Levin District School.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1915, Page 2

Levin District School.

THE NEW COMMITTEE. The election of a new school committee for the Levin District School was held in the Century Hall last evening. Unlike the previous election very little interest was taken in last night's proceedings, and there wae a sparse attendance of householders; only about 60 were present. On the motion of Mr E. S. Lancaster Mr P. W. Goldsmith was elected chairman of the meeting. The retiring committee's report for the past year and the balance-sheet to December 31st. 1914, mowing a credit balance of £18 10s 3d were adopted as read. Mr Goldsmith remarked that the credit balance was a record. The report was as follows:—Tho retiring committee, in presenting you with its • annual report and balancesheet, have pleasure in stating that we have had a most successful year from all points of view. The committeu met twelve times during the year, which were attended as follows; Messrs Lancaster 12, Sims 12, Dawson 12, Thomson 11, Gapper 11, Smith 11, Broome 10, Henderson 10, and Rev. Randereon 9. On May 19th the committee sent' in a protest to the Education Board re the negligent way it treated the committee's correspond ence re asphalting. On several occasions a month elapsed before the secretary received a reply to his communications. The committee nominated Mr Freeman as a member of the Education Board. On May 19th a special meeting was called to consider plans prepared by the headteacher to devise means for raising funds for asphalting portions of the school grounds and paths. It was decided to write to the board asking if the committee' raised £25, would they procure a subsidy on the same? On July Bth a letter was received to tlie effect that a, subsidy would be forthcoming, together with an amount From the Iboard's funds making a total of £75. Tlie committee wrote thanking the board For its generous assistance; and decided to accept Mr Sohlager's offer of half the proceeds of a picture show, whereby £10 Is 6d was raised towards the £25 sent in by the committee. On August 4th it was decided that the concert committee should meet the teachers and ask their assistance in holding a concert to raise the balance needed. The teachers very readily agreed to undertake the work, and a first-ola&s concert was held whereby the sum of £26 T4s was obtained. During the Christmas holidays 900 yards of asphalting was laid down. After the holidays the teachers and scholars offered to repeat the concert and to devote the proceeds to the Belgian Relief Fund. This effort resulted in £32 11s Cd being sent to that worthy cause- The committee accorded the teachers and scholars a hearty vote of thanks for their splendid effort. A visit was paid to the school by Dr Elizabeth and parents of children who needed medical or dental treatment were duly notified. Owing to the loss of one teacher from the District High School staff on account of the falling-off in the nttendanc in that school (although the general attendance had in'crased), and the dissatisfaction of parents, owing to the rural course, the committee resolved to urge upon tlie Education Board, the need of careful enquiries into the whole position, with a view io remedying whatever may be found to contribute to the unpopularity of the District High School, and copies of the resolution were sent to the Board, the Director of Education, newspapers and to the member of Parliament for the district. Replies have been received from the board and also from •Mr Field, M.P.. that the matter was receiving their urgent considerait-on. During the year the following works were carried out by the committee: Tlie shelter sheds at the infante , school were boarded down to floor level and the floors concreted, cost £3 14s; a new j?ate was put in leading to. the horse paddoek. and the gate painted; two new concrete gate posts and double picket sates were erected at the main entrance to the school, and the old gates were removed to a division fence at the back; the windows and blinds were all put in good order and repair: a new grating was procured for the gully trap; the hedges and trees were all trimmed and the grass kept cut. A new tool shed was erected by the board in the garden plot and the old one utilised for the storage of coal. The head-teacher' 6 (Mr J. Mclntyre) report for the year was read and disclosed a very satisfactory state of affairs. The election of a new committee was then proceeded with. Tlie following nominations- were received—Messrs T. Broonie, F. O. Smith, li. Gapper, N. € Holdaway, J. Johnson, W. Thomson, A. Sims, J. Robertson, C. Kt-lle-her. R. A. McDonald, AV. Bull, Revs. W. H. E. Abbey and H. T. Stealey. The voting resulted as follows: AV. Thomson 63, H. C. Gapper 61. F. O. Smith 59, T. Broome 57. A. Sims 57, W. Bull 51, X. Holdaway 49. Rev. H. T. Stealey 49. Rev. W. H. E. Abbey 47. J. Robertson 44, J. Johnson 35, R. A. McDonald 31, C. Kelleher 24. The first nine wore declared duly elected by the chairman. On the motion of Mr S. Hall, seconded by Mrs McTaggart a hearty vote of thanks, carried by acclamation, was accorded to the retiring committee for its good work during the past year. Mrs Goldsmith moved a similar vote to the teaching staff for the excellent work during the past year. Mr J. W. Bolton .seconded the motion. He complimented the teaching staff for the work it did in connection with the concert for the purpose of assisting the Belgian Relief Fund. The motion was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks was also passed io I Mr A. Sims, secretary to tho retiring committee for his services during the past twelve months. A hearty vote of appreciation was passed' in recognition of the fact that ■

•• " ' '" - ' '"■ '• ' - -*r three members?-of the teaching staff, 'Meesrs Fosa, Mills and Gray, had volunteered for service and were now serving at the front. A vote of thanks to! the ohiirmin I concluded the meeting.- • ' THE FIRST MEETING. i After the election a meeting of the . new committee was•• Held. There were present: 'Messrs A» Sims, 'H. O. r Gapper .F. O. Smith, N.-Ot Holdaway, , W. Bull and Rev. H; 'T. Stealey. Mr A. Sims was elected chairman, r and Mr W. Bull appointed to act u } secretary pro tem. • • s - : t It was decided that ttie committed j hold its meetings on the first Monday in everyi month at 8 o'clock in the schoolroom. ; • Messrs F. O. Smith- and fl. C. GapQ per were appoirited a "Visiting commit j tee for the ensuing 'month.