SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11874, 25 April 1899, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

ANNUAL ELECTIONS. WEST CHRISTCHURCH. The annual meeting of tho householders of the West Christchurch school district was held lust evening at tho school. There wore about fifty persons present. Mr W. M'Clea was iu the chair. Tho committee s report stated that tho efficiency which' bud characterised the school for many years had been vrell maintained. Fur.-the quarter ending March 31, the roll number bad been 1034, and I,bo average attendance 814. The results of the annual examination showed that, on the whole, the work had been of a very satisfactory character. All tho pupil-teachers had passed iu their respective years, and all bad succeeded in getting into the honours’ list. The epidemic of measles had been largely responsible for a decrease in the average attendance. Tho following ■ scholarships and exhibitions bad been gained by pupils of the school : Board of Education scholarship,, F. ,1), Farrow,; "Boys’ High School exhibition,‘‘S. T. Evans; Christ’s College entrance scholarship, F. D. Farrow; Girls’ High School scholarships, Lily Paterson and N. Watson ; free tuition at the School of Art, W. Barrel!. About forty girls had attended the cooking classes at the School of Domestic Instruction. Mr Garrard had continued to give gratuitous instruction in swimming, and many of the pupils, both boys and girls, were making good progress. The balance-sheet as audited showed that thoreceipts had been £216 0s lOd, and the expenditure £lB6 Is, leaving a credit balance of £29 19s lOd. Since the audit, accounts amounting to £5 14s had been passed for payment, leaving a balance for the new committee of £26 5s lOd. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following were nominated as members of tho committee:—l)r Mcorhouse, Messrs C. D. Morris, G. T. Cliisnall, W. J. Watson, J. T. Park, W. M’Clea, A. Campbell, G. Watson, J. J. Isbister and J. H. Jones. The voting resulted : —Chisnall 36, M’Clea 35, Moorbouso 35, Jones 34, Isbister 31, Park 30, W. J. Watson 29, G>- Watson 28, Morris 28, Campbell 12. The first nine were declared elected. On the motion of Mr H. Cuiiett, seconded by Mr W. Garrard, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the headmaster and bis staff. Mr T. S. Poster replied. The Chairman, referring Co the mode • of election of members of the Board of Education, said that it had always been a’sore point with him that a country .school committee, with fifty scholars, bad as much voting power as the committee of a school with 1000 scholars. The country committees thus were able to put in whom they pleased. The suggestion had been made that the individual members of the committees should vote, but he thought that the voting power should be in proportion to the number of scholars. Mr J. Sinclair moved and Mr P. S. Kings ford seconded—“ That, in the opinion of this mooting, it is necessary that the clauses of the Education Act providing for the election of Education Boards be altered so as to provide for a graduated system of voting, based on the average attendance at each school.” The motion was supported by several speakers and carried unanimously, lit was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the Minister of Education'and the three members of Parliament for the City of Christchurch. The question of the inspection of private schools was mentioned, but the Chairman said that he did not think the matter was one that should be discussed at the meeting. Votes of thanks were accorded to the outgoing committee, and to Mr Garrard for his services as swimming instructor. At a meeting of the committee, held subsequently, Mr M’Clea was re-elected chairman. EAST CHRISTCHURCH. There was a large attendance at the annual meeting , of householders, and Mr A. Ayers was voted to the chair, an amendment that Mr J. T. Smith, the actingchairman of the committee, should preside being lost by a considerable majority. The report of the retiring committee stated that the amount received from the Board of Education for incidental expenses had been £321 13s, being an increase of .£5 on last year’s income. There had also been received from the Stipendiary Magistrate’s Court the sum of £9 3s, tho amount of flues inflicted on parents for neglecting to send tiieir children to school, being an increase of £4. 5s on the amount received from the same source last year, making the total receipts £329 16s, and the balance now to credit was £ls 19s 7d. The roll number at the end of the last quarter was —Gloucester Street 1202, Philhpstown 254 and South Belt 132, total 1588, and the average attendance was—Gloucester Street 987.1, Philhpstown 189.8 and South Belt 100.1, total 1277. In common with the other schools in the city and suburbs the number of children on the roll had for some years past shown a steady decline, the decrease being 71 as compared with the number on the roll in 1896. The attendance throughout the year had been seriously interfered with by the epidemic of measles, but was now steadily improving. The Gloucester Street school still, however, retained the position of being the school with the highest average attendance in New Zealand. At the ‘end of last year five scholarships ami exhibitions were gained by pupils of this school which enabled them to attend Christ’s College or the Boys’ High School. Owing to a very small proportion of the scholars being able to attend the proposed picnic iu February, the proposal was abandoned. The teaching at the schools was being carried out very satisfactorily, the inspectors’ reports, after examination and inspection visits, being commendatory, Tho report and balance-sheet were adopted. The nomination of candidates was then called for, and the Chairman was proposed as a candidate. Mr Cresswell asked the Chairman if he was eligible for a seat on the committee. The Chairman said that he had endeavoured to find out that day, but bad been unable to ascertain if bis residence was within the district or not. Mr J. G. L. Scott said tho Canal Reserve was the boundary, and the Chairman said that in that case he was not a resident in the district. After some discussion, Air Ayers retired from the chair, saying that he did not wish to invalidate the proceedings. Confusion reigned for a few minutes, , s MiBrunt, Mr J. T. Smith, Mr Clark and Mr Joseph Taylor being nominated as chairman. Finally Mr Taylor was elected. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was again formally put and carried. A question was asked, by resolution of tho meeting, why Mr Lumsden, who was next highest on the list at the last election, was not elected to fill a recent vacancy on the committee, and Mr J. T. Smith explained why Mr Horsley had been appointed. The election of the committee resulted in the return of tho following : —S. Clarke 162, J. R. Brunt 140, H. Allison 127, A. Marshall 121, J. Jamieson 121, J. W. Cresswell 116, J. S. Williams 114, D. Lurnsdon 109, and J. TV Smith 86.; Mr D. Lumsden moved—“ That this meet-

