SOUTH RANGITATA SCHOOL TROUBLES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1696, 9 February 1888, Page 2

SOUTH RANGITATA SCHOOL TROUBLES.

TO THE EDITOR

i Sir,—On reading the paragraph in your valuable paper of the 7th inst. on the South Rangitata School District, which I ! must aay ou the whole was a very fair report of the whole proceedings, I felt somewhat annoyed at you for giving me a new title, bat after considering the subjust I felt sure that you,bad. heard of the contract I havei.takenipfronlviitbe Home Government, af'ejr f a few local jobs, of laking'oiy professional tools to that ungofleroab'e little (Ireland, Bnd I hope aftejj yf'f trip.ithat J.shall be fu'ly entitled teethe name.of " Peacemaker" as well, as */..£liaibFier;<□»£■ .fch.e Law*'! : rjutwith : reorard to schoob, matters infiourl district, .there is muni.ty • jvhp; li<ave aj disHfcei to?aur;prasest master,'.and through) j their,:irlfluence tfcer. . Commissioners called a meeting .of. h alf h\\&f householders, jat which v there! were riinei present,,, including the.itflro Comiuistr cjarried—" That the Board be askjed.ito>j •dismiss the master," four votingfoir the' resol«|iopj'two.flg ( i,i,i)Btj, and ..three declined voting. !i Against the reaolutioo and the othienldid'. riot vote. Thi| resolution,migh.tihaveibeeri r)ght; iirVall:< then "had j notice,-ib.iH ■likna.w.jfchiit'h'ftlf lth«qhp«9«Hi! rjojdersjia/d/ iw>notice,.>and:!aniao29>ithcmi> the Peacemaker. T-ho Board at once . a!cted< oniritiiis irecpmmendation, >andldiß-) inisrfed the, wasters Without! giving., bim a' cliance/tdlrejfdteotheiflUargeSiiiiiiadai against' him hasinever tieen publicly charged with any irregularity i eiither by the Commissioners, the house--Ho'derstipr the Board. A petition.ajgyopd: by 10 householders whs then sent !fy> the" Board, asking 1 '"them" to their decision on the grounds ,'of—(l.J a fair .riee.tirig: of <hsft- • tjhere'bad' ' been"' 'no charge nVade.'againfi't, the" roaster; (3) that'We; believe if JW' ■ had been an impartial eiirjiiiry'th ! e / 'cnaigel' nude woujd be found tQ be .irj<|orrect-; -'' to accede to. Then we got our big guns at w6rk, ! and sent' in 'another 1 petu'i'on signed by ( <'2o householders; asking tho mf*mbers)to allow the,maptßßto>&tay!ahJ the annual meetipg householders, so tha ( r the newiy T ejoctpd,; pommjitije could'advise the Board on the subject. What the fate of the petition is, we don't know; su'rjposed.to i have ] 8i | j tneetingof the". Ward., The'Reason of this ;i» that' the' Press ignored reporting th» receipt 1 of either* petition, l''bnly!(inforrriirig the public that tbe Board went into- Oommittee on matters relating to South Rarigitata, and then did not report the decision of the Board. 8o I think thit you will agree with me that toy services are required in South Canterbury bfforie 1 undertake my Imperial contract, only 1 ih.allieel, obliged, Mr Editor, if you would dvis'eme vyhether tostart On the ihb'abiants of South/Rangita'taj the members of the Board of Education, the Press reporters, or'dn the Home contract.—l urn, 1 etc,>-" . o,". .■■: ■ ■ •..• •'. . ■■■''■> ■ ~m : : / ¥, W. Babham. ■

1 P. S.—-Since writing the above'an' officiaLcommunication has befen ! reoeived by me stating that notice of motion has been tabled to j, reßciud .ths resolution passed by tfhefioard'dismissing Mr Brown. ;, ,•] !. < . ;'. ;mi T<< H '

I '(Start on the Board'by all means, and lesive the poor reporters alone as long as you can. They arje a .evil, yoat Bhouldsi;noi .vbla'naa them'; forVinOfc'-reportK'g' what occurs in committee, because they are excluded from'the meeting, or if present are tyound not to report the 1 'proceedings. Theobject of going,-iqto committee. is I(! tp.prevent the reporters from reporting^, Onjjhe.groufid that derod completely 'we ; tjeg,Qf 'y/iuita e|'pare them. As-regards the Bo'ai ; aVwe Vh'fnk shat5 hat in dismissing the teacher without calHna n 'him Cfor"an" : exjjla ! na,'t!ibtej ! t '' thar" JM rers' rcjered themselvesi dessrVi'rig bfyouflriimediate ; a|nd caref ;ItjWits<#ftitb.orl t\gW. rjor fair ta dismiss him; without hearing hit side of the case. Their proper course was to have if|ti}eT|J>qUjnd ip iiflsatistactp.ry fu'give him the opportunity of resigning. This would have been the : rjaoro"hfumaW course. 'Now tbat we" have pointed 'way as frost tba^ybit'will seo •vour wav to spare the. poor reporters j also ibefb're' j 'de ! fin i ftely ''settling on having th,» qolony please, reflect on the oonjjecpences to tjhis unfortunate Wintry, aud' the Baagitata 4i.stric.Jy in. particular. There is a tone of (jentlinVw and' piety about your letter that harmonies beautifully with your position as peacemaker," and we trust that in dealing with wretched reporters you will prove yourself as kind and considrate us you appear,-»Tssß| Edixob.] ' ' v