THE Hnangahua Times, and reefton Enardian PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, JUNE 11,1897.

Inangahua Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1237, 11 June 1897, Page 2

THE Hnangahua Times, and reefton Enardian PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1897.

The experiences in connection with the election of school committees in various oarts of the

A colony of late have miniature not been such as the donnybroox. intensify faith in the

infallibility of the motto " trust the people." The cases were not a few of elections being declared null and void, and in such instances, of course, fresh elections had to be held. The . " record," however, must be claimed by Motupiko. The district is a quiet one, and the uninitiated would find diffidulty in detecting either evidence or ! cause of feuds of any sort. For I some time past, nevertheless, there has been the bitterest ill will amongst the residents, some opposing the teacher to the extent of setting up a private school of their own, while others were equally warm in support of the teacher. So high did feeling run that the police were placed in close proximity on the night of the last regular school committee election. But in spite of this a serious! fracas occurred, in which pickhandles, procured from a neighbouring stoiekeeper who headed the opposition to the unfortunate teacher I were freely used. Heavy blows were exchanged in the uHee, and finally the parties found themselves before the S. M. Court at Nelson, and the "leader of the opposition" was heavily fined. The Nelson Education Board then ordered a fresh election, and this interesting event came off on Monday, 31st ult. Of course there was deep interest m the proceedings, and three JV P. and two policemen attended. The first " brush " over the appointment of a chairman resulted 1 in ft win for the "opposition," and

to the general suiliise and coasternation of the filther side" an 11 opposition" coilnittee was elected! They halt " stuffed *' the roll by providing liners 1 rights for a great number of t®ir adherents, not otherwise qualifietgjjgoing scs far as even to enrol' Bo»ft, of the pupils attending'tfyeischop l In describing the event a--' corespondent of the Nelson Colonist slys :— -" It is to be " regretted*"that m a small com- " munity like th# Motupiko there "should be so m#h feeling cxhib- ! 11 ited over a ma|;r which neither 11 party can give Ifgood reason for. " Ihe new comnijttee c it is said, " requested the \ iolice to protect " them while theyj fere holding their " first mseting,.b< ng afraid of get- " ting some rougj i usage. It was " a painful thir I to see children " drawn into thes< \ unseemly squab- " bles ; some of t ose voting could " not been very n teh over 14 years "of age. Of coufle it is quite com- " petent for any m xsons over 14 to "vote, providing they have been 11 residing in a go||fieldß district for " three months pr|br to the election "and are the of miners' " rights." The cafe, it is needltss to add,'is a disgraceful one to the district, and affordSjMt least, one strong argument in favor' of an amendment of hie law for the 1 election of school committees. ■" }