Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 153, 20 June 1891, Page 2

Correspondence

TO "THE EDITOR OF THE BTAH. • Sib, — Will you' permit me to say a few words in answer 10 Mr J. H. Ashworth's letter which appeared a few days agro in your paper, and which was headed " The Mangaone School." Mr J. H. Ash worth said that ifc is nearly two mileß froiu the school to Mr Densham's farm. Ho wonld haye been more precise, had he Baid one mile. He also said that a man cannot be a farmer and a schoolmaster combined. Can Mr J. H. Ashworth point out one single' instance in which Mr Densham has neglected his duties as teacher since he has had his &rm ? I, myself, know that Mr Densham's farm never interferes with his school duties: Mr Ashwprth also said that when tl.e want of a - bouse was pointed out, that he and other settlers put their hands in their own * pockets - and subscribed pound , for pound to put it up. - Now sir, this pound for pound which the settlers subscribed was for the purpose of buying the section from Mr Smith, at a cost of, I think, .£2O. Of this the Board paid one half. The Board built the dwelling house, and not the settlers. Mr Ashworth also said that if the Committee found the. schoolroom not large enough, the proper way was to get the Inspector, who is sure to. see whether the children are too crowded or not, to ask the Board to put up another room, and. the thing would bave been done. I wish Mr AahVorth to know that his so-called " proper way " was followed, and that before this " proper way '! was taken the Education Board had been repeatedly asked by this committee for more accommodation, but without avail. , Then, when the Inspector examined the Mangaone School, I saw him and asked him if he could not assist this committee to get "a larger school built. The Inspector answered that a larger school was wanted, and in his report to the" Education Board he pointed out that another class-room was urgently needed at Mangaone, and that a gallery should also be built. I also have in my possession correspondence from the Board proving that the Inspector > also brought this -matter before the Board, but with the same resuit. So this " proper way "< of getting the school made larger resulted in getting nothing done. Therefore, when the new committee was elected, finding that they could not get the Board to inlarge the school," they decided to ask the 'teacher to allow them to use the residence for a class-room until such tivne as the Board could give more accommodation in the school. Mr Densham gave, us the permission asked for (and this was all he had to do With' the matter), and the committee themselves ' actually placed the desks in the residence, with the result, that Mr Densham received that letter, your notice of which seems to have been something which. Mr ''Ash worth was not able to digest. ' .Hence his letter. As this letter of mine has already grown much longer than I at first intended, I will not notice the rest of Mr Ashworth's epistle. — I am,"&c., EOBERT LANKSHEAB, Chairman' Mangaone School Committee.