THE WOODSIDE SCHOOL ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13160, 25 April 1906, Page 6

THE WOODSIDE SCHOOL ELECTION.

A LIVELY MEETING, e RIVAL COMMITTEES AGAIN" > ELECTED. Whatever lack of interest may have been r displayed by the householders in the school elections on Monday, such a failing can in no way be charged against the household- > ers of Woodside. As the hour of the i election drew near, the schoolroom and playground began to be filled by a very numerous gathering, while a constant , string of vehicles of all descriptions (wag- ' gons, *pring-caits. and buggies), kept streaming in. till, lined up. they extended nearly all lonud the school playground. During the- past year the- school 1 business has been discharged by a comI missioner. the Rev. Mr. Sim. At the last school election, the householders had elec- ' Jed two rival committees, and the Board of Education, unable or unwilling to decide which of them was legally elected, cut the knot by proclaiming a commissioner. When Mr. Sim, accompanied by a very numerous body of Manurewa residents, entered the schoolroom, he was confronted by a Mr. Druce, who claimed to have been elected chairman of the meeting. As the meeting had not commenced, a large majority of the householders not being in the room, and, moreover, Mr. Sim, as commissioner, and representing the committee, being ex-officio chairman till his report j and accounts had been presented to the j meeting, Mr. Druce's election could only be considered as too previous. He was, therefore, entirely ignored by Mr. Sim, until becoming demonstrative as to Woodside people making their own law, and not caring for any twopenny-halfpenny board, Mr. Sim invoked the aid of Constable Lanigan, who was present, and Mr. Druce then subsided. The report of the commissioner showed that in Ah". McNaughton Woodside possesses a. most capable scholmaster. A surpise visit by the school 'usjiector had been paid, and it had resulted in a most favourable report both of master and pupils. The school accounts showed an expenditure of some £50 on the school, leaving a credit balance of £1 9s 3d. Mr. Sim° having made his report, then vacated the chair and called upon the meeting to elect «* chairman. Mr. G. D. Smith was then duly proposed and seconded as chairman, and no other candidate being proposed, proceeded to take the chair. He then called upon the householders to elect their committee, and proceeded to read out a list of names, but not a word of what lie said could be heard, owing to what the great O'Connell called "a lot of beastly bellowing." It. appears that- Mr. Druce was also possessed of a list of names of candidates, but claiming to be himself chairman, he refused to give in these names to Mr. Smith. The chairman then having read out. the names of seven candidates to the meeting, and being unable to get any other names given in, declared the following gentlemen elected as the school committee for the ensuing year: Messrs. Brisoe, Finlayson. Coxhead, Slight, Lupton, Freshney, and Mc Anally. The chairman then declared the business at an end, and he and the committee withdrew. Now was Mr. Druce's chance. He again declared himself chairman, and proceeded to read out his list of names, and declared them elected. Thus Woodside again possesses two rival committees, and the Board of Education will again have to decide between them. This time, however, there cannot be much doubt as to tho decision of the Board. It was fortunate that Constable Lanigan was present, as otherwise there might have been a serious disturbance. As it was one very active Woodsider, who had been very pressing in lus invitations to Manurewa. people to come outside into the playground with him, annoyed at want of appreciation, smote a prominent Manurewa settler violently on the nose. As Const-able Lanigan was actually a witness of this assault, it is likely that the case may be further heard of at the next sitting of the Papakura Police Court.