LITTLE AKALOA ENTERTAINMENT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 672, 22 December 1882, Page 2

LITTLE AKALOA ENTERTAINMENT.

To the Editor.

Sir, —"John Hunter, Secretary of S3IIOOI Committee, Little Akaloa,' , figures in your issue of Dec. 8, as the exponent of certain matters relating to the last entertainment held here, and of things pertaining to the school and master. Will you allow me, the person most interested a space to reply to John Hunter ? I mast premise that I was absent from Little Akaloa when Mr Hunter's letter appeared, so that I am somewhat taken at a disadvantage in replying, as I did not return until last Tuesday. Before I leave the district there are some points on which I wish to put myself right with those who know me in Canterbury and Banks Peninsu a, and hence my request for a space in your columns as soon as it will suit your convenience. In the first place, I gave an emphatic denial to Mr Hunter's statement re the entertainment, that " i: was suggested to get up an entertainment for the purpose of presenting him (Mr Cox) with something more substantia], than thanks." Mr Hunter's facts as to the reason why the entertainment was got up are, in short, anything but facts, Tney are mere figments of a somewhat weak imagination, *nd issue from a mind which manifestly wouid be all the better for a little culture. The facts to my knowledge are, that the said concert, etc., was suggested by some friends of my own, in order, as they kindly said, to present hie with some slight recognition of the good qualities which had made me much liked and respected by most of the residents in the Bay who had known me ititim ilely." I do not deny that the other ide-i advocated l>y Mr Hunter may have obtained some credence with some of tiie public in this

place, but originally Mr Hunter's fact (?) was never mentioned, nor did I ever con - sider lh.it it, had any weight with the promoters. It is difficult, if notimpossible, to conceive what the publication of reports, etc., in connection with the school can have to do with a reply to the letter signed "A Parent." Unless my memory servos me wrongly, " A Parent " wanted to know why the committeo had not elected a master for the school during the three months I remained in that position, my notice being dated Aug. 1, and my term of office expiring Oct. 31. Moreover, it was pointed out that the school was not likely to re-open until the end of January, 1883, and that for six months no new master could be chosen, and also that for three months the school was closed. If Mr Hunter can show how any single one of the reports can be considered a reply to the letter signed "A Parent," he will greatly astonish me. Let Mr Hunter show this, and I shall be inclined to give him credit for more knowledge than I at present believe he has. No, sir, the reason for his publishing these documents lies in the fact that Mr Hunter never did like me, to use no stronger expression, nnd hence his hollow pretence for printing and publishing no flattering character of me. For his spite and malice, knowing whence they come, I take them for exactly what they are worth. Possibly be may hear from me, in another way, on the matter. In conclusion, one word in justification of myself. In all my thirty years' experience aa head of large schools, both in England and Australia, I never knew a school where the attendance of the children was, as a rule, so irregular as it has been here, and of all these irregular scholars, tha most exceptionally irregular, of those who oould have attended, were the children of John Hunter, Secretary and Treasurer of the School Committee. Such scholars would bring discredit on any school or teacher. I appeal with perfect confidence to the parents for witness to the great progress made by their children under my hands when the attendance has been regular. But I have trespassed already, I fear, too much on your space, and will, with your consent, write a little more in a future issue,—Yours, etc., HENRY COX.