A CADET OFFICER'S RESIGNATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 125, 22 November 1907, Page 8

A CADET OFFICER'S RESIGNATION.

« Yesterday the Wellington Education Board further considered 'Iho case of Captain Erskine. At its previous meeting tho board decided to forward a letter to Captain Eiskine, pointing ont that ifc v.as his duty to continue his olliei 1 as commander of tho Terrace i Sciiool Cadets. Tho letter sent and I Cnptain Erskine's reply were read. The latter stated he did' not tender his resignation without giving the matter the fullest consideration. "There is,"' he added, "uo cadet regulation which requires the fii-.it assistant to undertake the duties of the ollircr commanding the school cad'els, and I rc&pcctfully i submit that no argument has been adduced which would convince anyone that the acceptance of my resignation would injure tlie cad<St movement in general, or the Terrace school cadets in particular." " Captain Mi-Donald said ihe board was not called upon to make any. recommendations. It was r.ot in the cadet orders that icsigiialion of oflicers of cade& should be "endoised by the board. They we.ro not compelled to do anything but sit tight. The regulations required the teacher to do his share of duties in the shape of military drill. At tho schools named in Captain Erskine's letter, with the exception of Thorndon. tho first assistant did command the corps. Mr. Kcbblc concurred with Captain McDonald. , The chief inspector (Mr. Fleming) considered that the main thing was the principle involved in the resignation. It was not a personal matter at all. From the school point of view, it was nol desirable to have ono teacher doing tho work on one occasion and anpther on another occasion, especially in regard to battalion parades. Mr. Hogg urged that they should not compel teachers to do things that they had no right to request. He moved .that the matter be referred to tho Teachers' Institute in order to ascertain their feeling on the subject. The general impiession was that the board had become so militant and military that teachers were not allowed to cany out - tlw work of teaching. Mr. Vilo .seconded the motion. After further discussion, tho motion was put to the vote, and lost by 2 to 4. Captain McDonald then moved — "That the board cannot see its way to recommend that the resignation of, Captain Erskine should be accepted, his reasons being insufficient."' The motion was carried with two dissentients, Messrs. Hogg and Vile.

The alteration of the Wainui pipe-line, rendered xiec-ffssaiy by the Hutt duplication scheme, has been completed. A lull supply of water was turned on to the high levels of tli? citj- last night. In the performancu of the musical comedy, "A Trip to Chinatown," mi 'Wednesday next, it, number of operatic f.jlt»r tions will bo introduced. Miss Vinia de Loittc, Mr. l!o - v;u-ii Verno^, and Miss Iris, Vunw will take the principal parts. West Coasters and thoir friends arc promispd uu enjoyable evening to-nighL v/hen the Coast members are to be ejitertaiiied at a sucnil gathering in Iho Druid-,' Hall, Taninaki-slivel. Shoi'fc speeches will bo di'inoii'd ; a capital conceit programme h«a been arranged, and diiiiviiig will be iudnlnod in. The gathering will bo a non-political one. Some fripnds of the Tory-street mission gave a concert laht night. Tho Misses Brittaiu song duets, and ihe Misses Bennett, Tipling, and Ciiudle contributed songs, and Mis. Bnrnptt a recitation. On the motion of Sister Isabel, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the entertainers. Mrs. Mary Styles, who was in lior 91st year, ami lifnl lived ninny ycv.ih in this district, dioil yesterday yt the r?sidenoe of her .son-in-l.'iw (Mr.'Muson), Race-co'uise-road, Ijower Hutt. Her liusbiind, Mr Georiie Styles, of I'eton?, prcdeooasod hoi. Mf-. sr-\ fjucllor, Dyke, nnd f'o. «;1->firi.-e MiiiT Ihf-\ ■viir.-cll by jiuLlia am % ; fioji on WediuM-ls«v no*t. tlio contofit? cf c. furaiehod houis at 02, WeilumtwUcrJ^.»Q& - *

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