Public Meeting at Pohangina

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 43, 8 October 1891, Page 2

Public Meeting at Pohangina

[from our own correspondent."} A public meeting was called at the school house on Monday evening' at 7 o'clock " for the purpose of allowing the hotlßeholders and parents an opportunity of discussing the action of the school committee, and with special reference to the attempt of the school committee to ; induce the Education Board to remove'" the present teacher l Mr Eeeye." As ' thirty residents attended the meeting, (a large number for a scattered place like Pohangina) it showed very general interest was felt in the proceedings. Mr O. - Hunt, in virtue of his chairmanship of ' the school committee, took the chair, on - the motion of Mr Hughey. The conveners of the meeting proposed Mr Jones. There were therefore two chairman r Mr 0. Hunt, was then called on to explain the action of the committee in writing to the Board requesting the removal of Mr Eeeye and in reply asked that the Inspector's reports might be read both for this and last examinations. These were produced by Mr Eeeve and read. The report showed that the percentage of passes was 76 not 65 as incorrectly stated. The Inspector's remarks were not favorable on some points, such as untidiness in school, the attitudes of children during* examination, and other things of a like nature, although the general conduct was good. Mr Eeeye, in reply to questions, showed that his percentage (with the exception of 2 or 3 schools) was among thehighest in the Wanganui district, and that the Inspector's report was for the guidance of she teacher only, and therefore the bad points were_ mentioned for his avoidance in the future. He quaintly remarked that the dismissal of the master originated in pigs. An amusing incident s occurred during the reading of the report as the inspector had written the word " two " where " too " should have been, this was quite " too too much " for the meeting, as it showed that even an In- ' spectoris not infallible, any more than Mr Eeeye. Mr Jones then proceeded to move the resolutions : "It was proposed by Mr Sinclair, and seconded by Mr Curran, that this meeting, representing nearly all the children • attending the sohool, desires to express its satisfaction with the results of the late examination, and the present teacher, and petition the Board to reconsider its resolution reremoyalofthe teacher and allow liim to remain." Mr S. Hunt proposed as an amendment: "That this meeting of householders is not satisfied with the present teacher" seconded by Mr O. Hunt. As only four held up their hands for tha amendment, the proposition was declared carried. The next resolution was proposed by Mr Sinclair, and seconded by Mr Durling: " That this meeting entirely dissents from the action of the members of the committee, who passed a resolution that the teacher should give no more home lessons." This was carried. It was next proposed by Mr Eoberts, and seconded by Mr Whittaker: "That this meeting does not recognise Mr Hughey as a member of the committee, he not having been a resident at the time of the election." This was carried. Mr Hughey explained that at the election only five householders attended, " and that he was one, and was ebnse. quently elected, and that he had property in the Pohangina. It was next proposed by Mr Bugg, and seconded by" Mr J Holmes : " That the three Messrs Hunt do not represent the feelings of the householders and parents of the district, ana that they be called upon to resign from the school committee." This was carried and the chairman instructed to notify this resolution to the committee. At tha close of the meeting a petition was signed by all the parents present, requesting the Education Board to allow Mr Eeeve to remain. Mr A. Eeeve proposed i " That the resolutions passed at the meeting should be published, and desiring the reporter present to send them to the- - Palmerston Times, Feilding Stab, and#* Eangitikei Advocate, that as the chaises r against Mr T. F. Beeve haa been publicly discussed, so might the decision of the householders refuting them be made known." It was seconded by Mr Jones ' and earned.