BALCLUTHA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1030, 20 April 1894, Page 5

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL.

«. (By Telegraph.) ["from our own correspondent ] Dunedin, April 19, 1894. On the Balclutha High School matter coming up at the Education Board meeting, today Dr Stenhouse moved, and Mr Cohen seconded, pro forma, — " That Mr Pope should be given another year in which to qualify for rector." Inspector Petrie reported on the results of the year 1893, with the comment that it was evident the. representations by which the board was induced to provisionally establish a district high school at Balclutha were very wide of the mark, for the attendance had not been half what the movers expected, and proved even less than he (the inspector]^ anticipated. In the circumstances it seemed the experiment might well take end and the school be discontinued. After allowing that Mr Pope's state of health was primarily responsible for the condition of affairs disclosed, the inspector went on to say : Should the board decide to continue the district high school, this is a matter that should be taken into consideration in deciding whether the services of the present rector should be retained. For my own part, I sometimes doubt whether he has the robust energy that is necessary for an office that involves a great strain of work. As to the rector's letter explaining that he has not passed the examination for a C certificate, the board will not expect me to refer to its contents further than to express my conviction that the ill-health to which he attributes his failure was as real as it was unfortunate. Mr Fraser moved — " That Mr Pope's engagement be terminated by three months' notice in terms of letter^of October 1891, but that the board strongly recommend him for futme employment." Mr Fraser's motion was carried, and on Mr Mackenzie's motion a resolution was carried expressive of the board's sympathy with ,Mr Pope in the unfortunate circumstances in which he was placed.