TAONUI

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 123, 24 April 1936, Page 5

TAONUI

(From Our Own Correspondent.) TAONUI, April 23.

The following h the chairman’s report i °f the Taonui School Committee, to be submitted at the householders’ meeting:— i “Our total receipts in the general account for the year ending February 28, 1935, | were £54 6s lid; expenditure, £47 14s 3d; | special account receipts, £33 13s 8d; experij diture, £2B 4s_ 3d. The greater amount of j the receipts in the special account was j raised from a successful series of euchre ! and dance gatherings, much of this money : being spent on the purchase of material, library hooks, etc. During the second year, ended February 29, 1936, the total receipts in the general account amounted to £49 5s 2nd; expenditure £43 13s lOd, special ac- ] count receipts £3B 17s 2d, e.xpcn- | diture £32 5s 6d, leaving a credit 1 balance of £7 11s 4d in the general account and £6 11s 8d in the special account. Our school, like many others in tho dis- | trict, suffered damage from time to time i by earthquake, the board at last deciding to dispense with tho tall brick chimney | and instal heating stoves. These at first I failed to give satisfaction, but after =ome adjustments they now appear to be working satisfactorily. Requests were again made to the board for a new school, but without success, the board’s reply being that there are a considerable number of rebuilding applications in the Wanganui district which are regarded as being of greater urgency, but as soon as these have been dealt with the question of rebuilding the Taonui School will receive attention. Distinction was gained for our school by’ one of the pupils. Betty Walker, winning an essay competition for pupils attending primary schools throughout New Zealand, promoted by the .Wellington Navy League. During 1935, this committee foined tho Manawatu-Oroua. School Committee Association, much useful information bring gained through membership with this body. The children were conveyed to Feilding on May 6 on the occasion of the late K’ng’s jubilee celebrations, the Education Board granting a subsidy for this purpose. Recommendations were again made to the board with a view to urging upon the Education Department to provide a grant for a new school nt Taonui. The board’s reply was that they were unable at present to. recommend the department to provide a .grant. Our head teacher, Miss Curtis) was granted six months’ leave, taking a trip to England and Scotland and returning last October. Her position during the term was ably filled by Mr J. M. Campbell. Our committee are indebted to Mr Petersen for’ a donation of firewood,

and to Mr Vallcnce for the carting of it free; also to those who rendered assistance from time to time in ‘working bees’ with the result that the school grounds have been kept ii a creditable state Thieves again visited our school, their attention this time being diverted from -firewood to tho removal of an almost now lav nraower.' A climax was reached when word was received that the Wanganui Education Board proposed to close the school under the consolidation schome and convey tho children to Lyttcn Street. This met with the universal disapproval of parents and householders. A petition was signed and a deputation appointed to wait on the Minister of Education (Hen. P. Fraser). So far nothing further has been done in this matter. It is pleasing to note that since the opening of the school this year the roll number has shown a marked increase. In conclusion, I wish to thank all who assisted tho committee during our tbrm of office and for tho interest displayed in the children by our teachers, Miss Curtis, Mrs Walker and Mr Campbell.”