SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8791, 29 April 1890, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

ALBANY STREET.

The annual meeting of householders of this district was attended by about 100 persons, of whom a fair proportion were of the gentler sex. Mr Fredric (the chairman of tho school com-

mittee.) presided, and opened proceedings by calling ou the secretary to read the report, which slated;—

' At. tbe annual examination held last June the satisfactory average of 91 per cent, was obtained by i the pupils, who had been rewarded by a picnic, held at Quarantine Island, instead of being presented as usual with prizes. Arrangements are being made by a large number of ladies for holding a bazaar to provide funds for the erection of a building suitable for a gymnasium for the amusement and instruction of the pupils. The committee have taken steps to bring under the notice oi the Humane Society the plucky action of James Montgomery, one of tho pupils, In rescuing another boy from drowning at the swimming tournament, held at ths cty batbs. The school was creditably represented at the exhibition by specimens of mapping, sewing, mathematical and arithmetical papers, and exercise books. Mr Forsyth, a pupil teacher, had beeu forced to resign on account of ill-health The committee

have finished the work of asphalting the playground bosun by their predecessors, the total coat having baen £121 17s 2d. During tho recent dry weather tbo committee wero forced to adopt a system of fil-rction to preserve tho health of tbe pupils. The one adopted was similar to that in use in tbo Union street School, and has proved most effective. The school fife and drum band, under the tuition of Mr Fred Nauraann, has made excellent progress. Steps aro being taken to have tho school cadets formed into a distinct rifle corps. This will be effected shortly, and the cadets will bedesignated the Albany street Sohool Cadets.

The balance sheet showed a credit balance of ' £71255 d. Tbe Chaiiiman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said they showed the school to bo in a very satisfactory condition. Mr T. A. Maitland seconded the motion, which, on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. Tbe CmiHMAN said the next business was the nomination of candidates to serve on the new committee. Ho thought that os a recompense foe tho excellent manner iv which the old committee had performed their duties they should be re-elected. The following gentlemen were then proposed;— Messrs Newman, Eggers, Williams, Earnett, Canter,. Maitland, H'Lsan, Fredric, Richardson, Simon, and the Rev. A, H. Wallace. The following was the re_ult of tho ballot: — Fredric ... ... IS6 M'Lean ... ... 74 Harnett... ... 144 Williams... ... 61 Esgers ... ... 117 ltichardson ... 27 Center ... ... 102 liev Wallace ... 17 Maitland ... So* Simoa ... ~, 17 i.Bwman ... 75 Tho Chairman declared the first seven duly elected. The question of establishing technical classes in connection with tha school was thon brought forward, as was also that of establishing a savings bank for the pupils. Messrs H, S. Fish and Allen, BI.H.R's, spoke favourably of tho proposal to establish technical classes, and commented on the amount of guild that was likely to result from it, as several boys living iv tho district would go to those classes when they might not ba inclined to walk to the Normal School classes on account of. the distance. The matter was eventually left to the new committeo. During the evening Mr Fish commented on tho unsatisfactory method of voting. In his opinion a householder should not bo entitled to give his seven votes to one candidate, and he hoped at no distant time to see a Limitation of Votes Bill, which would prevent this, passed. A vote of thauks to the outgoing committee and the secretary concluded tho proceedings.

ARTHUR STREET.

Tho annual meeting of the Art'r.ur streefc school district was held in tho schoolroom last evening-, find was attended by about 50 householders.

Mr R. N. Adams, the chairman of the committee, submitted the following report:—

The committer! regret to liav-e again to record a decreased attendance, the average a-tendance for I the year being nt.3 out of (.__>, the average of the I number oa tile, r ill. While not attaching too much importance to the pisses at tbe board's inspector's ex'.mination, the committee would draw attention to tlie fact thnt the results (91 per cent.) show a marked impruveni' nt on the exaniin'ition of last year. The school buildings luve been kept in good older and condition, viliilo certain additions in the way of water storage tanks have been made and sundry improvements eff.c.td cut of school grant. At the samo time the committee regret that tbe Education Board hnve not seen their way to comply with tho request of three succeeding committees to provide proper accommodation for the head master's office or to improve the ventilation in tlie rooms occupied by t.ho Fifth and Sixth Standards. During the winter months now approaching the draughts c:iused by these defective ventilators are certain to be productive, ns they have beon in the past, of coughs and colds Innumerable. During the year tha

