ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTIONS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1614, 27 January 1885, Page 3

ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTIONS.

— « TOKOMAIRIRO. The annual meeting of householders was held in the Schoolhouse last evening. Mr E. Marryatt presided, and there were about 80 present. Mr J. E. Brown, Secretary pro tern, read the minutes of last year's meeting, which were confirmed. The Seoretary read the report and balance sheet, as follow : — JtErOKT. On retiring from offioe, your Committee

beg to submit their Report and Balancesheet for 1884. Buildings. — The School buildings, out offijHS and grounds have beeu kept in good order, and all are now handed over in thorough repair. The oatsides of the schoulhouse, the Rectory, and outbuildings, have been painted by the Education Board. They have also painted and repaired the building adjoining — formerly an immigrants' bar racks, and subsequently used as a temporary school —in order that it may be available if extra room is required for tho High School. The Committoe have painted and repaired the Janitor's house, as well as repaired the asphalt at the closets, and laid down about 150 square yards of asphalt at the front of the School, at a cost of £38 18a Id. Pupil Teachers. — Thero was only one pupil teacher, James Parlane, who left the School at the end of 1883, and the vacancy was filled up by the appointtnont of Henry E. Murray. Teachers.— ln March, Miss Bett, Third Assistant Teacher, seat in her resignation as teacher, and the vacancy was filled up by the appointment of Mib3 Bolton. On tho 6th August, Mr Reid, the Rector, received an injury to his eyes by an explosion of gas in illustrating a lecture in the Voluuteer Hall. The Committee applied to the Education Board to send an assistant to take up his work in the High School during his illness. Mr James Hendry, 8.A., was kindly sent, and remained about three months, tilling the situation to the satiafac tion of all parties, and was thanked by the Committee and Rector for having at considerable inconvenience to himself aud the Dunedin School with which he iB connected so willingly come forward in the emergency. Late Clerk. — Mr R,. R. Jones, the Clerk to the Committee, died suddenly on the 20th August. At the meeting of Committee hell on the 29th, before proceeding to business, the following was agreed to be put on the minutes : — " The Committee of the District High School, Tokomairiro, unanimously desire to express their deep regret at the loss of the services of their late Secretary, R. R. Jones, Esq., and their high appreciation of the able, agreeable, and faithful manner in which for a lengthened period of sixteen years the duties of the office of Secretary to the Committee were discharged, and that, as a mark of respect for bis memory, the Secretary pro, tent, be authorised to enter this expression in the minutebook of the Committee." Mr J. E. Brown, as Mr Jones' representative, brought up the minutes, and, at the request of the Committee, agreed to continue to act as Clerk and Treasurer up to the election of the new Committee. Prizes. — A number of valuable prizes were offered to be given at the end of the School year by the Mayor, Chairman of County Council, the teachers and others — including, for the first time, prizes for pianoplaying and singing, given by Mr John Grant. These were found to be sufficient for first prizes in each case, and the Rector, recommending that second and third prizes should be provided, Mr Grant kindly came forward and offered to conduct a concert to raise funds. This he most; successfully accomplished, and sufficient funds were raised to carry out the object, and the sum of £4. 3s carried forward for another year. Gillies' Teachers' Assistance Fukd.— Miss Albert-, having completed her term of pupil teacherßhip at tre end of the year, was voted the sum of £7 from the Gillies' Teachers' Assistauce Fund, on condition of her going to the Normal School. There is still £6 to the credit of the Fund, which, with the yearly interest of £<5, will be available for the end of the year. Bible reading/ — Bible-reading and the Lord's Prayer, for a quarter of an hour before the formal opening hour, has been continned by the Rector, assisted by several of the teachers, during the ye.tr with satisfactory attendance of the pupils and a fair measure of success. The Rev. James Chisholm's Bible-class on the Friday af ternoonß has been very successful, both as to the numbers attending and the interest taken by the pupils. Scholarships. — A number of pupils competed for scholarships. Miss Marion White secured a senior scholarship, and several pupils obtained good positions, although not successful. School Cleaning.— The School cleaning and keeping the. grounds in good order has been efficiently carried out under the arrangements made by the Committee of the previous year. Quarterly Collections. — The quarterly collections for stationery, pens, ink, &c, have been continued at the reduced rate of last year, and have been found sufficient for the requirements. Audit. — The Education Board again appointed Mr Odell to audit all school accounts. Our accounts have been certified as correct. School Attendance. — The average attendance for the year was as follows : — lst quarter, 366 ; 2nd, 356 ; 3rd, 345 ; 4th, 342. The School examinations by the Inspectors were held considerably earlier than usual. This affects the attendance of the last quarter, ns a number usually leave after the annual inspection. Meetinus. — The Committee held fourteen meetings, and the attendance was as follows : — E. Marryatt 14, R. Murray 14 H. White 13, J. loglis 13, l!\ Twiss 13, H. Clark 13, J. E. Brown 13. Balance sheet. RECEIPTS. Jan 1, 1884. To Balance ia Bank of N.Z. ... .£24 16 5 „ School Fund, Education Brd. 86 0 0 „ Grant for desks „ „ 4 15 0 „ School Collections 25 0 6 „ Fees, extra subjects ... 33 12 6 £174 4 5 EXPENDITURE. December 31, 18S4. By School cleaning ... ... £40 15 0 „ Coals and firewood ... ... 15 10 0 „ Repairs and improvements... 38 18 1 „ Altering desks ... ... 4 15 0 „ Printing and advertising ... 3 18 0 „ School stationeiy, pens and ink 18 11 1 „ Clerk'd salary (8 months) ... 6 13 4 „ Miscellaneous, clocks, &c 8 8 7 „ Fees for extra subjects, refund 33 12 6 „ Balance in Bank of N. Z. ... 3 2 10 £174 4 5 Mr D. Reid moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Seconded by Mr A. M'Laren, and carried. Mr Marryatt, as retiring Chairman of the former Committee, thanked them for the kind treatment and consideration he had received at their hands. The business had been carried out in a very satisfactory manner. There had been some little differences among them occasionally, but the minority had always bowed gracefully to the decisions of the majority. Since the last meeting of the Committee he had received a circular from the Dunedin and Suburban School Conference enclosing a resolution to the effect that in the opinion of the meeting new members should be appointed to the vacancies in the Education

