THE MIDDLE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

Evening Star, Issue 3802, 1 May 1875, Page 3

THE MIDDLE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

To the Editor. Sib,- -I believe you will agree with me that when men take upon themselves the performance of public duties Involving considerable sacrifices, it becomes the duty of the Press to support them in the conscientious discharge- of these duties. Your contemporary, the ‘ Guardian,’ seeing to think differently, as, in a subleader published on Friday morning, Mr Robin —a member of the Dunedin School Committee —gets much abiised because he ventured to state his wmio.n respecting the .unsafety of the Middle District School buildings. Messrs Simpson arid Arthur, Several months ago, and under widely different circumstances, reported ttiat there was no “ immediate danger.” Mr Robin, and many others whom I know, say that now there is danger. . Sir,- Mr Robin has been several times elected a member of the School Committee. At the last election his fellow citizens showed their appreciation of his conduct in that capacity by placing him at the head of the poll, and I scarcely think the public will believe ‘The Guardian.’ justified in attacking him in so grossly abusive a manner because he has ventured to do what he (rightly or wrongly) considers hia duty. Had the writer of the article referred to watched the school ground and for some time and given his own opinion it would, I venture to say, have been of more present value than the guardedly qualified opinion of two gentlemen given seven months ago. Again, sir, I venture to doubt whether the opinion of two qualified engineers is, ip such a matter, of greater value than the opinion of two qualified navvies, or even the opinion of an ordinary tradesman of average intelligence would be. But whether the school is safe 6i* not I submit that unless the writer •m the ‘ Guardian ’ had reason to think that Mr said ; what he did not believe, he (the h* 3 cause to blush for his unfair, and, pparentlyspiteful composition.—l am; &c., : Gumpt™,