A SCHOOL ROW.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 268, 25 April 1874, Page 3

A SCHOOL ROW.

The £good people of Palmerston are sorely exercised |over the appointment of a master for their school. There were thirteen candidates, and at the election the names of candidates were reduced to three— Messrs. Monro, Lindsay, and M'Bryde—aikl of the nine committee-men four vrted for Mr M'Bryde, four for Mr. . Lindsav, and one for Mr. Monro. The ■■ Chairman of the School Committee gave his casting vote, in favor of Mr. M'Bryde, thereby placing him at the head <-.f the poll'; whereby the member who voted for Mr. Monro would, if that candidate's name had been withdrawn after the first vote, have voted for Mr. Lindsay—who would then, have polled five to Mr. M'Bryde's four. The minority protested against Mr. M'Bryde's appointment on the ground that he was not the holder of a second class certificate, and on the matter being referred to the Education Board, that body, on ' Mr. L J etrie, Inspector of Schools, examining the school, admitted Mr. M'Bryde as the holder of a second class certificate, and held his election to be valid. A few days after receiving intimation of the action of the Board the School Committee again met and by five votes to .four, a supporter of Mr M'Bryde being absent, decided to hold a new election on early date,' as advised by the Board. To this the minority protested on the —Firstly, because they considered Mr. M'Bryde, of Macraes School, had been legally elected by the local Committee; secondly, because the General Board (in their opinion) confirmed the election on the condition that Mr. M'Bryde received his second class certificate from Mr. Pttrie upon, the examination of the .Macraes School, and considered any further action illegal until it was shown that Mr. M 'Br y de had noi secured a second class certificate. The protest was submitted to the Board, and the following reply received per telegram on the 4th inst. :—" Mr. M'Bryde now certificated teacher of second class. Question of validity of his election before being certificated, a legal point, with which the Board cannot interfere." Writing yesterday, the ' Herald' says . —" We regret to learn that the selection of Mr. M'Bryde still continues to form a debateable point, and that the opponents to his. appointment, armed with legal advice, have convened a public meeting to take place on Friday next at 6 p.m. Meanwhile the new teacher has come from Macraes afcthe request of the Committee to commence his duties, but the opposition have stolen'a, march upon his supporters, and obtained possession of the key of the School, and refuse to give it up. Surely it is ./high time the public voice was raised and'some thing done to put a stop to this unseemly party fight, unless a better understanding is come to than at present seems probable. —Sinci - the above was in type, we have received a telegram stating that the supporters of Mr. M'Bryde have secured possession of the School building by breaking jthe lock in the absence of the opposition. What the result will be we await i with some curiosity."—' Star.' i