committee have made an effort to establish a gymnasium under I lie control of Mr Oscar Dnvid, but not. being so successful as they had hoped, the outfit has been 'of the scantiest description. Since last roport there has beeu only one alteration ln the teaching staff— the appointment of Miss M'Leod, caused bythe resignation of Miss Davis. In tbe committee itself a vacancy was caused by the re-ignation of Captain Orkney. Mr H. Weill was appointed to take his plaoe. The members of committee have attended to their duties witb great regularity. The thanks of all interested in tbe school nre due to thosewbo subscribed to the prize fu;id, and aleo to tboie who presented special prizes, lho committee congratulate tlio householders that tbe stand taken by this committee, along with many others, has bad the effect of causing the Udncatlon Board to give way on the " three-name system." Tho receipts (rom the school grant for the year 1889 (inoluding a balance from* l«Bt year of £-9 12s 9d) was _8109 12a ad, aud the expenditure was £BJllOs 8d ;'; having a credit balauce of £26 as ld. There were, however, accounts outstanding to fully equal this amouut.

The Chairman, iv moving the adoption of tho report, commented upon ita various clauses, and expressed satisfaction with the work of the indefatigable head master and his assistants, and with tho results shown by the examination. He, however, regretted that so little use had been made of the gymnasium, and said it had been his opiuion that parents would have teen more anxious to obtain for their children such excellent physical training as they would receive under Professor Oscar David. Tho fact thnt the i'.ducation Board had given way on tho "three-name system" was gratifying, but he anticipated that the word " eligible" in the board's resolution would still be a cause of battle. 11 was a hard matter that teachers wero to be classified simply by some fixed rules, because they did not find thoso who had the highest educational grade tho besfc teachers. The b.sfc scholar was not always the best teacher, and a man who had taken a uuiversity d-.gree was not necessarily a bettor teacher ; han one who had nofc. It was also desirable that more liberty should be given to teachers to train children accordiug to their individual capacities ; all should not be compelled to go through precisely the same course, and to attain the same degree of advancement in every subject. Thero were indications that the education system was threatened. The Private Schools Bill of last session showed that the Education Act was in danger, and it behoved the people to sco that the system was preserved useful and popular. Mr B. Isaac seconded the adoption of the report, and with regard to the selection of a teacher said thafc the word "eligible" might refer to more than tho educational grade of a teacher, arid eligibility might besffected by such considerations as that a man did not go to a particular church, or that he had at oue time been perceptibly tho worse for liquor. He thought that all applications should be sent to the school committees for them to select from.

Sir R. Stout said that, in the discussion as to the appointment of teachers, it seemed to him that tho reason for the act being framed as it was had been entirely overlooked both by the board and tho committees. It had been so framed to allow the boards ia each district to provide for the promotion of teachers. There was no chance of promotion amongst teachers uolerß the board had some say in the appointments, because the individual committees could not know what the board ought to know—viz., what teachers had been doing well iv the outlying country districts. No provision for the promotion of successful country teachers oould bo mado unless tho board had some bold over the matter of appointments. For his part he did not" agree with the board only sending down three names, but thought the board should take up each applicat on and deal with it on its merits without any hard and fast rule, and should in sending names down draw attention to those of the most suitable teachers, and especially to those of teachers deserving promotion. In this way the board woul'J be fulfilling its functions under the act. Some committees seemed to think that the board should have no 6ay in the appointments, but that ali applications should be sent to the committee, and that the committee should make the selections. Well, that was not the law, and the board, unless it was prepared to nullify the statute altogether, ought to keep control ever appointments of teachers. If it did not do this it could never provide, as ifc should, fpr the promotion of teaeher-i. What the chairman had said aB to the efficiency of the school was, as far as he bad seen, not undeserved. The school waa doiug good work all round, and this should be satisfactory to the householders. The syllabus was tho law, but he agreed tbat there might be, and he thought there ought to be, allowance for the individualities of teachers and the individualities of pupils. Reference had been made to Hr Pyke's bill as threatening the system, but Mr Tanner's bill also threatened the system, and if they wished to maintain it they must alike keep out Mr Pyke's and Mr Tanner's amendments, for they were both inimical to the public school system of the colony. Mr Wm. Hutchison was quite at one with Eir R. Stout respecting the amending bills referred to. The people he thought were not going to have either Mr Pyke's bill cr Mr Tanner's bill, or any bill interfering with the principal of national education. Ifc was possible the system might in various respects be improved, more especially in giving scope for individuality, but a "way might be found for that without going in for auy of the various proposals made aud breaking up the system. While willing to concede.that the Roman Catholics havo a ctaim to consideration, if a way could be seen to meet it he was quite sure it could not be met in the way proposed by Mr Pyko. As to tho "thre.." names or " eligible " names, he had thought Sir Robert was correct in sijiug the clause dealing with appointments had been introduced with a view to the promotion of teachers, and ho. (Mr Hutchinson) was of opinion that tho committee should have the largest say in the selection of teachers.

