SCHOOL MEETINGS.

Western Star, Issue 282, 1 February 1879, Page 6

SCHOOL MEETINGS.

-" —— A meeting of the Eiverton School Committee was held on Monday evening. Present—Mr James Eeid (President, in the chair), Daniel, Murchie, Simpson, and Eev. T. E. Ash. The business was to approve of the balance-sheet and report before submitting them at the annual meeting of householders; also, the nomination of two candidates for the Education Board. The report and and balance-sheet were approved of. Messrs Lumsden and Perkins were nominated as members of the Education Board. This concluded the business. ANNUAL MEETING-. The statutory annual meeting of householders in the Eiverton School district was held on Monday evening. There were between forty and fifty people present. Mr James Eeid was voted to the chair. The Chairman called upon Mr Webber to read the annual report and balancesheet, as follows : —• Your Committee beg to congratulate you on the prosperous state of the school. The average attendance at the commencement of last year was 130 ; the attendance since the school re-opened this year has been 180, a result that must be satisfactory to all concerned. At. the end of last year Miss Smith resigned her position as schoolmistress. The Committee received her resignation with regret, as she had proved herself to be an energetic and painstaking teacher. The Committee has been fortunate in securing the services of Mrs Doar as schoolmistress, a lady of great experience in teaching, arid we have no doubt but that the infant department under her care will be efficiently taught. As soon as the attendance reached the number entitling us to an assistant-teaeher, we applied to the Education Board for authority to appoint one. With the assistance of Mr Q-oyen, Inspector of Schools, Mr Mahoney of Victoria was appointed. That gentleman has commenced his duties, and has already shown that he is a firstclass teacher.

Miss Alice Smith has also been appointed pupil teacher, and gives promise of being a useful and conscientious teacher. The Committee urged their claims on the Education Board for a new school, and we are glad to be able to report that we have succeeded. Tenders are now invited for school buildings to accommodate 300 pupils. It will bo a great improvement on the present arrangement, the comfort of pupils and teachers will he vastly improved, and the teachers will be able to conduce their classes much more efficiently and systematically than at present. Mr Tuson was transferred to Wyndham. Since his removal the Education Board have declined to keep the South Riverton School open ; a majority of the Committee were of the same opinion. The wisdom of so doing must bo apparent to every unprejudiced person who has any knowledge of the working of a school. From the balance-sheet you will see there is a liability to meet. The Committee will also require to raise a considerable amount towards the sew school, but they hope that parents and the general public will contribute handsomely to this end when they are called upon to do so. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance in bank of £l6 13s 2d. The liabilities amounted to £29 6s 3d. It was expected that £lO 4s 9d of that amount, which had been incurred in advertising for master and mistress, would bo paid by the Edudu ation Board. The assets were £l6 13a 2d ; thus leaving a debib balance of £2 8s 4d,

Mr Daniel objected to the passage in the report that a majority of the Committee were in favour of shutting up South Eiverton School. He for one opposed such a course. The Chairman said the report merely stated that a majority of the Committee were against closing South Eiverton School. Mr Daniel was in the minority. Mr J. E. Mills moved the adoption ©f the report and balance-sheet. He thought parents should feel satisfied with the action of the Committee during the past year. He moved a vote of thanks to the Committee.

Mr Horr seconded the motion. He endorsed Mr Mills’ remarks, and was proud of the way the Committee had worked for the school. He hoped Mr Daniel would still continue to be in the minority in his action with regard to South liiverton School. Mr Beer: Perhaps Mr Horr has no children who attend school. Mr Horr: I had to travel three miles to get my education. The motion was carried unanimously. The election of Committee was then proceeded with. After ballot bad been taken, the following were declared elected: —Messrs Tall, Daniel, James Eeid, Gr. 0. Cassels, Beer, Eobinson, and Mills. Messrs Tall and Dauiel returned thanks for being elected. Mr Eeid felt honored at being elected for the fifth time. He took a great interest in the work of the school. The duties had been more than usually heavy last year, and next year there would be a good deal to do in connection with the the new school, which he hoped would be ready for occupation in six months. The Chairman then intimated that the first meeting of the new Committee would be held on Friday (last evening), after which the meeting separated.