SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8793, 1 May 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

The following returns of school committees elected are to hand:—

Snio Point.—Theie were 15 nominations for the new committee, and tho following were elected:— Messrs D. M'Leod, A. Fraser, J. M'lCay, J. C. Campbell, J. Hay wood, H.Parnell.and W. 11. Williama.

MACHAK3.—Messrs Georgo Cockerell, sen , Oeorgi Cockerell, jun., James Mlsom, Lawiencu Flynn Peter Giltord, David M'llratney, and Jamei MMurren.

St. Lrto.vABDS.-Messrs It. Hardle, M, O'Donnel M. Aston, h. ariffan, J. Flupatrlck, A. Broad, an W. Ueed

Tho following is the substance of the report submitlvil to tho meeting of householders at Anderson's K:iy by tho retiring committeo aud adopted:— Hurmoiir has characterised the proceedings of the committed" at their meetings nml in reganl to the teachers ami tho Eduoatli.-ii Hoard. It was unariiniomlv agreed to abolish priz-s, and to substitute, certitk'aU'S of merit tor class and examination work. The committeo are of opinion that this should bo adhered to, and that is should not be expected of the master to gut up concerts for the raising of funds for any nu'iioje in connection with the school. Tho committee stood alone in giving their adherence to a trial of the three-name system ns a step in the right direction in the appointment of teachers. Apart from tho fact that the Kducdtiou Board are responsible under the act for the appointments, tv» commjtUo are convinced that na a rule members of committee cannot have the requisite time to Investigate the credentials of every candidate who nuy apply; and further, that the board are in a far belter position from tho information in their possession to mako a selection. The appointment ot teacher is sucli an important matter that the committee would nut deem it. their duty to ftssumo n function not specially conferred upon them by tho Legislature, their construction of the act boing that their duty ends when they have kid beforo the board the "special requirements of the district, the onus of meeting tlioso requirements resting with the boar.i. Holding these views tho committee view with alarm the present unsatisfactory position the board have left tho question in-a position which, In their opinion, must sooner or later tend to I he curtailment of tho powers of those now entrusted with the guidauca of the educational machinery; a curt'lilrneut which may be forcd on the Lejiislatu'C for the maintenance of order, but which eanuot but lesort that full liborty nowenj.iyed-a liberty which the committee havj tried to preserve, believing tint by using and not abusing it tlio most favour-ible results under tha present act may be attained. The committee do not wish to be understood as committing theru&olves to an opinion Mint committees' powers would oe curtailed any moro than those of the hoard. They simply state that curtailment on either side would be a misfortune, and tlioir action has boen based according to i his belief. The school attendance has been most satisfactory, and has steadily inoreased since Mr Jeffery took charge In 1886 the averago waß ftl; bßt year it wsb 107, and for tho last quarter 117. The commlttea do not attach much importance to percentages at examinations, considering them very fallacious as a teßt of work that will last. 'Jhe percentagej, however, in school work show an all-round increase. At an early stage of their existence the committeo had under consideration the matter of junior scholarships. It was ovident from tho statistics that tha country schools were at a disadvantage as compared with town schools, and this U easily understood when the multifarious duties ■which il-volve on the one country schoolmaster are taken into account. The cojnmlttee asked the Education Board to consider the question of granting pound fur pound to the extent of £10 to any scbonl or schools guaranteeing to contribute that cum for two years with a view to granting scholarships under tha bjftrA's regulations. The board took some time to consider this, but tventunliy returned the answer Ih-.t they could not accede to it. the Inference being that it would be illegal. The committee had lately had uuder their conslderatloi tbo propriety of approaching the Minister of Education on the subject In conclusion, the committee congratulated the district that some progress h.nd bean mado in the mitte.- of a naw school. In May last the b^ard were approached, and recognised the need of a school bsiug built. The eomnrttee were asked to make inquiries as to a site, and the duty wa3 kindly undertaken by Mr Uobert Lee. Whin a Eilo waß obtained It was found that the settlers required that neither a school nor a police station should bo buMt on it, aad so the npgotiations fell through, and uo favourable site had yen been found. The committeo ngdin approached tho board ns to building on tho present sito, and Im-t received a satisfactory reply. Waltox.—The aunual statutory meeting of householders for the purpose of electing a scliool committee for the year was held in the Walton School on Uo'iday evening. Mr W. Martin, sen., occupied the CnVir." The secretary to tho retiring committee (Mr J. L radon) read the report for the year, which showed that the cumber on the roll at the commencement of the year was 125. nnd now tbers were 127. The averages for the four quarters respectively ws-e:—111, 111, lit, and 105.0r an average of lid for the entire yew. After the adoption of tho report tbe following were elected, In order, a committee for the ensuing year-viz , Messrs T. Shore, H. Gray, J. London, J. Milburn, W. M'Neill, S. GuMirie. and A. Cook. There were 12 uominations. KAVKN-SBOimxK.-Intho annual report of the retiriu" co:nmlttea of the Eavensbourue School it was Btated thst tbo attendance showed a slight fulling off owing to several families ■ havipg left the district. At the annual Inspection 93 per cent, of the pupils passed, mid the committee passed a special vote of thanks to Mr Held and bis teaching staff. In lieu of prizes photographs were presented to thoae entitled to first and itcoud class certificates, and ft picnic was gl?en to tha whole of the puplh attending tha snhonl. the affair being most successful. Application had beeu repeatedly mado to the board for increased accommodation without effvet, but it Is bslieved when the board is In funds tho matter will receive favourable consideration. Much credit was due to Messrs Holler and Campbell, members of the comra'ttee, and Mr Jleirt.tho teacher, for their painstaking attenti.in to keeping tho school in thorough repair. After referring to tho excellence of the teaching aud manafre-nent, the report concluded by stating thht there wbs a bilanco in hand of £21 16s sd. The followirj" were elected as the committee for the year -.— Mcair.- J. P. Bell, W. Spite, W. Barclay, T. R-jbs, C. MolUir, K. M'Culloch, and A. (Jampbsll. At a meeting he'd afterwards Mr Bell wns appointed chairman, Mr Spite treasurer, and Mr ttoss secretary. Qeohob Strkrt. — Thore was a tie between Messrs 0. Haynos and Jame3 Wilson, and t.he chairman gavo his ensuing vote iv favour of the former. liAwnsNCK.—Messrs Copland. HethsMUfton, Arbuckle, M'lntosh, Thompson, Ureu, aud M'lntosh were elected.

