SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 26 April 1898, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

J_tl_.J-i\__. A J_V_/-1U« NELSON TOWN SCHOOLS. The annual meeting of householders lo eleot a Committee for the Nelson Town Sohools was held in the Provincial Hall last evening. There was a good attendance, and on the motion of the Rev J. P. Kempthome (Chairman of the outgoing Committee), the Mayor, Mr F. Traßk, was voted to the ohair. Mr Hobden (Secretary) read the report and balance sheet. Referring to the bible olasses. in the schools the report said:— " Some misconception having apparently risen in respect to the Committee's action in granting the uso of the sohools for religious instruction for one-half hour during the week, namely, from 930 to 10 a.m., a brief summary of the matter will not be considered out of place in their report. - -' "In May last tbe Committee received a petition from ministers of religion and others, pointing ont that theEdnoation Act requires only four hom-3' inßtmotion per day, whereas in Nelson we were giving an extra hour per. day, divided equally between the morning and after, noon, and asking that one of these halfhours por week might be set free for if i -. ligiouß instruction, .as it. was_ fonnd i_§ possible under the system Of forming classes that was -then in force .to seoure >- . the attendance of children in snch nnm- •'-* : bers as, with a slight modiification of it, might reasonably .-be-. expected. The 1; ' Committee',, expressed-' their sympathy '•■;- '"• -^ with the prayer of the petition and their ''"v: willingness to grant /what .was desired. V i "••: > but resolved first to ■ consult the - sohool - : -'-s:"? «:■_ teaohers. - Subsequently, in July, after s . §*< full consideration of the' matter, ■itlyridd^l' 1 resolved ...to .grant t_e petition; but' the^fv^ •Central and Toi.Toi galley. Bohools fo.be'exempt from the ! ar»ngeme_t__iial^'ty the. yearly. examin_tiori;;__td;. l»ke]-iua^'ss%'S The Committee's position in the'-_,atter;SAt«> is explainedln thei.r reply. to.tho ! 'Edn##M| tjon Board on the Bnbjeot,;f_ 1 6"_n%li_6h;tKB||_iS follqwmgoex.j^fc,_iß^^ Education;' Aot, * 20 -; honrsV:teft6K«te!jpKf^^|| week »ra retired. <In:the'Nwir^r%la^^ -iV^oma^-^vo-^^^^tsiipfjt^^^p

.s^Hnom^wtile v ''j^trtiotion is given in the :Vj-rß6h66.B_f6r.:r_i_: fca~ hovirper week,and ;^;als6,^y;_::arrftngemeht.with the teaohers, j::_r-:.aso oularlesao.n is given at the same time S>-•'to^ children of parentsr.'desiriog the same, C;.:.;but.t__'aeonte_ lesson ia not part,of the. rviai-e-tableV''..!',:.']['- " .:•..... ' -;' rv-:".The'/greatly..increased numbers now v Yottending. these -.classes would seem to :7wamnt the beliel.that the .Committee's -;f :.&6Hoii,in the matter has the approval of '-;' alrery ilarge majority of the parents of ~. \- the onildren attending the Town schools, .: the numbers "'.in March being approxi- -'-.•. i__t.ly.Mfdllo.v_ :— '^X" . .~ Attending Not i '.' i'V'''vr" v"'; ' •. Class'

. The report and balance aheet were adopted on the motion of Dr Maokie, seconded by Mr Salter, and carried unanimously without discussion. In putting- the motion the Chairman -aaid great credit was due tc the School . Committee for the report' and for the i. satisfactory manner ih which they had . conducted the-schools during the past 12 ■months. (Applause). Their services and time were given gratuitously, and the publio, espeoially the parents, ahould feel ~:yery grateful to them. (Applause). He hoped that all present would show their j- appreciation of the work done by the ' . Committee by-re electing them, for they - had a heavy pnblio duty to perform, and much pnblio critcism to withstand. (Applause). He personally congratulated the Committee on their year's work, and ... hoped that if re-elected they would have even less trouble in carrying out their . -duties than they had last year. (Applanae). ':"- The election of the Committee was then proceedel with. Nine were re- . qnirod. and the.fo'lowing seven had been nominated before the meeting .-—Messrs .., "W.C. Ancell, E.'Boyes, Thos. Fathers* Rev J. P. Kempthome, Rev J. H. MaoEenzie, Jesse Piper, G. R; Selby. 'Messrs J. "Webley and Firth (the latter , a member of the outgoing Committee) were nominated as the other two Connmitteemen, and elected unopposed. The Committee is therefore the same as laßt . year,- with the exception of Mr Webley, A vote, of thanks to the Chairman, oarried amid applause, terminated tho . proceedinjgs. - After the meeting of householders, the statutory meeting of the Committee was ' held, and the Rev J. P. Kempthome was re-eleoted Chairman for the ensuing year. Mr Hobden was re-eleoted Secretory.

.....:, Toi Toi Valley Sohool 265 32 - Haven Road Sohool 187 — -Tasman-street Sohool. 112 25 , Boys' Central School 201 . 127 - Brook-Btreet School 76 .10 ; Hampden street Sohool 80- 4 ' ... 924 198 The statement of accounts show's! - Receipts £. s. d. .-. Grants from Board ..." ... 280 15 2 Special granls from Board ... 108 3 6 Teaohera' salaries 2357 3 5 Sale of books, etc. 40 9 4 Total receipts 2805 1 5 The expenditure showed— On School grounds 23 5 8 " Cleaning schools ond outbuildings 11l G 3 Fuel for schools 24 0 0 Water rate i'O 17 3 Teachers' salaries 2357 3 5 Total expenditure ... ...2796 9 2 Credit balanue ... 8 18 3 £2805 7 5