KENSINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6534, 23 January 1883, Page 2

KENSINGTON.

The annual statutory meeting of householders in this school district was held last evening in the schoolhouse of the district. About 150 persons (among whom were several females) were presont. Messrs M'Laren and Shacklock were nominated for the position of chairman of the meeting. A show of nands was taken, and resulted 'in favour of Mr M'Laren, who accordingly took the chair. _. _ The Chaibman referred to the primary business of the evening—namely, to elect a new Committee. He also reviewed the work of the Committee and the action of the Chairman. He road extracts from the minutes of proceedings to show that several minuted instructions had not been attended to. The Committee or the Chairman had made a great noise about a certain account owing to Mr Macedo for stationery supplied, and it had been asserted in effect that a groat deal more stationery had been charged for than the Committee had seen or than had been used in the Committee's work. There was no foundation for this, for in addition to what had been used during the year, he had on the table before him stationery and stamps to tho value of 30s. It would havo been better had the Committee attended to their legitimate work instead of fighting with one another and the secretary, whom they seemed to want to get into gaol. ■ Mr Shacki.ock, chairman of the Committee for tho past year, said provision was made1 in the Act for the outgoing .Committee presenting a report to the animal meeting. No such "report had been prepared in writing, but he (Mr Shacklouk) would make a statement to the meeting. Mr M'Laien, the chairman, had rend a number of extracts from tho minutes, but the speaker conceived that he (Mr M'Laren) was no proper person to make a The' Chairman said Mr Sl.acklock stato what was done by tho Committee would not allow him to go outsicb thpr Mr Shacklock. s»id he intended to giva i

general account of what had been douo, and ho wished to say that though he Bpoke ko strongly lie spoke without animus. After referring" to tho fact that he had more than once stated he had no desire to bo a member of the Committee, he proceeded to say that at the beginning of tho year there had been a considerable grievance between Mr M'Laren and n section of the Committee, and Mr M'Liuen had occupied a position of antagonism to tho Coin mittee.

Tho Chairman : I'll not stand this. Keep to tho doings of the Committee. Mr Shackloce : Mr M'Laren fell out with the Committee and with me, and endeavoured to stir up a certain matter in roferenco to the boy Thomas, who was expelled. The Chairman : It's a falsehood.—(Cries of " Order.") Mr Shaoklock : I said I would not be a party to any underhand work, and 1 upheld the action of the master. Mr M'Laren Ml out at once, and urged Mrs Thomas on. The Chairman : I must interrupt you. If you wish to take and bully tho meeting you may do it. You're a good bully. A Voice : You'ro put in the chair to keop order. Why don't you do it ? Mr Shacklock: 1 say. again that Mr M'Laren did a!l ho could to urge Mrs Ihomas

on. The Chairman : It's false.—(Confusion.) Mr Shacklock: The next thing, Mr M'Laren got put on the minutes of the Committee a resolution that no communications to the Committee should come through the chairman. That was against the wishes of a majority of a full meeting, as would have been found had it been brought before a full meeting, and it was a direct insult to me. Then there was the account from Mr Macedo for postage stamps and stationery. Unnecessarily large supplies wero obtained, and tho treasurer even paid one ainall account rather than do an honest tradesman out of what was owing to him. The Chairman : More shame to him if he did. Mr Shacklook : Then about the inspector s book. At a meeting of Committee this book was sent for us to look at, and tho toacher who sent it'asked mo to return it. After the meeting I took tho book home, and sent it to the school in the morning. At tho next meeting Mr M'Laren charged me with being a thiof and said I had stolen the book. He used the word " thief" in Committee.

The Chairman : Keep nearer the truth. Mr Shacklock : We noxt heard that there were more accounts for postage stamps, but we could not believe it until Mr Maccdo sent an account to me.

Mr Noonan (the secretary) : Ths accounts had no right to come through the Chairman. Mr Watson : Mr Macedo said he could not get his account paid, and I saysMr Noonan : You says ! Haven't you been double-dealing? You know you have. You and Shacklock are what I always said you were, a pair of hypocrites. Confusion here ensued, during which someone proposed that Mr Noonan .bo asked to leave the room.

