SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3797, 29 April 1891, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Sfcotabuaa Sobool-

ADDITIONAL RETURNS. The following additional returns for School Committee elections have been received : Febnridge.—D M'Gregor (Jhairnian, Treasurer and Secretary), T Wilton senr., W Osborne, I Sykes, A Stempa, R Dagg junr., G Sage. Te Whxti. —J A Renall, (Chairman), J Pike, J McKenzie, W Fairbrother, P Gordon, F Smith, J Robini son.

Mauriceville East.—Messrs Gray Bannister, Kummer, Drew, Day, Cottios and Hall.

A meeting of the Eketahuna School Committee was held on Monday, April 27th. Present—Messis-T Bayliss (chairman), W Bayliss, Neilson, Anderson, Brenmuhl, and Jones.

The minutes of tbe previous meeting were read and confirmed/ A long discussion ensued over the expense for school cleaning. Mr Anderson stated that the school cost as much as the Masterton Bohool to clean.

Mr Brenmuhl explained that the competition in town was greater than in the country. There were only two tenders sent in and the. Committee therefore was compelled to accept the lowest. Mr Anderson could not understand how the deficit of nearly £ls could have accrued.

Mr Selby: If Mr Anderson had attended the meetings lie would have known. As it is he seems to have come here at the last meeting of the year 'to find fault. To allow of the new committee starting with a clean sheet, sis of the members here stated their willingness to subscribe towards the amount required on condition that all would do so.

Mr Awderbon : I decidedly refuse to pay a penny. By doing so the Committee would he acknowledging tp the public that the funds had been spent illegally. I should advocate that a public meeting bp p#ed and the matter placed before them. Mr Jones wished to know why the Committee should place their hands in their pockets for the benefit of the public, but still he was willing to subscribe, if all would do so. Mr Brenmubl animadverted strongly 09 the fault-finding of Mr Anderson, and informed him that there would be a public meeting held afc eight o'clock, at which he could explain himself. Mr Anderson : I intend to do so. The meeting then adjourned. j PUBLIC MEETING. I

The public meeting of householders was held in the school room.

Mr T Bayliss occupied the chair, and stated that the meeting was called to receive the report of the retiring committee and elect a new committee for the ensuing year.

The following report of the Chairman was then read: —I have the honor to submit to you the annual report of the School for the year, also the balance Blieet, which embraces a period of fifteen njopths. The total expenditure for the period of 15 months amounts to £-18 6s 4d. Total receipts for the same period £4B 9s 6d. The liabilities of the Committee at the present time amount to £9 Is Id. The present embarrassed state of the Committee may I think be distinctly traced to increased requirements for new school buildings, which were opened in September last, also to the fact that at the commencement of the present school year the working material of the School was reduced to a minimum and had to be supplied by the Committee. The materials to which I have been referring comprise pens, ink, pencils and slates. Slates alone have • cost the committee over £ t 10s during the ysar. I would here like to point out that it is not a usual practice for Committees to find slates. This question lias been discussed by the Committee, and it was thgught to be advisable to find the slates for the present year, but not after. ! Another considerable item of expenditure has been tha removal ol night soil. The contract for the year has been £8 7s 6d. Half of ibis amount will be due on the 15th May, which will add to the liability of the Committee. The J School has

undergone a complete change during! the year. Three weeks after the' present master took charge the j inspector examined the school. The report was anything but favorable. From the recommendation of the inspector the new addition was put to the'school and house. The alterations were not completed until the first of September. During this time the work had to be carried on while the carpenters were at work, the noise greatly interfering with school work. Before this the two rooms were overcrowded. Two teachers had to work in the same room. The school has been subjected to a complete change of teachers, there having been 5 new teachers during the year. This has made the working of the school anything but an easy task. The School was examined on the 9th and 10th of April. The report of this is not to hand, but as far as we can judge will be of a very favorable nature. In June of last year valuable assistance was rendered to the Committee by the teachers, who got up a school concert which produced £lO to the school funds. A subscription of f 1 15s has been raised by some members of the committee and a few friends for putting the fences in order. A grant of £3 has been made by the Education Board for a drain at the back of the teacher's residence. The work has been done, and the money applied for, which will be to hand in due course. A urinal and barricade has been erected free of cost by two members of the committee. Suggestions have been made that the committee should make out estimates at the beginning of the year and keep strictly inside the capitation with the expenditure. This would bo excellent in theory but practically valueless, as experience teaches that the capitation is no*; sufficient for the barest necessities of the School, and if at any time the School suffers through lack of necessary material, firewood, cleaning etc., there is little doubt that the Committee will be held responsible by the public. I would respectfully submit to this meeting that the position occupied by the Committee is very unsatisfactory, inasmuch as they are called upou to do certain work in connection with the school for which no adequae provision is made by the Education Board. In view of these circumstances I think the Committee are fairly entitled to the sympathy of the public.