Board. He coincided with the resolution, as be thought a change was very much wanted, and hoped that meeting would set an example by putting new blood on the Committee. It was uot his own intention to seek reelection. He thought the householders were to be congratulated on the successful way in which the school had been carried on — the percentage of passes was good, the staff of teachers capable of imparting instruction ns well aa the system would allow. There were many defects in the system, bnt bo long as it existed it was their dnty to administer it to the best of their ability. Nominations for the new Committee were then takeo. Upon Mr J. E. Brown declin- ' ing to be nominated, the Chairman intimated that it was probable that gentleman would act as Secretary. There were 74 in all voted, and the following were the nominations with the results of the voting : — J. Edie, 4134422111127223223271313311 511 76 Dr Reid, 21231737777412232711111 ... 73 H. White, 33133372252124223221121 ... 57 J. Inglis, 2333312223221221121 38 W. Moore, 343111111113112321211111... 38 F. Twigs, 21332223232152111 36 H. Sprosen, 221324222331231111 ... 36 C. Campbell, 4142411112241111 31 R. Murray, 1151133223122111 30 Gen. Wilson, 21223321112322111 ... 30 E. Marryatfc. 1111112212221311111 ... 26 H. Clark, 22112212222112111 26 A. Bremner, 15122111111 17 The Chairman declared Messrs Edie, Dr Reid, H. White, J. Inglis, W. Moore, F. Twiss, and H. Sprosen duly elected. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr J. E. Brown for his services as Secretary pro tern, and to the Chairman of the late Committee and of that meeting. This concluded the proceedings.