BICOARTON.

Press, Volume XXV, Issue 3311, 12 April 1876, Page 3

BICOARTON.

The meeting of householders for this dis- -■ trict took place on the 10th/-The attendance^ was limited. Mr Gray presided, and read the following report:—"Since the general , meeting held six months -ago, school matters 1 have been progressing steadily and 'Satis- ! factorily in the district". A site for the Fens dalltown school had been obtained previous to the last annual meeting, but owing to the i provincial architect being so much engaged, some delay'has taken place in calling for '.'" tenders for the building. By the advice of : the Minister for Education the committee s decided on employing an architect, and now > the contract ia let for both schoolroom and i master's house, and most of the material is 1 t on thew ground. The Bcboolroom when j • finishied : will hold about" seventy childrea, } c and wTfa the master's bouse and the site * will coat something.: over £700. It is i"» expected that it wfll be finished in about two months, Tbe school t» tion waaheld November Hth undet the neW system. The inspector teports as "' followVf—'rThis examination is the first the * school has had under the standards, and "'sufficient time.-haa scarcely been given to » meet ettra requirements. ' The majority; ; ,pf I the scholars have had/considerable, train* ' ing subjects of the atendards higher* than have respectively passed ; but inaccuracy in some of- the_:work not hitherto ":' expected has prevented ihem passing now, I thoughvmost of i hem will doubtless take a 1 higheT Btandard at the.next half-yearly examination.* Prom tbair remarks it seems it only requires a better ,ac- ~ quaintauce with the standards f or the school ■- to take its proper the-half-yearly '" examinations;: The inspector ia—the same b reDort testifies Btropgly to efficiency of the teachers in~ the tollowiug' terms.;?—' In the , classes taken by-the ma stir it is utjnecessary '■ to the-varibas subjects where \ tbe results itL. sill snowrithat the greatest care, combiSed with ability, has beenbestowed opon-theit teaching. In the 2nd and 3rd. classes- .the- work_„as a. whole ■ SHtisfactofy. : 'The 6tb, 6tt, 7th - cannot be taken efficiently by one aacher.' = HefuTthpr addfl that the work suffers'from want? of' Space and desk'robm,! had fehht a pupil teacher should be appointed as'early as - 'pdsftblie to assist in the infant department, would have appointed a pupil teacher, but it,was found that, with the pre- ,■ .sent staff of teachers,.the number of scholors did not admit of a fresh appointment. With f regard to increased room, the inspector confirms the "already expressed ppiu,i°,n oit the teachewi frequently complain pf the want o£ class rooms. If the Fendalltown schpoldoes not relieve this one of aom e °f thescholara. it -will be for the- succeeding 'committee v to Cohslder how • the suggestions can be carried out. of the.pumps at the School being so fre-J quehtly out of order- and; on account of the bad quality of the water, the committee de-" cided on "Sinking an open well, which, when made,' was tihfortunately a failure, as' the rush of: water through a thick stratum of blue sand prevented the gravel being 1 reached, and it was found necessary to drive a lajge .pipe through the sand, into whichthe pump pipe has been, inserted, and now tberft is a good and plentiful supply of water.At the annual examination of pupil teachers, held January, 1876, Biccarton school cameo ontfwell. Elizabeth Smith takes first plac& among competitors commencing, •their first year, • and Thomas Pole ranks] --Becohd among twenty candidates in thedivfsiopfprtheend of the second year, Jfc is liigrily gratifying that out of three; divisions Bicaarton-scholars should frodd. 1 a place in" two of them.—H. F.'Gbay,Chaifmah." ; ■ • '■■■'■ A statement of accounts, duly audited by the Provincial Auditor, haying been laid before the meeting; the adoption of the report and statement was proposed and carried.' ' ;, ;. 1 .; : , '-' ~ ' . .;' .-• -Theimeetihg then, proceeded to the : election of fqur hew members of committee. . Mjssrs Twentyroan, Blake, Hanson, and Gray having resigned, Mi Twentyman not offering himself for re-election,.Vand Mr Blake being disqualified -on account of acting f-gfChitecfc: s {or the • school, P.vLance,' and Rev. ; Tu'rtell %\iQk v ? as ciandidatea<! and no'-offeer- teahfJidate having- 'been.propbsiri, "Were"declared'duly elected. ' " f ' ' '' The meeting then adjourned. :-'-'Thg -Committee" met "after election i H Pre-; sent—Messrs 'Urirper, Hahson, Marsh,-, and Gray/Wherf'Mr H. F. Gray was re-el4cted chairmahl ;\ ; - -.- '• "J. '"'''-" "" ,' J :