The Masterton Schools and the Town Lands Trustees.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4791, 4 August 1894, Page 3

The Masterton Schools and the Town Lands Trustees.

Mr W.G, Beard on behalf of tho \ .< Masterton School Committeo waited ; 'On the Town Lands Trustees at their last 'night, and stated, in '' cbnsequonco of tho rosolution'passod by tho Trustees at their last meeting i •■ 'requesting information concerning ■ the finances of tho School Committho balanco shoot had bcenforwluxlod to them. Tho State School Committco's finances were very

sound, as was shown by the last balance of £lB odd. Tho extra grant „»[ thnt tho School required was for spcqial purposes, - They wanted to obtain scientific instruments, and ' ; to mako additions to the school library. They asked for this year an . .extra grant of £2O for tho purposes named. Ho would liko to point out that the value of the Town Lands . . Timet wns increasing very much, aud tho annual receipts wero much larger than formerly, The avcrngo attendance at tho Masterton school > • was 600. The attendance at Greyonly 300, and tho Grey•tokjilYiisf, had made an advanco in to £6O. "'The ;Chairman pointed out that there wns. only one public school rf/nt Groytown, whilo the Masterton Trust gave grants to three schools. Ho would also like to.*mention thnt whilo tho annual receipts wero increasing, the expenditure was nisi/ increasing, at a greater rate, Ho noticed from tho balance-sheet of the Committee that their expenditure had also increased. Mr Beard made mention of tho question of a scholarship, which lie had brought, two years ago, under the notice of tho Trustees. The Chairman said the question ' had been considered by the Trustees. The Scholarship Fund was not very largo at present, and would probably be almost entirely absorbed by the proposed purchaso of the Drill Hall, which was biiilt on a scholarship j- -.}*-** «td which, therefore, the Trustees would prefer to deal with under the Scholarship Fund. Subsequently the matter of the grant was considered by tho Trustees,

Mr Dauioll said it would soon bo 1 necessary to make some fixed rulo ] with reference to ranking grants to schools. All the applications tliis ' year asked for an increase. ' The Chairman agreed with Mi Daniell, bat remarked that there was very great difficulty in hitting ! on a good basis on which to make ' such a rule. ' Mr Feist pointed out that out of ' the four members of the Trust present, two were also members of the Mnstcrton School Committee As a ' member of both bodies he felt some ' diffidonce in making a proposal, as ' he know some people imagined one '' could not do one's duty to two bodies. ' The Chairman asked whether it : it wis proposed to furnish the new ! teachers'room out of this grant. If ■ it was ho would oppose tho grant on principle. . Mr Daniell replied that perhaps a couple of chairs might bo bought, but : it was not intended to lavishly fur- ' nish the room " with couches and linoloums." Mr Yilo said this was iiulcflnite. He wonld like some understanding to bo arrived at. The School Committee ought not to spend more than, say, £1 in furnishing the room. TlieCliaiimanthenmovedthattlie ' grant should be made. Mr Vile seconded the motion pro form, but asked that tho proviso above referred to should be added, The Chairman said, if it was desired he would alter his motion so as to stand, "That a grant of £7O be inado to the Masterton School Committee,onthounderstandingthat no mora than two chairs for tho teachqrs' room be purchased." * Mr Vilo then seconded the motion which was carried, The application of the Fernridge School for £25 was then considered, On the motion of Mr Daniell, seconded by Mr Foist, it was decided to make the grant, The application of St Patrick's School for a grant of £ls was com> plied with on the motion of Mr Feist seconded by Mr Danioll,