POLICE COURT —This Day.

Auckland Star, Volume IX, Issue 2609, 17 August 1878, Page 3

POLICE COURT —This Day.

(Before R. C. Barstow Esq., X M.) WHIPPING A CONSTABLE.— Henry Schumacher, expressman, was charged with drunkenness and with assaulting a constable Avith a whip.—Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—Constable George Alexander deposed that prisoner was very drunk yesterday in Shortland-street, and seeing that he was incapable of taking care, either of_ himself or horse and cart, he arrested him. He then struck him with his whip across his arm.—To prisoner : You were backing your horse across the street. You were perfectly incapable, you struck me intentionally, you did not intend to strike the horse, you was very drunk.—Sergeant Mulville deposed that a crowd of people hadgathred round the prisoner, who was very violent.— Prisoner said he had a few glasses, and was in the act of giving his horse a stroke, when it brushed the official coat, he was certainly drunk.—Fined 5s and costs for the assault, 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour.

Assaulting A Wife.—Arthur Kirk was charged with violently assaulting his wife with his clenched fist, on the 16 th inst.—Prisoner pleaded not guilty.—Mary Kirk deposed that her husband came home in a state of excitement, broke the oven, and struck her a violent blow on the head. He raised the broom, but she escaped the blow. He swore he would cook her, and scalded hei with boiling water. He would not work, and she had only received 17s 6d from him for ten weeks, she considered her life was not safe, and she was compelled to seek the protection of the Court.—Tofprisoner,: You are continually drunk, your conduct is disgraceful.— Prisoner: I have been suffering from a cold, and have uot been able to got work for some time.—His Worship said that was a reason why he shonld be kind to his wife, and especially as he seemed to depend upon her for his bread. He might have taken a lenient view of the case, but he, the prisoner, had been up before for ill-treating his wife.—Sub-Inspector Pardy said the man evinced no disposition to work, and he was continually on the drink. His Worship said there were plenty of stones to break at Mount Eden.—Fined Is and 9s costs, and to find sureties to keep the peace for six months, himself in £20 fand two others in £10 each.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE CONFERENCE. The conference of School Committees of the educational district of Auckland was held at the City East schoolroom last evening, when the following districts were represented :—City West No. 1 and No. 2, City East No. 1 and No. 2, Ponsonby, Newton, Waiotahi, Kauwaeranga, Tararu, Parawai (the last four 1 names districts being represented by Mr Speight), Titirangr, Parnell, Moira Eden, Pukekohe East, and Graf ton Road. Apologies^for non-attendance were received from Ngaruawahia, Newmarket, Coromandel, and Whangarei. Mr Gorrie was voted to the chair, and Mr Kcvan appointed Secretary. The Chairman read copies of resolutions passed at a conference held at the Thames relative to the constitution of the Board and the abolition of cumulative voting.

Mr Steadman said, the working of the Act in City East was very unsatisfactory. Teachers were appointed and removed without giving the Committee any voice in the matter, and this was contrary to the spirit of the 48th section of the Act. The Board got £3 12s 6d to £3 15s per head, and only allowed the Committee 2s 6'd, which was insufficient. They had frequentle to pay water rate and other expenses from their own pockets, < while they found great difficulty in obtaining money for the necessary repairs. The Chairman informed Mr Steadman that the Hon. Mr Ballance had stated in the House that in future ,10s per head would be allowed to Committees for expenses. Mr Speight said a circular from the Board had informed the Thames Committees that the 2b Gd a-head wjis merely temporary for this year. Committees often ran into unnecessary expense, for which the Board was compelled to pay. With reference to teachers, he said that it was only pupil and assistant teachers who were removed and appointed without consulting the Committees, and they were the apprentices of the Board. Mr Peacock moved—" That a petition be forwarded to the Government from the School Committees of Auckland district, requesting that clause 45 be altered, so as to make the appointment of teachers rest with committees, subject to the approval of the Board, and in cases where the Inspector or Schools considers it desirable to remove a teacher, that such removal should only take place with the consent of the committee." Seconded by Dr Purchas, who considered that no teacher should be appointed to a common school without the consent of the committee. Mr Boardman moved as an amendment— "That this: meeting respectfully suggests to the Board of Education that school committees should be in all cases consulted before the appointment or removal of any of the principal teachers of a school, in accordance with the 45th clause of the Education Act." Messrs Br early, Steadman, White, Thorne, Purchas, King, and Speight, addressed the meeting, after which the amendment was put and lost, and the original resolution agreed to. It was decided, on the motion of Dr Purchas, that a copy of the resolution should be forwarded to each of the Auckland members of ihe House ot Representatives, asking them to support it. Mr Speight then moved the following resolution, agreed to by the Thames Conference : —"That the Auckland Education District should be dividad into sub-districts, each estimated to contain (as nearly as may be convenient) an equal number of children, and each to appoint, through the school committees, a representative, such representatives to represent the Board of Education. The formation or alteration of such subdistricts to be provided fur in clause 12," and added, "In case of vacancy in such Board, such vacancy to be se-filled by the sub-district. Seconded .by Mr Boardman and agreed to. Mr Speight, moved the following resolution, Avhich was carried unanimously :— " That, in the opinion of Conference, the 65th clause should be altered so as to do away with cumulative votes." On the motion of Dr Purchase it was agteed to, "That the Government be reaucsted to make provision for the establishment of training schools for teachers as soon as possible." Mr Boardman proposed, "That in the opinion of the Conference, it was highly desirable to establish school libraries in connection with the schools in the district, pointing out how by this means persons after leaving school would be able to continue their own education." Seconded by Mr Hughes and lost. The Chairman, Mr Peacock, and Dr Purchas were appointed to draft the resolutions agreed to for presentation to the Government. The meeting then terminated, with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.