After reading the report tbe Chairman called for discussion on the subject. Mr Parsons thought it was a large item for slates, £i 10s, and that it was not right the Committee should be called upon to provide all the items required for the school.

Mr Maunsell asked if it was uocessary for the cleanei to attend twice a day,

Mr Carter said that at the school be went to the method adopted was for tbe teacher every day to appoint two girls to do the work, and they should do so here.

Mr M. Neilson pointed out that this was a civilised country. Parents would not allow their children to do the work, especially m a district like this where the greater number of the children were required on their return from school to hunt for and milk cows. For Lis part he wou d rather give a pound a year to the school and have the services of the children than let them do the cleaning. The Chairman: Will some one suggest some method to raise funds ? Mr Aulin: You have got into debt, put your hands in your pockets and pay the amount. Why should the public be called on to pay ? Mr Selby: Why should we pay for the public. Education in New Zealand is supposed to be free. We are heavily taxed £for it, and yet sufficient capitation is not granted to carry on the work. It would be better for us to let the whole debts by default, then the Government would have to pay, Mr Breqmqhl suggested that 1 parents of children attending school should takt their turn on e committee and then they would perhaps find out the difficulty. Mr Parsons thought it was a very unthankful job to be on the committee, but suggested that a concert should be got up to clear off the debt. For that purpose he would give the use of his hall. It appeared to him the principal part of the debt was incurred in school cleaning. £24. per year for that purpose was put of all reason. There waa no necessity for a cleaner attending twice a day. (Hear, hear). Then again, children attending the school should find their own slates;

Mr Timmins thought it would be better to collect all the slates belonging to the school and make the children pay for them. In that case that item would fee disposed qf. Several other gentlemen spoke, but could not throw any light on the subject, the general feeling being that they should leave the whole affair in the hands of the new committee to deal with.

Mr Parsons moved, and Mr Yon Bcdeii seconded, that the Chairman's report be adopted. Carried. Mr Baylies then left the chair, the public being requested to select a Chairman to carry on the electipn. Mr Parsons was then voted to the chair, and proceeded to explain the object of the meeting, when Mr Von Reden reminded the speaker that according to the Act the Chairman of the retiring committee should retain the chair until after the election, Mr Parsons theii vacated the chair in favor of Mr Bayliss. The ballot for the D.ew cQmmjftee was then taken, with ihe following result:—

Magnus Neilsen ... 28 I William Bowse 25 Thomas Bajliss ... 20 Itjaunsell 20 Timmins ... ••• 22 Carter ... ... ••• 22 Pelling 21 Neils Neilsen 18 The first seven were declared duly elected.

Mr Von Reden and Mr Roache acted as scrutineers. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting. The new Committee then met and elected Sir Thomas Bayliss Chairman, who, in taking his seat, thanked them for the empty honor conferred upon him and proceeded to read a communication from Mr W. W. McCardle. He informed the members that tho old Committee had nominated Mr McCaidle for the Education Board, but it was thought better to leave tho election to the new committee. Resolved that Mr W. W. McCardle be elected member of the Board. The Chairman stated that tI?G tender for school cleaning wouid expire on the Ist May.

There was other Dusiuess th a wanted looking to, and as it was getting Jato he would move that a

special meeting be called for that night week. Carried. The meeting then adjourned, Mauricovills School. The election of a committee for the Mauriceville East school resulted in the return of Messrs Gray, Kununer, Bannister, Drew, Day, Cottiss, and Hall. There was a large attendance of householders, and the discussion was somewhat protracted, but the utmost good order prevailed throughout.