Mr Shaoklock : I bear Mr Noonan no animus, but I mean to do my duty. Ten shillings' worth of stamps should be sufficient to last ft year; but notwithstanding thiit Btamps were procured in March, I find from tho account in my hand that about 10s worth was got in April, and more again in May. The account containing these items was sent to me; and as it had been decided that accounts should not- come through the Chairman, I de cided not to put it to tho meeting. But almost before I could make a remark, Mr M'Laren proposed that it should be passed. The Chairman : I was asked to do so.

Mr Shacklock : I refused to put the proposition to the meeting. For some time after this the secretary did not attund tiie meetings, though we wished to have this matter cleared up. [At this stage strong parsonalities were indulged in between Mr Shacklock and Mr Noonan, and much confusion eniued.] The CHAIRMAN: It's very bad taste, Mr Shacklock, to keep,returning to tho matter. A person suggested that Mr Shacklock should sit down, and that an entirely new Committee should be elected.

The Chairman : The whole thing has been through the civil Court, and we might as well let it drop. Mr Shacklock stopped all communications to the secretary. These dirty things should not be brought up. Mr Shaoklock: When in tho room on the night in question Mr Noonan took up a chair and dashed it down close to my toes. He did all he Could to provoke a fight. 1 did not want a breach of the peace to be committed. Mr Noonan: You're toj religious to fight. You'd have got as good a lambing-down as you ever got.—(Cries of " Shut up," " Sit down," " Go out," " Keep him in order.") The Chairman : Gentlemen, I must call you to order.

Mr Shacelook : Mr Noonan's language was as bad as it could be. At next meeting Mr M'Laren marched in with the books to act as secretary. The Chairman commenced to explain, when Mr Johnstons said : Are you here to give a lecture or to keep order ? Mr Shacklock :. Mr M'Laren took the books and marched to the door.

