INVERCARGILL MIDDLE.

Southland Times, Issue 19032, 28 April 1903, Page 2

INVERCARGILL MIDDLE.

About a dozen householders attended. Mr \V. Field occupied the chair. Tho report stuted, inter atfa, that the roll number for the beginning of the J«tr (000) is small in comparison v-ith the roll number at the cud of the third <iuarter (043). This ig owing to- tha large percentage of pupils who quaHlietV for leaving school, and this year the reduction has been further increased by the enrolment on the High School legiuers of pupils who. but for the free 1 admission provided, would have remained os piij.il9 of .Standard Vlf. Of the G43 pupils on the roll at the end of last yea>r, 1-G arc not now- in attendance ; fresh enrolments numbered^ 1)3. The committee began the year with an overdraft of £-8 9s sd, and closed the year with a credit of £13 7s

9d. Cadet corps had been put on a better footing, the Department r.n/vlng supplied caps and accoutrements. During the year the committee tried to ii.-ii'se more interest in the subject of handwriting, hoping the Board .vould institute one system throughout thtir schools 'but so far nothing provtivwl bas r«- --; suited.

The balance-sheet showed receipts Amounting to £2^3 14s 2d, uv.d expenditure £250 fis sd. Of the rcvonuo the chief items were grants for isi<-.ldeiital purposes £170 15s 2d, voluntary ccn-

tiibutions £33 ss, carnival £55 5», and truancy fees £L H»s sd, excursion £2 10s, while tho heaviest items of expenditure were cu.retu.lier £54 15s 4d, fuel £14, asphalting £58 8s 2d\ repairs £03 10s, and stationery £33 Is Bd.

The Chairman, in (moving, the adoption of the report dhd balance-sheet, said that the committee was greatly indebted to the staff, who. when lh« Hoard refused to assist in the erecliou of a fence round the grounds, got vp on entertainment to provide funds for Uiis purposes (a vote of thanks in this crnnection from the householders to the staff was passed). He also '-remarked; On thb asphalting and erection of fancitig^; tho whole of which had made the school the best -equipped in thjis respect in the district.— The motion (which, was carried unanimously) was seconded by Mr Stirling:, who thought that the committee could not complain very much of their treatment by the Baard. They had much to thank tho Board for. They did not want to bounce; they simply had to usk and they got what they wanted. The following were elected to form tho committee for the ensuing year :— Messrs W. N. Stirling (chairman), C. Wilson. E. Barlow G. Reid, B. E. Hammond, H. Ibbotson, H, Ashley, G. Gilchrlst. und W. Field.

A discussion on the question of himdwr*ting, raised by Mr Hammond, showed that the committee take a keen interest in the matter and are anxious to £ et at the cause for tho unsatisfactory progress made in this department by the generality of public school pupils.

A vote of thanks to the retiring committee closed the meeting.