OAMARU DISTRICT SCHOOL.

North Otago Times, Volume VII, Issue 173, 18 January 1867, Page 2

OAMARU DISTRICT SCHOOL.

The Annual Statutory Meeting of the owners and occupiers of land and householders in the Oamaru Educational District, took place in the Schoolroom on Monday evening last, H. Clapcott, Esq., presiding. The chairman opened the proceedings by reading the advertisement calling the meeting, and concluded by requesting the ' Secretary to read the Report prepared by the Committee. Mr G-renfell complied. [The Report, as adopted, was published in our last issue. J Mr Robert Thompson, the Treasurer, then read his statement of income and expenditure for the year ended the 31st December, 1866, which wai as follows : — Amount of voluntary subscriptions received for year ... ... £98 13 9 The disbursements for the year were as follows : — Female Teacher's salary ... ... £25 0 0 Secretary's salary ... ... ... 25 0 0 J. Hislop, for prize books ... ... 1 10 0 Firewood and cartage, &c. ... ... 4 18 0 Printing, stationery, &c, to 12th April, 1866 ... ... ... 10 13 9 " Daily Times " advertising ... ... 17 6 Insurance ... ... ... 8 11 8 Stationery, printing and advertising to December, 1866 ... ... 10 19 0 Sundry expenses ... ... ... 5 9 0 Balance on hand ... ... ... 5 5 3 £98 13 9 The subscriptions included a sum of £11, kindly granted by his Worship the Mayor, but L5 of this was to be devoted to the purchase of school prizes. In addition to the above balance of L5 5s. 3d. there was a sum of L7 Is. 7id. outstanding, which might be accounted recoverable, making a total sum to the credit of the New Committee of L12 6s. 10£d. The adoption of the Report was proposed by Mr Sumpter, seconded by Mr Ingram, and carried. Mr Procter then moved, and Mr Clendinnen seconded a vote thanks to the retiring Committee for their exertions during the past year, which was carried unanimously. The Rev. Mr Gifford wished at this stage to make a few remarks. He considered the report just read a most interesting one ; and from it he could see that the Committee had throughout taken a careful and highly satisfactory course. Perhaps there was only one thing which called for remark, and as, according to the Ordinance, such questions were open for discussion at such meetings, he hoped he would be indulged in referring to it. The financial position of the school, although the Committee state that it was with difficulty that funds could be raised, was to be looked upon aa in a satisfactory and encouraging Btate ; and the new master was spoken of in a manner that must be highly gratifying to all friends of education in the district. Mr G-ifFord then referred to thatportion of the report touchingupon the termination of the engagement of the female teacher. He could see that the Committee did not wish to fetter their successors in the matter, but if more was intended the caution observed was indicative, in his opinion, of a desire either to dispense with her services or else to bring on occasion for a new appointment. He thought the report should have been moro distinct and clear ; he desired an explauation. He should not lite to see such a precedent established that such appointments should be affected in this way ; it was a serious matter for teachers, who staked their means of subsistence on their profession. He hoped it was through an oversight that the subject was thus referred to in the Report, and he was sure the Committee would as much as anyone regret having sanctioned anything tinged with the slightest shadow of unfairness. However, as the Report called on the new Committee to take the matter of the female teacher into their serious consideration, there need be no mischief done. He hoped these remarks would be received in the spirit in which he offered them. He spoke with a sincere desire to promote the cause of education, which they all had to much at heart. In reply to Mr Gifford, Mr Ashcroft entered into a statement of the action ■of the Committee in the matter of the Assistant Teacher. He referred to the unsatisfactory state at the time the late master left, and to the statement made that the Assistant Teacher was responsible so far ; but that on subsequent enquiries, and with a better opportunity for displaying her abilities as a teacher, the present master had stated to him that she was doing very well j that she was doing her beat, and that her best was very good. He also referred to an unpleasant discussion he had had in Committee with one of the members (Mr Waddell), and ended by saying he would not act on any Committee if he (Mr Waddell) were elected a member. He said the whole affair owed its origin to the petty personal and disagreeabie feeling displayed by Mr Waddell. As to the future management of the school, Mr Ashcroft advised the discontinuance of a paid Secretaryship, and advised the matter of the Assistant Teacher to be left to Mr Hislop, the Inspector of Schools. Mr Waddell replied to Mr Ashcroft's attack, by saying that all that he had done was for the promotion of the efficiency of the school. As for any illfeeling existing between himself and Mr Ashcroft, that was all on his (Mr Ashcroft's) side. The matter referred to by Mr Ashcroft had been long before the Committee, and from a reference to the minute book it would be seen that at every subsequent meeting to the one when it was agreed to dispense frith the Assistant Teacher's services the action then taken was confirmed. The ostensible reason for dismissal was as stated by Mr Ashcroft. Mr Waddell was here interrupted in his statement by Messrs Shrimski and Payne, and he shortly afterwards concluded, after the Secretary had read the resolutions passed at various Committee meetings. He regretted the animus which had been displayed againBt liim, but he hoped he would get credit for straightforwardness of conduct, and for having acted with a sincere desire for the prosperity of the Oamaru District School. Mr Shrimski remarked that the discussion was altogether most irregular. The Chairman concurred, but he had allowed it so that the views of all might be gathered. It afforded an opportunity of not electing a Committee blindfoldedly. It was then agreed that a Committee of nine should be elected by a show of hands. The names proposed were those of Messrs Bee, Gilchrist, Booth, Ashcroft, Procter, Gibbs, Grenfell, Headland, Sumpter, Clapcott, Rule, Black, and Waddell. Those elected and the votes recorded were as follows : — Clapcott, 22 ; Grenfeli, 17 ; Gilchrist, 16 ; Bee, 14 ; Ashcroft, 13 ; Headland, 12; Sumpter, 12 ; Rule, 12 ; Booth, 11. The show of hands for the remainder •tood thus :— -Procter, 10 j Waddell, 10 j Black, 10 : Gibbs, 7. The Chairman made a few remarks in explanation of what his views were on educational matters ; what he did when elected a member of the School Committee 16 years ago at the Clutha, and still later how he had acted when Provincial Treasurer, and consequently Head of the Educational Department of the Province. In conclusion, a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Clapcott for his conduct in the chair.