HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETING.

Marlborough Press, Volume XXIV, Issue 1369, 25 January 1883, Page 2

HOUSEHOLDERS’ MEETING.

The annual meeting of householders called by the Education Board for the purpose of electing a School Committee for Picton, was held on Monday last at the new School Buildings, Bullerstreet. The hour of 12,30 having been fixed for the meeting, a very limited number of persons were in attendance, and the only business transacted was the election of Mr A. .Brown as Chairman, who at once vacated the chair witli an intimation that he would sit again at 7.30 p.m At this hour there was a larger attendance, some twenty persons being present, and the proceedings commenced by reading the following Report and Balance-sheet submitted by the outgoing 'Committee — $ f, % )-K i. j %•{

To the Householders of the Borough; of Picton. : " r- a ""

Gentlemen. — The time having arrived when we should surrender the trust you reposed in our hands, we, the members of the Picton School Committee, have to report:—

Following in the steps taken by our predecessors with respect to obtaining a more suitable site for the erection of the then proposed new school, the Education Board consented to the purchase of four sections bounded by Buller, Kent and York-stieets, and,on this a building has been erected, in a spacious ’and central spot, in which the work of the late divided schools— Senior and Junior—will be combined ; and this your Committee hope will give greater facilities to the teuchers and be the means of greater success in the teaching. The fencing and outbuildiogs of the new school are not yet completed, but the work is now in progress, ami when finished there will be ample separated grounds for the recreation of both sexes. The building has been designed with a view of affording increased accommodation, and will amply fulfil its purpose; and as it is also an ornament to the town, it reflects great credit to the Architect and Contractors. The thanks of the inhabitants, no less than of the Committee, are due to the Education Board for the willing manner. in which the latter body met the views of the Committee in respect to the purchase of the new school site, the erection of the building, and the supply of necessary furniture and outbuildings. A change took place in the teaching power of the Junior School at the beginning of the year, Mrs Blizzard resigning and Mrs Macaulay being appointed temporarily in her place. While regreting Mrs Blizzard’s leaving, the Committee consider they secured the services of an excellent teacher in Mrs Macaulay.

During the year the number of scholars on the rolls was about the same as the previous year, hut the attendance has been irregular, and to the latter fact your Committee would draw the attention of the parents of the children. Owing to the removal of part of the building of the Senior School, that school , has been worked under disadvantages during part of the past year. In consequence of this your Committee has not expected so much from the teachers ; but with the new school in active operation it is hoped that there will be an improvement in the discipline of the school. The Inspector’s report for the past year shows what resuits were obtained in various subjects ; but your Committee consider, from personal experience, that there is still much room for improvement, and hope that under the new arrangement this improvement will be obtained. Your Committee are perfectly satisfied with the general tone and conduct of the Juuior School, and consider that the teaching could not be in better hands, and, trust the high standard now existing will be continued when the scholars are all in the one school. The Committee have much pleasure in endorsing the Inspedtor’s favorable report on this school. It was the intention of the present Committee to lay out the groun’dfih front of the school with flowers and shrubs ;:but tlio season having passed for doing this, they leave the completion of the project to their successors. Sundry other necessary but inexpensive works will be required at the new school before it is finally completed, and your Committee hope their successors will have no difficulty in getting the Education Board to agree to the outlay required for this purpose. Your Committee has made a move with the object of procuring a site near the new school for the erection of residences for teachers, hut leave the further consideration of this matter for their successors. The duties of the present members of the Committee now being completed, they have innch pleasure in placing in your hands the selection of their successors, and would finally suggest the opening of the new school should he celebrated by some entertainment for the children, feeling sure it needs only an appeal to the ladies of the town to bring.the matter to a successful issue. For the Committee. ~, - Alfred T. Card, Chairman. Picton, Jan. 22nd, 1883.

Abstract of the School Fund Accounts for year ending 31st December, 1832. Receipts. £ a. d. Balance in Bank, Jan. Ist, 1882 . 12 17 3 Grants from Education Board for ordinary purposes . • . 35 9 -t Donations for Frizes, 1881 . , 1 U 0 £SO 0 7 Expenditure. £ a. d. Cleaning Schools . . . . 25 10 0 Fuel 3 16 0 Repairs to building, &e, . . . 2 II 3 Furniture, Books, Stationery, &c, . 10 10 4 Painting Black Boards ... 12 0 Expended for Prizes, 1881 . . 1 14 o Balance in Bank . .570 , £SO 0 7 Mr C. Price moved, and Mr Renfrew seconded, “That the Report ani Balance-sheet, ns read, be adopted.” Mr T* Williams proposed “ That the Report be referred back to the Committee for alterations and improvement.” In moving the amendment Mr Williams took exception to the word “ tone ” in the sixth paragraph of the report, as he considered that it reflected on the moral tone of the Senior School, and he could not see why one bcliool should be made to appear so much better than the other. He thought the Committee should rather have blamed the parents of the children for the irregular attendance. Mr Card stated the meaning intended to bo conveyed by the expression was that the Junior School was much better conducted than the Senior School. A voice: “That’s straight”; and “hear, hear.” . Mr Card also explained that the attention of parents was drawn to the irregular attendance of the children in the report. Mr Fisk, in reply to Mr Williams’ remarks, said he had been nominated by the senior teacher, and he had given the whole of the teachers his hearty support, as he had great sympathy with them, knowing that their position was not an enviable one. The Committee had worked together in perfect harmony, and to the best of their ability performed the duties devolving upon them as representatives of the electors. They had carefully compiled the report, which in their opinion was a truthful one, and the remarks used by the mover of the amendment in reference to a particular word was quite uncalled for. Mr Swanwiclc would second the amendment

but thonght sufficient would be done if the report was received and laid on the table. After a desultory discussion, the amendment being pressed, a vote was taken, and after a show of hands was stated to have been carried by II to 8. i . The meeting next proceeded with the election of a new Committee. * Mr Williams (the mover of the amendment above) proposed that the late. Committee be reelected. This the Committee considered was adding insult to censure, and the whole of the members declined to stand, and thought that those who voted for the amendment should form a Committee from amongst themselves, r A number^ of. nominations were then made, but the; majority 'declined §toi stand, and after several attempts to obtain'‘candidates, Mr Williams moved that the Chairman leave the chair, which was apparently carried, as the meeting immediately dispersed, and no Committee was therefore elected.