TAURANGA DISTRICT SCHOOL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1794, 29 January 1885, Page 2

TAURANGA DISTRICT SCHOOL

MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS,

The annual meeting of householders took place on Monday, evening in the Native Courthouse, Government Buildin gs. There was a fairly representative attendance. Mr Thomas Wrigley (Mayor), was called to the Chair, and having read the notice convening the meeting, and explained the object, Mr Neighbour was elected Secretary xno tern., to take minutes of the meeting. The minutes of the last annual meeting, and the last speoial meeting, were read and confirmed. Mr 0. A. Clarke, late Chairman of School Committee, read the annual report of the retiring Committee .as follows : — annual report of the tauranga district school committee, january 26th, 1885. ■ The meetings of the Committee during the past year have been held regularly, and have been generally well-attended. Fourteen meetings were held during the year. For the information of .the householders, a list showing the attendances of each member is attached : — O. A. Clarke (Chairman), 14 attendances; J. A. Clark (Secretary), 14; E. Henry, 12; Mrth Wrigley,' 12 ; J. W. Clarebrough, 8 ; J. Con way, 7; D. Lundon, 6. When the Committee took office the credit balance in the Bank was 7d, and outstanding accounts amounting to £6 8s 9d, a total indebtedness of £6 8s 2d, which amount was, on representations being made to the Board of Education,' placed' to the credit of the School funds. The present financial position of the Committee is — outstanding account, nil; credit balance in Bank, lid; and 17s lOd credit balance on library account. Consequent on the largely increased attendance at the School, the capitation allowance has during the past halfyear been increased to £15, or at the rate of £30 per year ; but, as stated in last .year's - report, it is totally inadequate for the requirements. Applications have been made again andagain to the Board for necessary works, but the Committee regret to say that it has been of no avail. An application for a large terrestial globe, which the Committee considered to be absolutely necessary to provide, was refused ; but one was purchased by the subscriptions of Captain Morris, M.H.8., and the Committee. Dr Ginders, at the request of the Committee, reported on the wani of drainage at the school, and the Committee applied to the Board for the funds required (about £14), when the Board generously offered the sum of £5. The Committee have made strong representations to the Board, and hope their successors will not allow this important matter to rest. A copy of the last letter to the Board on this matter will be read. A donation of £10 worth *of books has been obtained from the Board to supplement the amount raised by the school entertainment in aid of the library, which amount has been expended in the purchase of books. ,

An entertainiiieht nats. been kindly given by the Tauranga Serertaders in aid of the library, which realised £12 2s 4d, and subscriptions In aid of the same object £1 14s; leaving the Bum of £13 14s 4d in the hands of the Committee, who have arranged with the head teaclier to expend the same. tfiiG, amount £aid by the Committee in connection with the new school site they consider their successors should endeavour to get refunded by the Board. The Committee have much pleasure in informing the householders that during the past year the school has been conducted in a most satisfactory manner. The head teacher and his assistants deserve the hearty thanks of this meeting for their successful exertions* The Inspector's report on the school is very favourable both to teachers. and pupils. The Committee have continued the system of weekly visits to the school, and are satisfied that it is a good one, and recommend the continuance of the practice. In accordance with resolutions passed at three consecutive annual meetings, the Committee . have steadily endeavoured to carry out the wishes of the househofders, and they have very great pleasure in now announcing that the school site We have endeavoured so long to obtain is at last by Act of Parliament vested in the Board of Education as a school site for Tauranga. The Committee are of opinion that the warmest thanks of this meeting 1 are due to our member, Captain Morris, foi? his successful exertions in carrying the local bill through, in spite of much uncalled for opposition, and a resolution to that effect will be laid before you. The Committee regret that in their endeavours to secure the school site they have not been assisted by the Board. They have reluctantly to state that, instead of co-operating with the Committee to secure 'for educational purpuses such a desirable and Valuable property, the Board refused to contribute the small amount for advertising which was required, and the Committee are of opinion that the action of the Board in refusing to pay the expenses in connection with , securing the site and persistently I ignoring their representations in this | and other matters is deserving of the most severe animadversions. The Committee do not wish to think that the Board, as a Board, are determined persistently to ignore our claims, but J they cannot help coming to the conclusion that Tauranga school affairs have not been understood by the Board, or that the Secretary is de facto the controlling power. Thesite having been secured, we trust our successors will keep the wishes of the householders in view, and endeavour to have school buildings erected thereon adequate to the requirements of the town. (Signed) C. A. Clarke, Chairman. Jan. 26, 1885. The balance-sheet was also read. The Chairman (Mr Clarke) then moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet as read. Seconded by Captain TSorxis pro fomna. Captain Norris spoke on the resolution with reference to sundry matters alluded to in the report, notably the question of drainage, and called attention to the fact that there was no evidence to support the contention in the report as to the extent of harm occasioned by the alleged bad drainage, and he urged that a copy of the medical officer's report thereon should have been produced. It would have been much "more satisfactory to have the official report of the Health Officer before the* meeting, in order that householders might determine how far the correspondence that is said to have passed between the School Committee and the Board of Education justifies the adoption of those remarks in the report now read condemning the action of the Board. The discussion on the matter resulted in the statement by the Chairman of the School Committee that the communication from the Health Officer had been sent to Auckland, and. was there. No copy appears to have been kept. After some further discussion, the report was adopted and balance-sheet passed. The following resolution was moved by Mr Firth Wrigley, seconded by Mr W. Walmsley — That the hearty thanks of this meeting be given to our member, Captain Morris, for his exertions in passing the Tauranga School Site Bill through Parliament, and thereby securing to the inhabitants of Tauranga a desirable and valuable site, to be used solely in the interests of primary education. Carried. Mr C. A. Clarke moved, seconded by Mr Blake, that the thanks of this meeting be conveyed to Mr Maberley, head teacher, and his assistants for their successful exertionß. Carried. Mr R. 0. Jordan proposed, seconded by Mr Bromneld, that a vote of thanks be accorded to the solicitor who drafted the Bill, and to Mr Gold-Smith, who kindly drew the necessary plans and did the required survey. Carried. Mr Maxwell spoke very pointedly on the question of authority of the Committee in curtailing the holidays. He would like to know by what authority they had so acted. Mr Firth Wrigley replied to the effect that he considered there was no cause of complaint, and in his opinion 26 days' holidays at Christmas were quite enough. 1 Other speakers in various parts of the room spoke on divers matters concerning the progress of pupils, etc., and the Chairman, in reply, read the report of the Inspector, Mr Peacocke. Mr D. Asher, after sundry attempts, managed to move a resolution to the following effect : that a vote of thanks and confidence in the retiring com-

niittee be recorded. Seconded by !M^r' Slake. '".'.• •.'■■■'■' *•'; T,

. Mi* Walmsley actbved that the thanks of the householders be accorded jtp those who assisted towards the formation of a children's library and the children's entertainment. Seconded by Mr Maxwell and carried.

The following gentlemen were proposed .and duly elected, several others having been proposed but declined :— F. Wrigley, E. Henry, E. Home, 0. A. Clarke, J. W. Clarebrough, E. Hamilton, and J. Darby.

This concluded the business of the meeting.