A Jubilee School Committee Meeting.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2085, 27 June 1887, Page 2

A Jubilee School Committee Meeting.

Last Friday evening a special meeting of the Oreytown School Jubilee Committee was convened to square up matters in connection with the late Jubilee entertainment at the Town Hall, at which were present—Messrs P. Cotter (chairman), Johnson, Thompson, Hebley, Lewis, Porritt (bead master), and Brittain (master at Papawai Native School). The proceedings were enlivened by some very plain speaking on the part of some of the committee men, though there was little ebuhtion of temper. The committee unanimously passed a vote of thanks to Mrs Thompson and Mrs Hebley for their assistance at the hall, to the teachers of the school fur the trouble they bad taken in the decorations, to Mr Nation for a gift of fireworks, to the Band, to Mr Johnston, the secretary of the committee, and all who had labored to make the treat successful.

It was decided to publish the list of subscriptions by the public in the Standard, After "“Ting all expenses there is a balance to the good' of Li 152. Mr W. K. Thompson said he had a matter to bring before the committee i it was a charge against the secretary, Mr Johnston. A piogtamme had beep carefully arranged for the entertainment which had pot been carried out, and this bad given rise to a great deal of dissatisfaction. Mr Johnston said he did not know bow to answer the charge. Mr Porritt, Mr Brittain, and himself were appointed to draw np a programme. He drew one np pod it was considered a good one; four copies were made, oue of which was given to Mr Buchanan, the chairman of the entertainment. When Mr Bnohanan left, Mr Cotter took the chair, and perhaps Mr Cotter would explain. Mr Cotter -The charge should have been laid against me. It had been decided at a committee meeting that the entertainment should conclude about « quarter past 8 o’clock.

Mr Brittain—lt was to be as long as the children could be kept amused. Mr Cotter—Mr Porritt and I oonferrei together about strikiug out some of the items an there were so many by little children and it was getting monotonous. It was decided to curtail the programme. Mr Porritt— I objected to cutting out the children because I knew it would a disap pamlment to them. Mr Cotter—l considered that they had two hours’ entertainment and that it was eneugh. Many of the children live long distances oil - , ami a quarter past S was late enough. Mr Thompson—You promised the hall to the Fire Brigade for a dance didn’t you ? Mr Cotter— l did not promise the Brig.tla as chairman, hut as a private individual. 1 may state in connection with this mutter that when the names of Mrs Hume and Mr Black were crossed off the programme I was nnder the imprea ion that Mrs Hume was not in the hall. Mr Johnston informed me to this effect out it appears she entered by a side door and therefore the mistake.

After some farther remarks respecting certain pei sons whose names were crossed off Mr Thompson asked of Mr Cotter Who appointed you chairman of that entertainment after Mr Hqohanan | -ft f Mr Cotter—The meeting was essentially a school children’s treat and the committee carried out the programme. I was appointed chairman of the committee and therefore t >ok the chair.

Mr i'orritt—lt is not fair to bring up such a matter now.

Mr Thompson—l bold that Mr Cotter had no business to take the chair unless proposed by some member of the committee or person in the hall

Mr Cotter—l did not take Mr Buchanan’s chair.

Uc Thompson—Mo, but yon t'lok one from a lady, which 1 was surprised at. It was very bad manners.

Mr Cotter—l did not take it as you say. Perhaps you wanted to take the chair. Mr Thompton—No, sir ; I am an honour able man. Mr Colter - Am 1 not ?

Mr Thompson—No, sir ;if yon were yon would not hare gone to the Fire Brigade and •ifi-red them the hall for a dance without consulting your colleagues, Mr Hebley—By whose authority were the names of the performers crossed off the pro grsmms.

Mr Cotter—l did it od my own. Mr Hebley—You bad no right to do so. Mr Cotter—Well, 1 admit it. 1 consulted with Mr Porritt upon the matter though.

