MILBURN.

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

MILBURN.

(Fbom Cub Own Correspondent.) The annual meeting of householdera to elect a oommittee, was held on Monday evening last, Mr M. Henderson in the chair. Competitors for above honorß were not very numerous, as only eight out of the fifteen present faced the musio, the other seven respectively and respeotfully declined their proposals. A ballot being taken eventuated thcsly : — Messrs H. M. Driver 15» M Henderson 14, W. Grey 14, J. Somer" vllle 14, Roland Hare 14, Robert Paull 13 D. Raitt 14, J. J. Moore 6. Aa will be seen from the names the '9S committee includes six of last years members, the seventh not present aod waa therefore not nominated. A summary of last years report which was read by Mr Somerville (clerk), givea ub the following information : — Thirteen meetings were held during the year, all of whioh were well attended. The oredit balance at beginniug of the term waa £4 4a 21. The name of the Bchool waa changed from Waihola Gorge to Milburn. The attendance at end of quarter ending 31st Maroh, 189S, was 44, and from then gradually increased during tbe year till 55 Was reached. This give the sohool the benefit of an inorease in the teaching staff, and on application the Board cent along a temporary mistress, Miss Scott. The average been maintained, the appointment was made permanent, and from a batch of applicants, Misß — whose qualities gave general satisfaction — waa unanimously appointed. Good attendance prizes were awarded to the pupils. Hitherto there was no rule to guide the distribution of these awardß, but this year a radius has been fixed, and only those living outside the Milburn township aod a proportionate oirouit N.S.E. and W. are among the eligibleß. Two successful concerts were held during the year and "panned out" satisfactorily. The annual pionio was held at Taieri Beach, the children und parents journeying thither by rail and steamboat. An applioation to tbe Board for an enlargement to the Headmaster's dwelling was successfully made, and reeul ed in a more commodious kitchen being built. The inside of the echoolroom haa been painted and varnished, and laßt but not leaßt in importance there is a oredit balance of £12 19a Bd in tbe bank. On the motion oi Mr Henderson, seconded by Mr Driver, tbe report and balance-sheet was unanimously adopted. The clerk aIBO mentioned that ""credit" waa due to Mr D. M'Donald, for having at the last annual meeting drawn tbe committee's attention to the faot that no *" tick '' waß given by the two clocks hanging on the wall. As a result of the timely remark, these two bas-reliefs now pursue the even tenor of their way- Altogether the years operations reflect oredit on the seven good men and true, and the faot that they were again elected proves my sentiments. ADULT EDUCATION '"ON APPRO." The School Committee, having attended to the welfare of the juniors, to their best ability, are now directing a little surplus thought to the best means of adding to the education ot the seniors. A meeting was called about a week ago to consider the advisability of starting technical and continuation olaeses of various subjects, in order to break the montony of the long winter nights, and elevate and improve the mind, &c The muster of ladies and gentlemen was not large, a state of affairs at. tributable either to insufficient advertising, or want of interest in the subject-matter of tho meeting. Mr M. Henderson, who occupied the chair, gave in extenso a resume of the work done by the Danedin Technical Society, and while he did not infer that the Milburn folks would aspire to suoh lofty accomplishments as tbe City classes were doing, he thought something might be done on a smaller scale. He had thought of several likely sub j acta whioh might be taken in hand from whioh a good deal of interesting information would be gained. Three of these he specially mentioned were agriculture, ambulance lectures and literary. The first mentioned was one which, of course, wonld be in touch with the majority of the Milburn people, seeing it was their means of livJihood, tbe seoond would interest and enlighten old and young alike, and the third in the way of popular lectures or readings from authors would also be instructive and elevatiiog. Speaking at some length on agrioaltore be mentioned the {aot, which no one wiU $W*»ft that very few young fwmwn

starting in life were oonvereant with the constituents of the various soils, suitable manures, &c. Nothing of it was taught at sohool, and in order to compete with the nineteenth century brains, a further eduoation waa a necessity. Dairying, he mentioned, waß a snbjeot now enlisting tbe attention of all colonists, and * in the oountry distriots of Denmark' was, by the aid ol lectures and schools, raised to the place of a soience. Mr Smith also made a few suggestions, and among other subjects mentioned that of domestic economy whioh would be Bpeoially interesting for the ladies. After further disouseion, it was deoided, on account of the small attendanco, teat the matter be left till a date in the beginning of the next month, and meantime to arret* ge for a lecturer who would " bold forth " on " The benefits of technical teaching," or a aimilar subject, At tbe olose of the lecturt a programme would be submitted, and v committee formed to oarry out the obj ctr of the eoc'ety. WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY : — That we are having lovely weather for tbo threshing. That Milburn is the beßt farming district in New Zoaland. That all the " cockatoos" are carting lime. Tbat another kiln will be needed soon. That some interesting weddingß are coming off shortly. That the farmera are going to have another " harvest home." That the needle-driving factory iB doing a roaring b z That the Clarendon cricketers' correßpondent is a bit ce — rat — tic, That Cuba is the capita] of Spain, (shade of my Bchooldayo .') That bioyclea aro not particular who they let ride them.