The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1886. THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XII, Issue 1732, 12 June 1886, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1886. THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTION.

The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast.

The second election of a School Committee for the district of Palraerston North, took place last evening, and was probably without precedent, m the history of the colony, since the introduction of the Education Act, as regards intensity of interest manifested m the proceed ; ings. We do not suppose that ever previously, m this or any adjacent district, such a meeting has taken place for a similar purpose. Long before the hour announced for the commencement of the. proceedings, the schoolhouse was densely packed, the householders standing on the tops of the school desks, on forms, on cupboards, and wherever a good view and hearing could be obtained. The proceedings at times were noisy and demonstrative m the, extreme, and the Chairman found it a matter of grfat difficulty, and, at times, of utter impossibility ,j;o maintain order. A considerable amount of personal feeling was ajso infused into the proceedings, by more than one speaker, and the public sentiment with regard to the Rev A; M;M T RiGHt's action,, •jnce the first election* found expression in groims, Kooifti^jiiwse^ jeers, and other ihdidatiohs of strong hostile feeling. :At one time; H n ajeemed^g^ if the indignation of the meeting against the' Rev. gentleman would assume practical shape, more par*, licularly when Mr Walton, cnaijenged him to confront; him on that platform, when he would " give him, \he lie tp his teeth," m reference to • certain statements made to the Wanganui Education Board, whioh Mr Walton affirmed were utterly untrutJlfti^MrWaiGHTdi^iot »o-

left the room, which was a very wise step on his part. His presence at thje meeting was viewed with strong disfavour, and we think the proceedings would have been less disorderly, and personal feeling less demonstrative, had Mr Wright acted on the advice previously given him by several friends, and kept away altogether. The meeting seemed to consider his presence a further insult, added to the annoyance, illfeeling, inconvenience, and trouble ! to;'all concerned, caused entirely by the step Mr Wright chose to take m appealing to the -Board to upset ,the former election. s Whoe/er were . behind him, making the bullets for him to fire, Mr Wright accepted the full responsibility of his act, and went out of his way to ignore and defy public opinion m the matter. We don't suppose he: will ever forget last night till the hour of his death. Though admitting that he brought the opprobrium on himself, through his own wayward and unjustifiable action, and feeling that he has shewn n<> consideration to the feelings or opinions of others, still we v couldnot but feel sorry to think that a clergyman should place himself m such a humiliating position, as to be challenged with deliberate falsehood before an assemblage of six or seven hundred of his fellowtownsmen, and be unable to refute ithe damning accusation. What a painful position for a Minister of the Gospel! What a strange comijojentary on his former, teachings, precept, life' and example! We trust Mr Wright will never again allow himself to be placed m such a position, as to ; have to virtually plead guilty to charges publicly laid .of making mis- statements m ordr r to "make good his appeal, to the Board. ■ He has sown the wind, and he has yet to reap the whirlwind. He has had a foretaste during the weeks of the experiences of "ttipse who defy and outrage public opinion; but the climax was reached last night when he found /himself unable to refute or explain away a charge of making untruthful statements of a kind which no possible plea or excuse could justify. We admit the justice of the popular verdict, which was the outcome of merited public indignation ; but we -.deplore the fact that a minister of the Gospel should have to remain silent under such a scathing reproach ."as the chalienged , and unrefuted /ofhis word and honor as a man. Our readers: will remember that when the first intimation ?! was' made of the appeal by Mr WRIGHte, we implored him and his party to consider well before perpetrating sucha grave error of judgment. We pointed out ■ the dissension that such an act was sure to stir up m the communliy, and we predicted that Mr Wright would bitterly regret the step he was about to take. We' used every Wgument we could command, not only through these columns, but m conversation with Mir Wright, to endeavor to dissuade him from his purpose, but all to no avail. A wilful man will have his way. We .venture to say -that to-day Mr Wright admits the correctness or the opinions we expressed, and sin- ■ cerely wishes he had taken our advice. It is now too late. He has arrayed -public, opinion agairjst him almost to a man, and already, no doubt, experiences the full force of the antagonism which, plainly expressed m countenance, voice, action and demeanour, meets him on almost every side. And look at the result. •His chief aim and object was to keep out Mr Walton, and the result was that Mr vValton has been returned at the top of the poll ! Surely this will be as gall and wormwood—the bitterest humiliation of all. To have staked his estimation m public opinion, to have incurred the popular odium that attached itself to the course he pursued, to have his veracity publicly impeached, to have his name received with jeers, Jiootings, groans, and hisses, at as , large and demonstrative a public as. isemblage as ever held m the town ; =tofeel himself to-day m the position of Ishmaek hte hand against every man, &nd every man's hand against him, a kind 'of). social pariah, and after all, the chief aim and object of the course of action for which he risked so;.much to be defeated, land his befe noir, .Mr Walton,returned at the head oF tbepoll! Well may he now- exclaim, with Cain pf old, " My punishment is greater thanrl can bear." We do not intend to discuss the details of procedure at last night's meeting, on the present occasion, m reference to which we shall have something- to say, arid some suggestions to offer at a futnre . Importunity. ' With regard to the constitution of the new ( 'ommittee, we think' the town and district have every reason to foel satisfied. The new Committee comprise' Messrs W'ALTON, SNELSON, J. P. LfiARY, Sinclair, Hirst, Linton, and Stewart. We think the householders have made wise a and judicious choice, all things considered, and we tfasi the new Committee will work • harmoniously and zealously together m the discharge of the important duties conferred upon them. We should like to have seen Mr Hawkins re-elected, as he always took an active and intelligent interest m the Affairs of the school, and was pjjUSpoken, impartial, and liberalminded m all essential respects. Mr Rush's/, chances, n,b doubt, were prejudicially affected by the prohibition of Catholics' by'|heir pastor from, voting, though a good many took an active interest m the proceedings, ; the* prohibnjpn notwithstanding. We hear rumours of another appeal on the grounds of sundry alleged illegalities and irre- % gularities at last night's proceedings; )We sincerely trust better' counsels milt prevail:;. A practical, moderate, ajid intelligent cotn.mUfee, composed [pf influential resideats r possessing m an essential degree the desired qualifications m members comprising such bodies, has been elected, the /turmoil is over, and we trust the. excitement wilt now subside, and the affairs of our school be permitted to be conducted with peace and harmony, and without the introduction pf any clients of discord durv m? the remainder of their w of