Queenstown Main, School.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1517, 29 January 1886, Page 5

Queenstown Main, School.

The ordinary monthly Committee meeting of above school waa held in the school-room, Queenstown, on Monday, the 25th January, 1886. Present:— Messrs G. M. Rosa (chair), Reid, Davidson, Hotop and Firth. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The Secretary read the inward and outward correspondence, which waa ordered to be received and laid on the table.

The master's report for quarter ending 18th December, 1885, showed the number on roll to have been:—Boys, 75; girla, 56—total, 131; average attendance, 109.

The annual balance sheet and report, as below, were brought up, read over and ordered to be received. REPORT. In making their annual report the Committee of the Queenstown School District have much gratification in being able to bring forward a balance oheet showing a substantial credit. The total receipts, including a balance from last year of £7 2s. 7d., were £54 2s. 3d., viz., from Education Board, £3O 2s. 6d., and pixn-eeds of concert, £l6 17s. The expenditure amounted to £49 17s. 4d., viz., cleaning, £ls; fuel, £5 7s. 6d.; re;*irs, L 3 os. 61.; stationery, 2s. 6d., and sundries, L 26 6s. lOd , leading a balance in hand of £4 4s. lid. The Committee have again to thank generally the public, and particularly those ladies and gentlemen who assisted in getting up a concert, for the welcome addition of Llti 17s. to the funds. If it were not for these annual concerts the Committee would not be able to carry on, the amount for ordinary incidental expenses allowed by the Board being quite insufficient. The Committee record with pleasure that, since their last rej-ort, the master's re-idence has been repaired, and the much-needed fencing around the whole of the school premises has been erected and put in thorough rej«air. The Cadet corps also has been re organised, and is now under the able command oj Lieut. Mehaffey, who has done good work with the boys in drill—l*ing favorably reported on by the Inspector. The annual examination took place in December last, immediately before the holidays. The Inspector in his re|>ort speaks very favorably of the manner in which the scholars have acquitted themselves. The total passes attainable, 406 ; passes attained, 349. Percentage gained, 85 9, made up as follows Standard 1., 955 ; 11., 84 9 ; 111., 85*; IV., 7s 8, and VI., 82 1 There is a flight decrease in the attendance for 1885 as against 1884, the numbers being 131 for lsas and 134 for lsß4. The average attendance remains about the same as last year, viz., 100. During the pa=t year the Committee h'.ve held 11 meetings, one lapsing for want of a quorum. The attendance of each committeeman being as follows R. Davidson, 11 times; L. de Beer, 4; H. X. Firth, 10; \V. Gilbert, 9; L. Hotop, 9; J. Reid, 8 ; and G. M

Tlie balance sheet for year ending 31st December last, duly audited by Mr F. W. F. (ieisow, showed the receipts (including credit balance of £7 2s. 7d. on Ist January, ISSS) to have been 1*54 2s. 3d.; and the expenditure (including £4 4s. lid. balauce in bank on 31st December, 1885) to have ken £54 2s. 3d.

The Inspector's report was also read over, showing that the school had made steady and substantial progress. INSPECTORS report. Passes attainable, 406 ; puses attained, 349—percentage gained, B5 D

As only two scholars were presented in a standard already passed, ths school must be considered as having passed a creditable examination. The percentage gained in the various standards is as follows

Standard 1., 9« 5; H.,84'9; 111., 85 ; IV ,78 8; VI., 82 1 Standard I. (Mrs Mehafley)—The class has acquitted itself with great credit in all subjects. Standard 11.-This class is very weak in arithmetic, especially mental arithmetic. Standard ill. —Some good work has been done in this class. Spelling is correct, and geography often both correct and definite. Heading is fluent, but not always correct.

Standard IV. -Most o( the scholar* in this clam have succeeded in p&saing their standards, notwithstanding a considerable want of accuracy in the an-twtrs generally. This cUs.«, however, is strong in parsing—ari excellent feature. Standard VI. - This da*a ha* acquitted itself well in reading an i and fairly in all other*. Handwriting. —The writing of the examination paper* is exceptionally »'oo«l, the [®i>er» arc clean, and the arrangement of the work mo»t orderly. In the copybooks the handwriting o.' .Standards IV. and VI. is too heavy. Sewing.—lt would he better that the lower Standards should not attempt advanced work too soon, but confine thctmelves to that prescribed to them in the syllabus. The work in Standards 111. and IV. was satisfactory. Poetry.—Not thoroughly known. Object Lessons.—Ditto. Elementary S-ience. A little chemistry was presented, an oral examination in which elicited some correct answers. Sm^iny. Excellent in every way.

Drill. —Very fair.

Discipline. -The cuiiurun do not work so silently as is desirable. and this r—nark (•: part : cu!arly tnie of Standard 11. Buildings.—The schoolrooms were very clean and tidy, and the infant room prettily adorned -a great improvement since my previous visit.

Register. —Strictly accurate, but many pages were undated. Infant Classes. Reading, spelling, rhymes, mental addition, singing and drill, all good. Addition table not the best sort. Writing fair, sewing fair. These classes are under the care of Mrs Mehaffey, aud are evidently most efficiently conducted.

Messrs W. S. Moir, Geo. Froggatt, Thos. M. Macdouald and John Turnhull solicited the suffrages of the Committee for a seat on the Southland Ivlu?ation Hoard at the forthcoming aunual election to fill the vacancies of retiring members.

It was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Reid and Davidson—That Messrs Thos. M. Macdonald and John Turnhull be nominated.

In consequence of an intimation from the head teaober. Mr M*haffcy, it was resolved, on the

motion of Messrs Reid and Firth—That this Committee with regret accepts Mrs Mehaffev's resignation at head mistress of the school as from the 31st March, 1886, and that the resignation be at once placed in the hands of the Board, with a request that applications for the appointment be immediately advertised for. Appointment to date from Ist April next. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.