The adoption of the report was carried unanimously.

A letter was received from Mr Sligo stating that owing to ill-health it might be better tbat he should not be a candidate for election, and on the motion of Sir R. Stout it was unanimously resolved-:-" That for the set vices Mr Siigo has in the past rendered to the Arthur street School this meeting accords him a hearty vote of thanks." The nomination and election of a committee for tha ensuing year theu took place and resulted as follows :— Total 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Voters. Votes. B. Isaao ... 11 0 2 2 2 1 6 23 103 P. M'Gregor ... 2 1 0 4 0 112 20 50 H. Crawford ... 3 1 0 1 3 0 6 13 43 E.-S.Adams... 0 0 0 2 5 211 20 38 A. Burt ... 0 0 0 1 4 212 19 32 W. MAdam ... 0 0 0 0 3 511 19 30 A. Bain ... 1 0 0 1 1 1 6 10 23 11. H'J-Jeill ... 0 0 0 0 2 0 7 9 13 Messrs Isaac, M'Gregor, Crawford, Adam?, Burt, MAdam, and Bain were therefore declared duly elected, and the proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the retiring committee.

MOBNINGTON.

[ Aboufc 50 persons attended the annual meet--3 ing of householders held in the Mornington 1 school last night for the purpose of electing a - school commitfcee for the ensuing year. Mr r Austing was voted to the chair, j The annual report was read by Mr Kyle, head I master. It showed that ' Fourteen meetings of the committee had been held; that tho percentage of passes of those exa- ; mined by Inspector Petrie was 93; that at the Education Board's annual examination for scholarships ono boy succeeded in winning a junior scholarship ; 1 and that £27 Ps had been obtained from coucrls : duiiog the year. Tho statement of accounts showed that tho receipts for the year had been £111 2s lOd (including £75 from the liducat ion Board), and the expenditure £99 Os sd, leaving a credit balance of £12 2s od. There was also in the savings bauk a sum of £14 10.. The report was adopted after a discussion. The voting for a new committee resulted as follows:— 11. A. Reynolds ... 38 S. Frazer... ... 23 G. P. Austing ... 33 W. Ash ... ... 22 11. Webb... ... 28 J. Horsburgh ... 21 W. Mearns ... 2.3 J. Loan, 19; H. V. Harvey, 10; J. Briosdon, 16; H. Frapwoll, 12; G. Dawe, 8; A. Jeffreys, 8. The Chaibman declared the firsfc seven duly elected. PORT CHALMERS. The annual meeting of householders for tho election of a school committee for the Port Chalmers District High School took place yesterday evening, very little interest beiug manifested. Mr A. Thomson was voted to the chair, and called upon Mr George Durham, the secretary, who read the annual report, already published. On the motion of Mr Cameron the report was adopted. The following gentlemen were then nominated :—Messrs R. Bauchop, W. Elder, D. Law, J. Morgan, I. Stevenson, A. Thomson, J. Watson, jun , and C. de L. Graham. ■ Me?, rs A. Walker, T.'Young, N. Murray, and R. P. Neale were appointed scrutineers. The voting resulted as follows :— \ Votes. Voters. Votes. Voters. Thorn.on ... 85 '67 Graham ...' 64 15 Kklor ... 84 53 Stevenson 63 50 Morgan ... 69 51 Law ... 62 48 Bauchop ... 67 50 Watson ... 52 47 The Chaibman then declared Messrs Thor- ! son, Elder, Morgan, Bauchop, Graham, Stevenson, and Law duly elected for the ensuing year. On the motion of Mr Murray, a vote of ' thauk.. was reoorded to the retiring committee, j Mr Thomson returning thanks and speaking in high terms of the staff of teachers. ) A vote of thauks was also recorded to Mrs Ryley, and the Revs. Ryley, Grant, and Jory { for their services rendered for Bible instruction in the schoo! during the past year, which was respouded to by Mr Joey. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated tho meeting.

ANDERSON'S BAY.

Tho annual rneetiug of householders in the Anderson's Bay district was bold in the schoolhouse last evening, when tbe attendance was not large. Mr W. S. Fitzgerald was olected to take the chair.

The Secretary read the anuual report, which was unanimously adopted.

Key. Mr Cimeron proposed a .vote of thanks to the teachers, seconded by Mr J. White, and unanimously carried.

