EDUCATIONAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3059, 31 October 1870, Page 4 (Supplement)

EDUCATIONAL.

Flaxton. —The annual meeting of the householders of this school district was held on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The yearly report was read, which showed that the school was in a satisfactory state, and that the number of children on the books during the past year had averaged within a fraction of thirty. The chairman also stated that the present school year had commenced with SO scholars. The accounts, which showed a credit balance of £l4 3s 6d, were then read and passed. The following were chosen as the new committee: —Messrs P. Threlkeld, J. Stevenson, E, Mulcock, J. Sealey, G. Clist, S. Bradley, C. Dudding, H. Hookham, and J. King. At a sub sequent meeting, Mr P. C. Threlkeld was chosen chairman. Lower Heathcote School. —A public meeting was held in the schoolroom on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 11, Mr R. Davis in the chair. The chairman read the report of the retiring committee together with the statement of accounts. Both were received and passed. The following committee-men were elected by ballot for the ensuing year : —Messrs R. Davis, J. H. Hopkins, C. Smith, H. E. Palmer, J. E. March, R. Rainey, E. Round, M. Milburn, and Captain Charlesworth. Mr J. H. Hopkins was elected chairman, by ballot. A vote of thanks to the retiring committee terminated the proceedings. Judging from the large attendance, and the number of candidates (16) for the office of committeemen, education is receiving a large amount of attention in the district, contrasting very favourably with former years. The North Kowai School. —The annual public meeting for the purpose of receiving the report of the school committee, and for election of a new school committee, was held in the school room, on the evening of Oct. 11. The chairman, Mr Ward, gave the report for the past financial year, which was adopted. The financial state of the school was very satisfactory, considering that when Mr Ward was elected chairman on the 21st of January, the school committee was in debt to the extent of £56 18s 6d, and the available money to hand was £4 14s 9d, with a deficiency of £32 3s 9d. After examining the accounts, which had been duly audited by Mr Martin, the balance to the credit of the school committee, after satisfying all liabilities, was £2l 17s sd. The meeting then proceeded to elect a new committee, when Messrs H. Major, J. Stanton, H. Martin, A. Greig, S. Coleman, R. Bristow, and J. Ward, were proposed, seconded, and duly elected. A vote of thanks was passed to the late chairman Mr Ward, and subsequently that gentleman was re-elected. University op Otaoo. From our exchange files, we leam that a meeting of the Council was held on October 12, at which the Chancellor, the Rev. Dr Burns presided. It was resolved to advertise in the leading colonial newspapers for candidates for the Professorship of Natural Science. It was stated in the course of the discussion, that the applications from candidates in Britain for this chair, would probably reach Dunedin in January ; and that from information received, the Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy would probably be appointed in sufficient time to accompany the other two professors early next year. The following resolutions were submitted and carried unanimously ;—“ That the attention of the Provincial Government be directed to the rightful claim of the University of Otago to possess all the privileges and powers of a Colonial University, with a fair share of the colonial funds which may be devoted to University education. That the foregoing resolution, together with a copy of the minute of the Conference between the Provincial Government and the University Council, held upon the 29th ult., be forwarded to the Provincial Government, with a request that, in view of the approaching session of the Provincial Council, the Government would be pleased to take all such steps as to them may seem necessary and expedient to give practical ejfect to the foregoing resolution; and to the undertaking of the Government, as specified in articles Nos. 3 and 5 of the minute of Conference.” The follow;ing are the articles referred to in the preceding minute 3. His Honor and the Executive Government #gce.ed to the resolutions of the Council that a Hill shoujd he prepared for submission to the next session of the Provincial Council, and they agreed tp support the same, by which the bjiildfng known as the f‘ Nejv Post Office ” should he handed over ,to the jGounpijl of the University of Otago, jn trust for the purposes of the said University. 5. The Goyerjituejut promised fa (Consider ,th e practicability of oaakjhga speijal endowment for scholarships. " «u|: fflmp under the Iqcal flniverr similar ‘ F°iP^ ed sity endowment, i mation not take place.

