SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2176, 28 April 1908, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

annual elections. GISBORNE. Tho anuual meeting of householders to elect the committee of management for the Gisborne S_ehool was held last evening, about 50 persons being present, Air. J. Somervell was voted to the chair. . Tho report ns printed m the “Times” on Saturday last was read and adopted. Eleven gentlemen were proposed as members of tho committee, and the following having received the highest number of votes were declared elected : The Revs. W. Grant, L. D. Thomas, and Griffin, Messrs. J. Somorvoll, G. Dnrton, Spence, ltiacli, lawyer, and ‘Wildish. On the motion of the Rev. .I*. A\ • Chatterton, a vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Dell and Mr. l’oyriton for tho lecturo on Canada, recently delivered in tho Theatre. The Chairman proposed a voto of thanks to the head master (Mr. Rowlev) and tho teaching staff of the 6chbol.

The motion was carried by acclamation, and Mr. Rowley' briefly responded. Mr. Darton. said he thought it would bo a good thn.ig to form an old boys’ club in connection with the school, so aa to develop a friendly fraternal spirit among boys after they had gone to work. Tho Rev. Griffin said tho question was not one for a meeting of householders, but for tho old boys themselves.

The Chairman snid the committee would probably consider the suggestion, and tho meeting closed. Tho newly-elccted committee afterwards met, and elected Mr. J. Somervell chairman, Mr. File secretary, and Mr. Riach treasurer. Mootings were fixed for the first Friday in every month. KAITI. Tho annual meeting of householders of tho Kaiti district was hold hist ■night in the school. Mr. J. AV. (Bright presided, and thero was only a moderate attendance. Tho minutes of tlio last annual meeting were read and confirmed, Tho annual report was then read. Itmade brief reference to tho staff, and spoke of the school attendance as satisfactory. Tho average for tho past year was 123.25, and the present roll number is 159. The statement of accounts showed a balance in hand of £l4 12s 4d. A subsidy of £2O 3s has also to he collected from the Education Board. The school examinations were satisfactory, and the Inspector’s Teport said that tho school had made a good start, and results are promising. After considerable discussion tbe committee had allowed classes to bo set up for tbe purpose of Bible-reail-ing. The classes have been acceptably received, and fair attendances have been obtained. The committee wishes it to be clearly understood that attendance at these classes is entirely voluntary. The school concert on May 24th was entirely satisfactory, £2O 3s being netted. The concert in December also attained a fair measure of success. On Arbor Day the children assisted in planting a variety of native trees and plants in the school grounds. , Four prizes, donated by Mr. Frank Harris, for the sixtli standard children, wore won by Emma Bell and E. Hansen, on the Inspector’s marks, and by A. Hawley and. Mabel Baty, on the headmaster’s marks. 'During the year a flagpole was erected, and a flag was forwarded by the Education Board. The report and balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. C. A. do Lautonr. Tho election of a committee for the ensuing year was then proceeded with. The name of Mr. J. AV. Bright was the first name proposed, but he bogged to be excused, as his time Would be fully occupied in connection with the meetings of the Hospital Trustees. Tho following were elected to the committee:—Messrs. Jas. Hav, T. Brosnahan, J. Fyson, K. Humphreys, It. Rowan, J. Morris, and F. Moore. Mr J. TV. Bright, the retiring chairman, moved a vote of thanks to the teaching staff, and referred to-the serious disadvantages under which they had labored during the past year. The motion was carried with acclamation.

■Mr. C. A. De -Lautour proposed a hearty vote of thanksr to the outgoing committee, and considered that -a special minute should be recorded of the valuablo services rendered to the district by the retiring chairman. Air. Bull (head master) seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. - Air. Bright briefly returned thanks, stating that it had- always -been his aim to do his best for the school. He referred to tho endeavors to curtail the powers of the school committees, which he considered was deleterious to educational matters. Air. Bright also spoke of the tendency that existed to concentrate matters in AVellington and other centres. His resignation from the position of chairman was partly as a protest against outride interference, and he considered ;hat what is at present taking place as not in the best interests of education in the district. A short meeting of the now comvnittee was held at the conclusion of

tho general meeting, and Air. J. Fy:jon was elected chairman.

