OUR DUNEDIN LETTER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1672, 1 June 1894, Page 2

OUR DUNEDIN LETTER.

«. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) EDUCATIONAL MATTERS. At the last meeting of the Educational Board the subject of the recent election of a school committee as Lauder was freely discussed Two of the householders, Messrs Brown and Fisher, voted against the election of Messrs Gerkans and Don* nelly, on the goound that they were not householders, within the meaning of the Act. An explanation was received from Mr Aitkenhead, chairman of the meeting of householders, and Mr Gerkans, on behalf of Mr Donnelly and himself, and after the matter had been thrashed out, the Board came to the decision that there was not sufficient evidence btfore them to upset the election. . A renewed application was received from settlers at Drybread, for the establishment of a school, bat the Board found themselves compelled to decline the request, as thev could not see their way to put the building up so near another school. The general opinion was expressed that there were many districts in Otago much worse off than Drybread, and that if aschool weie established there, it would mean the erection of schools in twenty other districts similarly situated. An application was a'so considered for the establishment of a subsidised school at Spring vale. The letter stated that the school would only be a mile and a-half from the Galloway school, but that it was impossible for the children to cross the river. Consideration of the matter was deferred until the Galloway people had been communicated with, and until it was found out what effect, if any, compliance with the request would have in the attendance at that school. 4 presentation was made the other day to an officer of the Education Board, well and favorably known all over Otago, and who i« a native of Roxburgh—l refer to Mr C. D. Richardson, the senior relieving teacher, who was on the Queen’s birthday, married to Miss Elder, of Roxburgh, Tne Board’s secretary, Mr Pryde, in making the presentation of a handsome black marble clock, two dozen silver knives, and two dozen silver forks, referred in exceedingly complimentary terms to Mr Richardson a zeal and ability as a public officer, and to the good qualities he possesses, and also spake of the high estimation in which he is held by every officer of the department. Mr Petrie, on behalf of the inspectors, spike in glowing language of Mr Richardson, in fact, Mr Richarisou seems to have jthe happy nack of making friends wherever he goes, and of discharging his duty at the same time, without fear or favor. _As this gentleman is well-known in the interior his many friends will bo glad to hear that he is so highly appreciated by those who know him best. A rather amusing letter was read ftotn the Blacks school, at the last meeting of the Board, detailing their state of harduppishness,’ and asking the Board to wipe off all the old debts, and give them a fresh start. The reading of the letter afforded considerable merriment, and the Board decided to inform the committee, that they, the committee, were in no way under an an obligation to pay the debts of their predecessors. This opens up a very wide and important question, and is of particular interest to tradesman, as showing that when they do work for a committee they ou"hfc te make sure they are paid for it, before the committees term of office expires. GENERAL. Bv no means the last has been heard of the McConnell case This is the man who alleges he was arrested for ‘ nothing at all, and°who, he himself declares, was knocked about considerably by Constables Stewart and Daubney, while they were taking him to the look-up. He was arrested he says, near the Great King Street station yet the constables agreed to take him to the town station, a mile distant, * just for a bit of practice.’ The whole circumstances were inquired into in the Police Court a fortnight ago, hut in the inquiry which will commence when Inspector Pardy returns to town, some additional evidence will be forthcoming, some evidence that could not strictly he given in couit, and it is possib e it may help the Department to come to a decision on the affair, without hesitation. It would not be wise for me to say more at Since "the day of Rev. Dr Stuart’s funeral hundreds of people have visited his grave in the southern cemetery, and floral wiealh.3 of great beauty are now and again left by by mourners. For a week alter he was laid to rest, the small plot in which he and his beloved wife, repose, was covered two or three deep with chrysanthemum wreaths, while at the end of the grave were numherj of baskets of fl >wers, and at the stone some kind hand had placed a lovely diadem. Most of these tokens of esteem have now been removed to allow of the ground being planted in flowers. ... On Saturday last a number of the household articles belonging to the lateDr Stuart were sold by public auction. The I manse was crowded with fnem s deceased gentleman, and others who WCtS willing to buy, but none of the goods brought extraordinary prices, althoughjihey all soil at fair value. A picture of ihe Diruplion in the Church of Scotland was sold for L 5 ss, a good price for the picture, chiefly because, I believe, it was one that I hangover the mantle piece in the doctors study. Among the other things soli were no less than fourteen walking sticks, most I of Them presents. ' A large number of the I more valuable articles were purchase! ! privately by friends, and others were kept by his son and the elders of the church as historical associations, too precious to part with. judicial. _ . On Monday next the criminal sitting of the Supreme Court starts, with a heavy list of cases, and on the same _ Ray the Duuedin Licensing Branch holds it meeting —a most important one. In Dunedin proper, seventeen hotels, will in all probability be closed, and in the suburbs five or six—tw«my-two in the district. Only » proportion of these will be refused right off, others will be adjourned for a fortnight or so, and it will not be hard to say what the fate of these cases, or at any rate the majority of them, will be on the subsequent meeting day. ________