ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1031, 1 February 1879, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

January 29, 1879. The Annual Meeting, for the election of a School Committee, was held here on Monday last, m the schoolroom. There was, aa is usual here, I am sorry to write, but a comparatively small attendance, compared to the number interested m the Education Question. Mr «T. Aubin, having been voted to the chair, read the statement of accounts with the Board of Education, which was most satisfactory, showing a balance m hand of £10 17s 4d. The accounts were passed as read, mm -non. The Chairman then submitted to the meetiug, the report of the outgoing committee, as follows: — Annual Report of the Alexandra School Committee. It is, with great pleasure, that your School Committee have to report favorably of the progress made by the Alexandra school, during^ the last twelve months. This progress is marked by a very much higher average attendance than during any year proceeding it, or since this school has been established. For the past year, the average attendance ranged from 23 to about 25, and very rarely exceeded this. It has now reached tUo very tsatisf uctory- aYe,ra°-o of about '

whilst 71 children are entered on the rollbook. This progress is partly due to the attendance. Compulsory clauses having been brought into operation, your committee hope thay will b^ fully supported m their action, of having brought said clausos into force, by all those who feel any interest m the cause of education. Your cornmitteo can also report that the school is well conducted, that an assistant teacher has been appointed by the Board, but, what improvement the children have made m their education, we cannot state, as this properly belongs to the Inspector of Schools, and, bjsides, no examination was held this year by your committee. In consequence of repairs and additions having to be made to the school, it was closed for a period of about 5 months. I The school was then continued m the Public Hall, the Public Hall Committee having vc:y kindly given the free use of it, when not wanted for other purposes. Your Committee cannot, however report that the result was very satisfactory to them, or to either the tsacher or children, as, often, some itinerant showmen would hire the hall, and have it closed for two or three days, and then leave it m a state of filth. Your Committee have great pleasure m stating that they Ijave received, from the Board of Education, the most liberal and courteous treatment, that body, on application, at once placing funds at the disposal of the ommittee, for the performance of the following works : — Fencing the school aero with puriri posts, &c, about £35 ; building two new closets, about £10; getting tank and fittings to teaoher's house, about £8 ; school requisites, about £13, this is besides what we are entitled to, at the rate of ten shillings per head, for the average attendance of the month of March. The Board of Education have also added largely to our school, and made considerate repairs to the old part, at a oost of about £250, and we can now claim of having, is not the best, at least one of tbe best and well finished schools this eide of Auckland. Your Committee would also bring to your notice, the desirability of at once establishing a District High School m some part of the Waikato. This is a work of the very greatest importance, and one that we hope will be carried out, before the expiration of another year. With the large resident population of the Waikato, its rapid and increasing progress, it great wealth, and the long distance we are from Auckland, we surely are entitle to a District High School. iVlost parents would, undoubtedly, wish to secure to their children a better education than can be obtaiued m the common schools, if nuoh eduoation could be obtained where neither distance nor expense would be great. We would, therefore, again urge the necessity of immediate action. The statement of accounts, whioh has been duly audited, is also before you. After some little disoussion, the report, as read, was unaniously adopted. ! The following gentlemen were proposed and seconded, and duly eleoted as the .School Committee for the ensuing twelve month* : — Messrs John Aubin, T. Finch, M. Assmuss, V. Roberts »•. L. Lacon, J. K. Pierce and J. Sage. Mr Roberts proposed, and Pie.-cs seconded, a vote of thanks to the outgoiug Committee and the Chairman (^r Aubin ) for the untiring energy shown m the management of the affaira of the school. Jlr A.ubin, m returning thank*, aaid, he hoped that he and the new o-immtttee would, at the end of their term of office, be deserving of a similar honor. At a subsequent meeting o f the Committee, Mr Aubin was again unanimously appointed to his old position aa Chairman of the School Committee. The King's son, Tv Tawhiao, was present on both nights the Circus performed, and so pleased was he with the performance of one of the actors (by name, Duvali, I think) that aftor last nights performance, he despatched a maa to Kopua, to fetch a greenstone of hi«, whioh he gave as a present to the youn^ acrobat. Tawhiao is not yet returned fro-n Kawhia. I think he will come down and meet Paul, of Orakei, near the settlement here, when he returns. — Own CobbesDENT.