust givon the Committee ho would formally movu that_ the report and balance-sheet bo received and adopted. ... The Chairman resumed his seat amidst enthusiastic cheers.

Mr E, Foist briefly seconded the motion which was earned unanimously. The Chairman said the next business was the election of a Committee, and he explained the mode of.procedure with regard to recoeding their votes, On the nation of J. Vile, • seconded by Mr (i, Crosbie, Mr Boddington • was appointed Chairman of the meeting for the purpose of the election, ; • Tho following names were then duly proposed and seconded—Messrs J. C, Boddington, J. Payton, W. Lowes, J. Muir, A. W. Hogg, J. W. Leahy, T. P. Girdwood, 6. W. Woodroofe, and-F. W. Redman. Messrs W. H. Beotham and A, Johnston were also nominated, but they thanked their proposers and seconders and retirod from the contest, Mrßeetham saying he felt the importance of tho offioe,-but his frequent absence from Masterton might interfere with the regularity of his attendance at the meetings of the Committee, Messrs E. Feist, J. Inms and J. Brown were appointed scrutineers and the result of. tho voting was as follows—Hogg, 217 ; Boddington, 205; Payton 193; Muir 145 ; Lowes 131; Leahy 114 ; Redman, 103 ; Woodroofe 67; Girdwood 54. A vote of thanks to the retiring Committee was carried unanimously on the motion of Mr Hooper. Thanks having been returned by the various candidates, the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair. COMMITTEE MEETING, The first meeting of the new committee was held in accordance with the statute immediately after the public meeting, ■Mr Payton said ho thought whatever differences they might have on other points ho believed thoy were all unanimous in the opinion that Mr Boddington •was a most efficient chairman, He had much pleasure in moving that Mr Boddington be elected Chairman of the Committee. Mr Lowes, in seconding the motion, said he did so recognising the deep interest always taken in theschool by Mr Boddington. He never missed a meeting and devoted a great deal of time,to edu cational matters. The work done at the meetings did not reprosent a tenth of tho work undertaken by the Chairman, and he thought their was no one who could better devote tho timo and onergy required by the duties of tho office. The motion was put by the Secretary,and carried unanimously, The Chairman thanked the Committee for again placing him in such an honorable position. There were duties attached to the office besides those of attending the meetings, Mid tlioy were onerous at times, They would relieve him when ho told them the work was with him a labor of love.

Mr Hogg moved, That the rules, regulations and standing orders of the outgoing committee be adopted by them. The motion was carried with the exception that the night of meeting was altered from the third Wednesday to the third Thursday in each month.

Mr Boddingto'n was appointed visiting member'for the current month, and 'the meeting adjourned. TAUBRU. The following School Committee has been elected at'the Taueru .--Robert Donald, George Garrett, Ole Anderson, Thomas Adams, John O'Connor, Ralph Manning, William Hercock. , CLAREVILLE. The following committee has been elected-A, Booth (Chairman) Bayliss, Feist, George, Delacy, Allen, and Underbill. ~ FEATHERSTON. The following Committee 'has been

Cuiidy, J. Robortson, .0. W. Keys W Benton, andß. 'Barton,' Considerable interest was token.in tho election.-''---' '•;.:% ;■; UPPEr;plain.-'<v The following School Committee were elected—R. Di Dagg, (Chairman)' Charles Hare, James McGregor, -Thomas Wilton, William Osbornej Richard Tankersley, and F. Vib'eii . MAURICEVILLE. ■ There were thirty householders present, MrG. Gunderson in .thu chair. Twelve were nominated," with the following result;— Messrs Oelius Petersen,'P. Hanser, W,;Jessen, Peder Andersen, junior, G oorge Franklin/and Gunder Gunderson. The latter was 'elected chairman for the ensuing year. .- . ■ - —i ,'•'■' i I ■•'■.■ ■-'•■ OARTBKTON; ■. Tho following- Committee was elected: -W. B Campin.'R. Fairbrothor, W. Canter, G. A. Fairbrothor, J. Stovons, Joseph Aplin, E. Anderson, '"'.■ ' GREYTOWN- " ; "" AtGroytowii fifty householders wero present, and Messrs Black,, Muir, R. J. Thompson, TrotteiyKimberley, P. Cotter, jun., and H. Udy, jun., were elected,'Mr Black- being subsequently appointed chairman and Mr Hornblow secretary,