Middle School.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6871, 22 April 1897, Page 4

Middle School.

The report of the Committee to be presented to the annual meeting of householders is as follows : The Inspector's report of the annual examination was, as usual, very satisfactory, and credit is due to the staff for their persevering labors. The attendance has gradually decreased during the past few years. On making searching inquiry, the Committee finds that the reason iu nearly all cases has been that families have left either the town or district. It must be borne in mind that this school district comprises the business part of the town and that a large part of it consists of the Public Gardens and Park. Thi3 school depends to a large extent on the other districts for its pupils The prizes were this year again provided by the generous voluntary contributions of the parents and public. We have again to thank Mr James Holmes and Messrs Fleming and Hedley for their gift of the dux medals. The staff has, during the year, undergone considerable alteration by the departure of Messrs Piper and Crawford, both of whom have obtained well-earned promotion. Their places have been well filled by Messrs A. Bell, M.A., and J Brunton. Ventilators have been placed by the Board in the rooms requiring them. The school hall was let during the winter to the Gymnasium Club, and by arrangement the school had the use of the Club's apparatus. Mr Hanna, the Board's gymnastic instructor, had very excellent monthly Gymnastic classes, bat since the Club removed to other premises these classes have received a decided check. Ihe Committee asked the Board to advance the Committee's half of the L2O necessary to furnish the Hall with necessary apparatus, undertaking to refund this by means of entertainments during the winter. '1 he Board refused to do this whereupon the teachers generous'y offered to advance the amount and the apparatus has been ordered, and when completed the classes will be continued as before. As it is necessary from time to time to raise money for school purposes (e.g. Gymnastic apparatus) by means of entertainments and also to use the Hall for singing and other classes the Committee asked the Board to subsidise an amount raised for seating the Hall, The Board declined to do this ; the Committee has however asked the Board to reconsider their decision. The school fence has not been renewed, as the Committee has had to provide for furnishing the hall and did not feel justified in incurring further liabilities. n The income on the ordinary school account has been (including balance of 12s Sd from last, year) LSI 19s 4d aud the expenditure L 74 IS3 2:1 leaving a credit balance of L 7 Is 2d. The hill account shows receipts Lls lis Id and expenditure Ll2 18s lOd, leaving a credit balance of L2 12s 3d. Since the end of the ficancial year the hall account shows a credit balance of L 7 ISs 9d. A vacancy occurred on the Committee in November by the resignation of Mr Verey. Dr Garland was appointed in his place. There have been 12 regular and 3 special meetings of Committee. '1 he attendance of members his been as follows :—Mr Malian 12, Mr Thomas 14, Mr Gebbie 13, Mr Headland 13, Mr Cork 7, Mr Hood 15, Mr Cunningham 14, Mr Verev 4, Dr Garland 4, Archdeacon Gould 15. Dr Garland was appointed in December.