LITTLE AKALOA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 581, 7 February 1882, Page 3

LITTLE AKALOA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The following petitiona were those pre sented to the Board of Education against the late election of a school committee at Little Akaloa:—

" Little Akaloa, 24th January, 1882 " To the Board of Education, North Canterbury, Christchurch. " Wβ, the undersigned members of the School Committee of Little Akaloa, forthe year 1881, beg to enter our protest against the proceedings of the Chairman. Mr J. B. Barker, who we hereby declare haa not had the confidence of the Committee for a considerable time, and who without our knowledge has taken possession of books, correspondence, papers, and vouchers, which we believed were in the hands of the Secretary and Treasurer, and has failed, on the written application of the Secretary, to deliver them up to him, to prepare the yearly balance-sheet. We crave, therefore, to be relieved of all responsibility, and beg of your Honorable Board to take such early action as you mayihink fit; to carry out this prayer. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, &c. (Signed) "A. Waghohs, Senr. " A. Waohorn, Junr. " C. J. HOBBAKD. "G-. Bennett. " C. Marshall." "To the Chairman and Members of the North Canterbury Education Board. Christchurch. v The Petition of the undersigned holders residing in the Little Akaloa School District, humbly ehoweth— v That at a meeting of the late School Committee, holden in the schoolroom, a resolution was carried, appointing a Mr Thos. Connon to audit the accounts for the then current year. (See copy of resolution enclosed, marked A.) That the then Chairman of the Committee, a Mr J. B. Barker, persistently obstructed the audit by obtaining possession of, and refusing to deliver up to the Secretary and Treasurer, documents, papers, and vouchers material to the said audit, and without which no audit could take place, and which papers, &c, he had no right to hold, and which letter is yet unanswered. (See letter of Secretary to Chairman, marked B.) That, in accordance with notice given by advertisement through your Secretary, a meeting of the householders was held at seven o'clock in the evening of Monday, the 23rd met., at which Mr A. Waghorn. Jun., was appointed Chairman. That, under the 64th section of 'The Eduoation Act, 1877/ a f nil report of the proceedings of the year then ending could not be given ; and further, that section 82 could not be carried out in consequence of this obstruction. It was resolved at meeting that the election of a new Committee should be deferred or lapse until the -accounts . (should be produced and passed. (See resolution enclosed, marked C) Immediately after the declaration of tho poll, talon by names, the Chairman announced the result, declared the proceedings ended, andleft the chair, the meeting terminating about half-pest nine o'clock. That it has since cotrie to the knowledge of your petitioners, that after the majority of the householders had left, another meeting was held, at which meeting Mr J. B. Barker presided, the result of which your petitioners hear was the return of Mr J. B. Barker, three of hie sone-in-law, A. Mclntosb, brother of another son-in-law, and J. Brown, and at which meeting several parties who were not bonaflde householders, but employees .of Mr J. B. Barker for the " cocksfoot grass seed season, took part in the proceedings; but this irregular meeting your petitioners aver did not represent the householders of the district, and only two of the would be elected persons of the six have any direct interest in the management of the school, they only having children attending it. That your petitioners consider that under the clauses of the Education Act, 1877, above quoted, the proceedings of the meeting, called at 7 o'clock, 23rd inst, and the resolutions passed thereat were strictly regular, and that any proceedings which took place after the chairman dissolved the meeting we submit were illegal. That your petitioners believe that at this season of the year it would be more convenient for the householders that the meeting should take place at eight o'clock instead of seven o'clock, as many are employed at grass seeding to a late hour. Our desire is that the usual payments to the teacher and other employees may be made by direct receipt to your Treasurer, in order that the children's education shall maintain its usual efficiency. On the above statement of facts, your petitioners pray that your honorable Board shall take immediate action, either to make enquiry or bxercise your powers under the 66 clause ©f the said recited act, and fix another day for regular election. •'Signed by 17 householders, constituting a majority in the district." Aβ will be Been by advertisement, a fresh meeting is called.