Annual Meeting of Householders

Bruce Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 2957, 3 May 1898, Page 5

Annual Meeting of Householders

WAIHOLA. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The annual meeting of householders in thte diatriot was held io the Schoolhouae on Monday 21 at ult., and ooneiderable interest was manifested in the proceedings. The Chairman of committee (Rev. J. Somerville), presided, and about 70 persona were present, of whom 43 were qualified voters. The report of the outgoing committee was au' mitted aa follows : — In presenting the annual report, the Committee is gratified to mention that perfect harmony has prevailed amongst its members daring the year. Twelve meeting? have been held, all being well attended. It ia with muoh regret that the Committee has to report a serious falling-off in the number of children attendiug the sohooi. At the beginning of the year there were 42 names on the roll, and the average attendance was 38.1. During last quarter the number of names on the roll was only 38, and the. average attendance 30.5. This state of things is due simply to the lack of ohildreu of school age ia the district. The Committee did all ia its power to raise the attendance and succeeded in securing several new scholars. An effort waß mado to induce two fixmilieH on the other side of the lake to send their ohildren, seven io all, but without success. This ia muoh to be deplored, eince tho attendance of these seven ohildron would materially improve the condition of the sahotil. In the month of Juno notice was received from the Eduoatiou Board that if the average for the next quarter did not roach 51, the Board would be obliged to oonsider the advisability of withdrawing thu aervioes of Miss Wall. The average attendance has not reaohed this iimic siuc>; March, 1896, two years ago. At the urgent, n quest, however, of the Committee; the Board continned Miss Wall's tervioes for six months loDger, that ie, up to the 31st March last. But as the average showed n< signs of an upward tendency, Miss Wall had then to leave. The Committee considers her removal a misfortune to the school, and has already placed on reoord its high appreciation of Miss Wall's character and work duriDg her connection with Waibola. The annual examination took plico in October, the results being most ortditable and BAtisfantory. The Committee, on receiving the Inspector's report, passed a resolution congratulating Mr Ronnin, and Miss Wall, on the excellent work done during the year. Tho following holiday;! were granted during tho year, namely, ten days at mid-winter ; three weeks at Christmas ; and three weeks at harvest, besides extra holidays on such occasions as the Qaeen's Birthday, the Jubilee, &c. The annual picnic was held on December 20th, in a paddock kindly lent by Mr Wilson, and proved a great success. The Committee also organised a trip to Dunedin on Ist April, when the ohildren were taken to see the Industrial Exhibition. Owing to the ave r aga attendance being so low (it is now only 31), the school is not entitled to the services of a regular Bewing mistress. The Education Board will only pay f 1 for each girl at the eohool, (average attendance). Aa there were only four members present at Jaßt meeting, the Committee decided to leave the appointment of a teacher of sewing to the i i coming Committee. The Committee would urge upon all parents and guardians their duty of loyally supporting the sohooi at tho present critical time, both in the way of sending all ohildren of school age, and, (which is equally important), of seeing that their children attend with regularity. The report was adopted, and the meeting then proceeded to elect a committee for the ensuing year. Twelve candidates were nominated, and the voting resulted as follows :— Mr W. J. Morton (38), Mr C Robertson (36), Mr P. Beaten (36), Mr JCrane (31), Mr R. Stewart (25), Mr F Henke (23), Mr W. Smith (22), (elected ;) MrJ.G. Tonkinson (21), Rev. J. Somer vllle (16), Mr J. Wilson (16), Mr CHilgendorf (8), Mrs Gregory (3). A vote of thanks to the chairman (proposed by Mr Thomas Andrews and carried unanimously), concluded the meeting.