ELECTION OF THE INVEECARGILL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Southland Times, Issue 2051, 13 January 1875, Page 2

ELECTION OF THE INVEECARGILL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The annual statutory meeting for the election of a School Committee for the Educational District of Invercargill was held on Monday evening, llth January, iv the Grammar School. About 50 persons were present. Mr T. M. Macdonald being voted to the chair, opened the proceedings by reading the clause in the Education Ordinance under authority of wbich the meeting was held. The minutes of last year's meeting were then read by Mr Nutter, Clerk of the School Committee, and duly confirmed. The Clerk then read the report of the School Committee for the past year, and the balance sheet for the same period, both of wbich we subjoin : — Eeport of Invebcabgill School Committee fob 1874. The Invercargill School Committee for the year 1874 report : — The Committee held 31 meetings during the past year. On 27th January, 1874, the Grammar School was opened after the midsummer holidays, under the superintendence of Mr George Millar, the Head Master. The average daily attendance throughout the year was 306, being 169 boyß and 137 girls. The number of scholars remaining on the books at the end of the last quarter for transfer to next year's roll was 348, being 200 boys and 148 girls. The accommodation furnished by the Grammar School building being regarded as inadequate for tbe number of pupils, tbe Committee early in the year turned their attention to the establishment of a District School, and on the 2nd February entered into an arrangement with Mr Macdonald for the lease, for the term of one year, of his premises in Leven street, which were subsequently fitted up as a District School, and opened on Bth April, under the superintendence of Mr James Orr, master, and Miss Cameron, mistress. The average daily attendance throughout the year was 97, being 53 boys and 44 girls ; and the number remaining on the books at the end of the last quarter was 155, being 84 boya and 71 girls. The total amount of fees charged during the year at the Grammar School was £983 16s Bd, of which £909 5s ld have been received, and £74 lis 7d still remain unpaid. The total amount received from the Provincial Government during the year in aid of the Grammar School was £119 10s. This does not include the Govern-; ment subsidies to the teachers' salaries, these being paid to the teachers by the Government direct. Thiß total amount of fees charged during the year at the District School was £99 16s 6d, of which £72= 12s have been paid, and £20 4s 6d still remain unpaid. The total amount received from the Provincial. Gpyernmpnfc in aid of the' Dis-. trict; School was £ltVexclusive of Govj- - ernment subsidies to teachera- salaries. The accommodation furnished by the Grammar School building has been considerably improved during the year by

the erection of covered verandahs ta afford shelter ;to the pupils during wet 7 feather in Jnei intervals of recreation, •". $ra_ by the building of out-houses, a shed : $*r firewood, the^erecnioin; of |gyinnastjc |7 apparatus, &c. |slAi janitor |Bas \beein H 4 appointed, whojiiSeha|^d with the care of the school building iand grounds, atid tie supervision of the pupils when in the playground. Arrangements have been made'forthe-instruction- of-the-boys*in - drill ; and ybcal music has been added to the listWextra^ j _ The accommodation ait the District School as yet is of a merely temporary character, but tbe initiatory steps have been taken to secure as a site an acre at the south-west corner of the Public Park, the efforts of the Committee to purchase from private proprietors a site in the town or suburbs having been unsuccessful. The G-overnment have autho. rised the expenditure of a sum of £750 i for the purpose of erecting a suitable * \ building on the new site. Plans of a new - ; I District School have been prepared, and will have to be considered by the, Committee's successors. In tha meantime temporary accommodation has been ojbr tamed in the Drill Shed, which has been hired for three months at £10. The Committee, however, are afraid that the building will not prove very suitable. A contract has been accepted for the erection of a suitable residence for the Head Master of the Grammar School at a cost of $1022, on a site in Don street, in the Ineighborhood of the Grammjw School, j The building has been designed with a view to the ultimate accommodation of boarders, and the funds, are to be furnished ))y the Provincial Government. The system of instruction in the Grammar School has been carefully organised by the Head, -lasfier, ?; Mr Millai". ; The entire school' is divided 7 into six classes, each of which is in- J 1 tended to be under a separate teacher. During 'the past year, however, there being only five teachers, throe masters and two mistresses, the superintendence of the two lowest classes, and a. few pupils in the Junior Department, was of necessity left to the care of one mistress, assisted by pupil teachers. Acting on the recommendation of the Government ' Inspector, the Committee have advertised for a mistress to take charge of the youngest class, and the junior pupils — a part of the work which the Committee regard as of the highest importance. The system of testing the progress made by the various classes by monthly examinations has been introduced by Mr Millar, and the Committee believe that it will produce valuable results. The Committee are happy to" be able to express the utmost satisfaction with the progress made by the pUpils in both the Grammar and the District Schools^ and their confidence in the zeal, industry, and ability of the teachera in both institutions. The organisation of a good school is, under any circumstances, a matter of time, and the Committee have every reason to believe that the arrangements of the two schools, which bave been during the past year under their supervision, are thoroughly sound; and that there is every prospect of their continuing to yield, year after year, more satisfactory results. During the year 21 applications wer§ made to the Committee for free education. All the applicants were granted free education in the elementary branches* at' the District School. One member of Committee, Mr Calder, resigned during the year, and Mr Harvey was elected by the Committee to the vacant seat. Ths Gbakkab School,