Mr Porritt—Mr Cotter asked me, but I did not wish for any omissions. Mr Thompson—l move that an apology be sent to Mrs Home, Mr Black, and the children who were tree too in each an unmannerly way.

Mr Hebley—l second it. Mr Johnston—The committee bad nothing to do with it. Mr Lewis—As Mr Cotter has admitted be made a mistake, he ought to be made apologise. Mr Cotter—Made 1 Made 1 Mr Lewis—Yes. made 1 Mr Colter—Oh, no. I will use my own opinion about the matter.

Mr Lewie—Then I will move that you be no longer chairman of the committee.

Mr Cotter—You may do as you like. Mr Lewis—So I will. I will move a reso latum to that effect next Friday. You speak dierespeotfnlly of tbe committee outeide, oallicg them barbers, snobs and other names.

Mr Cotter—l deny it. I treat you all as gentlemen and I expect you will do the same with me.

Mr Hebley—Di 1 you not say outside that joa were the chairman of the committee; tb-t none of us were up to much, and that you had a mind to resign ? Mr Johnston—Well, gentlemen, 1 object to as a committee sending an apology. 1 will resign first.

Mr Lewis—Let us apologise lor tbe conduct of our chairman.

Mr Hebley -Ob, no 1 Let the one who did the mischief apologise.

Mr Cotter—Mr Black was not in the ball when his name was erased. Mrs Home cams in at the back and 1 did not know it. It was a mistake and 1 very much regret that it waa made.

Mr Hebley—How many names wore scratched off the programme that night. Mr Johnston (looking over the list)— Nine, bat I am not certain.

Mr Thompson—You invited all the Matarawa school children I believe. How came yon to Jo that on your own responsibility ? Mr Cotter—l did not. I met Mr Ponsonby, the teacher of the school, and I told him there was soma talk of asking tbe Mataraws children, but we feared that the crossing of tbe swiug bridge at night wcnld be against their coming. Mr Ponsonby said he thought it would not. I then suggested that his committee might talk over the matter. He said he would see Mr Gallon and Mr Welch, as he himself would be in Masterton on tbe Monday, and perhaps these gentlemen would come over and confer with this committee. It would have been a piece of impudence on my part to invite tbe Malarawa children. A letter in the Stinbabd of today says I asked it in the presence of the Matarawa children. This is a downright lie. I mean to answer tbe letter.

Mr Brittain—l saw Mr Ponsonby and he told me that perhaps delegates wonld be sent.

Mr Hebley—Can you say, Mr Cotter, that you did not invite Mr Ponsonby and tbe children? Mr Cotter—l did not. Mr Hebley—Mr Ponsonby fold me that you did, and that hewoald Mr Cotter—lt is a lie.

Mr Hebley—Will you face it out ? Mr Cotter—l will. Do you think I would be fool enough to take the responsibility of inviting another school without consulting this committee ?

Mr Hebley--Mr Walter Udy waa present when Mr Ponsonby told me. Mr Porritt—Mr Ponsonby certainly thought the children had been invited. Mr Johnston—Mr Ponsonby was under tbe impression that tbe Matarawa children had an invitation to this treat and that tbe settlers there would be expected to subscribe. But he did not like to bring tbe children over and then ask the parents to pay after. Mr Cotter—All I said was that if delegates were sent they could oo operate with ns, bat I gave no free invitation. Mr Thompson —Let us write and ask Mr Ponsonby about the matter. Mr Lewis—Why did you, Mr Cotter, call for tenders (or tbe treat before we had decided upon having one. Mr Cotter—ln order to know tbe oost 1 asked Mr Loasby and also Mr Grigg. It was merely to get information. A short and warm passage of arms upon this “ tender ’’ question brought a very interesting meeting to a close. Mr Cotter stated that in getting tbe figures at whiob the treat could be supplied be did it that tbe committee should know what the probable cost would be Some of the members, however, appeared to think that he had ignored them, and that tenders should have been called after the treat had been discussed.