SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18162, 26 April 1921, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS. LARGE MEETING OF HOUSEHOLDERS. Householders ol ihe Borough met at the Tecuulcal College lasi night, when committees to look alter the Borough schools were erected. Under new regulations two committees instead ot one, will supervise the work of the Town Schools. The at- i tendance was large, and the accommodation was taxed considerably. Mr Geo. Spriggens presided. A brief silence was observed as an Anzac Day tribute to those who fell in the Great War of 1914-11118. ; It was pointed out that for schools i on the dinerent sides of the Avenue different committees would be eiected. Parents with immiren at both schools were euunvd to vote ter both committees, but as the elections would be held in different rooms it was hard to overcome the ditiiculty. REPORTS. The chairman of the retiring com- ; tnittee (Mr W. Bruce?, submitted his i report of the year’s work: 1920 was an eventful year in con- I section with the schools. The memorable visit of H.R.H. the Pr.nce of ■ Wales had been eagerly looked for- ! ward to and carefully prepared for, ; and school children from a wide ■ radius assembled on Cook’s Gardens ; on 4th May to give a fitting welcome to our future King. Major-General Birdwood also vis- 1 Ited Wanganui and a united function in front of the Art Gallery and Drill Hall was held, the school cadets lining the approach. Later in the year—26th November —the town received an official visit | from His Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Admiral ot the Fleet—Vis- j count Jellicoe. On this occasion the ' Avenue School was honoured with a special visit, the headmaster having had the good fortune to have obtained a white ensign from H.M.S. New Zealand when Lord Jellicoe was in command. This ensign, ty the way,

was flown on the battleshio New Zealand at the battle of Jutland. With the close of the year Mr James Aitken. 8.A.. finished up his work as National School Teacher — 50 years service—29 of which was controlling the old D H.S. now known as the Victoria Avenue School —truly a long and honoured career. At the breaking-up function the opportunity was availed of to present Mr Aitken with suitable tokens of the high esteem, gratitude and continued good wishes of scholars, parents, and friends. Mr H. H. Richardson, who was formerly on the staff of our respective schools, was appointed to the vacancy and took charge from the commencement of the present year.

Both the Honours Rolls of V.A.S. | and Queen’s Park Schools were j unveiled by the Minister of Educa- i tion. He expressed his surprise at ■ the large number of names on the I Victoria Avenue School roll, which contained 86 names of old pupils! who have made the great sacrifice I Twelve more names have since come ■ in and will be added. Owing to the , large number of names the cost ran ■ up to £110; this was more than was anticipated. “There Is still a balance to be provided for by the new committee. We ' feel sure that any appeal made for ; this worthy object will be readily re- | sponded to. The new school holding at Queen’s Park was opened by the Hon. Mr, Parr, Minister ot Education on the Ist of February. The staff and scholars and parents are to be congratulated upon the success of their efforts in raising funds for beautifying the school with pictures and other requis tes and library books; also for general improvement of the grounds. The total cost of the new building and outbuildings amounted to £lO,lOO. Much still remains to be done to the grounds. The muchdiscussed and disputed playing acre has now been secured for the school, wiser counsels having at last prevailed. It is to be sincerely hoped that wisdom will also prevail in leading our civic fathers to reconsider their hasty decision to build on the space opposite the Drill Hall. Keith Street School.—During the year additional play ground space, about one-eighth of an acre on the corner of Niblet and Liverpool Street was authorised by the Education Department and purchased for £250. The fence is now being or about to be erected by the Education Board. The surface ot the new area is a bit rough and needs levelling oft. Could the parents and friends of that locality interested in the school not arrange for a working bee for this purpose? One ot the everts of Importance affecting the welfare of our schools was the unexpected and unasked for Interference of the Education Board in dividing up the school district without consulting members or parents—the parties naturally the most directly interested in their children and their school facilities We suggested that if a change should be <ietermined upon the better plan would ba to make Plymouth Street the d - viding line. This will probably be done during the ensuing year.

AIJ the nine members of the committee reside on the northern side of the Aven’i~ and five of them— Messrs Haase. Simpson, Hanton. Bassett, and Elliott—could not be induced to re-offer their services. Mr

Haase has 17 years’ record, Mr Bassett 10, and Mr Simpson 7 years. Messrs Grace, Hawtree and Mrs McKenzie and W. Druce have agreed to be nom.nated tor the ensuing year. Tlie work n each of our five schools has been faithfully and efficiently carried on throughout the year; after the disabilities experienced by the staff and scholars of the Queen s Park School for the last four years the bright and cheering conditions of the new .school building will be fully appreciated. The school committee’s balancesheet showed a credit balance of £ll 5/4. The financial statement of the baths comm.tree showed a useful balance of £24 1/9.

