THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1290, 26 June 1884, Page 2

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

To the Editor. Sir, — I think the correspondence which has passed between the Chairman, Mr - Dempsey and myself during the past fort- “ night could not have been laid before the Committee yesterday morning, or surely “ B. A. Scott ” would not have written as he has done. After laying the following faCta before* the public 1 shall take no farther action - in the matter until the whole case «haa been before the Board, whose impartial judgment 1 have no donbt of obtaining:— Ist. “E. A. Scott" states that ! was that “ the question of the position of the head mistress and of her ability to - fill that position has been before the Committee for many months.” 1 emphatically ' deny knowing or thinking snob a thing. T had not the least idea of any dissatisfaction on the part of the Committee regarding my work in the school until I saw by the Press that the Inspector was to visit and report on the Fourth Standard, and then the reasons of such a visit were quite unknown to me. : 2nd. The same gentleman states that I have “ been in communication with the Chairman on the subject more than once." With regard to this I may say that after the Inspector’s visit 1 called three times to see Mr St Hill, and being told the third time he was. out, I waited upon Mr Scott, and said, “ that having failed to see the Chairman 1 wished to know if ha could inform me why the Inspector had been, asked to visit the sohcoL*’ This he did not do. A few. days afters ; wards I saw Mr St Bill for about five * minutes, and his information on the subject amounted to nil. „ 3rd. As far as the deputation is concerned, it fa the first I nave heard about' # it. After receiving the Committee’s resolution I wrote to the Chairman to .know. the reasons for such a deduion ; he referred me to the head master, to whoin I' was told my letter had been sent. . Subsequently, being informed that one reason was the master’s reports, I requested to know from him their purport, out he declined to gire meany account o them.

I cannot close without noticing the re- ' port of the School Committee. I Have not authorised the Committee to publish the correspondence and rhperts. I have stated that “ I do not fear a strict investigation of the xsse,” nor do I; but by - that ! do not mean , the publication of a • one-sided correspondence; . ; ' : ■’■ As to the documents necestary to com* > plete the series for the press, all 1 shall > now say is that excepting those of "A!” > and “6 ” I hare never before heard any- ■ ; thing about them.—l am, Otc. * - . i A. J.Hlbbasd, Head Mistress, - Ashburton Borough Schools. Jane 26, 1884. 1 ' To THE ESITOK. Sib, —In reply to Mr Scott let me in* form, him that the expression which he , i refers to, 'was not for one moment in. ’ tended for his use, and I hasten to. in* > form him thereof. , I would also like to ■ say for his information that the “ phrase 1 ’ - was only borrowed by me. For being Of ■ local manufacture I had no wish‘to in* i fringe the rights of the patentee. As I have no doubt but that if anyone, attempted the free use of the same, the i owner and maker, who is well-knowO here, would at once apply for an injunction against the same, and also-for heavy damages, so that Mr Scott need have no fear about its application to himself. With respect to paragraph Ho .1- of his letter, “ That Miss Harband had bean made acquainted' with the fact that the question of her ability to : fill her position had been before the; Committal,” 1 will allow her to speak for herself. And with reference to “a . ,deputation to wait on the Committee,” t ; know nothing about; neither was it ’ until a weak ago that I knew she had ■ been “ requested to resign,” i In paragraph Ho 2 Mr Scott admits a good deal that is true against himself, as a member of the Committee. 1 submit, ; however, that there is no exaggeration of i terms whatever. If Mr Sootf were requested to resign his present position within It days, I presume he would pretty well know what was meant. The Committee had not the., power to dismiss Miss Harband—thanks to the wisdom of our legislators— I bat they did their : vary best to cause her to dismiss herself. And yet Mr Scott, out of 1 his virginjsimplicity, or very sarcastically, H remarks, that the Committee had gives - that lady a right of appeal. Well, Sir, if that is not trying to turn the tables, what is'it? It reminds me of the story of the student who tried to prove that a “ horse* chestnut,” was the same as a chestnut horse. . Then he says “ the Committee did not ex* i pect Miss Harband would resign,” that inpassing the resolution they ‘ knew they were inviting criticism, and that the public would sift the matter to the hoi tom." A very good admission. Sir, and if it ■ proves anything, it adds to the truthful* - ness of a very old saying, “ that a guilty conscience needs no accusing.” The grand old “ Book” says “ the wicked fleeth when no man pursueth.” And the Committee . evidently, according to Mr Scott’s statement, expected the light to shine in upon their darkness; and so prepared for flight accordingly. How, Mr Scott, the Committed requested Miss Harband to resign her position, did it not ? That lady ‘ very naturally enquired of the Ohairm&ufor the reasons, and she was simply told to shut up. Here are the words “I am further . requested to inform you that this correspondence trust now cease, and would remind you of the advisability and importance of your sending in your resignation within the time appointed.” A polite piece of impudence, and an attempt to out off every means that lady had of obtaining the information she required. Does ■: Mr Scott call that fair play 1 Let him “ read, mark, learn and inwardly digest ” it, and see if he.can find any thereto . Accused, condemned, and sentenced unheard is quite correct Sir.—l am, etc.,.. HoUSKBOIiDEB. . —. ——-r 1 To this Editor. Sir,—l fancy by this tirqa yoq sfa # getting tired of ooueespondenae. qa thq ‘ abpve subject. * You will, however, permit me to reply to statements made at the last mooting Of the School Committee, as reported in yotir issue of yesterday. Mr S. W. Alcorn in a latter to the Chairman of the Committee has stated that Mr Dempsey, the 'head master, made a statement to me which that geutlqman. in a letter to thet Com- r mittee denies, or rather says that the coqt versation he had with me could not, in his opinion, h* distorted aoA* to have the meaning attached to it in Mr Aloorn’a Jotter. How the facts are these. >: ■ Immediately after the head mistress got leave of absence, and her sitter took her plage in th§ school, in a conversation I had with Mr Dempsey, he told m e that the Chairman asked where she was stopping, and on being told that it was at Alcorn’s, he said, “We will go for her.” Mow, I am prepared, if necessary, to verify this statement in any way. Bat it will be borne in miud that the words : were in reference to the head m* B^®3 ?!? - sister, ,qo that, strictly speaking 1 , Mr 1 Dempsey is right when he denies they - were used in reference Uo the present headmistress. How, £ never intended •- repeating these words, no* did Ido so until the Uth June, the morning after the School Committee meeting, when, meeting Mr J. Orr ho asked me what was done at the meeting the previous evening,

