The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1866. LOCAL COMMITTEE OF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 86, 14 June 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1866. LOCAL COMMITTEE OF

ELECTION MEETING. Yesterday the election of the Local Committee of Education, Nelson district, took place at the Court House. Mr. Campbell was called to the chair. The Chairman 'stated 'the object of the meeting, which was to elect members to fill the vacancies caused bv the retirement of Messrs. D. Sinclair, J. C. Richmond,! ••__.' Hill; and D. M. Luckie. The members elected last year were Messrs. Drew, Burn, iJaniell, and Percy, whose election stands for two years. After a slight discussion on the part of those present, the following gentlemen were duly proposed and seconded as suitable to serve on the committee for the next two years : — Messrs. Sinclair, Hill, Luckie, Campbell, Webb, and Davis. In reply to some questions from Mr. Iladdow, as to'some complaints that the Local Committee had to make of "the managers of the Sunday school, Mr. Drew, Secretary to the committee, said he. would be happy to say what he knew about it. Complaints had been frequently made by the committee that the Sunday School children broke the slates, removed the books, and "damaged the windows, and although the things were put away, they were much injured. This was injurious to the day-school, and the committee had protested against it. Locks and bolts had been prepared for the doors, but they were not used, and tlie committee had great reason to be dissatisfied with the inconveniences the teachers of the day-school were subjected to. The fittings of the day-sehool were not "adapted for a Sunday school; and during the five years he had been Secretary permission to occupy had never been granted by him. He was aware that tbe Sunday school had permission to use the room from the Board for ten years, but he did not know how much of the lease was unexpired. Mr. Luckie was in a position to corroborate the j remarks of the previous speaker, in reference to the j inconveniences suffered by the: day school, from the I conduct of the Sunday school pupils, between Satur- ' day night and Monday morning. . He was clear as to | the injury to books, slates and pencils, and in some I cases theft was to be charged upon the Sunday scholars. He knew that these things had been taken from Mr. Smith's room on the Sunday, the key of which was in charge of the Sunday school people. Complaints of this sort were too numerous to mention, but there was a limit to endurance of evil, and so there must be to this. When the key was not returned and the committee had to complain of theft, it was high time the matter should be closely looked into. Mr. Webb said, from his knowledge of the affair whilst acting on the Board, he knew that several complaints were made against tho Sunday school. He was exceedingly sorry for it, as the day school was most inconvenienced, and the constant complaints were followed by promises of amendment only to be broken. lie thought it was right when promises were made without result, that those to whom the property belonged, should interfere to prevent further mischief. He did not think he would have suffered himself to be nominated but for the opportunity it afforded him to express a strong opinion on the jectThe Chairman asked permission of the meeting to leave the chair, in order that he might reply to some of the remarks made by gentlemen present. He left the chair, which was filled temporarily by Mr. Hooper. Mr. Campbell said, he had leased the schoolroom in question, to the Government, for 99 years. They were to find their own furniture and desks. The new arrangements put the Sunday school to great inconvenience. He was frequently occupied two hours in sweeping up the dirt of a Monday morning, and he denied that pencils, books, or slates were broken or stolen on the Sunda}*-. It was' not correct to sa3 r that Mr. Smith's room had been disturbed. Mr. Smith was favorable to the Sunday school being kept there, and wished him to have the key. If any damage was done he "was willing to be responsible for it. He was sure no complaints had come from Mr. Smith's school on account of those with whom he (Mr. Campbell) acted. In fact Mr. Drew had set himself up in opposition fo Mr. Smith, and said we should not have tlie room, and he" was quite prepared to show that the teacher was not incovenienced by the Sunday school. Mr. Luckie : The teacher has complained himself of the inconvenience. Mr. Campbell continued : The Government have no right to interfere with our use of the room on the Sunday. We do not use fheir furniture ;it takes me two hours every Saturday to prepare the room for use. We let the room for their use on the workingday, retaining the use of it on the Sunday, for the purpose of religious instruction. This was the agreement, and as far as' I remember there are three years yet unexpired of the lease of ten years. Let the committee come and see me working on the Monday morning with my own hands, and they will see we are doiiig all that can be done to avoid inconvenience to "the "day-school. We let the" Government the building for a term of years, at a rental of .