ELTHAM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143783, 6 May 1912, Page 7

ELTHAM.

(From tbo Taranaki Herald.)

April 6.—A meeting of some interart was held here hist week, when the school committee held an inquiry into a charge of brutal thrashing of a pupil by the schoolmaster. The committee sat from 7 to 11 p.m., and then brought, in a verdict that practically meant the charge was disproved. The second master said the thrashing was severe, but not brutal. He (the second master) thought the punishment merited eight strokes, but the headmaster got at least 3U cuts in before he cased up. The said cause for increased strap work was insubordination (?) by the pupil. It seems a peculiar case, as according to the committee’s ruling the punished lad was innocent of the charge for which he was thrashed; also that the master should have made more inquiry before creating impressions with a leather strap. "To the outsider it seems tough luck that the youngster should be thrashed to the extent of 30 cuts for an offence ho never committed, and strange that the committee should back up the master in putting down “bullying” with a firm hand on a lad who did not merit punishment. Again, if one master thinks eight strokes sufficient and 30 were not brutal, what amount of punishment should a youngster receive to make it brutal. In the meantime the parent removes the child to Stratford for his schooling. At different times, whilst cycling round this district I have como across some, largo specimens of the bacon tribe, and this week a pretty largo lump u! pig had a ride to the Eltham Bacon Factory, where it promptly became deceased. It was a Berkshire sow and turned the scale at 5351 b., and was probably the biggest handled at the factory. The owner, Mr. H. Brisco, Hunter" Bond, evidently understands thoroughly the art of putting condition into pigs, as two years backs he conveyed two Tamworth sows to To Roti that weighed 635 and 6381 b. Pretty substantial weights these, which must bo somewhere near a Taranaki record. Bast Thursday' Star first juniors played hero. Stare were two short, but Eltham allowed them two capable substitutes, and for three parts of the Journey the. blacks did well, and up to this point had only four points debited against them, Glcritworth getting a smart goal, off his boot with the black forwards diving at Ins feet. In the last fifteen minutes Eltham rallied to such an extent that they crossed the Star line on four occasions and gathered 12 more points. Star had a very safe fullback and a clever half, and both being young and showing good form should do well in the future. With a couple of games to straighten the locals up it looks ns if the Eltham juniors will have a big say for the championship. At present they are “green”—terribly green —and need to lose a lot of weight to keep going the full distance. Lately I’ve been saying things against the Rugby Union, and now it scorns B must give them a pat on the back. Leastways the secretary of the club at a committee meeting said the union had made every effort to meet Eltham’s needs and requirements; had made all reinstatements asked for, and generally studied the club from every view.. It is quite evident that something must have been done, as there is plenty of “enthuse” hero just now, and with an active committee keeping things moving the Rugby game should make a little more progress than was at one time thought possible. A fairly strong team battled against Stars, but the selector had stronger men standing on the side-line —only 15 required and 20 available. Two teams of mixed sexes, armed with hockey sticks had a useful practice last week, and probably the competition for championship honours in this branch of winter sport. “Dirty days has September, April, Juno and November.” April has passed with a few, a good few, damp, dreary, depressing days, but May is heading strongly lor the champion wet month, as just now the- rain is consistent in its attentions "to Eltham, and business people and the missus are both experiencing bad times. The business people because they cannot get the people in and the housewife because she cannot got them out.