WAIPAWA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7708, 15 April 1916, Page 3

WAIPAWA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The following report and balancesheet will be submitted to the annual meeting of householders on Monday next:— BALANCE-SHEET. Receipts. Bank balance 31st March, 1015, £4O 5s 'd; grants from Education Board: For ordinary purposes £sl 5s fid, for cleaning technical rooms £8 6s 3d; voluntary contributions: Proceeds school ball £22; donations: Mr W. TI. Rathbone £3, Mrs J. A. Blake 3s, Mrs 11. M. Rathbone 10s; refund on account paid twice, £1; total, £135 10s Id. Expenditure. Cleaning school buildings ,£32, fuel, lighting and water for school £ll 6s 3d, repairs to buildings, etc. £5 3s fid, books, maps, furniture £1 10s; school stationery, reports, etc. £6 12s, bicycle shed £ls 10s, postage, quarterly reports, general 13s, insurance of piano ss, prizes £25 13s, bank charge and sundries 12s Bd, writing on honors board £1 ss, school requisites £2 Is, balance in bank £32 18s 8d; total, £135 10s Id. Financial. —The financial position is sound in every way. The year commenced with a credit balance of £4O 5s 4d. On the 31st December, 1915, when the financial year closed, that is for a period of nine -months, there was a cerdit balance at the bank of £32 18s Bd. To add to this, there is a sum of £8 to come in, being the Education Board’s contribution towards the cost of the bicycle shed. School Ball.—As in previous years, a school ball was held for the purpose of raising money for the prize fund. The function was a great success, thanks to the efforts of the callable secretary, Mr J. P. Keane, and his assistants. As a result of the ball the handsome sum of £22 was handed over to the prize fund. REPORT. The committee have pleasure in submitting the following report for the past year:— Committee. —The committee consisted of Messrs W. Pellow, H. M. Rathbone, T. Carson, E. H. Brewer, F. Holt, A. E. King, J. W. Bibby, R. W. Todd, A. Khull. Mr H. M. Rathbone was elected chairman for the fifth time, and Mr F. Holt appointed secretary. It is with* feelings of the deepest regret that we have to record the sudden death of our late esteemed headmaster, Mr Watson. He had guided the destinies of our school for the past nine years, since its establishment as a District High School, and during that time, as a result of his arduous and able efforts, our school lias risen to a position of eminence as an educational centre. The equipment of the school is second to none in the district, and in its examination results the school has always been well up in the Dominion lists. The number in the secondary department has grown during the same period from 20 to over 90. The improvements obtained for the school during Mr Watson’s headmastership were very numerous, and include the grading, levelling and asphalting of the school grounds, the instalment of an up-to-date system of drainage and sewerage, the laying down of a tennis court, the installing of water and gas, the establishment of a wellequipped meteorological observatory, the planting of shelter trees in the school grounds, and many others. Truly we can say of him, “Si nionumentum quaeris circumspice”—if you seek his monument look round. Staff—During the year Mr Duggan resigned his position as first assistant in the primary department and Mr Rountree was appointed in his stead. The headmaster, acting on the recommendation of the inspector, re-organ-ised the staffing. He himself, assisted by Miss Burness, took charge of the sth and 6th Standards. Mr Rountree, assisted by Miss James, teaches Standards 3 and 4; Miss Marsh Standard 2, and Miss Bradbury, assisted Gasson, the infant de--partment. The secondary department, owing to the increased attendance, is entitled to another assistant, and Mr Deighton has been tc:r" r*rily appointed to the position. In this department Mr Keane has charge of the senior classes, whilst Miss Smith and Mr Deighton share the junior class, which has been graded into two divisions. The committee has asked the Education Board to advertise the vacant position in the University centres, and thus assure the obtaining of suitable applicants. •- Attendance. —During the year the attendance lias been good, but the regularity is still open to improvement. The average attendance of the whole school for the last quarter was 272. In order that good attendance might be secure'd, and that the par-

ents might be assured in regard to the general health of the children, the school has recently been thoroughly fumigated by the borough employees. Condition of the School.—The high state of efficiency of the school has continued to be maintained during the year. Inspector Strachan’s reports on the primary and on the secondary departments have J>een considered by the committee, and they put an imprimatur on the work of the school which must be gratifying to parents and teachers alike, as it certainly has been to the committee. Success.—Standard YI. Synchronous Examination: Twelve children sat for the examination, 10 obtaining certificates of proficiency and 2 competency. Junior National Scholarship : One pupil, John Hobin, secured a J.N. Scholarship, and three obtained passes on the scholarship* examination. Senior' National Scholarship: Ten obtained senior free places on this examination, which entitles them to free secondary education until they attain the age of 19 years. Matriculation, etc.: Three passed the examin-. ation. Junior Public Service: Nine passed the examination. Senior Public Service: One completed her examination. Patriotic efforts.—The efforts of the school children as shown by the results are deserving of the very highest praise, both from ourselves and from the community. The last balance made shows returns to the amount of £B2 16s Bd. In addition to this sum the following garments for the hospital ships were provided under the supervision of Miss Marsh and Miss Burness:—l26 handkerchiefs, 5 face cloths, 4 scarves, 7 pairs of bed socks, 6 liolland bags, 6 tooth brushes, 4 pairs of slippers, and toilet soap. Fund for School Prizes.—The annual school ball was held on September Ist for this purpose, and a net sum of £3O 18s 4d was raised. This, with a balance of £l6 3s sd, raised the . prize fund to £47 Is 9d. Out of this . total £22 13s was paid for school prizes. Mr W. Rathbone was again to the fore with a donation of £3, which was distributed in cash prizes of 10s to each of the first pupils in each class. Mr IV. Pellow again presented the dux gold medal, and prizes were also received from Mrs IT. M. ■ Rathbone, Mrs Blake, and Mrs Kelly.

Athletics.—The school sports were held again during the year, and the function proved itself a picnic day for the children and parents alike. The gate returns, plus donations received from Rev. Father Bergin, Messrs T. Carson, T. Butler, J. Wallace, and E. Bradley, paid expenses. For the Bibby Challenge Cup Master A. Kittow and E. Swain tied —gaining an equal number of championship points. Their names were engraved on the cup and they received silver medals suitably engraved. The disability which the school labors under for want of a suitable cricket and football ground militates against the success of these branches of athletics in the school. When the Coronation Recreation Reserve is available for play it is expected that an increased interest will be taken in these manly and healthy pastimes. Thanks.—The thanks of all connected with the school are due to those who assisted in promoting the success of the school sports and the school hall, to the public for their generous support, and to the several donors of prizes ; also to the honorary secretary, Mr Holt, who has carried out the arduous duties with the greatest satisfaction to the committee.

Conveyance of Secondary Pupils.— Owing to the unsuitable train service, the Education Board was obliged to call tenders for the conveyance of pupils from Waipukurau to attend the High School at Waipawa. Mr J. Butler’s tender was accepted, and the thanks of the committee are due to the gentlemen who generously donated between them £25, to supplement the amount allowed by the Education Board for the purpose. As the committee are firmly convinced that a central school, such as the Waipawa District High School, well equipped and well staffed, means greater efficiency in education as well in economy in administration, they think it is time that persistent endeavors were made to obtain a suitable train service. They realise that any efforts at dismemberment of our secondary department, which has flourished so consistently, and so ably supplied the wants of secondary education for the Middle District, and the establishment in its stead of two small schools would be a retrogressive step and a detriment to education in the district. Besides, a suitable train service would supply a long felt want and benefit Die town and the surrounding district.