DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

North Otago Times, Volume V, Issue 95, 14 December 1865, Page 2

DISTRICT SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

An adjourned meeting of the School Committee tool place on Monday e\eiiinjj last in the School-room, uh«n theie were present — Messrs Ashrioit (ill the oliair), Gibhs, Pmkeiton, Sumpter, "Waddell, B.vm, Smith, and Paradise, teacher. The minutes of previous meeting were read and con finned. A conversation aiose on the proposed boundai ies o! the New Educational District, .is stilted in Mr HisIojh letter to the^3ecretarj r , and lefeired to iu the minutes, when, on the motion of Mr Suivptpr, it was decided that the Seeretaiy write to the Seeiet.iry of the Etluca tion Board, to requested him lo put a Map, shewing llu outlines of the boundaiies of the New Educational District, at the disposal of the Committee, and to sfcnti that it is the wish of the Committee, as it appears tlit present boundaiies aie being reduced; that no final steps should be taken without giving them an oppoitu nity to object, the new houndaiks as stated in Jit Hislop's letter being understood by them to exclude tie Papakaio and Awamoko Disti icts, which at present are included.

FEMALE TEACHER. The meeting then proceeded to appoint a Teacher, in the loom of Miss Hay, resigned, from a list of eight applicants. By consent, the list was reduced to three, tho«e beinj Miss Anderson, Mrs Scott, and Miss Hamilton. The votes of the meeting being fuither taken, Miss Hamilton was thrown out, and the contest then lay between 31n Scott and Miss Andpison, the foimer of whom obtained four votes and the latter tliree A discussion arose on the piocedure of the Committee not being in conformity witL the provisions of the Education Ordinance, one of the clauses therein setting foiththat the selection of an Assistant Teacher for anr school lests with the Teacher, subject to the approval of the Committee ; and it was resolved that the opinion of Mr Paiadis>e should be had as to which applicant he considered the most eligible. Mr Paiadise then expressed himself id favor of Mu Hamilton, adducing the reasons why he hod airived at that conclusion, and it was thpn Moved by Mr Gibbs, and seconded by Mr Ashcrofti "That tlie election of Miss Hamilton be confirmed* The motion w<u lost by a majority of 5 to 2. The question of whether Mrs Scott should be de clared elected, was then put to the meeting, and declared carried by a majoiity of 3 to 2.

PRIZES. It was proposed hv Mr Sumpter, seconded by Jit Pinkcrton, and canied, " That a sum of L5 be expended on prizes at the next Annual Examination, and thatB Paradise he empowered to purchase the same." A conveisation ensued as to the principle upon wiiicl prizes to the pupils should be awaided. Seveial mem hers expressed themselves against giving all the prizes to those only who had secuied the highest number of marks, as these marks did not fairly represent the proficiency of the pupils in their studies. Mr Paradis; coincided "With, the Committee that the system of award ing prizes indiscriminately operated injuriously against that spirit of emulation which ought to exist amongst the scholars. It was ultimately determined that six of the best prizes (three for boys and three for gills) should be awaided to those possessing the highest number 01 marks, the remainder to he given for pioficiency in the various branches of learning, &c , alone.

FINANCE. The Secretary reported a "balance at the credit of the Committee in the Batik to the amount of L25 17s 8d, and that several contributions bad been paid since last meeting, leaving arrears still owing to the extent ol over L40.

ENGH.SH CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL. On the application of the Chairman (Mr Ashcioft) tl« use of the School-room was granted for the English Church Sunday School, on condition that the premise be always given -ftp as clean as when enteied*

ANKUAL REPORT. A Sub-Committee, consisting of Messrs Aslicroft Gibbs, Locke (Treasurer), and Ingiam (Secretary), wtf appointed to diaw up the Annual Report for presentation to the Annual General Meeting; the SecretaiJ convener. The meeting then adjourned.

Tho Force of Habit. — A friend called upon Pt\» Burrows, the celebrated barrister, one morning in h" dressing-room, and found him shaving, with his face t" the wall. He asked why he chose so strange an attitude The answer was, to look in the glass. " Why." said W friend, " there is no glass there."— "Bless my soul! cried Burrows, " I did not notice that before." llinginl the bell, he called his servant, and questioned him respecting his lookinjr-glass. " Oh, sir," said the servant, "mistiess had it removed six weeks ago." looking for a Situation under Government. — P'*' roleum V. Naseby writes that he had an interview w» the President lately, which terminated thus :— ' V there any little thing I kin do for you?" sezji* " Nothin" particular. I wood accept a small post om if sitooated within ezy range \iv a distillry. My politoWJ daze is well-nigh over. Let me but seo the old ps rt J ■wunst more in the ascendency : let these old izo wuns' moar behold the constitooshun ez it iz, the Uneyun ti it wuz, and the nigger ware he ought 2 he, and I wuj rap the mantel of private life around me, and go tf* delirium tremens happy. I hev no ambishen. I aro * the sear and yaller leef. These whitin' locks, tb«» Bunkin 1 cheeks, warn me that ago and whiskey hev aw their puffek wurk, and that I shall soon go hents. Id* kin, scorn not my words. I hev sed. Adoo."