Mr Johnstone : We don't want to hear any more. We've not come here to listen to the irregularities of the past Committee.—(Hear, hear.) If you have been a bad Committee in the past.let's have a better in tho future.— (Hear, hear.) Mr Shacklock : Mr M'Laren called overyone in the room a thief, a fraud, and a vagabond. Mr M'Laren: Now explain about the scrapers. Considerable uproar here ensued. Ultimately, Mr Shacklock concluded by suggesting that a good Committee should be elected, adding that he did not wish to be reappoiuted. Nominations of candidates were then taken. Ten persons wero nominated, and the voting resulted in the following spven being declared elected:—M'Laren (112 votes), Cole (70), Noonan (61), Trevena (53), Shacklock (47), Knee (43), and Douglas (32). The voters distributed . their ■ votes in various ways, and papers on which a name alone was written were declared informal. The only difference in the constitution of tho ' Committee is that Messrs Knee and Douglas take the places of Messrs Edmonds and Gardiner. Immediately after tho declaration of the result of the voting tho meeting dispersed. MORNINGTON. The annual meeting in the above district to elect Beven members to servo as School Committee for the ensuing year was held at the schoolhouse last evening. Mr Denniston was voted to the chair. The report, which was adopted, stated that the retiring Committee, following in the footsteps of their predecessors, had through the kindness of the Education Board obtained permission to sell the teacher's old residence, and with the proceeds had improved the school grounds. They had opened up a quarry on the Bchool grounds/and thereby effected a saving in metal and material. The playground had been greatly improved, and under the verandahs asphalt had been laid down. The attendance had been good throughout the year,, the number of children in attendance being 477—an improvement of 100 over last year. A concert had been held, the net proceeds of which amounted to £15, out of which £10 was set aside for prizes. An application for an increase of accommodation had resulted in a large classroom being in course of erection. The receipts for the year were £123 Cs 4d, with an expenditure of £112 (is, leaving a balance of £110s 4d to the good. The election then took place by ballot, the result being as follows: —J. E. Denniston, 73 votes; W. C. M'Nee, 69; R. Mercer, 45; A. B. Matthews, 40; E. Clarke, 25; G. Smith, 24; J. Thoma3,l4. About 50 persons were present. ' '•'■*' LINDEN. The annual statutory meeting of the above School Committee was held last evening at the schoolhouse; Mr R. Church being elected chaiiman. The report- of the outgoing Committee showed that there -had been a fair average attendance for the year, the four quarters having the followipg numbers of scholars :—332, 318, 319, and 303, the decrease in the last quarter being due to the prevalence of scarlet fever in the district. The retiring Committee stated that they had impressed upon the Education Board the necessity for a now school, and had received a promise that as soon _as funds would permit a new one should be built. The balance-sheet showed a debit balance of £13 17s 5d at commencement of year, and a credit balance of £1 8s 7d at close. The report having been unanimously adopted, the following gentlemen were nominated to serve on the new Committee: —Mesßrs R. Church, S. Haigh, G. Moir, R. Chishol-n, — Hitchcock, — Fisher, P. Duncan, J. Wright, F. Wilkinson, J. Jackson, and T Ritchie. Messrs Brent and Shaw wero appointed scrutineers, the election being carried out a3 usual by ballot, resulting in the following seven trentle-nen being elected to serve as the new Committee :-R. Church, 136 votes; Hitchcock, 89; It. Chisholm, 87; G. Moir, 70 ;I. Wilkinson, 70; — Fisher, 60; fc> Haigh, 54. There were five informal votes. The meeting, which was orderly throughout, closed with the usual vote of thanks.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY. The annual meeting of the North-East Valley householders was held in the sehoolhouse. AllShort was voted to the chair, and there were between 50 and 60 persons present. EEPORTS. The Treasurer's report showed the receipts for the past year to be £7914s 7d, and the bank overdraft 13s. The expenditure was set down at about the same amount.—The report was received and adopted. The Secretary read the annual report ot the outgoing Committee, which detailed their operations during the past 12 months. After congratulating the residents on the acquisition of so handsome a sehoolhouse, reference was made to the laying of the foundation stone of the new school, and the soiree in connection with the opening of that building. No sickness or epidemic, it was stated, had broken out in the district during the year, consequently the attendance was very satisfactory. Lint year them were 292 names on the rol!, and at the present time there were 329,' being an in crease of 37. The average attendance for Ja.t quarter was 268—tho highest chronicled sine the commencement of the school. The chang:s in connection with the teaching stalf wero — the appointment of Miss Blakely as assistant mi tress in place of Miss Tunnichffe lesigned, and the appointments of Misses Hayes and 15uthune as pupil teachers. Tho Committee hud-decided'to put the compulsory clauses of the Act into forca.-Tbe report wais adopted. ■

ELECTION OK NEW COMMITTEE.' Tho meeting then proceeded to oloct ft Committee for tho preß.-nt year. Thirteen candidates wero nominated, and tho result of tho ballot was as follows, DO honseholdeis voting :— Schlotol, 81} Gougli, 36; Calder, 33; 1. Green 27 ; C. Allen, 2li; Springfor, '2r.; Fraser, 1!1 ; 1?. C. Camoron, 21 ; Dowic, 21 ; Nicholson, 18; White, 10; Uishwcirth, 7; Hutton, fi. Tho Chairman gave hi* casting vote m favour of Mr Frasov, and tho novo.ii lirst-named gentlemen wore declared duly elected. WJCST HARBOUR. ■ At the annual meeting of householders of tho West Harbour district Mr R. .lack was called to the chair. Satisfactory reports were presented by the outgoing Committee. The ballot for the election of the now Cnm.mitteo resulted as follows:—Minn, SS; Henderson, 55: Newton, 51; .Flynn, -IS; DoLacy,-15; Jack, 34 ; Bhickie, 2S ; Burford, 28 ; Bonn, 20 ; Ross, 22 ; Rough, 15; llarrod,

The Chairman gavo his casting vote in favour of. Mr Hlackie.