Hampstead

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XX, Issue 4478, 26 April 1898, Page 2

Hampstead

There was a large attendance at the householders' meeting, all the seating accommodation being occupied, and among those present were a considerable number of ladies. Mr Crooks, chairman of the School Committee, waa appointed chairman of the householders' meeting. The Chairman thanked the meeting for the honor done him, and hoped that m any discussion that took place the speakers would confine themselves to the business, and not oauße any scenes. There was no necessity for that. The clerk read the Board's advertisement calling the meeting, and the fifteenth annual report and balance sheet of the Committee aa follows :— Ladies and Gentlemen,— l have the honor to inform you that during the past year the sohool has maintained its previous high standard of attainment (the last inspector's report showing an/average of passes of 834 per cent) and it is beyond question (especially m so large a school) fchat such general proficiency could" only be attained as the fesiilt of the gbod' discipline and untiring diligence of a thoroughly capable staff of teachers working harmoniously together for the advancement of their pupils, and I trust tfjat J express the feeling of the house? holders generally fn saying that oar teaching staff has deserved the very best thanks. There had been little difference m the roll number or attendance up till December last, the rq.ll number fluctuating from 401 to 391, and the average attendance from §55 to 341, always showing a difference of about 50 between the attendance and the roll number, which is a greater proportion thai) is desir. able, but this attendance question i 3 a troublesome one for the committees themselves to deal with without the aid of a truant officer. Any falling off m the December quarter oan be acoounted for by the usual number of children leaving school after the examination. A notable faob, I believe, m connection with this matter is that at the present time th.ere are fewer children Attending Ashburton, Allenton, and t^amp^ stead than there were at Ashburton and Hampstead only, before the Allenton side sohool was built. During the past year Miss Lusk resigned her position as second assistant tftiatresß and another teacher was appointed but resigned before assuming the duties. A further 'seleotion was then made from the original applicants and Misa 1 Sheafd was appointed and is expected to take up her duties at the end of the present month, meantime Mis^ JB. Thompson is acting temporarily. Mjisa A. 3. Qrr resjgned hep position m December last and Miss C. Porter *n$ Mifs apnpinfrnentß, haye been confirmed. I have tb.e pleaaup^ ta state tm ttw long de)ay§d. afldftfon te the sohooi has been *" m *>«Ib» the east year buddings and grounds are m firatSate order A ? Oli s?* C6 &** b ? ei ? l8t) f°* wnewinß and extending the asphalt fo'ofpaths," sSme of #hioh were unavoidably brtken ub 2 e w e<?biD^ ,?^ ? BW . buiia "gs- The hSbby .how bjilMb winter prSyed * thorough mooeii, fttf the oommitt c? wer 9 « n *bled to

ay off the balance (£lO odd) dne on the iano, pay all expenses m eonneotion with he show, and deposit a balance of £32 10s -t interest with the Ashburton Bailding Society . Having been 10 liberally supported n,this undertaking, the Committee did not eel justified m going to the public again m he summer with any entertainment m aid >f prizes, which had consequently been provided out of the proceeds of the hobby jhow, and there is still a balance of £22 odd on deposit at the present date. The accoarfts of the ' Committee bare been audited, and a balance sheet is attached hereto showing a credib to incidental land oi\£39 Oa 2d, out of which last quarter's expanses and about £7 of the asphalting oonttaot have to be paid. The Chairman said it had been customary to submit the report to ttie Committee before laying it before the public, bat owing to the lateness of the hoar at which a quorum of the Committee was' secured, and the early arrival of the householders,. it had not been submitted, bat the Committee were all present now and could obj ot to it if they chose. No one objeoted, and the report mi adopted by the householders. ELECTION OF COMMITTEE. On the election of Committee being called on, Mr H. A. Piokford said he was the representative of the bona fide working man, and he bad made it his object while on the Committee to safeguard the interests of the working man. Mr Maynard moved, and Mr Btoolc seconded, the according of a hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing Committee, whioh was carried unanimously. M r Collins moved a vote of thanks to the teaohing etaflVwhose ability and self saaridoe m a laborious Uak were evidenced by the successes achieved as shown by- the annual report. Mr Hardley seoonded j but before putting it to the meeting, ' ■ - . The chairman said he had had a large experience of the school, and was m a position, to say that it was one second to none under the Board of Education of North Canterbury. The vote was unanimously passed and Mr Brook, m a few graceful sentences aoknow* lodged the vote for himßelf and the staff. The following were then nominated as candidates for membership of the Com* mittee :—

J. R. Bland ... ... .. 67 W. J. Crooka ... .. ..64 W. Moßae .. .... .. 63 J. Hunt .. 68 J. H. Maynard . . , M . ... 55 J. C. Cawsey ...^ i, „ 54 O. Sage 51 J. W. Hardley .. .. „. 44 W. Strange ... ..... 44 A. Lawrie -.„ „ \ v .- 38 J. McKeagne .. „., 36

A. J. Andrews .... i. 35 D. Cochrane .. i.^-23 B. Mahoqd ... ..' v . Zg H. W. Biobinson .. „ 32 A, McKenzie .. ..30 D. C. Btock 3Q G.W.Andrews .. ..28 . S.Payne .. .. .. 27 H. A.Piokford .„ ..23 G. Bright .. 20 J. Blaokler .. .. .; 15 The first nine were declared elected. Th« bailot papers to the number oi 150 were written at the table by Messrs Frizzsll, Simmers, Brook, Roberts, Bowden, Thiele, Robinton, and Bell, and the Rev. G. B. Inglis, and the scrutineer were Messrs Reid, Robinson, Orr, and .Collins. There were four informal votes. i Mr Crooks thanked the meeting for their attendance and the orderly manner m which the meeting had been conducted. He was gratified at his position on the poll, at he took it as an indication that the householder* recognised that he had done his best for the interest of the school, which was for the good of their children ; and he was pleased to see by the result, of the poll that the eohool was m good hands for another year.

The general meeting oloaed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the NJtWK-OOMMTTTttB held a shorb meeting, at which Mr Bland proposed Mr Crooks as chairman for the ensuing year. ~~ Mr Crooks said he appreciated the compliment, bat he really had too muoh other business to attend to, and he thought it had been understood that he would not accept another year of office. He begged -to decline, and proposed, the gentleman at the head of the poll (Mr J. B. Bland). This was seconded by Mr Hardley and carried Unanimously, and Mr Bland thanked the meeting for the honor done him, and trusted he would be able to uphold the prestige which the Committee and the sohool had attained under Mi Crooks' chairmanship. I The second Monday m each month was, fixed for Cbinauttee meetings, and the meeting closed ,