PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 866, 5 October 1888, Page 24

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 'V i • October 2. The Committee of the Palmerston North Harmonic Society at their last meeting decided to put into practice for next concert selections from the “Messiah.” The second part of the concert will be miscellaneous. The mouthly meeting of the School Committees \yas held last evening.. Pre-sent-—Messrs G. M. Snelson (Chairman), and Messrs Sinclair, Mowbray, Abrahams Salmon, and A. Stewart (hon. secretary). A letter was read from the Secretary to the Wanganui School Board in reply to an application for an extension of the Central -School, asking what amount the Committee would be prepared to contribute. AJengthyi discussiou followed, in which the Chairman expressed the opinion that the time had arrivod for making an effort to separate from the Wanganui Board’s district and to become connected with one which would, act more liberally]. He stated that Palmerstau had contributed very largely to the Board’s funds, and had not been treated fairly. The Secretary pointed out that the Board’s account had been largely overdrawn for a long time, and that the members of the Board are personally liable for the amount of tho overdraft. This-Committee should not thsrefore expect too much, nor begrudge advances made toward" building and opening schools in new .districts, the carrying out of which has caused a great-drain upon the funds available. He (Mr Stewart) would not advocate separating from Wanganui under the existing state of things, but would prefer to see the whole system placed under the direct control of the Minister of Education, with a centre in Wellington, which plan, ho said, is desired by the teachers ; and he expressed a hope that action in thi3 direction will be taken during next session of Parliament. The Chairman said there is a building grant from Government, which is divided yearly, pro rata, :of which Palmerston has not received Affair share. He considered the management'tif .affairs at Wanganui altogether wrong ; that' other places were more directly represented on the Board than this town ; that Wellington is always in funds, having, according to last report, a sum of L3OOO to the good ; and that if a movement for separation, which could be easily effected, were set on foot. Foxton and other places would heartily cooperate. It was shown that the floor space now available at the central school is far short of the area specified as necessary by Act of Parliament and adopted by the Wanganui Board, and that in a very short time numbers of children will be unable to find accommodation, 1000 additional feet of space, at least, being required. It was resolved to reply to the Board’s letter that the Committee hasno funds at its disposal, and to forward with the letter a statement showing the deficiency of floor space; Several accounts were passed for payment. The report of the Central school showed—Average roll, 435 ; average attendance, 373‘5 ; highest, 415 ; number admitted, 20 ; left, 24 ; now on roll, 433—-the attendance for the month to be very satisfactory, being 88 per cent of the average roll. Terraoeend report, showed —Roll at commencement of month, 263 ; average attendance, 194; highest, 218; number admitted, 9; left, 5 ; now on roll, 267—attendance, owing to sickness and other causes, only 72 per cent of roll. Resolved that names of children not attending be given to truant inspector. Considerable discussion took place respecting the action of the chairman in permitting the press to have the School Inspector’s reports of the late examination before handing them to the masters and before they had been submitted to the Committee. The chairman contended that the masters had the reports on the day they came to hand, and that there was nothing either illegal or irregular in his permitting the press to inspect them. The percentage of passes at the examination wa3 stated to have been—Bor central school, 88'5 of number presented for examination, and 50 9, of number on roll for Terrace-end, 83 of number bn roll; the results in each case being considered highly satisfactory. An entertainment will bo given on the 19th instant by the school children of the district in aid of the fund for erecting shelter sheds at Terrace-end, when there will be an elocutionary contest and action sinwin" by the infants of both local schools. Mr Short was appointed stage manager. Before the sitting magistrate this morning, John Miller and Owen McWilliams were each fined '2s 6d, with costs 7s 6d, for plying for hire with unlicensed carts.