MOSGIEL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7720, 15 November 1886, Page 4

MOSGIEL SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

AN EXCITED MEETING. A special meeting of tho above committee was held iv the schoolroom on Friday evening. There were present—Messrs P. Dey (chairman), Hodges, Crosbie, Fdtham, Churton, and M'Kenzie. The clerk read the minutes of the previous meeting. Mr M'Kenzie said that at the meeting beforo last a motion had been carried authorising the clerk to obtain all the names of defaulting childdren and to take the necessary steps with regard to the same. The Chairman stated that at last meeting thia matter had been settled. Mr M'Kenzie: Then where is the minute? Why is it not minuted ?

The Clerk explained that after receiving the names of defaulters he had written or seen the parties interested; after which he had a conversation with Mr M'Leod, the head teacher, who informed him that the greater part of them were attending school again, and those who were not had sufficient excuse to offer. Mr M'Leod had agreed to give him a list if at any time any should be absenting themselves. Any further ■ steps had therefore become unnecessary, aud it was useless to minute them. j Mr M'Kenzie :Do you take your instructions from Mr M'Leod or the committee V, The Chairman : Sit down, Mr M'Kenzie. Mr M'Kenzie declined. I The Chaieman (emphatically): Sit down, sir! Mr M'Kenzie : I shall not sit down, sir; and I demand the attention of the chair. The Chairman: You are out of order; I won't listen to you. Mr M'Kenzie; I will not be sat upon like this. I wish a list of the names of the defaultiug children. The Clerk: I have hot a list with me at present, but I can write you one. The Chaieman : Write one for Mr M'Kenzie specially. None of the rest of the committee wish a list, and they were present at last j meeting. Mr M'Kenzie : I wish one for the committee, not for myself. The Chaieman : For goodness' sake, write him one. The discussion afc this .stage became very heated, the chairman and Mr M'Kenzie indulging in anything but complimentary language to each other.

After quiet had' been restored the special business was brought forward—viz., to consider suggestions from the Education Board re the alteration of rooms, and also to get the head teacher's opinion as to permanency. Mr M'Leod suggested that be should take Miss Cowie's room and Miss Cowie his. There was a difficulty regarding the desks, which were too high in one room and too low iv the other. However, he would uot advise them being cut or altered for the present. He also brought before the committee the fact that if the school progressed this year as it had done last, they would be entitled to another teacher, when more accommodation would be required and a rearrangement would become necessary. Mr Churton. expressed the opinion that although satisfied with the change, still the rooms were too small to be of any practical use. Mr Feltham was fully of opinion that they should have more school accommodation, and that this should be kept before the Education Board. Mr Crosdie said the principal objection he had was that he saw a number of children sitting with their feet dangling four or five inches from the floor, which could not be good for them; otherwise ho was well satisfied with the change effected. The other members also expressed their approval, and on the motion of the chairman it was resolved that the change effected since last

meeting be continued until the vacation. The Chairmas stated that the proceeds of the school concert amounted to £18 ss, which was considered satisfactory. Mr M'Kenzie would like to know if it was true that thero was a disturbance at the door the night of the concert, and that the chairman of the school committee had forcibly ejected two of the performers. The Chairman : Wero [you there, Mr M'Kenzie ? Mr M'Kenzie : I was not. The Chairman: You ought to have been, then. Did you pay for a ticket ? Mr M'Kenzie : I did not. The Chairman: Then sit down, sir; you are out of order. I won't hear you. lam not here to satisfy your idle curiosity. Sit down sir. Mr M'Kenzie would again insist on his quesr tion being answered. The Chairman : Sit down, sir, sit down! I won't answer you, especially when the question shows personal animus. Mr M'Kenzie suggested that if the chairman was not fit to conduct the business properly he should stay at home. He again insisted on an explanation. The Chairman (iv an ironical tone): Oh! Mac! Mac! I'm sorry for you. You are a poor mean tool. Mr M'Kenzie still insisted ou keeping possession of the floor. The said he would close the meetiug if Mr M'Kenzie did not sit down. Mr M'Kenzie : You can't do that while I am speaking. The Chairman: I shall leave the chair then, aud do so.

Mr M'Kenzie still continuing speaking, the Chairman thumped tho desk, exclaiming in loud tones, " The meeting is closed." Mr M'Kenzie was heard to say, above the din, that he would take care to be at the next meeting and be first on his feet. The meeting then terminated amidst some disorder.