LITTLE AKALOA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 433, 14 September 1880, Page 2

LITTLE AKALOA.

(from our own correspondent.)

A meeting of householders was held in the schoolroom on Monday, 6th met., for the purpose of electing a School Committee man in place of Mr 11. Rix, resigned. Mr Barker was elected out of three candidates, five others declining to stand. Tho Chairman (Mr J. W. Bennett) having thanked those present for their attendance, the meeting closed. Tho same evening a meeting of the School Committee took place, the freshly elected member being present. Mr J. W. Bennett was in tho chair. The question was raised whether " your reporter .might remain," and was answered by one of the members, who said that ho dared not be refused. Mr Barker was of opinion that it was illegal for the Chairman of the Committee to hold that position at the timo when his wife was sewing-mistress. 110 thought that in the event of a complaint it would not be fair for the Chairman to have any voicu in tho matter. His grounds for the illegality of tho positions were based on an article in the Education Act, which prohibited "any member of a School Committee receiving benefit directly or indirectly from the Board," and in this case the Chairman did receivo money indirectly. Mr If. Bennett thought that'Mr Bennett could not possibly havo the charge of receiving benefit from the Board brought against him, as Mrs Bennett was ceitninly a loser by giving up her lime for the .small salary she received, when she could cam much more. Mr J. Bennett said he was surprised at tho Committee bringing tliib question forward, aa the members had, unsolicited, asked him if Mrs Bennett would accept the position of sewing-mistress, and on his replying in tho affirmative eiected her to that position, and obtained the Board of sanction. He thought it only reasonable to suppose that if thr Board had entertained any objection against Mrs Bennett's occupying that position they would have notified it to the Committee.

Mr Mclntosh wanted to know why the Committee should be so punctilious now. The present Committee had up to the present time carried on their duties in a more regular manner than any previous Committee. He said that tho member who had started the subject knew (and none better) that previous members, and even Chairmen, had received benefits from the Board) and no disturbance was made about it. Mr H. Bennett thought that any unpleasantness might bo removed by the resignation of Mrs Bennett, whereupon Mr J. Bennett said he would rather himself resign, and intimated his intention of so doing. Messrs IT. Bennett and 11. Mclntosh then followed his example. The minutes of the last meeting were here read and confirmed. In reference to the cleaning of the school a letter was read from Mr Cox (the school, master), asking the Committee to defer accepting any tender till he could obtain an answer to a letter he had addressed to the Board on the subject. Mr Mclntosh doubted whether the Committee had the power of taking the salary for the cleaning of the school from Mr Cox, as tlmt gentleman had been told, on his accepting the position of schoolmaster, that the money in question was his perquisite, and that as no complaint had been made, the Committee would not be justified ill taking it from him. There being but one tender, the matter was left over till a future meeting. A letter was read from the Board of Education, in reference to the letting of the schoolmaster's house, stating that the Board was tho only source from which permission to let tho bouse could be obtained.

A ball wan given by the members of the Oddfellows' Lodge in this Bay on Thursday last. It was well patronised by

members of other lodges, about forty couples being present. The whole arrangements wore most satisfactorily conducted by the .'Committee (Messrs J. W and G. Bennett. W. Ash ton, R. Rix, and R. Shuttleworth), to whom great praise is due. The dancing was kept up with spirit and without any hitch, forming a great contrast to some of the last few balls in this place.