BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4792, 8 September 1883, Page 4

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL.

An adjourned meeting of the parents of pupils attending the Boys' High Sohool was held at the school at 8 30 p.m. yesterday, for the purpose of reoeiviag the report of the deputation which waited on the Board of Governors with referenoe to the oircumstanoes attending the resignation of Mr Miller, head master of the school. Mr W. Vinoent ocoupied &? flbwr, and fifteen gentlemen were preeenti ... , .w . Tho Chairman said that it might be considered that tho result of the interview of the deputation with the Board had . been as satisfaotory aa oould be expeoted. The Board had passed a resolution praotically granting toe wish of the deputation, vi* , to give Mr Miller an opportunity of withdrawing n*§ resignation, and of making an explanation. It was somewhat unfortunate that the resolution proposed at tht Board meetlDg to have the matter discussed in Committee had not been oarried. It was.it wonld be remembered, only after earnest solicitations that Mr Miller had consented to remain at his post on certain conditions, but after he road the report of the disoussion he almost resolved not to withdraw his resignation ; several of his friends advised him to that effeot, and he was very strongly inclined to follow their advioe. The members of the deputation, however, had suooeeded in persuading him not to allow the indisoreet remarks of one or two members of the Board to interfere with a matter of so muoh importance to the welfare of the sohool, and he had accordingly sent the Board a reply, aooedingto their proposition. He had in this matter placed himself entirely in the bands of the Committee, -i.e., of the deputation, and bad consented to agree to their wishes. Mr Vincent conoluded by saying that he thought that a resolution ehould be passed, thanking the Board for their courteous treatment of the deputation, end aooeding to. thoir wishes. He asked some gentleman to move a resolution, and requested all speakers fo avoid personalities in their remarks, as their object was to heal the breaoh and not widen it. (Hear, hear.) The Bey H. 0. M. Watson moved— "That this meeting desires to record its sincere thanks to the Board of Governors of Canterbury College for its ready compliance with the request contained in the resolution passed on August 17, and for the oourtesy shown to the Committee appointed to wait on the Board." He remarked tbat the object of the parents had net been to Uke the part of eithor the Board or Mr Miller, but to conserve what they thought to be the interests of the sohool. It was perfeotly olear that the Board had taken praotioaUy the same view which they themselves had taken, as appeared from the speeches of Mr Beeves and other members. (Mr Watson here read the remarks of Mr Beeves, as reported in the newspaper.) The desire of both partiea was that tho affair should be inquired into, and Mr Miller allowed to state his grievance, which he (Mr Watson) was sure the Board would redress. He felt sure, also, that if the difficulty was adjusted, as doubtless it would be, there would be no danger of any want of harmony botween Mr Miller and tho Board inthe future. He wished particularly to mention the fact that Mr Miller had withdrawn his resignation, not" of his own motion, but at the earnest request of the parents of his pupils. Therefore a considerable portion of the remarks at the Board meetine fell flat. Ano* ther thing he would liko to draw attention to was the speeoh of Mr Grigg, who— though he was soerringly not himself in a position to judge aeourately of Mr Miller's qualifications, as no children of his attended the Bohool— aißumed that Mr Miller was a bad master, and that principally because he ÜBed no flogging. Wow Mr Miller had come from one of the prinoipal schools bf Bngland, in whioh flogging was not practised, and whatever their own individual opinion might be on the question of flogging, they oould have no doubt that Mr Miller was an excellent master. (Hearjhear.) # _ Mr D. Beese seconded the motion. He gave a brief aooonnt of the circumstances whioh had led to the recent action of the parents of pupils. He deprecated the remarks of Mr Grigg, and expressed the opinion that Mr Miller was a most exoellent man for his position. • „ Mr E. Willis was of opinion that Mr Miller had been hardly treated by the Sohool Committee and the Board, and thought that there must have been something behind the scenes. He also took exception to some of the remarks at the meeting of the Board. Mr A. H. Cunningham thought that Mr Willis was rather out of order. (Hear, hear.) The remarks made at the Board meeting had been replied to by othsr speakers at tho same meeting, and it was undesirable to enter again into tho disoussion of what had been done before the meeting. The Ohairman pointed out to Mr Willis that neither the Board nor the School Committee had brought any obargss against Mr Miller, or found fault with him. He (the Ohairman) considered the explanation of the Board quite satisfactory. Mr Willis said be oould not allow the remarks of Mr Grigg .to pass without comment. Mr Cunningham deprecated further disoussion of a 'personal nature. He trusted that the aotion taken in the matter would lead to an amioable and satisfactory settlement of the difficulty. (Hear, hear.) Mr Willis again asked the Ohairman if he was in order. The Ohairman replied that he did not think so. The Bey H. 0. M. Watson explained that any feeling imported into the iratter might tend to hinder the satisfactory settlement of the difficulty. It would be wise for all to put their personal feelings in their pockets in order to retain Mr Miller's services. (Hear, hear.) The motion was'then carried unanimously. On the suggestion off the Ohairman, Mr B. M. Templer said he had much pleasure in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Miller for his kindness in withdrawing his resignation in compliance with the withes of the meeting, espeoially as doing so must have been somewhat against his own personal feelings. Mr Willis seconded *the motion, whioh waß carried unanimously. { A gentleman present said he would like to again draw attention to the faot that many of the masters of the High Sohool had left the institution. He thought that this was very undesirable, and that there must be some cause for it, in the matter of pay or other* wise, whioh needed removing. The Ohairman said that the discussion of the subject just raised was not in order at the present meeting, and was, moreover, undesirable, though perhaps it might be considered, together with other matters, at some future time. He believed himself that the teaohers were paid as well as the means at the disposal of the Board would allow. The meeting then terminated with votes of thanka to the Ohairman and the members of the deputation whioh had interviewed the Board. ___.