GISBORNE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 889, 13 September 1879, Page 2

GISBORNE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

[To the Editor of the Herald.] Sir, — In a leader of your issue of the 9th inst., you have very violently attacked and condemned the management of the Gisborne School Committee. The following is the reply to the charges you have preferred. What has been done the Committee consider necessary reforms ; they will appear at once as such, and the parents of the children attend ing at the Gisborne School, will be able to judge how far the Committee are endeavoring to improve the School : — Ist. —Finding th.it there was no teachings, m class, that is, no +op or bottom m the class, but the children occupying the same position at desks from morning till evening, the Committee requested the master to teach reading, history, and geography, or what other subjects he could m class ; this would create emulation among the children, and tend to their improvement. The master, seeming to be reluctant to comply with the request of the Committee, they insisted that class teaching should be adopted, and Mr. Hill, the School Inspector, warmly approved of what the Committee had requested. So much for interference No. 1. 2nd. — Finding that complaints were being constantly made against the use of the cane, and that some of the children had been unduly punished, the Committee requested that m teaching the children, neither the mistress, or the pupil teachers, should have a cane m their hands, other than for pointing to ! the map or black-board. Cracks were often given on the heads and hands of the children with the cane, to which the parents strongly objected. Mr. Hill spoke strongly against the mistress and pupil-teachers using the cane to correct the children, and agreed with the Committee that punishment should only be inflicted by the master. So much for interference No. 2. 3rd. — Disapproving of the very objectionable system pursued by the master m selling school-book 9, copybooks, pens, and pencils to the children, the Committee requested that the system should cease, and strted that they would supply all necessary books, &c, at coat price, the master rendering a quarterly account. It was also warmly approved of by Mr. Hill. So much for interference No. 3. 4th. — From the increasing number of children attending the School, as well as from the large additions to the building, and m view also of a secondary School being Boon established, the Com-

mittee were convinced that the teaching power of the School would be inefficient, .and that the appointment of a second certificated master was absolutely necessary. Such an appointment was recommended to Mr. Hill many months ago, who highly approved of it, and a salary of £150 per annum has been voted by the Board for this purpose. This appointment necessarily removes Mrs. Maberly, who, m due course, was informed that after a certain date her duties m the School would cease. The Committee cannot allow any impediment to remain m the way whether it pleases or displeases. So much for interference j No. 4. The Committee read with the greatest surprise that you attribute the illness of Mrs. Maberly to their action. This is the greatest cant. For it is well known that she took cold on Saturday evening, which went to the lungs. If, however, anything outside this could make her ill, your coarse, indelicate, and offensive effusions would certainly to do so. You are sadly wanting m proper feeling, and your want of judgment is fatal to the interests of those whose cause you espouse. sth. — When the application from the boys for a holiday on the day of the election came before the Committee, they were all under the impression that it came through the master. This was explained to you on Saturday by at least two of the Committee, who stated that the application would not have been granted had they known how it was made, and you were asked to mention this fact m your loader when you promised, faithfully to do so, and yet you did not. So much for charge ■N». 5. 6th. — Your memory must be very defective, otherwise, after the most crushing refutations of Mr Bennett, late Chairman of the Committee, of your falße statements respecting the state of the school walls and premises when the fever was raging last summer, you never would have had the temerity to refer to that subject again, and as a further instance of your defective memory it is seen by. your supposing and stating that the welfare of the body and soul of the child is entrusted to the master and mistress, whereas the present system of teaching deprives them of any such opportunities. These existed when the Bible was read m the School, and leligious teaching was given. In the absence of religion, there can be no development of the mind and soul, for the teaching. in the schools is merely mechanical. Doubtless teachers should possess the best of qualities and be respected for the position they hold, but bad temper is perhaps the worse feature m a teacher's character to set a bad example. The passions are roused and the children wrongly influenced. The Committee are not so wanting m penetration as not to see that there' is one particular peg upon which you have been hanging your arguments, but as long as they hold office they are determined thab justice shall be done to all alike. If the Committee have not the confidence of the householders they are prepared to at once resign their trust. — I am, &c, D. Johnston, Chairman, On behalf of Committee.

[To tJie Editor of the Herald.] Sir, — There is a letter m your paper of Thursday, signed "S. M. W.," which, for 000 l assumption, unwarrantable assertion, and misstatement, stands facile prhxcepa. It is true tuat Oapt. Gudgeon committed the Natives charged by Bond and Allen, and perhaps, if he believed the evidence of the latter, that they and not the Natives were m possession of the land, he may have had no other course. But if he who personates "S.M.W" will carefully watch the progress of the case, I think he will discover that the Natives had been m possession of the land, were about building houses on it, and had the stuff on the ground long before Messrs. Bond or Allen appeared on the scene, who, it is more than probable, are mere catspaws of Bead's trustees. I perceive Mr. Samuel Mason Wilson disclaims the authenticity of the initials, so far as he is concerned ; and I am glad to find that so violent and misleading a production does not emanate from him. A person who does not scruple to misappropriate another man's initials, " the same with intent to deceive," cannot be expected to be punctilious as regards other deceptions. Evidently the personator is a violent partisan, and his letter is therefore unreliable. Take for instance this sweeping assertion, " every Native that gave evidence lied to such a fearful extent, &c. ;" the italics are mine. A man who can deliberately lorite and publish such a statement as that, would probably say anything. But Lord, what matters it ; for does not he sign it with another man's initials, being, apparently, ashamed to own it himself,* yet dsirous to give it a false appearance of authenticity. Sir, this little fact, apparently insignificant, will, to a reflective mind, disclose volumes. How does this personater know that Wi Pere sold his share twice ? Does he know that Wi Pere actually sold it once ? Does not it seem singular that it should have been bought twice. If the first purchase was fair, why enter into another 1 I think all thoae who knew the purchaser will say it was not his habit "to paint the lily or adorn the rose." Would the personator be very much astonished if I told him that whether Wi Pere sold his share of Matawhero No. 1, once, twice, or not at all, he has never to this day received the purchase money, and that the majority of the Grantees are m the same position. Probably he thinks the buying of the land the important step— the paying for it mere frivolity. Mr. Rees is attacked m this way : " There is not a doubt m the world that had Mr. Bees endeavored to settle the disputes for the Natives he could have done it." This is rather wild-hitting. The personator seems to go m baldheaded for rash assertions. Mr. Rees has done all that mortal man can do, m the very complicated state of the circumstances, and m the absence of a Subdivision Court, towards the settlement of the titles of those who want no more than they are fairly entitled to. Where the parties m dispute do not put themselves into his hands, how m the name of fortune can he settle their disputes. Have Read's Trustees ever offered an amicable settlement ? Have they ever made an attempt to do

justice? Have they shown any disposition to right wrongs 1 I think not. They tried by selling out to be as quickly rid as possible of their troubles and saddle others with them. •• Rome was not built m a day," and the personator may rely that Mr. Rees will settle all these disputes m due time, and I trust to the full satisfaction of those who rely on him.. I am, &c. , ' Moderation.