WESTPORT EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 345, 8 September 1868, Page 2

WESTPORT EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of the committee was held last evening at the Court House, when there were present Messrs Tyler, (Chairman), Munro Harris, and Beid, (hon. sec.) The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The secretary stated that he had communicated with Mr Luckie,aud Mr Hodgson, Inspector of schools, on business connected with the school.

An application to the Central Board for £SO for tanks, fencing, &c., was granted on condition of the money not being applied for till the 3rd of November.

From the statement of the secretary it appeared that the Committee were in debt to the extent of £SO, and some discussion took place as to the propriety of applying to the Central Board for £SO in addition to the amount previously referred to, as this had been incurred for expenses that the Board were fairly liable to. It was ultimately resolved that an application be sent in for this sum. The secretary reported that 133 householders had paid the £1 rate, but it appeared that there were others who had not, who were able to pay. Mr Franklyn reported that there were about thirty more who could pay, but there were many who could not pay. It appeared that the collector could not enforce payment without reference to the Superintendent, and Mr Franklyn had written for advice on the subject. The above sum was exclusive of the five shillings per head on children. Mr Munro, on behalf of the visiting committee, said that they hadconsidered the advisability of getting a school bell, but as they found that it would coat from £l2 to £ls, they thought it would be better to let it alone for the present. With reference to the protection of the school against the en-

croachments of the sea, they thought that at present there was no cause for alarm, and did not advise any steps to be taken. Mr Somner had been requested to put up the blinds required in the school. He held in his hands the master's report from the 6th of July to the 28th of August, as follows :—•

There had been altogether at the school, GO boys and 54 girls, making a total of 114 children. The school days during the quarter were 3S£. The attendances of boys had been 1516, of girls, 944, making a total of 2460. The daily average was 63 69-77ths. Of the 60 boys 32 belonged to the first division, and the remainder were at present taught by Mrs Phillips. Of the girls, 23 bolonged to the first division, and 31 to the second. He (Mr Phillips) therefore, had 53 children under his tuition, and 59 under that of Mrs Phillips. Those figures represented the attendance for the last two months only, as dated in the heading. The attendance during the last six days had been larger, and there was a still further increased intended, as he was told by the children. He knew of four more coming, and on that day, August 28th, he had entered one new name, so that his rough estimate of the average number given to Mr Eeid was likely or sure, to be below the truth at the quarter's end. Tho attendance for that day was 78 : the average for the previous six days, 73.

The members present after the reading of the report, were unanimously of opinion that it was impossible for Mr Phillips to properly attend to so many children, and on the motion of MiHarris it was resolved that the secretary should write to the Central Board and represent the circumstances with a request that Mrs Phillips should be appointed as assistant. It was also suggested that Mr Luckie the member representing this district in the Central Board should be written to, and asked to support the request. Mrßaird's account for goods supplied to the school was passed and ordered to be paid, when the Committee h?.d funds at their disposal. A visiting committee consisting of Messrs Harris, Beid, and Munro, were appointed for the next month, and it was arrangod that as soon as the secretary got a reply to the application for further pecuniary assistance from the Central Board, he should call a special meeting on the subject. This was all the business, and the Committee then adjourned.