* F. Nxjttib, Treasurer. E zamined and found correct,— W. B. SCANDBOTT, "J _„ MtM _-

Mr "Wade having moved t__t the Eeport be taken into consideration, Mr Tanner called attention to; a resolutiops of the meeting of the previous year, which affirmed ,|<he, desirableness of separate «ducation for boys and girls. He wished to know if any correspondence had taken place between the School Committee and the Education Board on the subject. Mr Macdonald, as chairman of the late Committee, stated that some correspond, ence had taken place, the tenor of the Education Board's communication being that it was impossible, for financial Reasons, to provide sucb separate education at present. Mr Cuthbertson pointed out that the Amount for printing and advertising, oyer ,£4O, seemed large, and thought that more detailed information would be desirable aB to the items. Mr Nutter explained that one item, amounting to neaHy £10, was for " Certificates of Merit," a stock of which remained on hand, and would be available for future use. Mir Donald Ross thought the feeß for extra subjects were too high. He understood from Mr Hislop at a meeting three years ago that a boy could be fitted for college in this school for a pound a quarter, but now it cost over thirty shillings. Mr Lumaden thought the fees were very low. For a good English education the charge, even in the higher classes, was only 15s per quarter, and the charges for extra subjects were also very reasonable. In any case he held that those who wished high class education for their children ought to pay for it. (Applause.) He believed it would be evident from the accounts that there was more need to raise the fees than to lower them. He would move the adoption of the report. The report was adopted, nem. con. Mr Pratt moved that the Committee for the current year consist of nine members, and Mr Kingsland moved that the election of the Committee be by ballot. Both propositions having been adopted, Messrs Pratt and Macrorie were appointed scrutineers of the ballot. Mr Nutter, in accordance with a resolution of the meeting of last year, then read a statement showing the attendance of each member of the late Committee at the meetings held during the year. A number of citizens were then nominated as candidates for election. Mr Donald Boss, at this stage, moved that all the candidates in favor of having the Bible read every day in the schools should stand up. The chairman said that the law provided that the Bible should be so read, and that therefore Mr Boss's motion was unnecessary. Mr Ross, however, persisted, but failed to find a seconder. In reply to his questions, however, it was stated that the subject of Bible-reading had not been in any way discussed or dealt with by the Committee of last year. A ballot was then taken, and the following gentlemen were declared duly elected: — Messrs T. M. Macdonald, F. W. Wade, J.R, Cuthbertson, T. Watson, J. W. Mitchell, E. F. Gilles, W. P. Tanner, J. Kingsland, and G. Lumsden. Messrs Scandrett and Macrorie were appointed auditors for next balancesheet, on the motion of Mr Wade. At the suggestion of Mr Goodwillie, it was resolved that next year's Report and balance-sheet should be published three days before the annual meeting. The Bey. Mr Tanner moved, and Mr Bailey seconded : — " That in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that separate education for boys and girls should be provided as soon as the funds available for education will admit of this being done ; and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Education Board." After a short discussion, this motion was carried. A vote of thanks to tbe retiring Committee, proposed by Mr Wade, was carried hy acclamation, and the meeting closed with the usual courtesy to the chair.

Dr. £. s. a. To balance on band in Bank of New Zealand 83 9 3 — School Pees 909 5 1 — Bent old Schoolhouse, Taj street 11 2 0 — Oaßh from Government for Ye» randah 119 10 0 £1123 6 4 Balance carried down 22 16 7 £1146 2 11 Cr. £. a. d. By cost of Verandah 119 10 0 — co§t of gravelling Court, and building shed, &c 49 4 0 — coit of alterations and repairs to outside premises ... ... 23 7 1 — Cost of internal additions and alterations to School ... IS 8 0 — Cost of additions and repairs to spouting and ridging ... 42 6 — Cost of repairing damaged gible 14 8 0 — Cost of Qjmnastio apparatus ... 22 10 0 — Cost of Cooking Stove for new Master's residence ... ... 10 0 0 — Architect's commi9sion,plans and specifications, Master's residence, &c 35 8 0 — Salaries 645 11 0 — Printing and advertising.... ... 42 12 1 — Stationery and postage stamps ... 47 6 6 — Coals and firewood 30 10 6 — Cleaning School 35 15 6 — Sweeping Chiranies, &c, and whitewashing School ... 13 16 0 — School Prizes ... 20 0 0 — Sundries 18 13 9 £1146 2 11 Balance brought down ... £22 16 7 F. Nutteb, Treasurer. Examined and found correct. W. B. 80ANDHBTT, ) . ... M THUUBEnm i Audltorl ' The Distbict School. Dr £ a. »• To School Fees 79 12 0 — Amount received from Government on account of rent of Schoolhouse „ 10 0 0 — Balance carried down ... ... 116 0 1 Total £205 12 1 Cr £ 8. D. By Repairs to Schoolhouse 7 14 7 — Sinking Well 5 15 0 — Coit of Fittings 28 5 0 — Salaries ... ... 84 19 4 — Printing and advertising ... .5 14 6 — Stationery 15 17 8 — Firewood 12 0 — Cldaning School .., , ... .. 15 8 0 — Kent of Schoolhpuse 30 0 0 — Pfizei ...... ... ... 50 0 — Sundries ... > < ... ■ ... ... 5.18 0 I Total ... ... ...£205 12 1 — Balance brought down ... '■;..' 116 0 1