Mr Fitzgerald, iv conveying the thanks of the rneetiug to the teochere, said he knew that their influence was felt, not only in the school, but also throughout the district.

Mr Jeffery returned thanks, mentioning thai hie aim was to turn out good work, rather than a mere percentage record.

The following were elected as the new committee:— t.„.. « n Votes. Vetera. Key. A. Cameron ... is q J. White ... ... •" Jo i a. Nichoi ;;; {JJ au 0. S. Owen... „, ->t _f_ __ ll- 'cc ... ... ".' 14 io 11. M'Curdy ... io _ W. S. Milnes ... .". [$ J,

KAIKORAI,

The annua! meeting of house-holders in connection with the Kaikorai School was held last eveuiug, and attended by about 100 persons. Mr V. Duncan, chairman of the committee, occupied the chair.

The Chairman, before the report was read, said that the committee desired to thank the parents and guardians of the children for tho hearty manner in v/bich they had co-operated with tbe committee in any undertaking in connection with the school.. The school had attained a very high btate of proficiency, which was mai ife3ted by the results of tbe examinations^ The head in3ster had written to the committee at their last meeting referring to iho general good feeling t-xi&tiog between the members of tho teaching stuff and the members of the committee. Thero was also a surplus in the prize fund, duo to the hearty manner in which the parents had responded to tho call of the committee iv gettiug up that fuud. The committee also wished to record their gratitude to the Education Board for the fair manner iv which they had always treated them. The Secretary then read the annual report of the retiring committee, which appeared in our columns yesterday morning. Mr A. 0. Bego moved and Mr Wright seconded tho adoption of the report. Mr Wilkinson, in speaking to tho motion, referred to the clause in the report having reference to the evening classes. Tbey, as a committee, were willing to give the young men of the district every advantage to better themselves and to carry on a work of self-improve-ment. This movement was not so successful as they could have wished, owing to the young meu of the district, who were tie very persouß who received the mosfc advantage from these evening classes, not supporting the committee. He also thought that evening classes could be started for tho youiig women of the district. The Eev. Mr Sut_i_.__i.and also spoke favourably on tho question of eveuing classes. He thought the householders should promise the incoming committee every support in any effort they made iv establishing evening classes. There were many resideuts in the district who' would bo willing to subscribe an annual sum in support of the committee.—(Applause.) The Chairman thought tbat the applause which gre.ted the few remarks of the last speaker fully testified to tho feeling of the meeting in this matter.

Mr Ohisholm thought the committee was not to blame for the non-success of the evening classes. The young people had taken advantage of the technical classes established in Dunedin. He did not think the matter of such great importance, seeing that the young people could have suoh an excellent opportunity of improving themselves by means of the Dunedin technical classes.—(Applause.) The motion that the report be adopted was put to the meeting and carried. The Treasurer then read the balance sheet, which showed tbat there was a total credit balanco of £56 9s 4d. The total expenditure for the year ending Jauuary last amounted to £123; and the receipts for tho same period to

Tho balance sheet was adopted, and tho chairman and committee vacated their chairs. Mr A. C. Begg was then voted to the chair, and the election of a committee to tako the place of the retiring committee took place. M ssrs Roach and Watson were elected 'scrutineers,

. The cleciion resulted as foUows :—

T , Voters. Votes. Jackson ... ... 23 138 gu i*°-- n •• . 48 ' 121 S olr - - ... 37 104 Fraser ... ... „. 35 103 Wilkinson „. „, 34 gj Mitchell... ... "j 22 79 Carlton ... ... '.". 25 49 Stout ... 24 46 ' Fs"y ... 14 29 • Mr Carlton intimated that he would retire in favour of Mr Stout.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY. The aunual meeting of householders in the North-East Valley district was held in the schoolroom lait night, when there were about 160 persons present. Mr S. Myers, chairman of tho retiring committee, was voted to the chair. The report, which was read by the secretary (Rev. D. Borrie) stated :— *

