MOUNT SOMERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9292, 29 April 1920, Page 7

MOUNT SOMERS.

There was a large muster at the annual householders' meeting on Monday evening. The Rev. A. J. Petrie was voted to the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet was read and adopted. The balance-sheet disclosed a credit balance of £84 13s sd, as against £16 Ss 3d the previous- year. A credit balance of £1 Is Id also appeared qn the sporte fund.

The report of the headmaster was read and discussed. The following recommendations were made for the incoming committee: —(1) The purchase of a new clock; (2) to consider the advisability of getting a septic tank system for the new school; and (3) the question of the removal of the teacher's residence.

Resolutions were, carried endorsing the New Zealand Education Institute's proposals and urging the Government's standardisation of school books.

Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the teaching staff for their. creditable work.; also the outgoing committee for their successful year's work, the chairman's work being especially eulogised. Mr McGuigan expressed the thanks of the teaching staff for the hearty co-operation of the parents nnd committee during the year, and Mr Wood also returned thanks on behalf of the committee.

The election of a committee was keenly contested, resulting in the return of Messrs E. C. Wood (chairman), H Morgan, G. L. Nell, G. Green, and

.the Rev. A. J Tetrie (secretary. " The following was the annual report: '■" During the year the committee meetings were very well attended and great interest taken in the welfare of the school. The books have been audited and found correct. The school grounds have been kept in order and all necessary repairs attended to. The amusement fund, owing to generous donations by parents and friends, Enabled the committee to present a book to each child attending school, and, in addition,; to treat the children to a trip to Timaru, which was thoroughly enjoyed by those participating in it. A jumble sale was organised by. the ladies for raising funds for a .piano, and £75 was netted; £63 of this carrying a £ for £ subsidy enabled .120 guineas' piano to be secured, and the school may m-ide itself in possessing a piano second to none in any school in New Zealand. The new school is uearing completion slowly but surely, and the committee recommend the incoming committee to get an assurance from the board that dual desks and up-to-date apparatus will lieu supplied. The inspector's reports during the year have been highly creditable to the teachers,-and promise was shown that better work would be secured with bettor teaching. The matter of a new teacher's residence has been under negotiation for n considerable' time, but the only promise we can secure h to the probable shifting of the present residence. The committee has also 6ecured the approval of the Health Inspector for the installation of aseptictank, but the board lias turned the idea down; but with persistence their objections may be overcome. The. school lost during the latter part of the year the services of Miss. Walls, who was given a suitable send-off.. The appointment of Miss' O'Connor by the board was approved of by the committee. In conclusion, I trust that the parents will continue to co-operate with the teachers in securing the best possible work, and also to help the new committee in every way -to make the new school grounds a thing of beauty and a joy for ever." The headmaster's report stated: — •" The present roll number in the junior department is 36, consisting of 16 boys mid 20 girls. In the senior.department the roll is 27, consisting of 20 boys and seven girls. The average attendance for the quarter ending March 31 was 48.55, consisting of 29.25 boys and 19.3 girls. This average attendance cannot be considered as good, seeing that the average roll number for the quarter was 65. Supplies came from the board in good order, and they tallied with | the list supplied to the School Committee."