B.—lb

13

Sic,— Fairburn's, 20th November, 1893. As I notice in the Education column of the Weekly Neius that the School Committee are trying to make matters bear upon the teacher of our children, who, of course, cannot help the variances between parents of scholars and an almost childless Committee, it is my duty to inform the Board that I have six children attending the school, and I am most satisfied with their progress in education. In fact, under the care of a teacher like Miss Wrigley, they are almost sure to pass a standard at each examination, for the care and trouble taken with them entitles her to the utmost praise. She has now taught my children for four and a half years, and I am unwilling, like the rest of the parents that have children at her school, to part with her Eegarding her conduct, it is that what every teacher should possess, but, unfortunately, does not. She has been, and is, leading a life here that it would be good for everybody, old and young, to take example from, and the scholars, if they will follow her teaching, will be fitted well for life's battle. Concluding, I express my sorrow the Board should allow such men to be placed on a Committee, whose desire seems to be the ruin of our hitherto grand school. Yours, &c, The Secretary, Board of Education Auckland. Saeah Cheistensen.

Sic,— Fairburn, 20th November, 1893. I notice in the Weekly News that the Committee are now trying to get over the fence where it is weakest—namely, by trying to injure the teacher of our children by the way of misconduct. Miss Wrigley has now been here about four and a half years, and I hope she may be here as long again, as I am sure the Board has not got another teacher so well suited for this place as she is. Begarding misconduct on the part of the teacher, I may state that she is looked upon here by all who know her with the greatest respect; I mean by all, of course, but the so-called Committee, who, as they cannot get hold of the parents of the scholars, must try to injure the teacher, who holds a situation under the Board. The character of our teacher is that of a lady who may be trusted to any extent. She attends surely to her school duties when time is for that, and her spare time is always spent at home at homely work. She is friendly with nobody particularly, but treats everybody alike, and in a ladylike manner I could understand, if the teacher, as some of them do, fly about from house to house in their spare time, that the Committee would try to find fault, but, a person with a disposition so nice and admirable as Miss Wrigley's it simply a shame, and absurd, for two or three uninterested men to try to mislead the Board regarding conduct. I hope the Board will treat their misrepresentations with contempt. I have, &c, The Secretary, Board of Education, Auckland. Thomas Whitehead.

Sic, — Fairburn, 21st November, 1893. On behalf of tho scholars of the Fairburn School, I am instructed to inform you that the Committee has this day closed our school for no reason known to any of us but the spite existing towards the parents of the scholars. It is high time the Board put an end to such a Committee, who has got in illegally We have continually written to the Board that the desire of the Committee to get in power was for the reason now accomplished—namely, to close our school—but no notice has been taken by the Board. Now they have done as we expected, and that without reason. To-day some of the school-children came home in a very excitable state, and crying, saying that the Chairman (Mr Thomas Fisher) had been running after them on the school-ground, and shouting to them to " Clear out of this!" This frenzy, however, was successfully checked by the other members before he did them any serious harm. Our children are now without a school till it pleases five men with three scholars to open it again. Their proceeding has been so audacious that it is the Board's duty to utterly discharge them that order may again be obtained in our school district. For four years the school, while in charge of a Committee consisting of the parents of the scholars, was in most flourishing and well-working order We pray the Board will at once appoint a Committee from among the parents to take charge of school matters till next April election, at which election we hope the Board will see that no one out of the school district be allowed to vote, as was the case last election, and resulted in all the present disturbances, &c. Please reply at once to this important matter, as all the parents of the scholars are anxiously awaiting. I have, &c, The Secretary, Board of Education, Auckland. C. Chbistensen.

Sic,— Fairburn, 21st November, 1893. I notice in the education column of the Weekly Neius that the new School Committee are now directing their spiteful bullets at the teacher of our children for, if possible, to prove themselves better marksmen in that direction, of course, she holds a situation under the Board, thereby leaving an easier target to hit. I consider, however, that I should not be doing my duty if I did not, like the rest of my fellow-settlers, give her what is due to her—namely, she has brought my five children on splendid, and has always at each examination brought them a standard higher As to conduct, I may state that the two or three men who are trying to injure her ought to be ashamed of themselves, but I am afraid such a thing is unknown to them. Miss Wrigley's quiet life here is known to all, and she is also known to be a first-class teacher, and is highly respected by all who know her I have, &c, The Secretary, Board of Education, Auckland. C. Cheistensen.