LAKE WANAKA,

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 25

LAKE WANAKA,

May 2. — The weather Btill continues good for tbe time of year. Sometimes the days are cloudy and cold winds blow, but at others the days are bright and sunny. Showers of rain occur occaKi'onally, and one of them was heavier than usual and a considerable fall of snow took pUce on the mountains. School Committees. — The annual election of Bchool committees this year appears to have caused" a little more interest than usual. .Pembroke may be gives <as one instance, the schoolbouse being fully occupied by householders and others. A number of ladies were present, and ' some of them exercised their right to vote. The utmost decorum in every sense of the word prevailed. Mr M'Dougall was voted to the chair, and read the balance sheet and report for the ' past year The first showed that the committee > began the financial year with a credit balance of I -■ 19s Id, the board's allowance at the end of December last was £9 9a lid, and the result of .the dralmtic entertainments in July was £10 6s Bd, making £32 15» 8d in -all. The expenditure was : For cleaning the school, £6 ; coals, £4 ; firewood, £2; repairs to buildings and fences, £6 ~"8s 6d ; 13yds .winaow blinds, 17s ( 4d ; playbooks for entertainments, 8s; advertisement in Press and Argus, 15s 6d ; stationery, 3s ; postage and telegrams, 2» 6d ; freight on school bell. 6s ; broom, 2« ; 15£dnz pastry for the ochool children on Arbor Day, 15s 6d ; bank exchange on vouchers, 3s ; tree-planting, £4 19s ; — creditf balance, £5 15s 4d. The report for past year" showed that 11 meetings were held. The teaching was good and efficient, and the repairs were indispsnsable. The committee had acquired a school bell, which would make the school completo, and it would be of service for church purposes an well. The larger children had assisted at tret-planting, and the practical knowledge they had thus gained would be valuable for them, perhaps, in embellishing their own home.s in tbe future. Mp-Wm. Monteith, as a householder, asked who audited the balance sheet, and where was the credit balance? Mr M'Dougall replied that he was the treasurer, and, had the balance in hand. <•' The accounts -were not audited as usual, as the Invercargill Education Board did sot send the proper formß to thl committee to be filled up and certified to in time to lay before Vixe householders' annual meeting, but at the - committee's request .Mr Thomas Templeton kindly examined the balance sheet and overhauled the bills, receipts, and vouchers, and.h*d certified the same as being correct, and this was. the best the committee could do under tbe circumstances. These were then in the board's hands for audit. Mr William Monteith said that the Education Act distinctly showed that all committees must keep a banking account, and referred the chairman to rule 41, stating that under the circumstances neither report nor balance sheet should be accepted. Finally -Mr Moateith proposed " That the balance sheet be not accepted, on the grounds that the committee did not keep a b»nking account as required by the act, and contrary to the custom of all committees within 20 mile*." Mr H!. C. Hedditch seconded the motion. Mr R StuuhobM . propos-d as an amendment that the balance sheet be adopted, and this was seconded by Mr James Templeton. The amendment was carried, the voting being 18 and 5 respectively.' Mr Kobert Studholm proposed that the report as L read be adopted. Seconded by Mr Ironsides and carried. Mr Turnbull read out a list of 12 Dominations—viz , Messrs T. A. Russell, James Templeton, R. M'Donsatt, S M'Skimming, Rev. W. K. Grant, John Ironsides William Sachtler, B. C. "Fedditoh, A. Wilson, J. B. Ewin«, William Allkb, ana John H. King. In addition to theee Messra Turnbull, Studkolin, and Aadxsw Maekay

were nominated at the meeting, and.added to the list. Mr SacHtlar proposed a lady present, which brought out a hearty round of applause, but she declined to stand. Messrs Monteith and A. G. Thornton acted as scrutineers, and after going over the papers very carefully Mr Turnbull read "out tljs result, and declared the first seven the committee for the coining year :— Messrs Jamos B. Temphton, 2f votes: Johu Ironaides, £6; TurnbalL 22; M'Dougall, 18 ; Studbolm' ' 17 ; Allan, 17 ; J. B. Bwing, 15 ;jaohtler, 13; M'Skim•mrog,, 13; Hedditch, 8; King, 10; Russell, 9; .Mftokay, 6 ; Graat,-3; WiUon, 2. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the chair, and Mr M'Dougall proposed a vote of thanks to the scrutineers, whioh Mr Monteith amiably acknowledged. Mt Turnbull announced that the newlyelected -committee would at oace 'hold its first meeting, and the proceedings terminated.