The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 42
Branch Associations
Branch Associations.
Annual Report of the Southland Branch.
In presenting this, the Third Annual Report of the Southland Branch of the Educational Institute of Otago, I propose to give an abstract of its proceedings for the year 1879-80.
Office-Bearers.—At the Annual Meeting the Office-bearers of the previous year were reelected—Mr. Macgregor, President; and Mr. Orr, Secretary and Treasurer.
Meetings.—Eight Meetings were held during the year; five of these were regular, two were adjourned meetings, and one was special. The average attendance at these meetings was nine. An increased interest has been manifested in the work of the Association, while there has been an increase in its membership.
Papers.—No papers were read before the Association during the year. The remark I made in my report of last year appears again this year, namely—that the press of other business matters more than occupied the full time of the meetings. Of the matters dealt with, the following are some of the chief:—Discussion of subjects submitted by other branches, and by the Institute; the varied systems of Public School examination adopted throughout the Colony; the relation of School Inspectors to the General Department and to the Education Boards; the enforcement of the compulsory clauses of the Education Act; the "Standards" and "Passes" in them; the delivery of Science Lectures to the Teachers of Southland, by Professor Black, of Dunedin University, and G. M. Thomson, Esq. of Dunedin High School. The lectures of the former were on Chemistry; those of the latter, on Botany. I am most happy to say that these lectures were well attended, and enthusiastically received. At the conclusion of the courses, an examination was held, a pass in which will entitle the holder to a permanent certificate.
Finance.—The finances of this Branch of the Institute are in a satisfactory condition. The total receipts amount to £9 12s. 2d., of which the sum of £7 8s. 8d. is credited to members' subscriptions alone. The expenditure, which does not include the lectures on Science, which were met by special provision, amounts to an equal sum. The lectures on Science cost the Branch £37 7s. 6d. The whole amount is, however, covered by the receipts specially provided.
The hope expressed in the last Annual Report regarding the prosperity of the Branch has been realized in an encouraging degree; let me add another hope for still greater prosperity during the year 1880-81.
James Orr, Sec.
Annual Report of the Tuapeka Branch.
In presenting the Third Annual Report of the Tuapeka Branch of the Educational Institute of Otago, I may state that the Branch continues in its former satisfactory condition.
The number of members enrolled was eleven, which shows an increase of two since last year.
At the Annual Meeting, (held in April), the following gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the year:—President, Mr. Johnston; Representative on the General Committee of Management, Mr. Neill; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Pope. In consequence of the six months' course of lectures delivered in Dunedin by Professors Black, Hutton, and Scott, only six meetings were held, and three papers read, as follows (1) "Bible in Schools," Mr. Johnston; (2) "Education," Mr. Neill; (3) "The use of Rewards and Punishments," Mr. Pope.
A scheme for granting annuities to teachers was brought forward by Mr. Stenhouse, and it was the unanimous expression of the meeting that this subject should receive the careful and earnest consideration of the Conference.
Langley Pope, Sec.
Annual Report of the Balclutha Branch.
I bag to submit the Third Annual Report of the Balclutha Branch of the Educational Institute of Otago.
The Office-bearers for the past year have been—Mr. John Porteous, President; Mr. George Steven, Representative on the General Committee of Management; Mr. Alexauder Grigor, Librarian; and Mr. James M'Neur, Secretary and Treasurer. The number of members on the roll is sixteen; three have removed to other districts, but their places have been filled by new members.
We have only had five meetings during the year, but these have been well attended; fourteen members being present at the last one.
The Branch did not meet from May till October, as most of the members were engaged in attendance on the Science Lectures in Dunedin.
The papers read were, an address by the President on "The reading of the Bible in Schools, and the moral influence of the Teacher," "The Latin Literature of the Augustine Age," by Mr. Malcolm; and "The Report of the Commission on Higher Education," by Mr. Waddell. The ordinary business of the Branch included, resolutions in favour of "The reading of the Bible in Schools," and "The diversion of the Synod's funds to the founding of Scholarships or Lectureships, in connection with the University of Otago;" and an expression of regret at a resolution of the Education Board regarding leave of absence to Teachers during sickness.
A few weeks ago Mr. Malcolm was appointed Rector of the Christchurch Normal School, and this Branch gave a complimentary dinner to that gentleman on the occasion of his leaving the district. Our invitation was heartily responded to by members of the several Branch Associations, and representatives from a number of the District? School Committees; all united warmly in the expression of appreciation of the valuable and earnest services of Mr. Malcolm in the cause of Education.
James M'neur, Sec.
Annual Report of the Waitaki Branch, 1879-80.
The Waitaki Branch of the Educational Institute of Otago was constituted for the year at its meeting in the month of March. The following Office-bearers were then elected:—President, Mr. M'Lymont. Kakanui; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. R. Peattie. Oamaru; Librarian. Mr. W. Fidler, Oamaru; Representative to the General Committee of Management, Mr. Alexander Stewart, Union Street School, Dunedin. Mr. Peattie was requested to read a paper at the Easter Conference 1880.
The membership, so far as regards teachers has been fluctuating, on account of the many changes that have taken place in the district, during the year. The non-professional members entered during the year have been fourteen.
There is nothing to report with respect to the Library. Although there has been nearly an entire absence of prepared papers, the meetings of the Branch have not been without good results. At the April meeting the "Teaching of Science" was discussed, and resolutions passed similar to those afterwards arrived at by the Committee of the Institute, ( vide Report, 1879, p. 73). In May the Annual Report of the Education Board was considered. The meeting expressed gratification at Mr. Petrie's Report, and acquiesced in his proposed reforms. It was also resolved to call attention to the fact that the district had no Drawing Master, while the Dunedin district was well supplied. A Drawing Master now visits the District High School fortnightly. It is hoped that his services may be extended. At the October meeting, a compendium of History for Standard III. was read by Mr. Peattie, and met with approbation. At the same meeting it was resolved to remit to the General Committee of Management as a subject for consideration at the Annual Conference, or before, if necessary, the propriety of trying to secure for the University, and for the Educational Institute, representatives to Parliament in the event of a new Electoral Bill being brought before the House of Representatives. At several meetings knotty grammatical points were discussed. Some meetings lapsed through stress of weather.
Robert Peattie, Sec.
Report of the Dunedin Branch.
Members.—There are 47 professional, and 26 non-professional members on the roll. Office-bearers;—President, Mr. George Reid; Treasurer, Mr. J. B. Park; Secretary, Mr. W. J. Moore.
Meetings.—Ten meetings have been held, the average attendance for the year being 12. At the beginning of the year it was resolved to revert to the old system of balloting for members who should prepare papers to be read by them. March: A committee was appointed to consider the report on the question of payment to teachers by average attendance. April: An able paper by Mr. Malcolm, of Milton, entitled, "The Latin Language of the Augustine Period;" June: "Bible Teaching in Schools," by Mr. A. Kyle; November: "The Teaching of Grammar," by Mr. Gardner; December: "How to make Grammatical Teaching practically useful," by Mr. A. Montgomery.
In consequence of the series of Science Lectures delivered to Teachers by Professors of the University, there has not been much actual work done in connection with the Branch during the year. In conclusion, your Committee hare much pleasure in recording their appreciation of the kindness of Professors Black, Hutton, and Scott, for the series of Lectures delivered by them to the Teachers, and sincerely hope the Committee of Management will specially thank those gentlemen, on behalf of the Teachers of Otago and Southland.
W. J. Moore, Sec.
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