School Committee.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 48, 10 June 1875, Page 6

School Committee.

The monthly meeting of the School Committee was held in the Schoolhouse on Monday evening. Present : Messrs Mason, Cramond, Ross, Bain, Robertson, and the Rev. Mr M'Ara. Mr Cramond presided. A copy to the report issued by the Secretary of the Education Board lor the past year was laid upon tho table for the perusal of members. A letter was read from the Inspector of Schools, recommending that certain articles of furniture requisite for tuition should be provided for the school.

Mr Ross : I don't think there is an}' occasion that we should take action in this matter in the absence of the teacher. I can't understand what has become of him. He is generally present at our meetings. The Chairman : Would it not be as well to get a sub- committee to take the thing in hand and report at next meeting.

Mr Ross : No, we have had too much of sub-committees already. They take too much on themselves.

Mr Bain : These suggestions have been thrown out after consultation with the teacher. There is no doubt but that he acquiesces in them. At this stage Mr Grigor entered the -meeting, and Mr Ross suggested that the letter should be read over again for his information, Mr Grigor replied that that was unnecessary, as the Secretary had read it over to him not more than haif-an-hour ago, Mr Ross : Why that's impossible. Mr Bain was not able to read the letter himself just now.

Mr Bain : That's what you want is it ? You want to get a hit at me. Mr Ross : No ; not I. I don't want to hit at any body.

Mr H'Ara remarked, that if the letter in question was in the hand writing of the inspector himself, the writing was difficult and not readily deciphered. Eventually it was agreed that the matter should be left in the hands of a sub-committee, to confer with the teacher, and provide the articles in question, if deemed advisable. THE BANK QUESTION. The treasurer (Mr Mason) reported that he had paid the over-draft, amounting to M 16s, incurred to the Bank of New Zealand, and that he had since got £14: lis 6d from the teacher, which he had placed to the credit of the committee in the National Bank.

7 iMr 7 Ross:: 7 l-7 should -/Eke : tbl* ~khdii where you got 7 this ; money.' Did ybw pay it out: of your own pocket ? . Mr Mason : I did pay the money out of my own pocket. Mr Ross : Show us the bank book theu. Mr Mason replied that he had not got the bank book with him. Mi* Ross : Then I must insist upon getting these documents in order that we may see all about the cheque that was dishonored. Mr Bain : The transaction is plain enough. The over-draft, amounting to £4 16s, has been paid by the treasurer. Mr Ross : I want to see the bank book to see how and why this £4 16s is due. The discussion, which at this stage began to wax ~ra ther hot, got into complete confusion, arising chiefly from the fact that a number of gentlemen summoned to attend a meeting of the Athenteum committee, arrived about this time, and thinking the debate referred to the institution in which they were interested, forthwith ranged themselves on the different sides, and prepared to do battle accordingly. This confusion of tongues had not proceeded far, when the mistake was discovered. On order being restored, the discussion was brought to an end by Mr Bain moving, and Mr Ross seconding, a proposition, that the treasurer be refunded the amount paid by him in liquidation of the over-draft. Mr Boss then gave notice that at the next meeting of committee, he would move, " That no account be. paid until -the same is submitted to a duly constituted meeting, of which each member had got at least three days' previous notice.

In reply to a question put, Mr Grigor said, that although he could not state tbe exact number of pupils in attendance at the school just then, he could nevertheless inform" them that it was increasing. That day no fewer than five names had been added to the attendance roll. The average attendance was 150 odds. Another question was put relative to the attendance of pupils caught free of charge. Mr Grigor said, that of late the attendance of that class of pupils had been rather better than formerly ; still, as a general rule, it was far from being satisfactory. One of the pupils whom he named was not present more than one week in the month. Before the matter dropped, it was arranged that it should be looked more carefully into, and with that view the teacher was instructed to make a special report on the subject at next meeting.