ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RATEPAYERS OF THE WEST HAMILTOF SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 421, 28 January 1875, Page 2

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE RATEPAYERS OF THE WEST HAMILTOF SCHOOL DISTRICT.

A meeting of the above took place in the School Room on Tuesday evening, the 26th inst. Mr. Vialou m the chair. Tin chainmn give an outline of stewardship by himself and committee for the past year, he said that although they had been seemingly very quiet they had done the best to got the Central Board of Education to assist them, they had had no leas than six or seven committee meetings at which they had considered the best means possible for the advancement of the Schools and which as far as they were able they had done, but with regard to getting assistance from the Central Board their endeavours had been in vain, they had consulted, written, requested, and begged, and finally the Secretary had a personal audience with the Central Board,, authorities, but even that had failed. Some applications they had not deigned to answer at all, in fact, as far as he could see if people we're not actually in Auckland they could get nothing, there they could get anything they wanted, and the Schools were progressing wonderfully under the support they were getting, but here r .which was the most important district in the "Waikato, they could get nothing buvrhat the people thenselves gave, meaning subscription's from entert ilm vits, sale of books &c, &?„ and speaking truly they did not get back in any shiipiorforuQ even what they did give, for they found on enquiry that when all lates were paid in the town and district they would amount to nearly £150; he did not consider they were under any obligation, they simply wanted some shire of their own money. As to the conuiion of. the School Boom it was disgraceful, the rain and win. 1 came in so much that it was dangerous to send children, h* applied to the Town B,>rci for 150 feet timber for n-pairs and they gave it, but add^d another difficulty as they now c iarge I a rentage of 5s per week. The attendance of children for past two years had enfcichd the School to an assistant teacher, but the Or.nl Bj.-ird had treated the matter with perfect i i UiiTcijce. Tae Sejrafcary read over the accounts showing that the sals of oid books they ha 1 realised £2 6s 2d; from entertainment C jrnittse £3 ; total £5 6s 2d expenditure paid Winks for advertising in papers and repairs to school furniture &c. £1 11s. Shewing ,i b dance of 5s 6d. Through the graUe^t diffi 'ultiea they h.id manage 1 to pa/ their way aid keep an enormous bcUnce on hvid, which was more than they h id whan they took oJice. At the request of the Chairmin the Secretary read.the correspondence referred to above. Ejard of EJucition, Auckland, 21st Maroh, 1874. Sir, — I haxo tin honor t;o acka m*>r]ge your letter o r tre 13t'i M irul), »aking for JS3t) for iie*k«»_ furn fcure. &.0.. •urn to infor n you tlirtt Mie Bjird has dwiayef its conaidei-A-tic-n nil after th>3 Inspectors to viditjth© district. — I h»ive, &c. J L hongooUoio, E 3 q J. Moss, Sec.

Bjard of ElucatiVn, Auckland 26th M»y, 1874. Sib. — I have the honor to inform you fchut the B->ard liavi.i^ cunsi lerod your application for £33 for sahool pur-po-es, ure obli^erl to defer any decision until after toe meet* >ng of the cou'ic-il, and it is knuwn what provisiona will be finally made for funds.— I havo, &o. J. L. LongSottor», Eaq J. Mobs, Sccretwrj. Sec Hamilton Softool Committeo.

Board of E hi oaf ion, Auckland, 21 Drwmbrr, 1874. I In reply to your letter of 15th December, roomed this morning, I have the honor to inform yon that jour *ppli cit ion for £30 was ans.vered on 26t!i Miy list. N>> other '•as sinco boen rrcoived. At their last m> © ing on the 10th Dt'CPiuber the B mnl res-ilve'l that na ao-»n »a the aeKlfre in \our di3tnct h.iil oillectt-d £75, they w >uli contribute an • qual amount for building purposes Thia resolution wan on a minute by the In-peetor suggesting grants for your a.-hool and tlioas at Hamilton East and Newcastle, for which similur grants were made. 1 have the honor &o. J. L. Longbottom, E^q. J. Mosa, Soo. The secretary, Mr Longbottom, st«t^d that he had personally waited on the secretary of the Central Board in July last, and that after spending an hour and half in replying to enquiries toade by that gentleman, he had to leave with nothing definite, merely having the promise of the Board to do all they could, and that up to the present tiine nothing had been done. The Chairman hoped the Committee would take step 3 to ahame tha Central Board into a sense of their duty, and would at the same time advise ratepayers whan electing a new committee to select men who could devote more time than men in buainess to managing the affairs of tha school, aa there was a great deal to be done and those who had the most time would do it. best,. He would nut detain them further, but would do all he could to cany ou: thy wi ,h#s of the oiseiiag.

-.-... j.x. iTe^uor moveu tne adoption of the raport. , Mr Qgfigan sj^madod, aud it was unaniraouslv / Mi» Slowia begfi^ to speak a few words in relation to tli^\cnarge && rent for the schor^ building &s a member of the Town Bjard he that, such a charge should be made not to^pttjgan ob* ; Btncle in the way of education, but to T3? c c Central JJgar.d to 'action, and to sh6\7/4^i s jn a /^opulQua^i'nd' imjjpriant district like thisi&ere was" no~STOna wuaig* erected as a school-house, that they had to rent a delapickted old place where the magistrates had refused to sit, in whic.lj. .tP^e^UQaJa. their children at tKe risk" of their lives. Ho wonld rather pay taxes and pay extra money and send his children elsewhere, and he thought it a gross insult to the ratepayers "to be treated as they had been in relation! to school matters He hoped the wooden feelings of the Central B3ard would be touched by the 'steps he would propose, viz., to elect no committee:—", That^the meeting should agreerthat no member "should stand, so its to throw the onusjon.the Central Board." t ': The Chairman, although agreeing with the last T Spealb6f TSSaihly^ still bought 'it* best for the walSchool to have tk comcnitiee appointed, 'and to electjihe' most influential men dn the distrist. Such. n>ea as Mr Obfc, #horn ne thought would do a great deal, as he had taken such interest in the matter, and he woul4 propose one more trial with new bloody and if they failed then to give up altogether. Mr Martin said for some monthe past he had heard everyone say they would not stand, and now that it had come the point he thought it better that it should be so after hearing the report especially, and that if the Board, took the matter in hand perhaps they would get on much better, very likely it would be the means of getting a new schorl built in the proper place, and the present building taken off the public road. So strongly do I) wish to resent the treatment we ha> c received that I beg to propose that, no committee be elected. Mr Morm seconded Mr Martin's proposal. It was carried unanimously. Mr Danvers took advantage of a pause in the prot ceeding3, and addressed the meeting to the effecthat if another committee wos elected he hoped they would come and see whether he did his duty or not, he had t© contend with many difficulties, but notwithstanding all this the Committee were of opinion that the childaan were in a bettei; state Bince he had been their master than tt l *ey were before, owing to his endeavoues he looked upon the Committee as his masters and himself the wor-man, and he was much obliged for the praise they had givgn him, he took pride in his work and would always do his best and he hoped the ratepayers hb a body would take a lively interest in a matter which so much cancerned them that they might see for themselves their children were improving or otherwise/ Mr Jones proposed a vote of thanks to the outgoing committee.. Mr Martin seconded. Carried . u