PORT CHALMERS ANNUAL SCHOOL MEETING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4026, 13 January 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

PORT CHALMERS ANNUAL SCHOOL MEETING.

The annual meeting iii connection with the Port Chalmers Grammar School was held on Monday night for the purpose of electing a committee for the -'ensuing year, and to receive the report of the retiring committee. Drysdale having been called to the chair, the meeting was formally opened, aud the Secretary, Mr Macfarlane, then read the report. After alluding to the election of the late committee, the report stated, notwithstanding the strong^representations made to the Government as to the urgent necessity of proceeding at once with the erection of the new Grammar Schoo', difficulties of an unforseen nature arose, whioh very materially delayed the commencement of the.work. A beginning has, however, been made, and some progress effected, but the Committee much fear that there is uo probability of the building being completed to enable the school to commence duties there in the coming winter. Whilst; on the whole the Committee have reason to be satisfied with the School during the year, tbey much regret that the prevalence of measles during the latter end ofthe same tended very materially to not only reduce the attendance, but; affected it in many other ways by the irregularity of the children, so much so thafc the Comft mittee, with the concurrence of the Rector and teachers, deemed ifc inadvisable to hold the usual examination afc the end of the year. An official inspection had, however, been made by Mr Petrie, the result of which has not yet been made known to the Committee." Tho report then alluded to the resignation of Miss Quinlan, the matron of the school, and the appointment of Mrs INeish, late of Palmerston school, as her successor, and whose testimonials were very satisfactory. The salary of the situation had been increased by £20 per annum. Arrangements made for painting and repairing the Rector's dwelling were next mentioned, and how the work flagged, owing to the scarcity of l.ibour. The report also touched upon the difficulty experienced in keeping the school and its offices in a proper state of cleanliness during the year, but that, on the whole, the Committee had reason to be satisfied wifch the efforts made in that direction. Preferring to the Secretary and officials, the report stated that "Mr Macfarlane has continued to acfc as Secretary to the Committee with every satisfaction, and the Committee continue to place every confidence in the Rector and his assistants in the cany, mg out the duties of the school, and trust to | see a full attendance of children after the holidays are over, and that the school will materially piosper. The average attendance during the year has been 208 ; the largest at ; any time, 307. Average of last quarter, 19G. The total who atteded, the largest average being 244 ; there being on the books at the close of the year, 132 boys, IQ7 girls ; total, 239; 68 children left during the year, and 99 were scholars entered. The school has been opened for 230 days during the year. The total amount of fees actually payable was £259 8s ld, of •which £253 3s 5d were received, and ilB 15s Si remaining due, which is considered to be good. The total reoeipts from all sources, including rents received for use of school, are £257 Ss, and expenditure, £255 2s 4d ; leaving a balance of £2 5. Sd in hand, which, with £12 4s from the Government fees refunded, makes a balance next year of £14 9s Bd, besides the debts previously mentioned, considered good, and a further sum of £10, due by the Government, With respect to the outstanding unpaid fees, the report recommended that, whilst some of them ought to be paid, ifc would be advisable I to write others off. The Committee held 10 regular and 1 special meeting during the year, of which Mr Elder attended 11; Dr Drysdale, 9 ; Messrs Goldie, 9 ; Thomson, 9 ; Morrison, 8 j M'Kinnon, 5Downes, 3. Mr M'Kiunon was unavoidably absent at Corporation meetings, and Mr Downes was several' months absent at San Francisco. The report having been duly adopted, the following gentlemen were elected a Committee for the onsuing year :—Messrs A, Thomson, Monson, Goldie, Drysdale, Elder Mills, and Joyce. ' This concluded the business of fche general meeting, and the Oommifctee then met and decided to alter the day of meeting from the nrst Monday of each month to the third Friday of each month. Messrs Monson and I Joyce were appointed Visiting Committee for the first month.