KAPUNI SCHOOL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3418, 9 December 1896, Page 2

KAPUNI SCHOOL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In a recent issue of your valuable paper appeared a letter from Mr J. D. F. Christie, challenging me as to the truth of statements made by me in answer to " Observer's " remarks. He wants to know if I drank the water in tbe horse trough. All that I can say is there i<« plenty of good water in the well tbat be himself authorised to be dug half a chain away from the trough. •This water has been certified by the Government analyst to be good, so his little game will not do in that corner He also offers £5 to tbe school funds if each of the committee will stand five minutes on the lee side of the closet and drink a pint of water from the well. No sane man would make such a ridiculous offer if he did not know two of the committee were away — one in Opunake and the other in Napier. But to give you an idea how far a man will go, I can give you the opinion of the head of the health board, who inspected it a few days after the school closed. His opinion was given without the slightest influence from either side, taking no noMce of mischief-makers' tales, who make a poor attempt to throw disgrace on the committee because they cannot get elected themselves. His verdict was that if the place was condemned, nine out of ten in the district would be con£ demned. If Mr Christie wants to get rid of his £5 I will wager him that amount, and place the matter before the just-mentioned gentleman, that be cannot prove one of his complaints or accusations. Mr Christie would like to make out tbat diphtheria arose at the school. What the public says, and what is correct, is that it arose in a farmer's house not far distant from the school. — | Advt.] — I am, etc., Walter Stoddart, Chairman of Committee.