PAPANUI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5220, 28 January 1885, Page 3

PAPANUI.

; The annual election of a School Committee for the above district took place in , the district schoolroom on Monday. There was a very fair attendance. Mr James Low occupied the chair, and read the retiring Committee's report, which was as follows: — i " In giving a report of its proceedings ■ during the past year, it affords the Com- \ mittee great pleasure to be able to state ' that the school is in a prosperous state. The number on the roll is greater, and the average attendance better, than at any previous time. The number on the roll at end of last quarto. 1 was 207, and the average attendance for the last quarter 2074. The largest attendance in any one day was 22-i. During the year the Committee has issued a number of notices to parcnta, warning them that unless their children attended more regularly they would be summoned in accordance with the provisions of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act. No doubt this has something to do with the increased attendances. But a still more hopefnl and . encouraging sign is the large increase in : the infant department. So crowded has ' this department become that we considered it our duty, by deputation, to urge upon the Education Board the necessity of providing more accommodation, and we con- : fidently hope that so soon as the Board | knows what sum will be allotted by Go- i vernuient for expenditure in the district, ! two new rooms will be added to the present i buildings. This is a matter which the Com- i mittee to be elected to-night will, no doubt, advocate as earnestly as we have dope. | During the year, much has been done to ' improve the ventilation of the building, and we hope that both the teachers and children will feel great benefit therefrom.

A tender has been accepted for painting the school buildings and master's house, a work which was very much needed, and which, as you will have perceived, is at present being, carried out. New entrance gates have been erected, upon a plan which we hope will prove more convenient, as well as render them less liable to damage than was the plan of the old ones. The master's house and boundary fence have also received considerable repairs. In the month of February Mr May, head master, intimated that owing to his leaving the Colony he would relinquish his duties at the end of April; and in the month of March Miss Fee, infant mistress, also sent in her resignation. This brought upon us one of the most important duties that can fall to the lot of a Comaittee to perform. In response to advertisements, we had 24 applicants for the head mastership,.and 15 for that of infant mistress. After very carefully considering the status of the applicants, together with certificates and testimonials, the Committee unanimously recommended to the Board for appointment Mr William Taylor, 8.A., of Greendale, and Miss L. M. Phillips, also of Greendale; and the Committee confidently hope that .the future progress and success of the school will abundantly prove the wisdom of the choice. The school was examined on May 15 by the Rev J. Cumming, Inspector. His report is on the table, and can be seen by any one -who may wish to peruse it. On Dec 9, Mr Baldwin, Head Master of the Sydenham school, examined the school for prizes. The result was exceedingly satis : factory, the examiner speaking in the highest terms of the order, as well as the merits, of the work done. Prizes were given to the value of .£l4 or J615, and the school broke up on Dec. 12. In July, Mr Weston was compellel, through illness, to resign his seat on the Committee, and the remaining members filled the vacancy by electing Mr Frederick Wallace. Previous to the assembling of Parliament, the Committee received from Mr Steward, member for Waimate, a communication and circular, containing a number of questions requiring answers, the object being to ascertain the views of the Committee, re Borne slight alterations sought to be made in the Education Act. The Committee's reply was short and decisive, viz., ' That the Papanui School Committee deprecates any attempt to tamper with the present Education Ordinance.' The financial statement is very simple. The amount received for salaries, and paid to teachers, is .£628 6s lid. The amount received for incidentals, including a balance of £2 Os 7d, is £75 3s lid, and the amount paid £73 fOs 2d, leaving a credit balance of £1 13s 9d. The books have been audited by the Government Auditor, and now lie on the table, where they can be inspected by any householder wishing to do so. We now resign our commission into your hands, expressing a sincere hope that our successors will take up the work with a determination to guard the interests of education in thisdistrict, and endeavour to make this school second to none in the Province." The Chairman moved the adoption of the report. The motion was seconded by Mr Delahunt and carried. The election of a Committee for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. Nine candidates were nominated, and on a ballot being taken the following gentlemen were fleeted : — Messrs W. Goodland, J. Low, A. E. Tutton, H. Derrett, J. Wallace, H. Godfrey and J. Andersen. At a subsequent meeting of the Committee, Mr J. Anderson was elected Chairman. A vote of thanks was passed to the scrutineers, Messrs T. S. Weston and E. S. Leversedge, and the proceedings closed.