CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10422, 21 April 1897, Page 3

CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The last meeting of the City Schoole Committee prior to the annual election was held last night, at the Wellesley-etreet School. Mr. J. Blades presided, and there were also present: Dr. King, Messrs. Farrell, Julian, Pricker, Squirrell, Crowe, and Adams.

Nelsox-strekt School.—ln his report ou the recent examination and inspection of the Nelson-street School, the Chief Inspector drew atteutiou to the defective ventilation of the building. Tho committee resolved to brine the mutter under the notice of the Board of Education. Nominations.—The chairman announced that the following had been nominated as members of the committee for the coming term :—Dr. King, Messrs. Crowe, Squirrell, Farrell, Blades, Roaser, and Adams. Chafbl street SCHOOL.—Dr. Ring moved

—"That the outgoing committee expresses its regret at the severance of Mr. George Thwaites from the Chapel-street ncbool, under whose headinastership it had flourished so well, and that the members wish bim all snecess in the hestdmastership of the Epsom school." The mover said they were losing one of the best masters in the district, and he had done mush to further the interests of the school. Mr. Krioker seconded the motion, and Mr. Adams eiidorsed Dr. Ring's remarks. Mr. Farrell said Mr. Thwaites had not only spent his time in improving the children under his charge, but had also spent his own money. The motion was carried, and a copy is to be sent to Mr. Thwaites. Berksford-street School. — Mr. Hart, head teacher of the Beresfonlstreet School, complained to the committee that he had not the proper number of qualified teachers on his staff. He was informed by the secretary of the Board that three probationary tea'chere in the school must be considered as staff teachers, but Mr. Hart doubted whether the cominitte would recognise them as such, more especially as two of them had uo previous experience. Mr. Farrell took exception to such ii state of affairs, which he said was a practice of the Board, and upon his motion it was resolved to request the Board to send three pupil teachers to the school. On the suggestion of Mr. Squirrell, the committee decided to ask Mr. Hart to support the application by his personal appearance at the Board's meeting. Annual Report.—The anunal report of the committee, read by the chairman, stated that the roll number of pupils for the year ending March 31 was 3087, and the average attendance 2618, as agaiust '2949 and 2557 for the previous twelve months. Inspectors reports on the standard exams, showed the following passes, e to. :-Wellesley-street, 838 presented, 581 present, and 483 passed; Beresford-street, 733 presented, 475 present, and 391 passed; Napier street, 641 presented, 557 present, and 385 passed; Nelsonstreet, 499 presented, 279 present, and 257 passed. Regret was expressed at the loss sustained by the Chapel-street school, through the resignation of Mr. Thwaites, after 17 years in the city district; ami also at the retirement of Ml. Henry Worthington from the Wellesley-street school headmastership. The receipts for the past period were £638 8s 4d, and the expenses £547 17s lid, leaving a balance of £90 10s 5d on March 31 last. The report wiis adopted by the committee.