LITTLE AKALOA ENTERTAINMENT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 668, 8 December 1882, Page 2

LITTLE AKALOA ENTERTAINMENT.

To the Editor,

Sir.—ln your issue of the 7th ult. there appeared a report of the Little Akaloa entertainment, Mr J. B. Barker in the chair, which states :—" Then the Chairman called on the audience to join with him in presenting the accompanying purse of sovereigns to Mr Cos, in recognition of his ability as a teacher, as shown during the time be had been at Little Akaloa. He regretted very much that little local jealousies had made them lose the services of a man so well esteemed as Mr Cox was, and he only hoped the School Committee might secure the services of as good a man as the schoolmaster who was leavingthem; but he (Mr Barker) know that the ground he was treading upon was somewhat delicate, and for that reason he would present the purse, &c, and wish Mr Cox in their name every success." As tbe entertainment was got up for an entirely different object to what Mr Barker has represented, and as he (Mr Barker), states it is through local jealousies that we were losing the services of Mr Cox, will you kindly allow me a space in you columns to state purpose for which the entertainment was got up, and also, in justice to the present school committee, to show that it is no fault or local jealousy on their part that Mr Cox is leaving the district. Mr Cox has on many occasions given a great deal of time, and been to a lot of trouble, in helping in getting up the many entertainments we have had in the Bay, for the last twelve months or more, and as Mr Cox was leaving the Bay, it was suggested to get up an enter • taiument for the purpose of presenting him (Mr Cox) with something more substantial than merely a vote of thanks ; hence the entertainment. Mr Barker should, if ho had any respect for Mr Cox, have presented him (Mr Cox) with the purse of sovereigns, and stated it was in recognition of the services he bad rendered in so ably conducting tha many entertainments we have had lately, and making them so successful as they have been, which was tho true object of tho entertainment. But' Mr Barker not content with the false impression be put on in the presentation to Mr Cox, attacks and censures the

School Committee for Mr Cox leaving the Bay ; and as there is a letter in your issue of the 21st ult., asking if the Little Akaloa School Committee really exists and wanting to know if they have been, or are, asleep or aw«ke, &c, I must again ask you in justice to the committee to publish the following copies of general remarks of Inspector's reports, and copy of letter from Board of Education, which I think will be more than sufficient to show that there is no blame attached to the present School Committee for Mr Cox's leaving, and will fully exonerate them from any little local jealousies and censure which Mr Barker would like to saddle them with. They will show " A Parent" that the committee is really in existence, and fully awake, and capable of defending any actions of theirs during the term they have been in office. Copy of Inspector's Report. 4i Little Akaloa School, examined Sept. 14th, 1880. " General Remarks.

" The present Master, appointed in May, has bad considerable experience in teaching, and ought to in a short time produce satisfactory results. It is to be hoped that the parents in the district will second the efforts of the teacher by endeavouring to send their children to Bchool with greater regularity than in former years. There is a marked improvement in the conduct of the school, and, with three exceptions, the pupile presented in Standards 11. and 111. acquitted themselves creditably. Ihe Standard regulations should be care fully read over, and an effort made to comply as far as possible, with their requirements. Singing is taught with moro than ordinary success, but as yet no provision has been made for drawing object lessons. The master appears to have perfect control over the scholars.

" (Signed) W. L Edge, Inspector 11 October Ist, 1880." Copy of Inspectors Report.

" Little Akaloa School, examined Sept. 14th, 1881. " General Remarks.

" This school has been conducted in a very unsatisfactory manner during the past year, and the work done judged by the results has been almost worthless. " (Signed) W. L. Edge, Inspector. " October, 1881." The Inspector's Report of Sept. 14th, 1882, was in accordance with a minute (passed by the Committee, of which Mr Barker was Chairman) of Nov. sth, 1881 placed in the bands of Mr Cox, asking him if he could give any explanation as to the unfavourable report. Mr Cox in reply, wrote asking the Committee to forward his (Mr Cox's) letter to the Board, asking to allow the school to be re examined in six months from date of last examination, which was duly forwaided tothe Board. The Board, acknowledged receipt of letter, and replied as follows :—ln reply, I have to say that in accordance with your request the Inspector has been instructed to reexamine the school in six months from date of last examination. Will you be good enough to warn the master that the Board will expect to hear of a creditable improvement, and that if the Inspector's report is not satisfactory, it will have to consider whether he will be allowed to retain his appointment.

"(Signed) J. V. C. .Veel, " Sec. to, the Board of Education." Copy of Inspector's Report. " Little Akaloa School, examined May 19th, 1882. " General Remarks.

" This school is conducted in an unsatisfactory manner, and it appears to me that very little care had been taken to regulate the instruction in accordance with the regulations. The ages of tbe scholars presented in standards are considerably above the average, and an altogether undue proportion of those enrolled still remain below standard I. The attainments even of those who pass are only moderate, and the general condition of the scholars is far from creditable.

" (Signed; W. L. Edge, Inspector. " Juno 13th, 1882." Apologising for intruding so much on your valuable space.—Yours, etc., JOHN HUNTER. Sec. Little Akaloa School Committee. Little Akaloa Dec. 2nd, 1882.