MASTERTON SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3788, 17 April 1891, Page 2

MASTERTON SCHOOL.

The monthly meeting of the Masterton School Committee was held in the Oddfellow's Hall last evening.; Present—Messrs E. Feist (in the chair;, Hoar, Prangnell, Easthope, Eton and Daniell. The minutes oi the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Treasurer reported the receipt of £25 from the Town Lands Trustees and the expenditure of £3O 8s sd. The debit balance was now £5 Is sd. The liabilities at the end of the year were £6l 17s 6d, and the assets £SB, leaving a debit balance for the year of £8 17s 6d. Correspondence. From the Secretary of the Education Board,! authorising the expenditure of <£S in repairing latrines and fences. ; : » From Town Lands Trustees, forwarding cheque for grant of £25 made in November last. From same, stating that the sura of £3O had been voted for cleaning purposes.—The Secretary was instructed to apply for the grant at once. Teachers 7 Report. The head teacher reported the numbor of children on the roll as 589, tho average attendance 468, and the percentage of attendances 79. The att9ndanoe had been affected in the early part of the month by the itch scare. No ne# cases of itch had been discovered. He recommended several repairs, and stated that he had been applied to for the use of the infant room for a panoramic entertainment. The repairs suggested were left in the hands of Mr Prangnell and the visiting member. The application for the use of a room fox an entertainment was refused,

Miss Keeling reported 118 children on the roll, the highest attendance 105, the lowest 81, and the average 99. It was necessary to procure, a. winter supply of coal, On the motion pf Mr'Daniell, seconded by Mr Prangnell, it was deoided to procure -a jjupplv of coal.

Leave of Absence. Mr Gifford, who had obtained leave ot absence from the Education Board for a week; applied to "the Commi'tee for its consent, It was resolved that the application be granted. Accounts. Accounts amounting to £i 13s 5d were passed fcr payment when funds permit, Ordinary. MrEasthope asked if there had been any report from the police as to truant children. The Secretary replied that he had received none. The head teacher explained that he had received a report from Sergea nt Price of families visited, and a num - ber of children who had previously absented themselves now attended the school. Mr Easthope pointed out that it was the duty of the truant officer to look up those who 'had never attended a school. The police appeared to resent what they considered the interference of the He was well awate that there were numbers of children in the town who were not attending school. He would move that the police officer in charge be requested to furnish a monthly report of children not attending school, Mr Eton seconded,—Carried.

Mr Easthope moved, that the Committee desires to point out to the Town, jj.ands Trustees that no grant in aid of the School has been made from the Trust, funds for the year ending 81st March, 1891. The sum of £BO granted for cleaning the school during the current year is totally inadequate for the purpose and the Committee therefore requests the Trustees to re-consider its application for £SB 4s with a view to granting the whole sum. Mr Hoar seconded. Mr Praugnell said to his mind the resolution was not justified. The Trust ha.d stated that' the Committee could apply for further grants. Mr Easthope stated that all he desired was to get the balance of the £SB. Mr EJton thought it was coming rather hard after receiving fcho LBO to make Uiis.appUoation.

Mr Easthope: The Town Lands Trustees are supposed to. help the School, and they will have to doit. If this Trust won't, we'll put in men who will.

Mr Daniell sympathised with the resolution, hut did not wish to raise an opposition to the Trusc.

Mr Eton thought Mr Easthope expected grants from the Trustees to be expended at his dictation. The funds of the Trust had to be spent for purposes of pubHc utility.. , Mr Easthope: Public atility comes third." They must first grant what the school requires. - •• r The Chairman doubted whether their object would be attained by putting things too plainly to the Trust.

The motion was put and carried. The Secretary stated that he would undertake to collect sufficient to liquidate all liabilities before next meeting. Mr Easthope thought it was particularly hard that they should go round begging whilst they had a large special fund at their disposal. The Secretary, in reply to Mr Easthope, stated that a full balance sheet would be submitted to next meeting.

Mr Feist was authorised to sign documents in the absence of the Chairman.

Mr Easthope suggested the advertising of the date for receiving nominations for the new committee. It was resolved that the dates for nominations and elections be advertised in the local papers. Messrs Feist and Easthope were appointed a committee to draw up a report for presentation to the annual meeting. Mr Hoar was appointed visiting member.

The meeting then adjourned.