THE THAMES HIGH SCHOOL TROUBLE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXII, Issue 6350, 25 June 1889, Page 2

THE THAMES HIGH SCHOOL TROUBLE.

Tub Governors of the liig'n School me yesterday at 11 o'clock. There were present Messrs Caipenter (Chairman), Brodie, Dean, Wood, McGowan, and Rev. S- J. Neill. The Chairman said that the meeting had been called to enquire into the conduct of two boys JatLes and Allora, and tho action of the committee and Head master and a letter received from Mr Allom in connection therewith. He called upon the Secretary t(? read Mr Aliom's letter which was a very voluminous document, It defended his son from the charge preferred by the Head Master, " being one of a group of boys who called after him in the stroels," Mr Allom considers that such conduct would certainly deserve some censure and adds any reasonable man with an ordinary judicial mind ought to have been able to deal with it the next day in a prompt and ordinary manner without unduly agitating the whole school. He has mado a mountain out of a mole hill, Ho has grossly insulted many of the boys and them their parents. The principal alleged culprit was at last induced to make a certain admission which resulted in bis being forbidden to attend the school. Mr Allom denies that they were guilty of the offences Three other boys in the meantime, viz., his son Owen, -John Robertson, and Alexander Campbell are apparently in tho position of criminals awaiting trial. .They are daily treated to specimens of .Mr Adams' vocabulary in which allusion is made to them as " ruffians" and '• blackguardism." He was creditably informed that in exhibiting an auriferous quarts specimen he had, said, "It is not safe to hand these things round, tho boys I have now arc not the same as they used to be," He daks, l, is it creditable that a Head Master should so insult his pupils," He believed that he was in a position to prove that the boys are absolutely innocent of any offonce whatever. A letter from Mr James was then road. He explained that his son had been expelled from the High School on the charge cf insulliug iho Head Master in the street; He bad made enquiries and was of opinion that this act of the Head Master had been carried out on insufficient evidence, and the consequences to his son wero very severe. He asked a full investigation and if the offence be not fully proved, that his son be allowed to return to school. The minutes ox tbe meeting of tho visiting Committee who had eudorsedthe actions of the Head Master wore read and were to tho effect that they considered tho charge against James and Allomestallished and they resolved to recommend the expnl -ion of James James and the reprimanding of Allom. James James the boy who had been expelled was called and staled that on the evening in question he had called out Snorkey, Snorkey, Adam?, but it was to a hoy of sh.it name whom ha believed was on the other side of the street Had never called tho boy Adams'* Snoikey'' before. Flo deniad absolutely ever having Been Mr Adams lhat.uight. Owen Allom staled that he and the other boys met at the Presbyteiian Church corner, while they were together they did not Mr AdatiSH. Afier they separated ho and ilobineon went towards Shortland. When opposile Dr Cullan's old house he heard Snorkey, Snorkey, Snorkey, Adams, called out, he recognised James'voice, it appeared to come from Pah.uStreet,They slopped under Catran's verandah out of the rain when Mr Adams came up and looked in their faces and asked if they were calling' after him He answered, No Sir, Was of opinion that the term Shorkey applied to Mr Adams had never heard it applied to anybody else. The meeting then adjourned till 10.30 to-day.