LIVINGSTONE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2689, 29 January 1881, Page 2

LIVINGSTONE. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT .)

The annual school meeting was held on the 24th inst. There were very few present. The following resport waa read and adopted : Your committee have to report at this, the termination of their second year of office, that they have during the past year held fourteen meetings. Early in the year Mr Ouieley tendered his resignation, which your committee were pleased to accept, as his mode of conducting the school had not been either successful or satisfactory. The school was closed at that time for several weeks, when they were so fortunate as to secure the services of Mr D, Sinclair, the present teacher, under whom the achool has progressed very satisfactoiily. Some additions have been made to the school furniture, by which the teacher's convenience has been inoreaaed. Mr Bailey, at a meeting held '* i May, gave notice of a motion, "that the schoolhouse be removed to a site near the bridge, with a view to the school being held full time, instead of as now only haU time," but the motion was not brought forward, as Mr Bailey has not attended since. Nevertheless, the desirableness of having a full time school has been brought before the Board and is still undecided, your committee believmg that as they are supported by nearly the whole of the parents in the district the Board will eventually accede to their wishes. The school was examined by Mr Petrie on the 20th of October, the result being highly satisfactory. Your committee have effected some necessary repairs and improvements, and have applied to the Board! to defray the cost of painting the schoo buildings, which they hope will be favorably considered, as a similar concession is being made to some other schools. Your committee being anxious at the close of the year to give the children some encouragement to greater exertion in their studies, resolved to appeal to the public for funds to cover the cost of suitable priies and presents. The result wai very satisfactory, and they believe the children were well pleased. Your committee commenced the year with L 4 19s 3d in hand, and debts amounting to about L2O ; they are now able to report a balance in hand of 14 13s 9d and no liabilities, notwithstanding the reduced allowance from the Board.

A vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr Smith, seconded by Mr Prinze, was carried unanimously. The chairman, Mr Botting, said the thanks were well earned, as the committee had worked for the best interests of the school. If the new committee were as successful and carried one the work taken in hand to get a full time school, they would confer a Listing benefit on the children. The new committee are as follows ; there was no ballot taken : Messrs W. Honour, J. Pringle, Howe, W. Bailey, W. R. Botting, 0. R Roberts, and J. Frater. Mr Sinclair, the teacher, .ended his best thanks to the retiring committee for their kindness and consideration ; no effort on their part had been wanting to procuro every requisite for the working of the school, and they had cooperated in every way with him both for his personal comfort and public duties. I ought to have told you about the Good Templars' pic nic. I can only say now I did not wish to forget them. Their pic nic was successful. About 100 persons were present, and there was abundance of eatables for 150. Great credit is due to Mr Smith, the W.G.T., for his indefatigable efforts to make it a success, and to the committee of management. It was a dull unpleasant mornint , but cleared up fine about midday. AH setmed to enjoy themselves, and the gathering passed successfully. January 27, 1881.