MANGAPAPA. The annual meeting of householders it as held in the schoolhouse last evening, when fifteen householders were present, including fivo ladies. Mr. W. H. Smith took the chair. The chairman read the annual report and balance-sheet, which appeared in yesterday morning’s '‘Times,” and they were unanimously adopted. Mr. McLeod stated that there was ono important matter connected with the year’s work which the committee had omitted to refer to in their report. He alluded to the Bible lesson which had been held every Friday morning throughout the' year from 0 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. When the scheme had first been started, there were many who had prophesied that it would only last a month, but lie was pleased to be able to inform them that not ono single half-hour had been mifssed throughout the year. The attendance at the Bible lesson at tlio Mangapapa school was higher than at any of the three schools at winch the scheme was being conducted. At a later stage, Mr. McLeod moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that every encouragement be given to those conducting the Bible lesson. _1 he motion was seconded by Mr. McGlisltie, and carried amidst applause. ■ Tlio plpctipn <?f. a committee was then proceeded with, arul th(* toUpYfin<r gentlemen were appointed: dVloftsrs At.. McLeod; E. Grundy, E. S. Goldsmith, A. Goad, T. Ellery, G. Brown, and W. H. Smith. Messrs McCliskie and Henson and Mrs. Hingston were proposed, but declined nomination. . , \ , ~ Mr. Smith inquired as to when tlio additions to the school were likely to bo pub in band. . , ' , Mr MpGeflA explained that the Board had called tenders, for a room which was to be erected in the girls playground. Neither the headmaster or the chairman of the committee had been consulted in any way as to the design or the most convenient site for the additions. The reason tor tilt? delay was that the lowest tender was £lO above the amount authorised foi the additions, and the Loard had written to tlio Department lor authority to accept Hie tender at the increased amount, but up to the piesent had received no reply. Mr. AleLeod was of opinion that the leasou that the crying need lor additions to the Mangapapa school had not been acceded to long ago was simply because they had no ardent supporter of the so-called ‘‘Great Liberal Paity o:i tlie committee. , Ho instanced tlio case of a conmntee at Dunedin, which vainly tried for a long time to secure, iimeli-ncedcd additions. ... representations were unheeded until a prominent Government mipportei took up tlio matter. Vitlnu A hours the InsDector-Gonerai Jiau arrived in Duneilin, the money was voted: right away, and the work pwt-m hand at onco. The Minister .for Education, the Hon. George Towlds, when he visited the Mangapapa &chp«},‘ Jw# givjfj} tJ>o numbers of tfio

committeo no clianco to liavo a straight talk with him. 110 kept on the move the wliolo time. Tho Minister spoke, tho little lie did say, in a very snappy manlier, and seomod very much annoyed with the temporary additions the committeo had erected in tho playground. Tho Minister had told Air. Cole, tho headmaster, that it was his duty to turn away the extra children ami send them to tho District High School. Tho committee, however, held it was the duty of the Department to provido accommodation for the children in tho Mangapapa school district. Mr. Grundy referred to the hearty support rendered tho committee throughout the whole fight by tho local press, and moved that a voto of thunks to them bo accorded. Hus was seconded by Mr. McLeod, and carried. ~ Air. McLeod paid a high tribute to the touching staff, and a vote ot thanks was carriod by acclamation. Mr. Cole, on bobalf of tho stuff, briefly responded. Considerable discussion took place on the subject of technical education. Some of tho speakers asserted that thorc had been a good deal of adverso comment on tho manner in which technical education was being imparted in Gisborne, and tho headmaster was asked ns to whetlior ho considered technical education was ot real value or not. , Air Colo oxplniuod that tho whole troud of oducntional opinion was in favor of technical instruction, and ho was convinced that if properly imparted It was of inestimable value. Tho parents were tho best judges as to whether tho children wore receiving sound instruction at tho technical school. If they wore not, it was not tho fault of tho system, but of tho teachers.

A voto of thanks to tho chairman terminated the proceedings. ORAIOND. Tho annual meeting of householders was held in the school last evening. Eleven householders were present and Air. J. E. Benson took tho chair. The committee’s' report was presented and was considered very satisfactory. Tlio balance-sheet showed a balance in hand of £1 10s. The election of a committee for the ensuing year resulted in the election of the Roy. E. TV. Walker, Afessrs Neil 'AlcAlillan, Thos, AlcKay, J. E. Benson. Chas. Gordon; Alex. Parsons, 0. H. Penal ally.

Other minor business was transacted, and the meeting terminated.