SCHOOL QUARTER MONEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 270, 16 November 1887, Page 4

SCHOOL QUARTER MONEY.

A fresh light is cast upon the question of school quarter money by Mr Harrison's letter to the City Schools Committee, which is published in another colume. From this it appears that at Beresford-street School the quarter money fund is devoted to a multifariety of uses, some of which are very open to question. Thus, we learn that an expenditure of £12 per annum for " apparatus and chemicals" is met from this useful fund, while prizes for the annual sports, labour for the school garden, and other disbursements " too numerous to mention," as the auctioneers say, are provided for by the modest tax of Is per quarter. This all sounds very nicely, and the Committee seemed to appreciate the thoughtfulness of the head - master in sparing them all trouble about funds for these thousand and one little expenses; but it is not so satisfactory from the standpoint ■of poor parents. The scholars in all the standards are charged a uniform sum of Is a quarter, so that the parents of the child in the first standard are taxed to provide chemicals and apparatus for a dozen or two of boys in the sixth. It is satisfactory to know that the school gardening is paid for, and that prizes are given to pupils who excel at jumping and running; but we venture to think that it is straining things a little to devote quarter money to those purposes. It certainly would be more reasonable to reduce the impost in the case of the three lower standards and if necessary increase it for the pupils in the higher branches, while any surplus remaining would be better applied to relieving poor parents from paying the quarter-money, than to such purposes as gardening. It is not pleasant to think that children are liable to be beaten because their parents decline to subscribe to the " sports" fund of a public school. The City Schools Committee ought seriously to tackle the abuses of the quarter money system ; for we are convinced that it is possible, without great effort, to make a considerable improvement on the method now employed of disbursing, as well as collecting that tax.

The Star Christmas competitions have now closed, and we may say that there are a large number of entries in all five classes. In the ladies' competition a large number of exsellent tales have been received—the fair contestants embracing several who are known to fame as very successful story tellers. In the Christmas, tale competition there are also a numerous band of aspirants, so that the labours of the judges will be onerous; while in the juvenile and humorous departments there is also very good competition. The results will be made known as soon as possible.

Workmen are now engaged erecting a block of brick shops on tho site in Mount Eden Road previously occupied by the block of wooden buildings owned by Mr Henderson. It will be remembered that some months ago these were destroyed by fire and it is a move in the light direction to see them replaced by more substantial structures.

The Mohawk Minstrels continue to win favour with the public, aud in spite of a very long season are blessed with fair houses. Last night a good programme was given, and as usual met with a very favourable reception, and several encores had to be acknowledged. Messrs Bella Perman and Laura Roberts take a benefit tonight, when an especially good programme is promised, and there is bound to be a good attendance on such an occasion. A private letter from Rarotonga says: "Mr Thos. Short, wlto came here a short time ago, has started boatbuilding. He has already turned out two diagonal cargo boats for the purpose of loading the Richmond, and three large whaleboats for settlers here."

A social gathering to welcome the Rev. Mr Livens was held in tlie Parnell Coir gregational Church last evening, and proved a great success. The tastefully - decorated with texts, and three large tables plentifully supplied with good things were presided over by- Mesdames Livens, Valentine, Carmichael, Holder, Robertson, and Good. After tea apubnc meeting was held and addresses were given by the Revs. Laishley, Chew, Lewis, Livens, Thomas, Millar and Roberts. Musical selections were rendered by members of the Beresford-street Church choir, a quartette by four gentlemen being especially good. The gathering was a very pleasant one, and was brought to a close by th.o singing of the Doxology,

About 9i_ «,• ■ S ~^^~siy__ii^ SSS" «^"!S , jPft ■TOM. "fl*«»_l kV £s>" ?"»_w iff bSFM. t.t?'.! 1 * was m X l Mlßsi enar y T. 1 _ falanee f rom i^^-^S us Hid, the m proposed to d!EtfjJtt«eS public mcetinc* .„ «£■ r4st a _k, Union was held .1 _v_ Wcß «» will ¥ Messrs Ashcroffc ahd'fv t ' Mr P. A. owing to the dekv — rk * *<»»___■ a ly intended for AwkkS?2**° c disposed of, and S^° tllet S from Home. Thesa 4* v ?** «**!' arrived, but new fad v? hWe al <s their works at Chelmsfo™ Ua _W*i are likely to.pS ml S mining. The letter £& field is looking up again and that it will nfake IEPSSJL? n °N go ahead" (MelbourneSS^ l ning to take mt^ffliflS* quartz reefs. But ifc will nevfer 1 tte covered the field, hayeTeeeivllHS v?» r _fcv^^ ai xt-., V" further Bta tes tk.M» McNeill .Bros had left FremaSS as. Plyndus, taki n g- w i_h l thmi=J_£ Kimberley quartz. ■ ' ~* ■* The-empty shop in the Victoria Arcafo fronting Mr Liddy as bis office during WtimU in connectionwith the MajeroniEr_n£ Company'sseason. Hehashadtheplacefiy up, and will make a little picture¥fc of it with portraits of the different %m----ters and scenes represented by tie Majeronis. The place, whichistobe te fiantly illuminated afc night, will be opeia this'.Wednesday)evening; '_. .■ • The A<, r eut-General reports that tie following nominated immigrants |o b. despatched from London by" the b.s. __. koura, which sailed ~on'the'22nd ; ociote last, and is due here about the 3r_ jjpl» ber: -Por Auckland;. 16; > Taranaki, 2; Hawke's Bay, 17; Wellington, 69';Mstl' borough, 5; Nelson, 5; Canterbury,: 61; Otago, 50; Invei-cargill, '9; Westlandvij total, 236. Afc the Council Room,, Coburg-sW, to-nlorrow (Thursday) evfeningj .„_. t_ been convened a meeting of properiy-bspj of Upper (Jueenahd adjacent streets .l_i| to be affected by the proposed writ a Queen-street ; The attendance of all'interested is invited. , We see by advertisement in .another fart of this night's issue that Dr. W.K. Emv J. P. of Onehunga, has, upon being very numerously requisitioned, consented to aUow himself to;be nominated for tie ofe of Mayor of the Borough. From "the eulogistic manner in which Dr. Ersonisspota of by a large numhei'of Onehunga reside* who have .watched carefully and : withß«at the'extreme interest takeiiby tie doctor in all matters that in any way■ W to further the welfare of Onehunga, aw from have reason to prophesy a successffltaa at the coming elefction. ■ , On Sunday last,-the anniveniatyserfte of the Ricnmond. Prilm^ive.:Metb;bW , Church wereconducted-~in < thejtnoiuitg by the Rev. C. E, Ward; in the af ternooj, Rev J. A. Taylor; andirithe evening** T Cole. The day being fine, the attendance at each service was We. The v* soiree was held last. night, Madnj Barker, -Herbert liuntt-ariL«g and Misses Bunker, Buckley, Jones presiding 'at the tables.- m* inner ran was satisfied,: evening was spent, the anclienee hsfef of several choice anthems, executed, by-the Misses hearty vote of f*Sp to the ladtes, choir, Holland)..the meeting The monthly or Wesleyan Band o Hg^ te Monday evenmg last, Notoccup^J^a, therewasalai-eeattentlM^ and the ctii^ an % a SrA^ a was; gon^ \*^%*fa from ,the ; BJ» " M ing, was wellpwi. AW ■ titled " The ?Red $f>>. w f. JL, ladies. D.«rin£ P* «SSS&«/j