OREPUKI.

Western Star, Issue 282, 1 February 1879, Page 5

OREPUKI.

. ’ January 28th, 1879. The annual meeting for the election of a School Committee was, held at the Schoolhouse, last evening. The attendance was small; the general feeling of the public being that of satisfaction with the committee, of the past year, and the expressed desire that.the same .committee be re-elected accounts, I suppose, for the thin assembly. Mr Alfred J. Jolly 1 having been called to the chair, the Secretary (Mr James Kirkton) proceeded to read the report of the' year’s proceedings; no question being raised on the report,'the. meeting unanimously 'elected' the old Committee with three] exceptions, Mr Kirkton’ (resigned) Mr Popham (absent) and Mr Dyke who hat just left the district. Messrs Thomas Escott, Geo, Stevenson, and Thomas Devonshire were unanimiously elected to supply the vacancies] The Chairman then read the order by. the Education Board, appointing the first meeting of the newly elected Committee for Friday, January 31st inst., at half-past seven. A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman, Secretary, and members of the late Committee, and the proceedings terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Report of the Orepuki School Committee for the year ending January 27th, 1879. ; Beiore handing over their trust your Cornmittee beg to submit to the public a statement of their proceedings during their term of office. On entering upon their duties they received from the last treasurer, Mr Jolly, the sum of £2 5s in cash, a balance ef 3s 6d in bank, books in t charge of Mr Sercombe 8s 61, together with the ' balance of an unpaid account to (he amount of £7 owing to Mr Howells for materials supplied ' for chimneys. During their term, of office your Committee has received from the Education Board the sum of £lO 16s 8d for incidental expenses, that Bum to meet the cost of cleaning school buildings and expenses, providing fuel for school room, insuring school buildings and residence, making all necessary repairs to school buildings and premises, furniture and fences, improving the furniture appliances and grounds of the School, and for defraying the expenses incurred in connection with the Committee’s meetings and Correspondence.

I During the past year your Committee has [raised tiie sum of £9 5s 6.1, being the proceeds of a ball, school rents and entertainment, which with the sum received from the last treasurer added makes a sum total from all sources of £22 7s 2d ; out of that sum £2 14s was spent on music and lights for ball, &c., and Mr Slercomhe was paid £1 9s for pens,' ink, pencils, &c., and 18s paid for advertising, leaving a balance in hand of £l7 6s 2d to meet the cost of items already mentioned. Of that sum £slßs was spent on firewood for school, pulling down chimneys, repairing teacher’s residence, statiopary, and ; stamps. ' .. I i With the balance your Committee expended ; £9 16s in painting the roof and Walls of the Schoolbouse once over. Your Committee has cask in hand to the amount of 10s 4d, in bank £1 4s 2d, the balauee sof H. Howell’s account being still unpaid. Owing to bad materials and workmanship your Committee were under the necessity in July last of pulling down the school chimney for fear of accident, at the same time information waft,sent to the Education Board of what Wus being done, and requested them to grant the sum of £lB for rebuilding ; taking into consideration the season of the year and the nature of the request, we expected a definite answer, but in that we wore disappointed. In reply we were informed it would be allowed us in due course.

During the latter part of September the School was partially closed owing to the inclement state of the weather, the School being without the necessary aicommodation of a fire. In October the Board were again applied to for funds for rebuilding chimney;,in reply wo were informed that the Board had agreed to grant the sum of £lO if the Committee would provide the balance. Under the circumstances the opening of the chimney in the Schoolhouso was boarded up and still remains sc. Seeing that we contribute our share to the public revenue, and that the Salary of the School Inspector is paid out of the same, we consider that we are as justly entitled to any benefit* which may accrue from his services as the centres of population, such as Invercargill, Eiverton and other favoured places. Twice during the past six months your Committee has written to the Education Beard requesting them to send the Inspector to this district.

The reply in both cases has been that the request would receive attention. In the month of November last Mr Sercombe tendered his resignation as teacher of this School which your Committee accepted. The reason he assigned being that ho waited a change of climate, and a better salary than that received under the Southland Education Board.

So long as the present system is carried on of paying teacher’s salaries and granting money to Committees on the average attendance of scholars, this district at least need look for else than the poverty stricken sums already received. It is scarcely to be expected that during the winter season young children can attend school in all weathers in order that the teacher’s salary may be kept up to the proper standard ; the system we hold to be a piece of gross injustice to districts such as this, where in the winter season no passable road exists. In November last year your Committee advertised for and received six applications for the post of teacher for this school. The choice fell on Mr Anderson, Miller’s Flat, who has been appointed by the Education Board, and' is likely to enter on his duties on 3rd February. In conclusion your Committee would urge upon tbeir successors the necessity of again applying to the Education Board in order that the school Inspector may visit this district, not for the purpose of ascertaining the qualifications of the teacher or the progress of Ins pupils ; that would appear to bo a luxury outdoing districts are not entitled to. Two teachers in succession after living for years, have both left without either their merits or demerits being made known to the public through the report of an Inspector. The purpose for which the Inspector is required at present is to ascertain whether there is proper accommodation for girls in the sewing class, and to report on the state of the School buildings and furniture. Jons - L. Corbie, Chairman. James Eatfa'ox, Secretary.