£25, we to retain the use of it on Sundays for 10 years, for the purpose of religious instruction. Mr. Luckie contended that the object of the meeting was not to be set aside for the purpose of introducing a religious discussion. The question was the right of the local committee to complain of the inconvenience to which the school had been subjected by the Sunday scholars. There had been a great want of attention to their complaints on the part of the Sunday-school teachers. This Mr. Campbell

•had riot disproved, neither Had : he proved that either Mr. Drew or himself liad been 1 wrong in their statements. - ''-■"" - Mr. Drew affirmed with considerable warmth that .the books were taker* from Mr. Smith's room, and" that Mr. Campbell knew it. -The "boys "who' took them were brought before the Resident Magistrate [A voice: It was Mr. Sadd's robin]. 'It was Mr. , Sadd's boys on whom the pencils and books were found, but they -were taken froni Mr".' Smith's room ; and all this was while the key was in Mr. Cdmpbell's possession ; in fact lie had a key of -his own made to fit the door, and he did as he liked. Mr. Smith had more than once asked him to come and look at the school. .. During the fire years he had been secretary to the committee he had never once acted on his own responsibility, but had always carried out the wishes of the committee, who were satisfied and thankful to him. He contended that the board, who were responsible for the proper expenditure of the public money, had a right to control iri the present instance.. Mr. Campbell had. been paid £600 and a rental of.*£2s a year for the room, and he had not much to complain of. Mr. Haddow did not approve of a religious discus sion, but denied that his party had introduced it. It was well that Mr. . Brew should have replied. He would suggest that .tliey now proceed to the vote. Mr. Percy contended jt was Mr. Haddow's party who had iutroduced the quarrel. Mr. Campbell said, tlie money paid him was a debt owing to him for building that and other schools over the country. The terms on which he had arranged i with, the Board were sanctioned by the Executive. i A voice : The debt was contracted by the Nelson ! School Society and not by the Local Board. Mr. Percy : The town paid Mr. Campbell £600. I wish Mr. Smith was here, I Have frequently signed cheques for damages done by. the Sunday scholars to the day school, on the complaint of Mr. Smith; ' He could not have told one story to the committee and . another to the Local Board. I have paid cheques for damages stated by Mr. .Smith to have' been sustained between Friday niarht and Monday morning. The voting then took place, with the following result: — Sinclair, 5; Hill, 7 ; Luckie, 9 ; Campbell, 8 ; Webb, 7; Rev. J. Davis, 8. The Chairman said he should give his casting vote in favor of Mr. Hill.' FJe then declared Messrs. Hill, Luckie, Campbell, and Davis duly elected. Mr. Webb rose and said it could not. be denied that a meeting like the present did not fairly represent the ratepayers. It was not right that a person like Mr. Sinclair, who had devoted so much time to education, should be excluded from the committee, and had the meeting fairly represented the ratepayers he would h.ave been in a different position there. It was a pity that an object so unsectarian in its nature should be swayed by a few persons like those present. The introduction of the sectarian element was most unfortunate, and was greatly to be deprecated ih ameeting which so unfairly represented the ratepayers. On behalf of Mr. Sinclair, who was ill in bed, he de-„ mantled a poll, not that lie cared about standing himself. .. „ The. Chairman : I have declared the result of the election, and it is too late to demand a poll. Mr. Webb : I demanded a poll before. You will be - sorry for this sectarian movement. Mr. Luckie ; This is only a nomination. A number of gentlemen were now seen narrowly scrutinising the Education Ordinance, to ascertain if the chairman was acting in accordance with the law. The Chairman : I am following the usual custom, no poll Avas demanded before I declared. Another scrutiny of the Act followed. Mr. Haddow : If you call this illegal, all previous meetings have been illegal. Mr. Webb : You will have to report this to the Superintendent. The Chairman : The. Superintendent says it is a meeting for election and not for nomination. Mr. Luckie : Yes, you are right. Mr. Percy : We'll try this question. It appears there is no provision made for it. Exeunt omnes.