TAPANUI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 98, 26 May 1876, Page 6

TAPANUI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

A special meeting of t lie- above Com* .niittee..wns held on rho 10th inst. Thtire >vere present-, Messrs Howar,; (in \ the chair,) Bowden, M'Duff, Colquhoun, Keir, and Brebner, (Secretary). The ulijoct of rh* 1 triPHtincf was to consider a *I«rrer sei>t l>y Mr South to the Hey. Mr Withey, Episcopalian minister. Tlih If'ttu! 1 Was as follows t — -£0 the Rev. Mr Withey. r Sia,— l am instructed by my CJommitled to aslc "you to l>o good enongh to inform them in writing, thitu^L me, whether or not the repoH be true t ha: yov. hava opened, or intend to open, a •fcchr.ol iv Tapanr.i. ' ' The School Committee, as a body elected ac-: . corfling to Jaw, to watch over the interests ;oij : t:i» OorcTTiTnont school and teacher j think they havo a right to make the enquiry, arid more so because -hey are acquainted With the facts that . "votrr CbureU Committee desire the nae -of their k< hoolroona oil Sundays. They knov*"; also that ilio person jvho takes alternate services with yourself, and is evidently assisting you by, all .the, , .mean* in his pu'wer is their lecher, and the ojie -?rho will h6 seriously injured by the establish: ■meat of a- rival school. i Th«*y beg to remind you that as I have re- ' ceived a Collegfc and University training, and aVn, ' ablo to t»Hch not only the usual subject's taught % ouf schools, but "also classics'and'inathematids,' "there is no necessity for a ochool to instruct in «£tfta subjects. - : : They also beg to remind you that th«ir teacher is, :■. man of blauirle^s life, who has upheld tlio character of a Christian and gentleman, and who <h;»s proved his abilities as a teacher of the highest order. This is evident by the commendation bestowed by the various inspectors who have ex.■imined ami reported on the school, . T?hey also wish to inform you that they are striving to "fulfil their engagements tinder which their to.iciicr was plected, and to make up the arrears of salary now due, aad ihst the loss of about two or tlirta scholars will toake their burden much heavier ar, the end of the year-. Should no anrwer be reoeived by me by to-morrow (Wednesday) evening,, they will cause such steps to be t'wren r-i the circumstances of the case require; ■ -: -I. have ths honor to remain, ; ,: • Your obedient servant, : . ; . , (Signed) G. $. SOUTH, Teacher. .Mr, C»]quhoun roofed, . and Mr .M'Duff . seconded, " That the letter he ignored." . ; :Mr Keir moved, and Mr Bowden .<eeonded an amendment, " That the" teachpr, seeing the position in which the School CommittHe would he placed by the Church of England minister opening rt school, deem it advisahle on behalf of the Committee, to request explanation from the Hey- Ml- Withev, although the letter had been sent without tlie sanction of the Committee." The amendment was carried by the ■ lasting vote of the Chairman. Mr Colquhoun moved, and Mr £i 'Duff seconded, "That the Secretary be instructed to write to the Education Board, asking; that the sum of .£l6 for painting- the school and schoolmaster's residence be forwarded to the Com : mittee." Carried. Mr Keir moved, and Mr M'Duff f-econdrd, " That the teacher furnisli the Treasurer with amount of outstand■'■ing- accounts, nnd that the Treasurer settle the same if the funds would ad T mit; if not, the matter to be brought before the next meeting." Carried. -l-he meeting then adjourned. l