OUR SCHOOLS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 May 1925, Page 10

OUR SCHOOLS.

NGAEKK. At the annual meeting of householders there was a good attendance. Mr J. E. Coleman, chairma'n, presided. In reporting on the work of the committee for.the past year, he stressed the necessity for patents to send their children to school regularly, and pointed out that owing to the lower average attendance during the previous year the staff had been reduced. Another result was that it also meant reduced capitation. Mr. Coleman thanked the householders for the generous support chat had been accorded every appeal made to them, and also his fellow com-mittee-men fo r their hearty co-opera-tion at all times. The headmaster’s '(Mr. 1). Taylor) report pointed out the disabilit.es a headmaster is under owing to the authorities not staffing a school on the roll .number, hut on the average attendance. wnicii was greatly intended with" at 'times owing to epidemics. Teachers’ organisations had endeavoured to get this altered, but without success. He very much regretted having had to part with Miss Dunam, who was a capable teacher, hut Miss Divehall, the present assistant, was proving a worthy successor. Good work had been done by children with their home lessons during the epjclemic and he thanked parents for-this. Mr. Coleman formally moved the adoption of the report and also the balance-sheet which showed a credit balance of £3O. Of this sum £lO was earmarked as the nucleus of a piano fund. Mr. F. Teeofsky seconded, and after a’brief discussion the motion was p.iit to the meeting and carried. Only five nominations, namely, Messrs. J. F. Coleman, A. D. Walker, H. C. Taylor. F. E. Boc-oek and .f. Piper, were received for the new committee and, these being the required number, were declared elected. On the motion of Mr. J. H. Thomas a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the outgoing committee for the amount of work it had done for the school and also the teaching staff for the excellent results achieved in its department. A motion that Mr. F. Tecofskys’ (declined nomination) long and faithful service as a member of the committee be recorded in the minutes was also carried.

Mr Harkness waited on the meeting in regard to the formation of a school dental clinic such as was in operation at other schools. His firm had the board’s sanction to enter schools, and if he could get fifteen children he could go ahead.

At a subsequent meeting of the new committee Mr. .7. E. Coleman was reelected chairman and Mr. A. D. "Walker was again appointed secretary.

PRESENTATION. At the conclusion of the business of the evening Mr. Coleman said he had a very pleasant little duty to perform. He said that Mr. Walker had been secretary for fourteen years, and as during that time he had discharged his duties in such an irreproachable manner and had given so much lalvour and many flowers and shrubs towards improving the environment of the school grounds, that the occasion could not be allowed to pass without recognising in some way all he had done. He thereupon a Fed Dir. "Walker to accept a handsome travelling rug from parents and friends of scholars attending the school. He also presented to Mrs. Walker, who had so ably seconded his efforts, a silver hot water jug and cup and saucer.

Mr, Walke r in returning thanks, said he .was taken completely by surprise and was sure he did not merit any ic.vard. He had always done his best. The gifts that Mrs. Walker and himself had received would long lie treasured. He had- hoped someone would hace come forward this year and allowed him to relinquish the position he held.

R A WH IT] R OA

(From Our Own Correspondent)

At the householders’ meeting eight were present. Mr J. Cocker was.voted to the choir, and gave a report of last year’s work. The committee had purchased a piano. The price, £7O, was raised by the previous committee holding a horticultural show, which resu’ted in a credit balance of £33 7s 3d, on which a. subsidy was obtained for a like amount, the deficit being made up by the profit on concerts,. £4 12s Bd, for which a subsidy has been applied for. A concert was held to provide prizes for the children who had been successful in the Girls’ and Boys’ Club competitions. This resu'ted in obtaining £7 Os 3d, after £1 los had been donated to the club executive. Some £23 was distributed to the successful children. £l3 of which was given b v the Girls’ and Boys’ Club, and £5 os as a special by the Faterine Co. At the close of the year a concert was held, the profits of which provided a prize for every olii’d.

After some discussion, a motion was passed asking the teacher to discontinue sending the children to the manual classes, owing to the shortness of the school year because rf the epidemic.

A motion was passed pledging the support of the committee to further the establishment of a technical school at Eltham.

A motion was passed congratulating Mrs McNei l on the success of the school from an educational standpoint. The chairman' reported a successful *‘Sir so far as the finance was con■rned. the credit balance at the day of' the meeting being £l3 5s -|d\ I’his ci edit balance would not have been obtained if the committee had not had a working bee, in which several settlers joined, to cut a good supply of firewood for the year. The money saved this way wi'l help to clear an area for a football ground which has been wanted so long. On the motion of Mr. Silver, who .spoke eulogistically of the work of the outgoing committee, the report and on lance sheet was carried without dissent.

Toe folowing committee were elected : Vlr. P. Bootten, J. Cocker, G. Major, G.' E. Silver, It. Philips. At the subsequent meeting Mr Cooker was elected •hailman and secretary.