The teaching staff had baen somewhat altered during the year, Mr J. A. Valentine, 8.A., bavin? b.on appoiuted third assistant, vice Mr Mason r_romoted to tho position of first assistant, besides which the school has become entitled to another teacher, and Miss Loib Whinam was duly elected as fourth assistant. i.r A. Gow finished hi. pupil-eacher-ship, and his pace was filled by Mr Chas. Haw. linson, a pupil of the school.. During the year a new, handsome, and cmoiodicu. infant schoolroom was erected. 'Ihere had been a gradual and pleasiDe increase in the attendance, especially in the hfaher classes, which was a sure sign of progress. 'Ihe iZS"J?£u - the n Imr " end <-* n-.ce.nber 1888 was 139, while for December 1889 it was' 433. Xhe average for the first quarter in 1860 was somewhat reduced owing to influenza, beir.g only 463 though there were SCB names on the roll, as compared with 546 Inst year. The Jo°?£m i*"" n. "'■ thß *"*evi< "Js committee to form a. lawn tennis ground was carried out nt *_ cost of £21 12a. of which tbe teiehers contributed £5 ss, while tho head master, assisted by the other teachers, pupils, and friends, raised the balance br means of concerts. The diain between the school ground and Mr Strain's property, which before was a source of cancer to health and limb, was filled un costing in all £27 15a 2d. Tho asphalt round the school waß messed, and Venetian blinds and a new hlter procured, these necessary works beinir so extensive as to land the committee in debt at the eu"d oi their term of office to the extent of £8 15s ad. The thanks of the committee and of the community were due the head master and b.s.taff. together with the pupils and other friends, especially Mi-s Murray for their services in raising funds forthe improvement of tho school grounds and prizes. This would be evident when it was known that by way of entertainments, together with the donation of £5 5s by the teachers for tbe lawn tennis court, the sum of £50 2s Q& bad baen raised during the year. A cadet company had been formed in connection with the school, and *as already over 60 strong. There wore still a number of works about tha grounds that should be done as soon as possible. Ths Library Committee reported that the>-e wera now 800 volumes on tha shelves. The fes for the year amounted to £12 ss, while £11 ls 5d had been expended in the purchase of now books. There were only 48 Bub.cribers.aud 10 life membera. The financial statement for the year ending April 28 showed that the receipts had beeu £133 5s Id (incliidiUK* Kducation Board allowance, £70), and the expenditure about the samo amount.

Mr E. Spencer moved, and Mr G. Walkeh seconded, the adoption of the report and balauce sheet. > The motion waß put and carried unanimously - without discussion, I Nominations for the committee for the en- • suing year were then received, and the voting resulted as follows:— m ou a Voters. Votes. T.Short.,, ... ... 45 I(j7 B. Madden ... ... _g jog .3. Myera... ~. ... 37 ni (1. Calder ... .',, 24 7.3 JR. J. Sohlotel ... 7.. 27 65 0.A11an... ... ... 15 e0 [ J. Howard ... „. g 49 I. Oreen... ~. ... 19 47 Hey. D. Borrie ... ... 21 44 1 J. Sparrow ... ... 15 3.3 J. Arthur ... ... 12 32 ' D. Anderson ... ... 0 M X, Spencer ... ... 2 0 The CHAin„iAN-declared Messrs Short, Madden, Myors, Calder, Schlote), Allan, and Howard duly elected for the ensuing year, and intimated that ths first meeting of the committee would ba held on Friday night. Messrs Schlotel, Allan, and Howard.aro the new members, taking the planes of Messrs I. Green, Muir, and the Rev. D. Borrie. FOEBURY. At the annual meeting of householders Mr T. J. Ross, the chairman of the retiring committee, occupied the chair, and aboufc 70 householders were present, The report haviug been read and adopted, the following were nominated and the first seven elected:— Eob-rt Davidson ... 59 Eev VI Campbell ... 39 Fredk A Hancock ... 67 JEdward Porteous . 37 John Wm Skipworth 62 Wm Wardrop ... 22 John Tulloch Eoss ... 49 Jas Berwick ... 14 Informal, 2. MACANDREW KOAD. Afc the meeting of householders at Macandrew road school Mr Francis Battson, chairman of the retiring committee, occupied the chair. There was a largo attendance of the householders. Tho report was read and adopted. On the motion of Mr Buxton, seconded by Mr Devlin, a unanimous Vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring committee. The following were nominated, aud the first seven declared elected:-— AlexEennlo ... 77 Francis Battson ... 34 TE Dodds ... 42 Thos Roberfcsou ... 31 James Clark ... .-19 W A Carrick .;. 31 Thos Leyland ... 37 S A Scott ... 20 Informal, 1.

RAVENSBOURNE.

There was a good attendance of householders at tho Ravensbourne schoolhouse last evening for the purpose of electing a new committee for the district for the ensuing year. The mayor (Mr Barclay) occupied the cbaJr. Tho report submitted by tho outgoing committee having been read aud approved, the following gentlemen were elected as* the new committee:— Messrs L. Gillanders, H. Brown, A. Campbell, D. Ferguson, William Barclay, D. Russell, acd N. M'Culloch.

{For remainder of reports see fourth page.)