Tapakui.—Messra W. Simmonds, -J. B. M'Alister, K. King, J. Edgar, C. Xnowle3, D. Murray, and D, M'Kenzie.

PLOUGH TKIAL.

A trial of Howard's digging ploughs was hold at Mr J. B. Cliir's (late Shand's) estate on Monday under tb.9 superintendence o£ Mr James Reid, of osmßru. A largo number of persons interested in agriculture were present, including Messrs J. Keid (of Corner Bush), W. Patrick. Gray (of Reid and Gray), P. Grant, W. Grant, D. Grant, Allan, K. Muir, and J. Brown. The trial was an unqualified success. The plough was Srat tried in a piece of stubble laud, very dirty with yarrow and couch. Tho plough did its work exceedingly well, going dowu into the soil about lljin, making a furrow about 14in iv width, and lifting up from 2in to 3iu of fresh subsoil, thus satisfying the most exacting agriculturists. Some of the farmers present desiriug to see how tho plough would work in lea land it was taken down to one of Mr Patrick's paddocks, where a good-sized piece of land was turned up. Thß Und es in tho previous case was also pretty foul, being full of couch sud yarrow, with n heavy top growth. The plough, however, did equally ag well »s before, going down into tho hard les to a depth of 9in. Astonishment was expressed at the very lightnesß of the draught, there being only four medium horses in the team all day, and theso did not seem in the least distressed, although tho weather was exceedingly hot. At the conclusion of the tri.il all present expressed their satisfaction with tbe result. Many also thought that tho plongh wis likely to be largely brought into requisition by farmers as it saved so much labour, it only being necessary to plough the land once by means of the Howard, whereas with the ordinary doublei'urrow plough it was necessary to do it twica. Another advantage of the Howard plough was that it saved two strokes of the harrows, tho ground being thoroughly pulverised. As au indication of the estimation ia which the plough was held, it may be mentioned that after the trial Mr J. Blair ordered two ploughs and Mr Patrick one. A number of other gentlemen also stated that they thought they would want some soon, as they considered them a great convenience. We understand that over 20 of the ploughs have been sold in the Oamaru district within the lßsfc three weeks.