Templeton School.— The annual meeting to elect a new school committee and receive the report of the old one, took place on Tuesday, October 11, Mr F. G. Btedman in the chair. The Chairman gave an account of the school transactions during the past year, and read a balance sheet showing how the school rate of lOa per house had been spent. He also stated, that the average attendance had been .38 during the year, the number at present on the books being over 80, with an attendance that day of 63. The meeting showed its appreciation of the way in which school matters had been carried out by passing a vole of thanks to Mr Morgan, the schoolmaster. A new committee was then elected, consisting of Messrs Bailey, Barter, J. Bennetts, Blake, Jones, Kemish, Maddison, Stedman and Tosswill. The committee had a short meeting, and elected Mr S. Bailey, chairman for the ensuing year. Lincoln School. —The annual examination of the above school came off on Monday, Oct. 10. The Rev. A. P. O’Callaghan, Mr Glyde, and Mr Fannett conducted the same, and at the conclusion of the exercises, which were gone through in a very creditable manner, the reading and spelling being particularly good, prizes were awarded to F. Townsend and J. Mullins in the first class; to Annie Dun and Charles Wright in the second class; to Wm. Dun, E. Wright, and Mary Pannett in the third class ; and to Mary Wright, M. Gilletley, and Sarah White in the fourth class. An extra prize, consisting of a valuable workbox, given by Mr Townsend, was awarded to Annie Dun, as being the most advanced scholar in proportion to her age. The master, Mr Jacobson, has evidently taken great pains with the children, and has met with no small success. Lob urn.— The annual meeting for the election of a school committee for the ensuing year was held in the schoolroom on Tuesday, the 11th inst. On account of the busy time among farmers just now, the meeting was not very numerously attended. The report of the committee for the past year was read by the chairman, in which it was stated that there had been three examinations during that time, and that prizes to the value of £2 16s had been given to the children. The chairman also stated that the current expenses of the year, consisting of insurances, new desks, &c., had been met without levying a rate. The report was adopted by the meeting, which then proceeded to elect a new committee, consisting of Messrs A. H. Cunningham, Barker, Harwell, Wells, A. Cunningham, Pattrick, Armstrong, Pritchard and A. Hodgson. At an after meeting of the new committee, Mr A. H. Cunningham was elected chairman, and Mr J. Barker treasurer. Fernsidb Educational District.— The inhabitants of this district met at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, to receive the report of the committee for the past, and elect one to serve during the ensuing year. From the report, which the meeting was thoroughly satisfied with, it appears that the school has never been in a more prosperous condition than during the past year, many of those present expressing themselves as being more than satisfied with the painstaking and very successful way in which their children have been taught. The present age fixed for boys to compete for scholarships, and how to secure more general attendance at the school, were subjects discussed at some length. It was agreed that more good would accrue from the scholarships, if the ages were altered to 14 instead of 11 years. Taking into consideration'the large number of children in the districts, viz.: 157 under IS years, 112 between 5 and 15, in attendance at the school now 53, less 25 out of the district, leaving Femside School District represented by only 28, a much larger number should he receiving instruction. In the opinion of the meeting a compulsory system of education is necessary. The following gentlemen were elected on the committee for the ensuing year, viz.:—Messrs M'Tntyre (chairman). Milne, Jackson, M'Kenzie, and Arnott.

South Selwyn School.— The annual public meeting, for the purpose of receiving the report of the school committee, and for the election of a new committee, was held in the schoolroom on the evening of Oct. 11. Mr James Brown was voted to the chair, and the committee were called upon to read their report. The chairman of committee informed the meeting that they would find a report in the minute book. I his having been referred to showed that there was no report, and also that there were no minutes of the last annual meeting. The Treasurer gave an account of his receipts and disbursements which showed that the committee had over-estimated their receipts by £25, and that they were consequently in debt to that amount. The treasurer also stated that the sum of £4 16s was due to the committee for school fees and sale of books. The following persons were then elected as the school committee for the ensuing year:— Messrs James Brown, J. Cunningham, C. Withell, A. Stirling, W. Beneson, D. Wilson, J. Metcalfe, T. Wilson, and J. Stewart. Ihe committee immediately afterwards held a meeting, and having elected Mr James Brown chairman, proceeded to consider the seven applications for the mastership of the school. After some deliberation it was resolved that Mr P. Cheyne be elected to the mastership, subject to the approval of the Board of Education. The committee then adjourned to the following evening, when a letter from Mr Cheyne was read, stating that unless the committee approved of his course of religious instruction, he would decline to accept the appointment of teacher, if elected. After some discussion, his appointment was cancelled by the casting vote of the chairman. The applications were again considered, and Mr Edwin Mossman was elected to the masership.

Sprinqston School. —The above school was examined by Messrs Toaswill and Glyde, who attended at the request of the committee on Friday, Oct. 7. A large number of parents and others interested in the school were present during the afternoon, and appeared to take a deep interest in the proceedings. The children to the number of 38 were divided into four classes, and prizes were awarded as under : —First Class : Ist, Annie Lawry; 2nd, Fanny Gilling and Mary A. Talbot (ties), A. Stokes coming next. Second Class : Ist, Henry Kime ; 2nd, William Lawry ; 3rd, E. Watson, George Gilling coming next. Third Class: Ist, Kate Higgings; 2nd, John Higgings; 3rd, Melia Wills. Fourth Class : first division—--Ist, Mcllroy ; 2nd, Bourn ; 3rd. Goodrick. Second division—lst, H. Bourn ; 2nd, Wm. Rule; 3rd, Mcllroy. The examiners also awarded the following extra prizes ;—Ellen Watson for sums, Thos. Parkinson for geography, A. Stokes for history, Percy Kime for spelling and reading, Sarah Bourn for geography, and George Gilling for writing ; and the committee, on the recommendation of the master, presented Arthur Taylor with a prize for general good conduct throughout the quarter. The examiners expressed them ■ selves highly pleased with the results obtained, and complimented the master on the thoroughly efficient state of the school. They were particularly struck with the knowledge of history displayed by the firstclass, and by the reading of all the classes, which was highly satisfactory. Great pains had evidently been taken to ground the children well in every subject they had learned, and their education was being built up upon a solid basis. At the conclusion of the examination the children and their friends took tea together, after which an entertainment was given in aid of the school funds. The prizes were distributed by the school chairman (Mr Lawry), and Mr Tosswill spoke briefly as to the result of the_examination, after which readings and recitations were given, interspersed with some very good songs from Mrs Gelletly, Mrs Wjiite, pnd Mr Helms. Mr Tosswill read the 'f Death of Little Nell ” from “ The Qld Curiosity Shop.” Mr Jacpljspp read a piece the title of which we have forgotten, and Mr Wiiner favoured t}ie alienee with U piece which, when we say it was of his own composing, needs no further recommendation fropu pj|. A recitation by Messrs E. and S- Gillingham wa? very well given, and some of school children acquitted themselves adnprabiy ip the sanje direcjtipp. Mr Cotton yps US usual inimitable in bis Irish pieces, and earned well merited applause, ?be WUficalpart ojf the programme and every piece was 3sS| mmfy famfar The audience was

large and demonstrative, and showed their appreciation of the efforts made to please them by the most energetic claps of admiration.