AUCKLAND NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8581, 7 September 1893, Page 5

AUCKLAND NOTES.

September 5. At the meeting of the City Schools' Committee, last evening, the Inspectors' reports of the recent examinations held at the Napier and Beresford street schools, were received, and were the subject of much adverse comment, although the Inspectors' notes were of a favourable nature. The results of tbe examinations were considered by members of the Committee to be extremely unsatisfactory, the Inspectors notwithstanding. It was stated that the Head Master had put forth the recent measles epidemic and the shifting of teachers by the Board as excuses, but these pleas were characterised by some members as ridiculous and altogether insufficient, One member thought that the way in which the Board altered the teaching staff was not only discreditable, but simply disgraceful. He considered that no other results than those reported could be expected under the circumstances. This statement was designated by a majority of the members as " nonsense." The Chairman said that they had nothing whatever to complain of in the personnel of the teachers. It was resolved —" That a Sub-Committee be appointed to confer with the headmasters ot the Beresford street and Napier street schools with regard to recent examinations, and to report to the Committee." At a meeting of the Auckland Crown Lands Board yesterday, several cases of alleged " dummyism" in connection with Government lands occupied on perpetual or other leases came up for consideration. The Awakino, which is in the extreme south of the Auckland province, just north of the Mokau River on the West Coast, has only been opened for settlement some four years, and it is fast being taken up by sheep and others. As the result of the Board's deliberation, the perpetual lease sections of Messrs A. Bluck and F. Bluck at Awakino were forfeited for nonresidence and non-compliance with the regulations under the Land Act. The first section contained forty-five acres and the second thirty-eight acres. The grazing 1 runs of Thos. Bayiey, juh. (containing 11,000 acres) and J. McNeice (864 acres) were also declared forfeited for non-resi-dence and failure to improve. Several other cases in connection with perpetual leases were deferred.