ing of householders of the Bast Christchurch educational district respectfully requests tho Government to take immediate action next session to amend the Act relating to the election of School Committees, and that the parliamentary roll bo the basis.” Mr T. Clarkson seconded tne motion, which was lost. On the motion ot Mr Brunt, it was decided that the now committee should take into consideration the question of anomalies in the Act relating to the nomination of candidates and voting hy householders. Tho meeting, upon the motion of Mr Brunt, passed a vote of sympathy with Mr M. Sandstein, and thanked him heartily for his many years of service to the school. The meeting then closed with a vote of thanks to tho Chairman.

At a meeting of the new committee, Mr J. R. Brunt was elected chairman for tho ensuing year.

ADDINGTON

There was a. good attendance, and Mr N. K. Bowden presided. The. Committee’s report and the lAlance-shoet were’adopted. These,' Showed that the school was in a flourishing condition ; that the pupil teachers had all pa.ss.Ed their examinations creditably; that the swimming bath had been completed free of debt; that the school grounds had been further improved ; that j-lic excursion to Kaiapoi had been most enjoyable; and that there was a balance of £43 5s 9d to the credit of the incidental fund. The Bath Committee’s report and balance-sheet were adopted. The Inspector’s reports showed that the school still maintained its high position of excellence. The following motion was carried : —“That nominations for town and suburban schools be received a week before the night of election, and that this resolution be sent to the Minister of Education.” Votes of thanks were passed to the teaching staff and to the Rev W. S. Bean. The following were elected members of the committee: —W. Johnson 77, R. Bell 76, J. Down 73, E. Staples 70, N. lv. Bowden 68, J. Brown 63, J. Moore 67, J. A. Clarke 56, J. A. Hooper 53. Mr N. K. Bowden was re-elected Chairman. WALTHAM. There was a large attendance, and Mr R. Young was elected to the chair. The annual report stated that the roll number was now 501, and the average ate tendance had been about the same as that of last year. The inspection reports were satisfactory. In addition to the ordinary syllabus, kindergarten work was. now being taught in the infant division and the lower standards. By paying a fee of £5, forty pupils could attend the School of Domestic Instruction at the Normal School. As.this money could not be voted from the incidental fund, the committee recommended that the money should be raised by some other means. The balance-sheet showed the receipts during the year to have been £l5B 16s lOd, and the expenditure £lls 14 s sd, leaving a credit balance of £43 2s sd. The election resulted as follows : —W. Baker 42, R. M. Taylor 38, D. Wraight 37, J. C. Joll 35, A. Clifford 54, J. B. Sim 33, John Taylor 33, R. Young 32, D. Gow 30. Mr R. M. Taylor moved, and Mr Jones seconded—-“ That in the opinion of this meeting of householders of the Waltham School district, it is desirable in the interests of education generally, that the method of electing Boards of Education should be altered in the direction of giving individual members of school committees the right to vote for candidates to represent them on the Board, instead of the present method of voting by committees.” The motion was carried. WOOLSTON. Mr T. Manifold presided. The report of the committee dealt with matters appertaining to the school and its improved surroundings, and placed on record tEo thanks of the committee to Mr Anderson, one of the committeemen - , who had acted for nearly twenty years, and was now leaving tba district. The report was adopted. The Inspector’s and examination reports were road and accepted as very satisfactory indeed. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £7 14s lOd. It was decided by a small majority that the franchise should be extended to all electors on the parliamentary electoral roll. It was also resolved that the Education Act should be amended to give members of committees power to individually, instead of collectively, vote for members of Education Boards. Votes of thanks were accorded to the staff, to Mr Anderson and to the outgoing committee. Twelve candidates were nominated for the nine seats on the committee, and the following were elected:—T. Manifold 25, J. Milne 25, W. T. Thomas 24, J. Cleworth 23, M. Gimblett 22, W. W. Burgess 18, J. T. Treriso 17, M. Robertson 16, W. Cordery 15. ST ALBANS. Mr T. H. Davey presided, and there was a large attendance of householders. The annual report referred to the satisfactory progress which had been made and the proficiency of the scholars. Iks Inspector’s report stated that the annual examination showed capable direction and supervision on the part of the staffs of the schools. The ladies’ committee which supervised the sewing instruction reported that the work done was excellent. The statement of accounts showed total receipts £1472 13s 7d, the expenditure being less by £2 2s sd, which constituted the credit balance. After some discussion, the report and balancesheet were adopted. The ballot for the incoming committee was then taken, and the following were declared elected: H. A’Court 65, H. E. Morgan 57, T. .Alien 55, G. Simpson 54, F. W. Tregear 54, A. Williams 50. T. Palmer 48, R. Fletcher 46, T. Deane 43. At a meeting of the committee held afterwards, Mr A’Court was elected chairman. RICHMOND. Air H. B. Sorensen presided. The annual report stated that the highest attendance during the year was 527. The school had again been successful in regard to scholarships, three pupils being presented for examination, all of whom succeeded in passing. The balance-sheet si towed receipts £l6B 6s Id, expenditure £l7l 8s 3d, debit balance £3 2s 2d. The report and balancesheet were adopted. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the head-master, Mr Howard, and his staff, for the efficient way in which the work had been carried out during the year. Mr Cochrane moved—- “ That the members of the Board of Education should he in future elected at the same time as the school committee-by the householders, and not by the-committees themselves, as at present.” The resolution was carried. Mr Cochrane also moved—“ That the inspectors shall examine all the. schools both private and public.” The motion was lost on a show of hands being taken. Mr Clark moved—“ That the school age be brought up to fourteen instead of thirteen, so as to come into agreement with the Factory Act, which prohibits a child from starting work under the age of fourteen.” The motion on being put to the meeting-was carried unanimously. The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year out of sixteen nominations :—W. Snowball 31, R. J.. Pauli 31, Bell 30. J. A Flesher 28, Clark 27, Hughes 27, H. B. Sorensen 27 Cochrane 25, Shaw 18. At a meeting of the committee held after the public meeting, Mr R. J. Pauil was elected chairman. : ’ SYDENHAM' There was a good attendance of householders ,and the Rev Ik A. Scott was voted to the chair. The annual report was of a satisfactory nature. At the end of the financial year there were 1156 children on the roll. Three Somes Scholarships had been gained by pupils attending the school. The committee expressed its thanks to the head-master for having taken the boys to a camp at Governor’s Bay during the summer. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed a balance in hand of £22 8s Bd. A motion instructing the incoming committee to improve the school library was carried. Hearty votes of thanks wore passed to the head-master and staff and to the retiring committee. Messrs J. Forrester, W. Brew, J. Hadfield, F. C.

