GREY EDUCATION BOARD.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1910, Page 5

GREY EDUCATION BOARD.

CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT. The following report will bo .submitted at to-night’s meeting and will then be forwarded to the Minister of Education to be included in the Parliamentary papers to be presented to the House: — ‘*l have the honour to present the report of the Education Board of the district of Grey for the year ending 31st. December, 1909. “Board.—At the beginning of the. year the Board consisted, of the following gentlemen:—Messrs Jas. Kerr (chairman), W. R. Kettle (treasurer), H. J. Bignell, S. li. Harris, J. Noble, Hon. Jas. Marshall, M.L.C., J. McCarthy, J. Ryall and F. White. At the annual election held in July, Messrs Noble and Bignell were returned unopposed for the northern and western wards respectively. For the eastern ward Mr. White retired, but his rccandidatnre was opposed by Mr. John Flynn—a previous member of the Board. The election resulted in a tie, and on being determined by lot, Mr. jflynu was duly elected. At the annual meeting following the election Mr. W. R. Kettle was elected chairman and Mr. H. J. Bignell treasurer for the ensuing term.

“Schools.—During the year thirty-six schools were in operation as against thirty-five for the previous year, but of these No Town and Taramakau (grade 0) schools, owing to falling attendance were temporarily closed. The schools in operation were graded as follows : Grade 0, 11; grade 1,7; grade 2,4; grade 3, 3 ; grade 4, 6 ; grade 5,1; grade 5,3; grade 9, 1. “Attendance. —Tor the year the roll number of pupils was 1934 and the average attendance 1694, as compared with 1522 and 1580 respectively the corresponding totals for 1908. The average attendance was 87.5 per cent, of the total roll number, and taking into consideration the severe climatic conditions and nature of the bush roads and tracks over which the majority of the children have to travel, the result compares most favourably with any other education district in the dominion.

“Teachers. —At the end of the year fifty-eight adult teachers, seven pupil teachers, and four probationers were in the employ of the Board. Of the adult teachers nine male and seventeen females are certificated and four males and twenty-eight females unccrtiiicatcd. The average number of pupils to each adult teacher was 29.21.

“Scholarships.—A total of twentysix candidates entered for the Junior National and Board Junior Scholarships and of these eight qualified under the Junior National Scholarship conditions. The Junior National Scholarship was won by Master John Cairncy, who obtained 534 marks, the next highest candidate in order of merit obtaining 440 marks. Cairney was 12 years and two months old at date of the examination, and a fifth standard pupil of the Greymouth District High School. Of the twenty-six candidates fourteen passed the Board’s standard of scholarship examination. Town scholarships were awarded to Norman Campbell, Mary Pascye, Vera Lather, and a country scholarship to Louise Leitch. “Manual and Technical. —In connection with the principal schools, three handwork, two woodwork, two cookery, four agriculture and one physiology classes were hold, and at Hatter’s Terraco and Blackball schools continuation classes were successfully conducted. At the technical school, special classes were held in chemistry, carpentry, woodcarving, applied mechanics and mechanical drawing, in the latter subjects extended programmes being most successfully carried through. In this connection it is worthy of mention that the Greymouth Dispatch Foundry Coy. generously donated £B, as a prize land lor the engineering classes, and intimated their intention of donating a similar amount for the year now current. The examination in connection with the award of the prizes was kindly made by Mr. James Bishop, M.1.M.E., the Managing Engineer of the Point Elizabeth State Collieries.

“Cadets, Physical Drill, Etc. —During the year the Public School Cadet Coys, attached to the Grey District High School, Cobden, Taylorvillo, Hainan ga- and Blackball schools did excellent work and at all schools physical drill was well attended to. The Board welcomes the new system of military training introduced by the Government, and is assured that in every way it will make for the betterment of the rising generation and the good of the dominion and Empire.

“Finance, —By the balance sheet you will notice that on the 31st December the Board was in debt £7Ol on till accounts. Allowing for cash assets to be collected, and taking into account accruing liabilities the Board’s net indebtedness approximates to £SOO, This result is wholly due to the reduction in the maintenance vote for 1909, otherwise a credit balance would have resulted. As this matter affects all the Boards in the dominion and has been so well ventilated I will forbear comment and' trust to the generosity of the Department to see that justice is done to boards and committees at an early date. The present position of the Grey Board is, that it is nearly £SOO in debt and has not a penny piece to carry out necessary repairs of its various schools. “General.—The Board sincerely desires to thank your Department for the various special grants for now buildings, etc., authorised during the year, and as in the past accords its best thanks to yourself and the officers of your Department for the unfailing courtesy and consideration ever extended to the Board.”