SOUTHBRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3798, 17 June 1880, Page 3

SOUTHBRIDGE.

A public meeting was held in tho Town Hall, Southbridg •, on Monday evening last. At the time appointed there were about 150 persons preseni, but before tho meeting was over the attendance had increased to fully 250. On the motion of Mr 0. Bourne, Mr E. G. Staveley was voted to the chair. The Chairman thanked the meeting for the position in which they had pluc2d him, and he called upon any gentleman present to address the meeting, and he hoped all would receivo a patient hearing. Mr Charles Bourne then came forward and said that for several years he had been Chairman of the Southbridge School Committee, but after the first meeting of the present Committee, ho could plainly see that they were opposed to Mr Elwin as teacher. He coutd also see that he, as Chairman, could not agreo with the Committee, and, consequently, he resigned his position. Several oharges had been laid against Mr Elwin, the first one was brought forward by Mr Woodbury. Ho hoped Mr Woodbury was present, bo as to be able publicly to refute anything he (Mr Bourne) might say if incorrect. The first charge that Mr Woodbury made againßt Mr Elwin waß " Thafc bits of paper wore allowed to lay about tho playground." (Laughter.) The Committoo resolved to have a box kopt in one cornor of the grouud, and tho childron were instructed to put their luncheon papers in this box, but these papers had nothing to do with the maffer, ib wus the caretaker's place to keep the ground in order. Tho next chvge brought forward was "That Mr Klwit had given a holiday to tho children on Fastor Tuesday without the consent of the Committee." Nbw Mr Elwin wrote to him and asked if he might oloso Iho school till Wednesday morning. He went to him at the school, kuowinjj the illfeeling and spito that some had against him, and told him ho had better not oloae the school for so long, but he appeared to have misunderstood him. . Ono of tho mombers of the Committee, Mr Woodbury, wanted then and there to dismiss Mr Elwin, but ho said no, lot him explain to the Committee. The meeting was adjourned till the follow-

ing Saturday when Mr Elwin explained to the satisfaction of the Committee how the m'suuderstanding had arisen. He (Mr Bourne) was not at the next meeting of tho Committee, when they brought the subject up again, and rescinded the resolution passed at the previous meeting. The next chargo brought against Mr Elwin by Mr Woodbury was, " That the Visiting Committee went to the school, and thafc Mr Elwin shook hands with Mr Frame, but would not do so with Mr Woodbury/' Mr Woodbury considered this an insult, but after the ill-feeling and spite that had been shown, he (Mr Bourno) would consider Mr Elwin a h> pocrite if he had shaken handa with Mr Woodbury. The next ciarge was that the school was not efficient. That was a matter entirely for the Education Board to decide. For himself, he would say that he had Beveral times visited the school, and had always found the children most orderly and attentive. (Cheers ) Mr Or. F. Bmith endorsed the remarks made by Mr Bourne, and stated that his boy had made greater progress in six months at the Southbridge school than in two and a half years previously. He had been on Committees several years, and there was nearly always one member who could not agree with the others, and the consequence was that member had a spite against somebody. Mr Elwin then came forward, amid loud cheering. He said he was surprised and astonished to think that one man could bias so maoy others against him. Mr Bourn had shown them that since the present Committee had been in office, they had done their best to oust him. He was happy to think that his character was estabiiehed and favourably received. If such charges as theae had been brought against a young teacher they would have crushed him, and probably ruined him for life. The firffc matter he wished to explain was the letter to tho Committee from Mr Woodbury, dated March &. (Letter read.) The man that coul 1 write Buch a letter was not worthy to be spoken to. He did not dissent to the decision of the Board re the Cobbing ; they gave their decision according to the evidence, but the evidence was nofc correct. [A voice : "It was."] [Mr Elwin: "It was not ."]' The next part of Mr Woodbury's letter referred to a remark made by him privately to- two gentlemen. He had been ill for some time, and was still in bad health, and Dr Chapman had told him he must take rest, or probably he would . loso one of his legs. Until lately the cheques for salaries had always been handed to him for distribution among the junior teachers. At present they were made payable fco order, which meant that the Committee could not trust him. He returned to his duties last Tuesday, after a holiday,, when he received a letter from the Board enclosing a letter from fche Committee full of complaints, and requesting him. to report on it. Correspondence between , himself and the Board was read, fully explaining matters,, and the speaker concluded uro ids t loud cheers. Mr G. C. Wahy moved the following resolution—"Tbat tliis meeting wishes to express its confidence in Mr Elwin afc master of the Southbridge Sohool, and its opinion that the , district has much to be thankful for in having ' so- able a master in its midst, and thab the inhabitants would consider hia removal a grievous injury." The resolution was seconded by Mr W. Stewart, and carried unanimously. Mr G. F. Smith moved— "Thafc this meeting strongly deprecates the action of the Sohool Committee,, and having heard fche chargos made againsfc Mr Elwin and his answers to them considers tha course adopted by tho Committee to be unjustifiable and the charges frivolous and malicioue." The motion was seconded by Mr Finch an, and carried amid cheers, Mr Peter Campbell, junr., moved — "That this meeting considers the action of the Committee in publishing the names of Messrs Baldwin and Westrop calculated to do an injury to these gentlemen, and this meeting wishes to convey a very cordial vote of thanks for their kindness in assisting the school in an emergency." Seconded by Mr Ruddock, and carried unanimously. Mr L. H. Herdman moved— "That this meeting has no confidence in the Committee, and requests the members ta resign and allow a new Committee to be elected." Seconded by Mr Moore, and carried. Ifc was resolved, on the mofcion of Mr Wm. Stewart — "That the Chairman be requested to forward theße resolutions to the proper authorities and repreient as strongly _ as possible, the feeling of fchis meeting." Carried. Ifc was proposed by Mr Paddy, seconded by Mr C. Nelson — " That this meeting wishes to express Ihe gratitude of the Southbridge school district to Mr C. Bourno for his conduct as Chairman of the School Commifctee for the past five years, and its appreciation of the success of that institution during his management ; at tbe same time this meeting considers thut its interests will be best served by Mr C. Bourne re-occupying the chuir as soon &<i possible." Carriod unanimously. A hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman was carried by acclamation, and the meeting terminated.