DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Evening Star, Issue 3716, 20 January 1875, Page 2

DUNEDIN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The first meeting of the newly-elected committee last evening was attended by Messrs Stout, Strode, G. Bell, Fish, Livingston, Robin, J. L. Gillies, and Wright. The election of officers was first proceeded with, and Mr Livingston, being the oldest member, was appointed chairman, Mr Gillies treasurer, Mr S. James secretary, and Messrs Robin, Wright, and Livingston a Works Committee. The secretary’s salary was increased to LIOO.

j The application of M. de Montalk, who offdfed his services as French teacher, was referred'.to the head-masters of schools, to see it he could make' arrangements with them. The Commissioner of Police wrote that he would give attention to complaints of larrikin* ism on the part of persons who had injured the school buildings in Great King street and York place.

It was resolved to write to the City Council in respect of charging water rates for the schools; and to guarantee the salary of Mr Lindsay, one of the Middle School teachers, at not less than L2OO a year. It wa« stated by the Secretary that there were now 125 free'scholars at the various schools—3l in the South school, 38 iu the Middle school, and 56 in the North school. Sixteen h?d been admitted lately. Messrs. Strode, Fish, Bell, and Gillies were appointed a committee to inquire into ihu whole question of free scholars, in order to "ascertain if those who at present attended the schools ojught really to be exempt from the payment of school fees.

The formal business having been concluded Mr Fish referred to Mr Gillies’s election to the Committee, and inquired if it was legal, and if not legal, whether it would invalidate any of the Committee’s proceedings. Mr Gillies, who followed, objected to an expression made use of by the last speaker, viz., that the Committee could elect him after he was qualified. He was legally qualified before electron. Clause 15 of the Ordinance provided that if there was any dispute the matter should bo referred to the Superintendent, who had power to settle such dispute. When he heard of this objection he wrote to bis Honor as follows: At the late meeting for the election of a School Committee for the City of Dunedin I Witd the honor to be elected. It would appear that there is'a party, or that there are parties who dispute my qualification to be elected. Had tie question been raised when nominated, I \tobl4 hftvu dwwvd it my duty to asphdo

position to the public before the election pro* ceeded. That not having been done, Ido not feel inclined now to parade my private affairs before the public, to gratify the idle cariosity of some charlatan or empty headed, envious upstart, who only dares to do battle by wielding the weapon of anonymous scribbling. But that the valuable space in our journals may not be occupied, as too often they are, as mere channels for ventilating personal antipathies, I take the liberty of appealing to you, under the powers given you in the 15th clause of the Education Ordinance, to declare whether my election is considered by you valid or not. I produce documentary evidence on which you can form your judgment, and by your decision in the case I am prepared to abide.” His Honor expressed verbally his satisfaction with the evidence, and he (Mr Gillies) would only simply say that he took the course he did so that his Honor might be in a position to give a decision if the question of validity was placed before him. He expressed his surprise that Mr Fish especially should display such want of knowledge of the Ordinance, as not to know the proper course to pursue if he or any ratepayer wished to test the validity of any election. He would not condescend to reply to anonymous scribblers, who set themselves up to state facts which are not facts, and vet call themselves honest, just, and such like Ikies, After an observation from Mr Stout, that the Committee had no power to interfere, as the objection mast come from the ratepayer to the Superintendent, the matter then dropped, Mr Fish stating that personally he was glad to see Mr Gillies on the Committee. The mode of electing the Committee was commented on by Mr Fish, who said polling at booths in the various wards of the City was the proper way of obtaining an expression of opinion from the 16,000 citizens of Dunedin. To suppose that sixty or seventy persona, many of whom might not be qualified to vote, could fairly represent the citizens was absurd. Mr Strode agreed with Mr Fish, but Mr Bell thought the question ultra vires, and Mr Stout reminded the Committee that the method of election pursued here was a very common one in the old country. After further discussion the matter dropped.