HORSE-PLAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1351, 31 January 1912, Page 4

HORSE-PLAY.

SENIOR CADETS IN SCHOOL ' GROUNDS. Allegations of horse-play by senior cadets while at parade at the . Normal School on Monday evening last formed the subject of a letter from the headmaster of the school (Mr. J. C. \Vebb), which was read at the meeting of the Wellington Education Board yesterday. The letter, dated January 30, read as follows:—

"I havo to report that on my arrival this .morning I found that tho premises had been used by the military authorities for drill of the Territorials or senior cadets last evening, and a great amount of damage done through horse- . play; cabbages and other, plants were uprooted from our experimental and garden plots, and thrown into Brook Street; gratings and other materials had been removed, wire netting loru dowii; objectionable drawings and writing put on the walls, and blackboards and other minor traces left of vandalism. The caretaker was on the premises, but the cadets did not leave till long after dark, say 9 p.m., and it was impossible for hiui to seo what was going on. "The use of otn premises by the Defence Department was granted without any reference to myself, although 1 take it I am responsible for the caro > of such premises, and in view of last night's proceedings 1 beg respectfully . to submit that (he board should reconsider (he whole matter of (license of the premises by the Defence authorities." It was explained by the board's secretary that tile use of the Normal School premises was allowed the military authorities on the understanding that the lecture hall only would be used for lecture purposes, and the play-ground for drill one evening per week, on condition that the men were admitted to and dismissed from the premises under the supervision of a qualified officer, that all damage was made good, and that no smoking was allowed within the building. It was decided, without discussion, to refer tho complaint to the military. authorities for a statement lof their side of the case.