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Under these circumstances, and with the Secretary against us, we have no hope of being able to correspond with success, and we find it useless to contradict tales which pour in faster than we can attend to them at this distance they have several weeks' start of us. The Committee therefore demand again that the Board grant the Committee a change of teacher or an inquiry on the spot. We cannot believe that the Board wishes to uphold a disgraceful state of affairs here. On the other hand, the householders have imposed on us a duty, in the execution of which the Board allow the Committee to be pelted with dirt by a fellow who, if the Board do their duty, will be promptly exposed, but whose cunning and adroitness generally throw the blame on other shoulders than those of the guilty party The true character of this man is notorious in the north. Perhaps you would ask Mr. Airey for his experience of him, at which that gentleman was so indignant that he exposed his machinations to the Committee, in my presence, on the 15th November last. I remain, &c, The Chairman, Board of Education, Auckland. Thomas Fishee, Chairman.
Sic, — Fairburn's Eoad School, Mangonui, 11th December 1893. Telegram (delayed) just received. Have written Chairman, but wrote you fully before. I did not say the teacher (a lady) assaulted the Chairman. You are misinformed by Mr Christensen, and we foretold it, see our letter 28th August, 1893. It is a legitimate result of your listening to and being directed by a man without status, instead of to the Committee, and we who know him know you will be misinformed to the end, despite the Committee's warnings, and that our only hope of justice lies in inquiries on the spot, such as has been held by Mr Airey, and have all along been demanded by the Committee, which expose him and allow the truth to be seen. The whole of this Fairburn embroglio is a scheme of his, carried on by aid of a very few persons, partly made by interest, and no part of it would have taken place but for his constant hand to enforce it, and the Committee, and, indeed, the teacher as well, are but factors among the rest moving along an irresistible course, so long as the Board will not listen to reason, and inquire. I remain, &c, The Secretary, Board of Education, Auckland. Thomas Fishee, Chairman.
Sm,— Fairburn Eoad School, Mangonui, 18th December, 1893. I am instructed by the Committee to inform the Board that the Fairburn school-room was opened on the Bth instant, and kept open from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m., the object being to permit school business to be transacted by the teacher free of impediment, the teacher having applied on the afternoon of the previous day (the 7th instant) by letter to be allowed to make up the monthly returns required by the Board. Although early informed of the time of opening the school to allow her purpose to be carried into effect, she neglected to attend, nor did she go to the trouble to make any further application or arrangement, but announced her intention of leaving the district for Auckland. On the 7th instant the teacher applied to the Committee for leave of absence for a week, and was told the Committee would consider it. A Committee meeting was convened, and sat at the school from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. on the Bth. The teacher did not trouble herself to attend, or await their decision. At the meeting it was decided that, as the teacher did not say she was ill, and failed to produce a certificate cf medical examiner, as required, the Committee were not empowered to grant the leave of absence for a week as requested. The teacher writes, under date the 12th December, threatening the Committee, complaining about courtesy persisting in refusing the Chairman possession of certain keys of the school. The Committee, as you will see from the above, have gone to much trouble, and with promptitude, to meet the teacher's requests in a reasonable way, and the only return they get is misrepresentation and abuse. The teacher has left without " leave of absence," and announced her intention of not returning here. We make no comment. I telegraphed you yesterday, and now request you to send me copies of all letters and other communications which you have received from Mr Carl Christensen since the first School Committee election here in April last, also all from, the teacher, if any I remain, &c, The Secretary, Education Board, Auckland. Thomas Fishee, Chairman.
(Telegram.) 17th December, 1893. Send copies of all letters and other communications from Christensen. T Fisher, Chairman, Fairburn School Committee, Mangonui. The Secretary, Education Board, Auckland.
(Telegram.) 27th December, .1893. Be school-register in table-drawer Whitehead refuses the keys of drawer, teacher having so instructed him. I await your instructions. Eeply whether the Board has granted us an inquiry by Mr Cooper. T Fishee, Chairman, Fairburn School Committee, Mangonui. The Secretary, Board of Education, Auckland.
Sic, — Education Board, Auckland, 20th December, 1893. I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letters, dated the 11th instant, addressed to the Chairman and Secretary respectively.