LOVELLS FLAT.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2956, 29 April 1898, Page 5

LOVELLS FLAT.

There waa a fair attendance of householders at the above meeting on Monday night, and an enhanced interest taken in the prooeadinga moatly consequent upon the expenditure daring the year of aome £300 public money on the Bchool buildings. Mr D. Bryce occupied tbe chair. The retiring Committee's annua) report and balance aheet was read by tbe secretary (Mr Jno. Adam), and ita adoption waa moved by Mr R. Hewitson, seconded by Mr A. Lowery and oarried. The following is tbe full text of the report : Tour Committee have the honor to lubmit tbe following raporl of work in couoeotioo j wito tbe lebool for tbe past year. {

The school work has been oarried on by Mr Pollook and his assistants in a very satisfactory manner, amply borne out by the annual examination in Ootober — only two failures in the sohool— and by the report of the Inspectors, who were well pleaßed with the work done by the pupils. Miss H L. M'Leod resigned her appointment in June, and the Education Board sent i down the names of 18 candidates who were eligible for the position, and out of which the Committee seleoted six whom they considered most suitable ; after taking four ballots the ohoioe fell on Miss Margaret Danlop, who has a good reoord, and who will, we believe, give every satisfaction. The sohool waa closed for Christmas holidays on the 23rd December, and reopened oa tho 4th January. It was deoided not to grant tha usual sis weeks' holidays at thia time pendtag oertain alterations to the school building. The school was therefore closed on the 14th February and re-opened on the 28th M *roh for the usual holidays. The number of pupils on the register at the beginning of tbe year was 53, and at the present time 61, tho meaa average for the year haviDg been 50 3. The Committee would tako this opportunity of urging upon parents and guardiana the desirability of the regular attendance* of the ohildren, as this is the average required for the sohool to have the services of a firßt assistant. Complaint having bsen made about the bad quality of the water whioh tha children had to drink, an applioation was made to the Education Board fnr a concrete tack with 6 lters ; this was granted on the condition j that the Committee supplied gravel and j eanr l , and cart the Board's material from j and to the station ; this waa done, and an j ampte supply of good water Ib now avail- i able. Aa the teachers were carry iog on ! their work under difficulties, through both j having to teaah in the one room, Your j Committee aotiDg upon the advico of the I Inspectors, and Mr P. B. Fraser, member of i the Education Board, made an applioation to the Board for an additional class room. This was granted and carried out aa you know, making the sohoolhouse now very oomplete. Application was also made at the same time for new closets, one for eaoh set (separate buildings) as tbe present arrangement is a dlsgraoe to the school, this also was granted, and the work let to Mr M'Neil, and will be built on the best plan. The concrete protection wall has at the request of the Committee been extended other 25 feet to prevent the ground being uodormioed. To attend to the various matters wbioh oame before them, Yonr Committee held 12 regular constituted meeting-*, besides meetings of Work Committee ; 11 meetings were attended by all the members, and two were absent one meetiog. The balance sheet showed the following — Revenue from all sources £39 17a Id, total j expenditure .£l7 14* lOd, leaving a oredit J balance of £12 2s 3d. I Mr P. B. Fraser, in a highly complimentary speech, congratulated the retiring Committee on their admirable management of the school affairs. In regard to the new additions to the schoolroom proper he was sure everyone in the district wmld be pleased that the Committee had shown such faith In the continued progress of the district in pressing for tbe present substantial additions and improvements to the school. These were needed, and were deserved aB j much as Bimtlar expenditure in other places ; j acd the Committee's courage in applying to I the Boari for assistance, and using their natural Inflaence to get it, was quite justified. He was also glad to Bee that a supply of good filtered water was now available. As for the ontbonsea at the back, whioh had been allowed to be in use — well he would not attempt to find terms awful enough to describe them — tbey were Bimply a disgraoe to any educational district ; but the new buildings about to replace them would be a oredit to the Board and distriot. The speaker also referred in grateful acknowledgment of the Committee's liberal policy in regard to other bodies having meetiogs in the school. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to the rething committee.— Carried by acclamation, Tbe vote was briefly acknowledged by Mr Adam. The following gentlemen being the only nominations were declared the Committee for tbe eoauing year : Messrs D. Bryce (chairman), Jno. Adam (secretary), Jas. Drinnan, P, Boyd, W. Farquhamon, W. Elliott (old members), and Mr Alex. Lowery. Tbe meetiog then olosed with a vote of thanks to the chair.