ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1333, 15 January 1881, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

A battle is raging between tho Board of Education and the City School Committee about the school or schools in Wcllcslry-street East. Tho original Wel-lesloy-street School was, with the other schools in tho city, placed under the control of the committee. When another school was built adjoining the former one, it also was placed under tho control ot the committee, with thrj promise that a. cot tain poition of the building, which was then .specified, was handed over only temporarily, as it was intended to use th.i*, portion for a Normal School and Practising School. Tho committee accepted control of tho additional building under these conditions, and, before long, both schools were crowded with children. A few weeks ago Uio committee leceived a letter fiom the Secretory of the Board of Education, couched in that polite, conciliatory language fur which the Secretary is notrd, informing them that, as tho Board was about to begin the Normal .ipd Practising Schools, tbo « hole of the Wellesley-ctteet Schools svould requite to be vacated by the committee. The latter, who are elected by tho people, and not by an assortment of different electors, like tho<-e of the Boaid of Education, .solemnly prote&ted against this aibitiary pioceeding, \ meeting of the Board was held, at which tho protest was considered, and a reply, embodying a statement of the position taken by the Board, Avas adopted. The reply was signed by the Mayor, who is the chairman of tho Boar i, but it is my opinion that it was written by the secretary, oml that the chairman, who devotes a great deal of his time to public affahs, did not give it that attention which he usually bestows on matters ho has to deal with. At any rate, the reply was sent, and a special meeting of tho committee was held on Monday evening to consider trie reply. Tho Chairman of the School Committee had drawn up a statement of the ca&e from the committee's view of it, which was adopted and ordered to be sent to the Boaid of Education. It expressed the doubts of the committee whether the Board have the power to lcmovo the school from the control of tho committee ; it '•hows, by reference; to the letter- 1 of the Secretary of the Board that it was only a portion ol the school that was held temporarily to be given back to the Board to be used as a normal school ; and finishes by saying that the committee hold the .school in trust for the public, and do not feel justified in giving it up. I have, perhaps, taken up too mucb space in referring to this dispute hetweeit^ two public bodies who ought to work in j harmony, but it has been tho chief topic of convocation in town this week, and it is of great interest to all country settlers. As the Board of Education has so much, power for good or evil in all matters connected with schools and teachers in this Provincial District, I think their action in this matter ought to be carefully considered by everyone who takes an interest in the great question, of education— and who does not ? If a strong and influential body like the City Schools' Committee can be ridden over rough-ahod by the Board of Education, it will be a poor look-out for any country committee which may incur the displeasure of the Secretary of the Board of Education. A great deal of surprise was felt when it was known that the Hon. John Bryce, Minister for Native Affairs and Defence, had tendered his resignation as a Minister of the Crown to His Excellency Sir Arthur Gordon, Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, and Comnxander-in-Chief of Her Majesty'sforces in said colony, and that His Excellency had been pleased to accept his resignation. The reason assigned for his resignation is a difference of opinion between him and the other members of the Cabinet, as to the course to be puisued at Parihaka, Mr Bryce wishing to resort to active measures, to send the constabulary to Parihaka and arrest Te Whiti and a number of the other prominent Maoris, and the other Ministers objecting to this course. Very few people believe that this was the real reason of the resignation, and all sorts of reasons have been given. Whatever the reason, the fact remains, that the colony has lost the services, at least as a Minister, of oue who, though not qualified by a knowledge of Maori

lore and traditions, and not by any means a Philo-Maori, is that rara ai-U among politicians—an honest man. Hurrah for Auckland ! Hurrah for the "Taniwha!" Hurrah for the plucky fellows who got the " Taniwha " built and sent her over to Melbourne, to show what Auckland can do in the way of yachtbuilding ! The "Taniwha" has given the Victorians some idea of what she can do by coming in second in the Corio Bay Regatta, beating all her opponents except the "Janet," The Hon. W. J. Clarkes splendid yacht. I have two good reasons for hoping that the "Taniwha" and the "Janst" will change places at the Melbourne Regatta to-morrow (Saturday). My first reason ia that Captain Press, of the " Taniwha," will have learned by experience, the defects of his vessel, as he could not learn them excopt by sailing in a race against formidable opponents, and will remedy those defects. My second reason is that, Corio Bay is surrounded on three sides by high hills, between which the wind comes down in fitful gusts, whereas, HobBono Bay is surrounded by low-lying land, so that the wind blows steadily there. The difference between Corio Bay and Hobson'a Bay, is very much like (if my friend Moles worth S. will permit me to use the timihc) the difference between Wellington and Auckland Harbours. " Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair, and cursed himself in his despair." Those who drew the favourite horses in Noith's Sweep on the Wellington Gup, will feel very strongly tempted to follow Sir Ralph's example, as Mr North has " sought fresh fields and pastures new," taking with him the £4000, subscribed for the sweep. lam very glad that lam not one of his victims. Ido not object to taking my chance in a sweep, nor do I object to giving away in >ney, if J can afford if, but I greatly dislike losing money, and I Btrongly object to being robbed. On Wednesday the half-yearly meeting of the New Zealand Insurance Company was held. It was quite a pleasant meeting, especially in comparison witli some of the previous meetings of the same company, and the Chairman moved that £10,000 be added to the reserve fund and a dividend at the rate of fifteen per cent per annum be paid to the shaieholders. The motion was duly seconded, and carried nan. con. I have always noticed that shareholders make no objection to a motion to the effect that a handsome dividend bo paid. Yes ! I have made up my mind that I would rather be a shareholder in the Now Zealand Insurance Company than own a lot of tickets in North's £4000 sweep on the Wellington Cup. Any of my friends who have more New Zealand Insurance Go's, shares then they know what to do with may take this hint. I am well aware that thcie is n ceitain amount of rink attached to holding shaies in an insurance company, but I am willing to sacrifice myself for the benefit of any of my fneiuls, and run the risk for them. The Chairman of the Haibour Board wants an alteiation made in the constitution of the board, by having all the members elected, except one — the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for the time being. His object was to exclude the representation of the City Council and the Highway Boards and to none but owners of cargo-boats and Noah's Arks on the board. Fortunately, the other members of the Board could not S3e the force of his argument, they lcmeinbercd who was the cause of the wretched apology for a dock being constructed, so they negatived his motion, which ■would have had tlie effect of losing the best members of the Board. We may have a good dock after all, since the motion to make the Board consist of the befoic mentioned owners of caigo-hoats and Noah's Arks has been negatived. I hope we may. St. Munoo.