Hall, S. Packer, W. Miller, W. J. Rudd, C Simpson, and W. Mark's were elected members of the committee. At a meeting of the committtco held afterwards Mr W. .Miller was elected Chairman for the' ensuing year. OPAWA. Mr E. G. Wood presided. The. report of the, committee stated that the average attendance, for the year was 203, and it referred with satisfaction to the improvements which bad boon made at the school. '.Hie accounts showed a, balance of £l6 10s 5d to the credit of the Incidental Fund. There were 85 children depositors in the Savings Bank, having £l2l 6s 5d to their credit. ’the Committee suggested t,licit efforts should be made to secure a. site for a playground, and again drew attention to the unsafe, slate of Garland’s Road Rail-: way crossing. The report was adopted. The inspection and examination reports were read, and accepted as very satisfactory." In answer to a question, Mi’ Burnett said that bo could give no information concerning the Garland Street crossing. He' understood that a crossing-keeper was wanted, and the Minister of Railways had not seen his way to accede to the. request. Seventeen candidates were nominated for the nine seats on the committee, and the following were elected; —E. G. Wood 66, H. G. Baunton 50, W. Woodhouse 49, G. Scott 48, T. H. North 47, R. Ellison 42, W. K. Morrison 39, T. Bray 37, and J. E. Garland 34. It was resolved to write to tho Minister of Railways asking for the appointment of a. crossing-keeper at Garland’s Road. It was unanimously decided to urge on the Board of Education the necessity of enlarging the playground, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Baimton for his kindness in allowing the children the use of his paddock. A motion to extend the franchise to all adults was negatived. A motion was carried expressing the opinion that the Board of Education and Canterbury College should provide a larger number of scholarships. The usuai votes of thanks were passed. Lyttelton. There was a very poor attendance. Mr T. C. Field occupied the chair. The bal-ance-sheet showed a credit of £36 5s sd. Tho Inspector’s repoi’t showed that the teaching had been highly satisfactory. The committee’s report regretted the falling off in the attendance. The following were elected as the committee:—Messrs S. R. Webb, T. C. Field, W. Brown, G. Laurenson, W. G. Shepheard, M. Wcastell, Jecks and the Rev D. M’Nicoll. Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing committee, and a motion protesting against the method of electing members to the Board of Education, as giving country committees an undue advantage, was carried. Mr W. Brown was elected chairman by the committee. WEST LYTTELTON. There was a very poor attendance. Mr R. Brown occupied the chair. The annual report expressed regret that the Board of Education, through their inspectors, did pot pay more attention to handwriting as a subject. The whole of the incidental fund had been expended. Tho report of the Inspector on the examination for the year spoke highly of the work of the headmaster and his staff. The following were elected as the committee: —Messrs J. R. Webb, R. Brown, E. J. Stenson, R. Hatch well, G. A. Lewin, F. Arnold and, the Rev E. E. Chambers. The usual votes of thanks were passed. RANGIORA. The following were elected as committeemen : —C. I. Jennings 40, R. Ball 38, J. Marshall 38, W. Foster 37, H. Boyd 35, A. Blackett 35, A. Shankland 27, Rsv A. Peters 26, Rev P. P. Fendall 25. Mr J. Marshall was elected Chairman, and Mr J. B. Wilson secretary. It was resolved that the committee having three years ago substituted certificates of merit for prizes, they should now discontinue the practice, as being only another form of prizes. OTHER ELECTIONS. Riccarton.—C. E. T. Hill (Chairman), R. Brake, H. Watson, G. Rowland, D, Lowe, G. Atkins, and G. Clarke. Hornby.—Messrs B. Clarkson (Chairman), G. Leslie, A. Burt, W. Kerr, W. Piper, T. Kinross, and L. TTimrm. New Brighton.—Messrs C. H. Wiimy (Chairman), J. L. Pattrick, H. D. Pine, A. E. Nicholls, G. T. Hawker, F. Paton, and A. W. Owles.

PapaamL—Messrs W. J. Jackson (chairman), A. S. Ford, J. W. Horner,. A. R. P. Hopkins, E. Jones,. J. Brownlee, P. Hudson, G. Derrett and T. Pattrick were elected. The committee was recommended to endeavour to obtain a swimming bath as soon as possible. Belfast—G. Ellis (chairman), C. Morgan, H. Wofcton, W. Spencer, J. Napier, S. M’Cracken J. D. Anderson, H. Watson and J. Craig. Kaiapoi.—Messrs R. Moore (Chairman), G. A. Ellen, E. Feldwick, W. Pamham, C. J. Young, W. Doubleday, R. Coup, A. T. Clark, and A. Blakely. Waikuloi.—T. M’Donald (Chairman); R. Gill, T. E. Skevington, E. Stoke, M. Stokes, M. B. Archer, and J. Booth. Femside. —G. J. Palmer (Chairman), WAmott, G. Milne, jun., A. Nichol, J. Sommer, R. Purvis, and A. Morgan. Woodend.—D. Shelton {CharrmaiL), J. Winslow, J. Jackson, T. Ayers, T. Burnett, A. Petrie, and F. Chambers. Sonthbrook.—T. Withers (Chairman), J. Willis, D. Adamson, J. Buckley, D. Dyson, P. Pickhard and R. Harken. fi\, Ashley.—G. Whitesides (Chairman), D. Collie, J. Thomas, J. Sullivan, J. Baird, A. Loffhagen, and C. Jolley. j