SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 223, 9 January 1877, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING.

A meeting for the purpose of electing a new School Committee was held in the .School House, at 7.30 last night. Mr. Sumpter, the Chairman of the old School Committee, took the chair, and read the Ordinance authorising the meeting, and explained its duties with regard to appointing a new School Committee. UEIMRT 01-- THE KETIBING COMMITTEE. T.:e report, which was somewhat voluminons, was tlioii read by the Chairman, ai'U-r which TIIS FINANCIAL STATEMENT was !-.;•.,1 by Mr. 11. Aitke.'i, lion, tiva:;■.l:••.!•,. s'lovvin ( a bd.mc' on t'le dubtor •-'. '.■ »«* -"Jl I r>\Bl. Uo t.'.;-:Il [<:•■>.■; yl-A lit .-;..:• i!::;-;, at a ivt ; • tr.V.::-.i : i>:i, —o i: J.-!.;!-, s w.>-.i'.l a uo.r.t c> £-7: but if ,;,• c«»nt.r;is, iVc, were ail <>ii 'i, t'u fan I tvoithl be luriwo-jii £3 an.l £) to t!'e good. It was proposal by Mr. Siiuw.sia, seconded by Mr. M'lntosh, "That the Itep-rfc anl Statement be received and adopted ; as an amendment it was proposed to discuss them." Mr. O'Meaoiier, on the point in dispute, explained that a report once adopted was endorsed in t!ie same way that a child once adopted was adopted for ever. On a show of hands the amendment was carried. 3lr. Siini.MsKi proposed, "That the Chairman vacate the chair." This was, however, negatived on the ground that, until a new candidate is elected, he must still occupy his place. It was then agreed that the Report should be discussed seriatim. The first paragraph, as to the increase of teaching power and extension of school accommodation, was adopted, after a skirmish between Messrs. O'Meagher and Fleming. The second paragraph, with regard to grading the different schools, making the Grammar School the highest, caused considerable discussion, in the course of which one gentleman said that possibly the meeting had an idea that tins paragraph appeared to lower the standard of the North School, at which another gentleman gave an audible groan, and remarked that it was impossible. Babel reigned throughout generally, and it appeared as if the paragraph ivould never be got through in any shape. It was, however, at last disposed of by a proposition of Mr. Todd, which was to the effect that additional school accommodation be provided on the south side of Oamaru, without essentially altering the Grammar Sohool. Paragraph 3 was adopted. The paragraph re the North School dispute brought Mr. O'Meagher to the front* who proved by reference to the Ordinances that the Committee had not complied with them, inasmuch as they had chosen a teacher instead of leaving such cl»oice to Mr. Fleming. The whole stupid quarrel between Messrs. Todd and Fleming was gone into, and the various letfcei-3 connected -with it read, after which Mr. Hislop accused some members of having an ill-feeling against Mr. Fleming. After an amount of talking on perfectly irrelevant matters, an • amendment was put by Mr. Evans to the effect that this meeting do not approve of the conduct of the Committee in asking for the resignation of Mr. Fleming, or in other -words that the report. on that affair be not

adopted. Tie resolution which led tq,th:e y&ukt " tfce.« report be adopted." It was only after considerable trouble, and'.the appointment of scrutineers that the feelings of the meeting were arrived at, the result being that the amendment was carried. The fifth paragraph referred to the giving of prizes, exhibitions, &c, more especially with regard to the financial position, and the desirability of public examinations. The proposal of Mr. Evans, that a picnic should be substituted for prizes, was strongly negatived ; but the question of public v. private examinations caused considerable argument, and it was finally settled by being left to the in-coming committee. The last paragraph, which was merely valedictory, was at once adopted, as was also the Financial Statement. A hearty vote of thanks to the retiring committee was then proposed, and most cordially supported, to which Mr. S'umpter briefly responded. ELECTIOX OF 2XEW COMMITTEE. Mr. Sumpter having vacated the chair, was unanimously voted into it again, and on its being put to the meeting, the ballot was decided on for the election of new members. Mr. Hislop suggested that the present Committee be re-elected. Several of the members expressed their intention to resign, but Mr. Fleming wished to remain, stating at the same time that, should he be re-elected, he woidd still urge the resignation of his namesake. Scrutineers being chosen, Messrs. IST. Fleming, J. Falconer, J. A. Clowes, J. T. Evans, S. Gibbs, J. O'Meagher, J. Booth, J. Scott, J. Liddle, G. Sumpter, 11. Thompson, T. W. Hislop, R. Hewat, and J. Barclay, were proposed as candidates, and, on the papers being opened, the result was found to be as follows : G. Sumpter, 52 ; G. Falconer, 48 ; T. W. Hislop, 43 ; T. A. Clowes, 42 ; S. Gibbs, 34 ; J. Liddle, 34; K Fleming, 34 ; J. T. Evans. 23 ; J. Barclay, 2 '•>. A vote of thanks to tho Chairman concluded t.ie proceedings, and th'e meeting ;:dj-j;u-:u'd ao one a.m.