Our Dunedin Letter.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1029, 13 April 1894, Page 6

Our Dunedin Letter.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The High School's Board of Governors are beginning to put their house in order. For some time past their finances have been drifting back, caused mainly by a decrease in the revenue derived from their endowments, having had to make reductions in the rentals occasionally. They are now declining any alterations in that direction, but no doubt as leases fall in less amounts will be paid for the reserves. At a meeting held on Thursday last the balance sheet for the year ending 31st December was submitted, the receipts showing a total of L 6793 lis 3d made up as follows :— Laud sold, L 224 5s 6d ; endowment rents, L 2722 13s Id ; interest. LIOO 7s Gd ; school commissioners from reserves, L3SS 15s 9d ; boys' school fees, L 1598 15s 6d ; twirls, L 1339 Is 6d ; girls' boarding fees, L 449 12s. On the contra side the items showed : — Office salaries, LIBO : boys' school salaries 1.3159 ; girls', L 2013 ; girls' boarding establishment, L 417 ; cleaning, books, stationary, etc., L6OO ; sundries, about L3OO ; insurance and taxes, L 362 ; interest on current accounts', L 340 ; leaving a debit, overdraft of L 3577 as against L 2949 at the beginning of year. The annual fee for pupils is LlO, and the cost as shown by the statement amounts to about L 22 per pupil. About 80 pupils are receiving free education in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Governors according the same to those who gained 50 per cent, of marks in scholarship examinations, and there are about 50 pnpils holding Education Board scholarships, the board paying the LIO fee for these. The Board of Governors, after duo consideration, have made a reduction of LSOO in teachers' salaries, and hope by economies in other directions to make both ends meet. The football season has now commenced. The formal opening with the various clubs took place on Saturday which was very suitable for such an important demonstration, the weather being very fine, and a good many people witnessed the several contests. The annual meeting of delegates in connection with the Otago Rugby Union will take place on Saturday evening, and should prove of an interesting nature. The chief item on the programme vvill be a discussion on the advisability of affiliating with tlie New Zealand Rugby Union. A number of clubs have expressed themselves favourable .to such a course, but have given their delegates a fn-e hand in the matter. The majority of the outgoing committee are opposed to affiliation, and will decline to take office again if a resolution to join is carried. The days of horse trams in Dunedin are evidently numbered, as it is understood an Order-in-Council will ere long be issued authorising the use of electricity on the single trolly system as the motive power. When this becomes an established fact it should be a great boon to the city. There was a very good meeting of members of the Dunedin branch of the Otago Educational Institute on Saturday, Mr J. Jeffery in the chair. The principal business was considering the resolutions recently arrived at by the conference of inspectors at Wellington, and on which the Minister of Education had asked for an expression of opinion. As a result of their deliberations certain alterations in several of the motions were suggested. Others were adopted, but the recommendation to give the inspectors power to reduce teachers' classifications if deemed necessary by them was strongly condemned, and a series of resolutions opposing such a course was carried. Tive outcome of the licensing elections is not an unmixed blessing as far as borough councils are concerned. Oamaru expects to lose by reduction of revenue, through a fourth of the hotels being closed and less consumption of gas thereby, L3OO per annum, and have therefore decided on a Is 3d rate. g The people of All Saints' Church have been holding a fancy fair, etc., at the Choral Hall. The same has proved a success, and they anticipate that the debt which they have will be reduced thereby L2OO, a very fair sum in these times of depression. <

I cannot conclude my " lucubration " this week without some reference to the weather. It was very fine all last week, but on Sunday afternoon it changed to a cold ••snap," and Monday was a very miserable day, wind and rain prevailing.