The cha.rman of the baths committee reported on the work during 1920-21. Tlie committee had been unsuccessful in obtaining the services of a suitable married couple, but Mr P. Roberts, as caretaker, had been most suitable in every way. Three carnivals had been held during the year, one arranged by the Central Swimming Club, one by the Wanganui Swimming Centre, and another by the committee itself. These carnivals had been most successful. The bath premises were now clean and in good repair, and the finances were in a thoroughly healthy condition. GENERAL BUSINESS. Messrs Simpson and Bassett, both of whom declined re-nomination for the committee, spoke strongly against the action of the Board in dividing the town into two school districts, w.thout first submitting the question to the householders, who were directly concerned. Messrs Hanton, Elliott, and Haase also declined re-nomination.

In answer to a questioner, Mr Bruce stated that the swimming among the schools had been maintained up to the best ot standards. He congratulated the Gonville School on their swimming successes of recent years. Mrs Siddells and Mr Pargeter spoke congratulating the retiring committee on the success of its efforts.

Mr F. W. Ansley proposed a motion regretting the decision of the Board to divide the Borough into two districts, and at the same time placing on record the meeting’s appreciation of the fine work of the committee. Mr J. .W. Crampton seconded, and the motion was carried with enthusiasm. ELECTION OF COMMITTEES. In answer to questions it was stated that people living in one district with children at a school in another district, could have two votes. Opportunity for those people to vote lor both committees was afforded. The following were elected to the committee lor the South Ward (seaward side of the Avenue) governing Victoria Avenue and Central Infants’ Schools: —Mrs Siddells, F. C. Atkinson, T. B. Bond, A. T. Cavell, F. L. Derbyshire, N. G. Noble, H. S. Smith. P. Thompson, W. A. Grace. At a meeting of the committee later Mr Grace was elected chairman, j and Mr Bell secretary. ; The following committee was elect|ed for North Ward (Wicksteed I Street side of .tvenuej governing Queen’s Park and Keith Street I Schools: Mesdames J. Grant and W. ; McKenzie, and Messrs W. Bruce. J. i W. Crampton, G. Fear, D. W, GilI bertson, A. E. Longstaff, H. Slater, W. Wandsworth. Mr J. W. Crampl ton was elected chairman. The election of a secretary was deferred.

SUBURBAN AND COUNTRY SCHOOLS. The results of elections for suburban and country schools are given below: — ARAMOHO. Messrs A. Halligan (chairman), C. Wadman (secretary), G. Harris, A. Pepper, Rua Collins, W. Benefield, F. Ph.llips, A. Ross, and Campbell. GONVILLE. Mesdames Cornyns, Goodey, Messrs F. Chainey, H. J. Everett, W. Gordon, G. Rainey, C. J. Sharpe, H. Thayer. A. E. Wellard. Mr Sharpe was elected chairman and Mr Wellard secretary. WANGANUI EAST. Messrs E. V. Laws (chairman), W. W. Hedges (secretary), T. Anderson, R. B. Horsley, E. W. F. Gohns, D. R. Leggatt, H. Rebson, S. Rowntree, W. R. Storey. The last three named are new memberr. DURIE HILL. Messrs G. White (chairman), Johnston (secretary), King, Hedditch, and Minnell. MOSSTOWN. ...re was an attendance of 30 1........ holders at the annual meeting of the Mosstown School Committee last evening. The chairman read the annual report, which showed that ■ the school had had a satisfactory I year. A hearty vote of thanks was I passed to the outgoing committee. , The election of a committee for the I ensuing year resulted in the following being returned:—J. Keir, F. Laing, H. Roots, A. Parkes, J. Paulger. G. Karton, and R. Sm.th. At a subsequent meeting of the committee. Mr Karton was elected chairman and Mr Smith secretary. CASTLECLIFF. Messrs A. E. Brown (chairman), S. A. Jarrett (secretary), Robert Pedley, Henry Adams, Henry Mutimer, J. C. Jones, Sydney Simpson, Winter Travers, James Eeles. KAITOKE. About a dozen householders attended the annual meeting last night, when the election of a school committee for the ensuing year resulted: E. R. Ruebe (chairman), J. L. Craig (secretary), F. G. Fowler, C. H. Cranfield, and D. Mackintosh. WESTMERE Messrs R. Symes (chairman), R. Laird (secretary), W. Summers, G. Fedley, J. Waters.

RAPANUI. Messrs G. R. H. Handley (chairman and secretary), J. C. Williams, G G. Russell, J. E. McKie, H. W. Peters.' TURAKINA. Rev. J. Wilson (chairman), Mr R. J. Glasgow (secretary), Mrs Franklin, Messrs A. Goodall, and F. Wischnowsky. FORDELL. Messrs S. Robinson (cha’rman), W. Kearney, A. E. Flyger, H. Crafar, and T. Barker. WANGAEHU. The following committee was elected at the annual meeting of householders last night:—Messrs J. H. Pedersen (chairman), F. W. Dykes (secretary), J. Keane, C. Savage, and P. H. Dwight. RATA,. Messrs P. Nesbet (Chairman), V. Aulin (secretary), G. Harvey, T. Sanson, C. Taylor.