ST. BENEDICT’S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 17 August 1916, Page 37

ST. BENEDICT’S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, AUCKLAND

(From an occasional correspondent.) The annual meeting in connection with the schools of the parish was held on Sunday evening, July 30. Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., presided. There were also present Rev. Fathers Herring, S.M., Bleakley, and Dunphy,-- and a large number of the parishioners. The secretary (Mr. J. G. Foy) submitted the following report:— In reviewing the work of the past twelve months it is most gratifying to find that from ' every point of view the results are most creditable. This satisfactory state of affairs has been brought about by the parishioners realising their responsibilities, and showing practical sympathy in the work of free Catholic education by contributing to the penny plate at the church doors, which has been the main source of revenue. Since the last annual meeting, 12 monthly meetings and five special meetings of the committee have been held, the attendance of the members being satisfactory. Before dealing with the general management, it is a pleasure to record the fact that St. Benedict's Schools have been successful in again receiving from the Government Education Department a report that should convince you that your schools are as efficient as, if not superior to, any State school in the Dominion. This is entirely due to the efforts of the good Sisters, who, on your behalf, have spared no energy in maintaining such a high standard. The number of children on the roll at the St. Benedict's School is 422 (an increase of 22), and on the roll at the Good Shepherd, Mt. Roskill, 73 (an increase of 13), making a grand total of 495 (an increase of 35). The increased attendance at the Good Shepherd School, since the building was erected, was far beyond all expectations, and at the beginning of the year the committee was confronted with the problem of providing extra accommodation, according to the demands of the Government Education Department. However, the difficulty was overcome, thanks to the parishioners of the district who undertook to build an addition to the main building. An energetic committee was set up, and the work was completed some ten months ago. The wholehearted manner in which the work was taken up by the parishioners of the Mt. Roskill district is deserving of special mention, and the members of the committee feel grateful for the valuable service thus rendered by them to this worthy cause. In order to protect the health of the large number of children, the committee deemed it advisable to improve the sanitary conditions and, while much work has been done in this respect, work of a permanent nature is now well in hand, and will be completed before the hot weather makes its appearance. The arrangements entered into by the previous committee last year, whereby the buildings were thoroughly cleaned and ventilated each day before the teachers and children arrived, were continued by the present committee, and found to be successful. During the summer months the epidemic of infantile paralysis raged fiercely throughout the city, and caused much alarm to the parents of the children attending the schools. Your committee, realising the great danger the children were placed in, acted with promptitude in taking measures to prevent the disease from making its appearance in the schools of the parish. Special meetings were held at close intervals, and a sub-committee was appointed to make arrangements for fumigating the buildings, which' work was carried out . under the supervision of the Public Health Department. It was also deemed necessary to close theschools for a period of four weeks, which action, I feel sure, you will approve of, when you consider that, although several hundred cases of the disease were reported in the city, St. Benedict's Schools remained free from the epidemic. Another important work carried out was the tarring and sanding of the play-grounds at the St. Benedict's School. From the foregoing remarks you will see that the health of the children has been well cared for.

Coming to the financial position, it is also a pleasing duty to inform you that the revenue has again exceeded the liabilities. The financial statement discloses a very healthy state of affairs. At the same time it is necessary to remind you that the credit balance shown, while being correct in every detail, is at present greatly reduced by liabilities now due. In briefly explaining the position, you will notice that the financial year ended on 30th June. Owing to the committee meetings being held on the first Tuesday in each month, the Sisters' monthly salaries and sundry accounts for June—in all amounting to approximately .£3o—were not passed for payment until the present month, also the sanitary work, now in the course of completion, is estimated to cost £ls. Then, again, the committee, in order to guarantee the teachers' salaries, has adopted, by resolution, the sound policy of keeping in hand one month's salary in advance. . It will thus be observed that in reality the actual amount at the disposal of the incoming committee, after meeting the liabilities mentioned, will be close on £SO. Included in receipts is an item of £l9 16s for school fees; in order to set right any misunderstanding in regard to this item, it is well to inform you that the school fees are paid by non-Catholics, and on no account have fees been accepted from any Catholic child, thus keeping the schools free to all Catholic children. A concert was held in December to further augment the funds, and proved an undoubted success; the support received from the parishioners was ample proof of their sympathy in the good work and appreciation of the committee's efforts. In conclusion, you are urged not to relax your during the coming year. Much work has yet to be done, and the increased attendance will face you in the near future with the necessity of engaging more teachers. All this can be accomplished if all will do their duty in generously subscribing to the penny plate. The following statement of receipts and expenditure was submitted by the treasurer (Mr. A. Rose): Receipts.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G.', complimented the committee on the splendid work done during the past year, and also paid tribute to the spirit of self-

sacrifice of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the cause of Catholic education. Mr. G. Little seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year: —Messrs. G. Avey, F. Cullen, T. Creeden, P. Franchi, J. G. Foy, W. D. Kelly, O. Lorrigan, "P. McCabe, J. Pearson, M. Reardon, A. Rose, J. Shine. On the motion of Mr. F. Temm, seconded by Mr. T. Foley, a vote of thanks was accorded to the outgoing committee. A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman (Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan) terminated the meeting. On Tuesday, August 8, the first meeting of the newly-elected committee was held, when the officers were elected as follow:Chairman, Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G. ; vice-chairman, Mr. G. Avey; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. Rose; hon. secretary, Mr. J. G. Foy; visiting committee, Messrs. J. Shine, J. Pearson works committee O. Lorrigan, F. Cullen, M. Reardon.

£ s. d. £ s. d. Penny plates St. Benedict’s ... ... 304 3046 60 0 Good Shepherd 49 8 7 Avondale 20 8 8 374 3 3 Children’s school fees St. Benedict’s 16 7 0 Good Shepherd 3 9 0 19 16 0 Various—• ' Concert ... 21 4 9 Interest on bank deposit ... 2 0 3 Discounts allowed ... 0 5 1 23 10 1 Balance Auckland Savings Bank, July 1, 1915 69 16 10 £487 6 2 Expenditure. £ s. d. £ s. d. Teachers’ salaries and fares 335 0 0 School requisites 18 9 9 Cleaning 4 10 0 22 19 9 Improvements 22 10 10 Repairs 2 7 6 24 18 4 Discount charged (returned as \ contra) 0 1 8 Balance in Auckland Savings Bank,, June 30, 1916 104 6 5 £487 6 2