CATHOLIC EDUCATION BOARD, WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 12 August 1915, Page 31

CATHOLIC EDUCATION BOARD, WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Wellington Catholic Education Board took place at St. Patrick's Hall on last Wednesday evening. Mr. J. J. L. Burke (vicechairman), in the absence of his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, presided, and there were present the Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., and the Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., Messrs. Swan, Doherty, Hoskins, Giles, Stratford, McPhee, O'Brien, and Blake. The following are the annual report and balance sheet: The third annual balance sheet discloses a very satisfactory position. The fund increased from £2Bl 18s 9d to £1024 18s 4d within the twelve months, a gain of £742 19s 7d for the year, the principal items being the handsome donation of £SOO from Mrs. H. Sullivan and family, of Roxburgh street, £2O from Mr. Martin Kennedy, £147 from the St. Patrick's Day celebrations, £27 from the Boxing Day picnic, and £l5O from the combined school social of St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, Te Aro, and Thorndon. To show to what extent the work of the board for the cause of Catholic education in this city is being appreciated, the board refers to the handsome and thoughtful bequest of a generous benefactor in the person of the late Mr. W. E. Keefe, whose death occurred recently. By his will the board has been bequeathed a property valued at £I2OO, subject to a life interest in it *y his widow. The late Mr. Keefe was a regular subscriber to the fund d- .mg his lifetime: and the board desires to place on record its deep appreciation and gratitude for the handsome bequest made, and to extend to his widow its sincerest condolences in her sad bereavement. During the year the board has lent out on freehold security the sum of £SOO at G per cent., whilst another £SOO is now available and will be invested as soon as the trustees can find a suitable investment. The principal items of expenditure were as follow:—(1) Interest on the capital cost, of buildings which amounted to no less a sum than £327 ss, and in this connection it would greatly facilitate the objects of the board if each of the parish authorities could by any means reduce the debt on the school buildings in their respective parishes. This would reduce the interest, and in consequence lessen the expenditure of the board. (2) Deficiencies in school fees at the boys' schools: The expenditure under this head totalled £2lO 16s Bd. In this connection it would be of great assistance to the board if those parents who cannot afford to pay fees would offer an annual donation, however small, to the funds of the board. It is to be regretted that the committees have nor canvassed as provided for in the rules. All thai committees have done & to meet monthly, if as often as that, and pass accounts, but no effort appears to have been made to canvass for subscriptions, and indeed, when any function has been organised for the benefit of the board's funds members of committees have not displayed that keenness which should characterise a member of a Catholic education school committee. It is to be hoped, therefore, that members of the board and committees will shake off this apathy, and take an active part in any function organised for the fund in the future. During the year a working bee has effected many improvements at the Tasman Street School, and thereby saved the board considerable expense. Now that the Saturday afternoon is practically a universal -holiday, an opportunity may well be given those who, whilst they have the cause of Catholic education at heart, are, owing to their circumstances, unable to contribute financially, to give their time and labor, and thus effect many more improvements so sadly needed to the schools under the jurisdiction of the board, thereby benefiting the fund to the extent of their labor. , An application was made to the T. G. Macarthy trustees for a grant, but without success. Another application has, however, been made, and it is sincerely to be hoped that it will meet with better success than the first. Before concluding, the board wishes to extend a hearty welcome to our patron, his Grace Archbishop Redwood, on his safe return from

Europe, and also to extend our sincerest wishes for a pleasant holiday and safe return to our esteemed chairman, his.. Grace Coadjutor-Archbishop O'Shea, and trust that he will, when he returns, be.fully restored to health. The board would be extremely ungrateful were it to omit expressing its gratitude to the devoted Brothers and Sisters for their self-sacrifice and ability in conducting the schools under the jurisdiction of the board. The object of the board is to make the schools as comfortable as possible, and provide adequate remuneration for services so faithfully and ungrudgingly given. This the board hopes to' accomplish in j the future, and whether that will be in the near or distant future, depends, of course, on the support given to it by the Catholics of Wellington; but it is the earnest desire of the board that it be in the very near future. Balance Sheet for the Year Ended June 30, 1915. Receipts.

£ s. d. Balance carried forward from year, 1913-14 , 1913-14281 28118 18 9 9 T h or o n parish 212 16 4 Newtown parish ... * 94 ... 5 940 5 0 St. Joseph’s parish (including Mrs. H. Sullivan’s donation of £500) 727 5 3 St. Mary’s parish (including Mr. M. Kennedy’s donation of £20) 255 12 7 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations . celebrations .147 1470 00 0 Boxing Day picnic 27 12 6 Interest earned in Post Office Sav Post Office Savings Bank 10 7 0 t £1756 £175617 175 5 Expenditure. £ 3. d. £ s. d. Thorndon pariah 219 12 0 Newtown 99 5 7 St. Jose 345 19 4 St. Mary’s 64 10 2 Board expenses 2 12 0 Credit balance— Freehold security, 6 per cent. 350 0 0 Freehold security, 5J per cent. 150 0 0 Post Office Savings Bank, 3? per cent. 439 7 0 Current account, Bank of New Bank of New Zealand 4 14 1 In hands of treasurer... 80 17 • 3 1024 18 4 £1756 17 5