The proceedings were opened by Mr Vile, senr., die Chairman of tlie retiring Committee, who spoke at some length with reference to the proposed site for the new school. Mr Vile explained to the meeting that the Board had signified to him its wish that the householders would arrive at some d3finito conclusion io this matter, and give expression to cheir wishes in such a manner that the Board would be Furnished with a concensus of their opinion on this point. He (Mr Vile) fnither explained that MrFleniming, the Board's inspector, and himself, hud visited a piece of land known as the railway reserve, containing some six acres, more or less, and that Mr Flemming had expressed an opinion that it would answer the purpose. After some discussion it was proposed that this meeting is of opiuion that the Board be respectfully asked to a:quirethe reserve in question, md proceed to erect a school with as little delay as possible. The proposition was carried, not without some dissent, however, on the part of those who considered the position dangerous on account of the railway line being on the one side, and the river on the other.

Tbe meeting then proceeded to th e election of a Committee for the ensuing year. Mr Cottis was voted to the chair, and in a speech in which courtesy and good sense were admirably blended, he sketched out the responsibility whuh would have to be undertaken by the Committee they were about to elect. Concluding, he expressed a hope that the new Cominiteee, whoever they might bi, would each endeavor to act the part of a man. (Applause). Messrs Eagle and Ericksen each had personal grievances to ventilate. Mr Eagle complained that Mr "Vile, as chairman of the retiring Com mittee, had refused to place his nomination on the list of candidates, notwithstanding that it had been made in proper form. In .proof of what he said he handed to the Chairman of the meeting a letter from Mr Dorset advising him that he had taken the advice of the Board's solicitor oil tbe matter, and had telegraphed to Mr Vile to add his (Mr Eagle's) nomination to the list at once. Mr Vile, however, had not done so.

Mr Ericksen also complained that Mr Vile had deJared his nomination informal, although Mr Vile assured him at the time he sent it in that it was alright.

The Chairman invited discussion on the matter, remarking that in his opinion both gentlemen had been most improperly treated. Mr Youngson expressed indignation that advantage should be taken of Mr Eiicksen because be bad not been educated at an English school. He would that the names of Messrs Eagle and Eiicksen be added to the list of candidates for election. The resolution being duly seconded was put by the Chairman and carried with acclamation.

Messrs Worboys and Mason being chosen scrutineers, the election proceeded, with the result as above stated. The poll was declared amidst considerable enthusiasm. A vote of thanks was accorded the retiring committee. Mr Mason, in responding on behalf of his colleagues and himself, gravely expressed a hope that the new Committee would endeavor to follow in the footsteps of their predecessers and emulate the bright example that had been afforded them during the past twelve months (applause and laughter.) After a vote of thanks to the Chairman and Mr Mould, who kindly acted as socretary,the householders dispersed and the Committee proceeded to elect a chairman. The choice fell upon Mr Gray, who modestly declined, but was at length prevailed upon to accept the position. Messrs Eummer and Bannister were olected Secretary and Treasurer respectively. After the usual preliminary business was got through, the Secretary was instructed to notify the Board of the decision of the houscholdeis re the school site and the Committee's endorsement of the same, also to write to the proprietor of the present school building, asking if he will effect some little repairs to the voof. The Committee then adjourned their meeting until Monday, May ith.

Fahiatua School Oommttee. The annual householders' meeting under the amended Act was held on Monday evening, Mr J. Vile occupying the chair. The Secretary to the Committee presented and read the annual report, which showed an appreciable increase in the average rate roil

April 1889-1890—On roll, 134] average attendance, JQ9. April 1890-1891—On roll, 177; average attendance, 136. The report stated that the Committee Lad applied to the Board for increassd school accommodation. The necessary material for three kindergarten subjects had been obtained—slating, modelling in clay and bead work, and Miss Evans, from Kindergarten Scbpol, London, was sent up last week by the Board to instiuct the teachers. The election of a Committee for the year was then proceeded with, <vith the result that Messrs Dawson, lieese, Vile, Black, Geo. Moore, H Sedcole, and E Naylor were returned. At a subsequent meeting of the nowly elected Committee, Mr J Vilo was unanimously elected Gbairmaa. Messrs Reese, Black, Vile and Sedcole were appointed to draw up the testimonial to Mr Yeats. Tha meetings of the new Committee were fixed for the first Thursday in the month.