I fold him that a majority of the Committee had passed a reao I u tion g ivi ng Mis« ■ Hsrbsnd a fortnight’s notice to resign, and if she did not do so, that the Board wonld be requested to giro her one ..month’s notice, and he expressed his surprise, when I said in passing, “ Oh, the ■ - - Qhairman said he would go for her. ” •These words coining to Mr Alcorn’s ears he seems to have thought it his ddty to *write the letter published in yonr columns of yesterday although Mr « Alcorn knew that the statement had reference to Miss Harband, jqnior, as I - waited upon him and told him so ; and I also see from his letter some additions to the words used about it too hot . for her to remain”—words which were never spoken by me. 1 must express my great regret that Mr Alcorn wrote such a letter, aa the conversation 1 had was, as I have stated, private, and the publication ,qf it could not possibly benefit in any way ' the head mistress’s position. The remarks of the Chairman about my being absapt at the last special meeting of the Committee I will just let pass for what theyarqworth.—l am, etc., \ ‘ Andrew Obe.

To this Emtob. Sib, — I find in year report of the School Committee's proceedings of June 24th, you here published the letter of P. W.' Alcorn containing the charge against me in full, but Mr-Dempsey’s letter containing the questions I requested him to answer you have carefully simmered down. ' I think, Sir, if yon publish one in its entirety you should hare published the other. I hope you will see the justice of publishing this and the accompanying letter In your correspondence Columns.—l am, etc.,

George St. Him,. Ashburton, Jane 26, 1884. [Copt. ] Ashburton, 21st Juno, 1884. G. H. St Hill, Esq., Chairman Ashburton District School Committee. Sm,—l have much pleasure in replying to the following-queries put by you, knowing that I do so in the cause of truth and justice:— Q. 1: Did I at any Conversation 1 might have bad with you, at any tifhe, show by such conversation that I wa* aware or knew .where she (Miss A. Har- . band) Jived?—A.; Never.' Q. II: Did I ever appear to take the remotest interest where she did or did not. stay and lodge in any conversation: 1 \ hadwith you that might possibly be con- * strned that I cared where she lived I —A,; Decidedly not. Q. III.: Is the statement or -charge of S. JflT* Alcorn's against me true or false, or is there any foundation that you are aware of that could possibly be construed into.my making that statement ?—A; The statement is false; I am aware of no foundation that could bo construed into your .making that statement. Q. IT.: Do yon think it possible, in your conversation with A. Orr, he could (having dueregaid to truth) possibly distort .or twist .your conversation into the . statement I am charged with ?—A.: I do not think it possible it could be so distorted. J am etc;, H. Dempsey, . -Dead Master, Ashburton Borough School.