HASTINGS SCHOOL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3759, 2 August 1883, Page 3

HASTINGS SCHOOL.

[ fo the Editor or thk Daily Telegraph.] Srit, —In tho absence from home of •'Johnny," who is attending to his own business (not other people's), I hasten to thank you for your foot note to "Paterfamilias' " letter in your issue of this evening. I should not have trespassed upon your space to answer the letter had it not been ior the personal allusions which the writor makes as to the author of the letter in your paper of Friday signed " Johnny Whipstraw." The mental obscurity to which "Pater" refers in his letter to tlie Herald has surely o'ertaken himself. Allow me to assure him that he is on the wrong tack altogether, and the very lone of his letter this evening briugs to the surface his true character, shows out in plain colors what his real motive is, and ratifies what has been apparent to many of the ratepayers what his object is in rushing into print. His mind is so occupied, and ho is so absorbed in his determination to persecute the schoolmaster, that he loses sight of all sense of honor and decorum in pursuing his recently planned pet scheme, even to such au extent its to cherish the idea that no one but poor mtiUrc tf'eV«/e would have dared to approach or contradict him. This newly inflamed zeal for the welfare of tho school has its origin in matters quite foreign to education, and arises from a little circumstance that took place quito unconnected with scholastic antics. There are gentlemen and men of education upon tho School Committee. Surely they are not asleep ; nay, they arc fully alive to tho wants and requirements of everything pertaining to the school, and need not the advice and interference of this second Daniel to teach and expound to them their duties. If ho had any cause of complaint his proper channel was the School Committee, not to attack a man in tho columns of a newspaper, where the master, as a public , , servant, would not care to follow him. He admits he is not a Professor of the Dead Languages, still he appears to be cuto enough to take home to himself a portion -of what he calls tho scurrilous language it contained. It was not the writer's intention to offend any one, still, if his conscience lias had a twinge, or the cap fits, ho can wear it, but let me adjure him to be more cautious before he jumps to conclusions or attempts trying his baud at prophesying , what lie really knows lioth-inα-aboiit. Finally, let me counsel him to remember the old adage, " cobbler stick to your last," assuring him that ho is in a fo«- altogether as to the writer of the letter, the contents of which he lifis taken home to himself. Tho author of it has no connection whatever with tho schoolmaster, neither has ho seen, heard of, or from him for nearly twelve months, his solo object in writing it being to uphold a principle of fair play and to show his abhorrence of what every true Englishman is ashamed of, viz., " Stabbing in the dark." I shall not trouble you further Avith correspondence on this matter, as the schoolmaster and those associated with him are well able to take care of themselves', and they have the eympathy and support of tho community with thorn. Apologising for such a lengthy trespass upon your space.—l am, ice, Another Patekvajiilias.

July, 31, 188 a.