THE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 39, 25 August 1880, Page 3

THE CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT.

To the Normanby School Committee. Gentlemen, — As Mr. Hill'lins put in a 'written statement of what he says took place in the schoolhouse when you sent me to take charge of the property, and as his statement iB in some respects untrue, and ns it does not include all that was said, I have decided to hand the committee my version ; and as I have nothing to gain or lose in this matter, it follows that this statement is as true as ray memory vnll jpenarit. It is Inoowji ho jon that Mr. HAH had sent in his resignation, and that it was worded so as to lead any person to believe he had got another situation. He told you in his written resignation that he would consider it a favor if you would relieve him as soon as possible ; and in the next paragraph lie states ho " wanted to enter on "his duties at once." You granted him that favor for which he asked, as Mr. McCutchan offered to take cl large of the school temporarily until the Board would mnke a permanent appointment. You then requested mo to go with Mr. McCutchan to hand the Board's property over in charge to the n w teacher. I accepted this position, thinking Mr. Hill would be highly pleased to get away, as he desired. You requested me also to take an inventory of the committee's property, consisting of school books and requisites. I went with Mr. McCutchan on Monday morning. I saw Mr. Hill and shook hands with him, and then told him that the committee had relieved him at once, as he desired in his resignation, as Mr. McCutchan had undertaken to take charge of the school at once. He said sharply, "I am very glad ;" and in an instant he lowered his brows, and said the committee had acted illegally ; that they had no business to accept his resignation. I then said I considered it very foolish to ask to bo relieved at once, if he did not want to go. He said, "Do you call me a fool ?" I answered, " No." He Baid, "I shall put you out." I then stated I was not going to be rushed out like that ; that I came there on the committee's business, and I wa.s not going to be insulted. Mr. Hill then hissed at me like a serpent : that the committee were an ignorant, incompetent lot, and that if he asked the committee to fly, would they do it? — and then defied the committee, and stated he was entirely in the hands of the Board. I told the children .they ought to go homo, as Mr. Hill was

relieved. He commanded them to stand up, and not to stir. I then finally asked him to deliver up the property of both Board and committee ; also to cause the people to leave the teacher's residence. He refused ; but assigned no reason whatever for so refusing. I then called Mr. McCutchan's attention to the refusal, and we both left. I wrote the particulars to the Education Board, and also sent Mr. Hill's resignation, and Mr. McCutchan's papers. The intimation of the trap that Mr. Hill set for the committee was the Board's reply to my letter ; showing that he had sent the Board a very different resignation, and that " his conduct is inexplicable and cannot be understood ;" and add that " they see no course leit open but to allow him to remain to the end of the month," and empowers the committee to put Mr. McCutchan in charge, as he is known to them.

Gentlemen, if Mr. Hill had done his clear duty, and sent a true copy of his resignation to the Board, there could have arisen no trouble or unpleasantness ; and his extraordinary conduct in asking you to relieve him as soon as possible (he asked this as a favor), and letting the Board know nothing of that, and stating to the Board that lie resigned in view of approae)jui^>e/3aeisoa^ii2 salaries $ acid it appears the Board offered to let hha. away at the end of a month, before they found out how he had treated the local committee, or I believe he would not have beeu one single day longer here. It will thus be seen that Mr. Hill has brought all the trouble on himself by his extraordinary conduct ; and when I went to the school, if Mr. Hill had stated even one reason for not giving up possession, I would have gone away at once. I could make direct charges against Mr. Hill for calling the children fancy names, but as you all know him as well as I do, it is not necessary. — I am, &c,

Charles Qoin.