CARRYING A GRAMMAR SCHOOL BY STORM.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1370, 6 July 1878, Page 3

CARRYING A GRAMMAR SCHOOL BY STORM.

The Auckland “ Herald” gives the following account of the second capture of the Auckland Grammar School by the Improvement Commissioners’ bailiffs. The proceedings cannot be said to have been creditable, however amusing to the schoolboys, and it may be hoped that the episode will be the solitary instance of its kind in the colony’s history:— We suppose that people out of Auckland will hardly believe that the principal persons in the local bodies which have taken part in the painful proceedings of the past week or two are gentlemen of the very highest position in this locality. The Judge of the Supreme Court is one of the Grammar School Governors (unfortunately he has been absent), the Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court is one of the Improvement Commissioners ; another Judge of the same Court is a Governor of the Grammar School, the Mayor is a Governor of the Grammar School and an Improvement Commissioner, while other members of these two bodies, which have caused breaches of the peace where such should never occur, are magistrates and members of Parliament. The injury which has been done to the school is something incalculable, Every parent who has a hoy at that school must feel humiliated, and the moral effect upon the bovs themselves must be detrimental. Wo venture to say that the impulse of every parent, when his hoy came home the other day, and told him that bailiffs were in possession of the building, and were hanging about the class-rooms, was to tell him not to go back again. The Grammar School has no monopoly in Auckland, and the inclination with parents will now be not to send their sons to it. How can they be expected to make progress with their studies amidst such scenes ? How can our Grammar School compete with Southern educational institutions under the disadvantages which have lately surrounded it ? Then, it is surely an object with the Governors of the Grammar School to attract pupils from other parts of the colony. As we stated in yesterday’s paper, on Friday night Mr Macrae had rid the building of the posse of bailiffs placed in possession by the Improvement Commissioners. Our own opinion is, that Mr Macrae ought not to have locked out the bailiffs ; he ought to have been quite above interfering in the matter ; ho should have left this performance to the Secretary of the Board. The two discomfited bailiffs appeared on the scene early yesterday morning, accompanied by a gang of four extra hands, and armed with two sledge hammers and a formidable axe. Evidently mischief was brewing, but they had not the moral courage to attack the building until they were authorised by his Worship the Mayor. To the consternation of some and the gratification of many who enjoyed the fun, the bailiffs, directed by the Mayor, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Mr Macrae and the other teachers, proceeded to break down the door of the front entrance. The only occupant of the building was an old man, who is usually employed cleaning up the school. This feeble old fellow was considered dangerous by the brave posse, and they proceeded to bundle him out bodly. He made a faint resistance, and was brutally pulled about and struck. In fact, bis leg was almost broken by being jammed in the doorway. The scholars assembled outside; and they, who were first enjoying the fun, became enraged at this treatment of the old man, and one of them went to the rescue, and after planting a well-directed blow on the face of the principal assailant, he liberated the old man only to draw on himself the wrath of the incensed bailiff. The other boys were with the greatest difficulty restrained by their teachers from joining in the fray, and creating one of the most disgraceful scenes that has ever occurred in a colonial public school; but they were finally pacified, their enemies disappearing into the interior. Mr Macrae then called the boys together, and formally dismissed them from school duties.