OTAKI.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 16 October 1878, Page 2

OTAKI.

EFBOM OtTB OW$ OOaBESPOXDJSNT]; "The schoolmaster ia abroad/ and afc«- _ tacks, your "Owa" moat unmercifully fofcj* vanquishing " Vihdei," \r)io. retired uhcl&r^/ eov»r of a vopj tambietißr on. the general/ conditions of fchoOtakiLibmry, arid l^ilvegii:' the "master o£ the Natira sohboi" to, smother ma with statistics if possible. \Thesohbolinaster — m a Yory modest manner— . begins by saying that my statements con* cerinng the Native school and; college " aro,in every, cntd quite incorrect,'' and he*pro^ ; ceeds to "giy* the real and: true acjcbunt,'** : which is.so mixed np wifcli overages,' and. - fractions of boys and days, and air given in> such. 3 confused. way : :thafcfo^the Hfe;.oiniß^ " I cannot understand much moro thrm that the lowest average attendance of Maoris is. : not as giren by " Vindex," 4J, but really. 3 J s ;. . moreoyer that it was "caused: by a <a^y*;'*' N"ow, being unacquainted with .the" Maoris language, I am at a loss as to the meaning- ■ of '• tangi," but conclude. that it m^rt bo a. ;• , species of complaint peculiar to- tba .\raoria,, and I furbhor coni.'ltub th*t fcho dUa&sa has. ■ . become ohronio m thi3 naighbourhobd, andi ; aocpsinjt* for my liaving" seah the. school. .""; break up and not a singlo Maori.. clukl; presesit,";and f^r ";bnly one ifaori-boy '* attending whm I fir3t*calldil attention to. ' the subjact. Unless these/facts^which 1.. now, for tlie last" time, rape*t— are reconled^ ' m the scHopl rbli- book, the' accounts artf"icpoked" to hide many awkward deSciehcies. It ssem^: only 'o6n>enienp. -to advance average attondance against my -statainohfesl; Having disposed of his Qgures. to-lm own.. --. satisfaction, " Or. : It Qhjristie". actusllysums m favor of ;mj '_ positiani saying, "" Oilcourse tho33 figures prove that the school; is not so well attended as- peed to bs," "cha i . children aronot how "under control,". ■!'. antt '. please tliemselvos about coming; tft^^Bchool,'*; - or rather, please ihoaaielrea by staying ? away— and no wonder { ' Here is a sainplsof how knowledge is imparted init. Thescholars are all (3) assembled; in/the'school. The achoolmasfcer, with a piece ofohalk inc. hand, advances to tha bhckboard and draws, an object which he afterwarHs devlareii Was intended to represent a giraffe. Pointing to it ho asks the head boy, " ..Wh^ is dat ?**. "An eleph-mt, sir." " No !— heslt one ?•"• (a girl), "Please sir it is Farmer JDeath'*. bull." "NO i ! .'—now lust boy (a M»oW) X What is it ? " T!»a little boy begins, to cry and answer.? — " A Taniiolia" Hereupon th6>. lesson on natural history terminated ;~'but ; ; m justice to the lit.lleMsioribQy I am bound; to add that his gue33 was nearest "the mark, for I am told that it the object drawn re.?: sembled. nothing that is m heaven above w on. the earth beneath, or in 1 the waters unde*i : he earth. 33ut enoiv»»h I I have.'with the. • | assistance of " Yinttex "and tiie school- „ j ma*tb>, 'demons! rateft r . what they- hiivra" "realty striven t6*}iide,»f#., t hat : the'^ngsf--.hiit .-Education. B-nircl nyght acquire" eitJieV the mission colleger or school foe. tlie *Eurp'"pean ehilclwn :in this district^ w&'nput in' anywise i'nterf erih.^ : yi\i\\ the -M!aqri dapsstment. Tlia sehoolinaster wirt.t* up bis letterby dacliiriug that : my Teracity i9"..to»bi9t doubted, as . instdncdti r by my sajisig '•' tHai; : ;6olle^a is eui^ty " vi:he.a goati qa? « Ijsvxg

ia it."' Fie, ; fio, Mr Christie !— this looks like wilful perrertion ; but as a perusal of your letter will warrant its being attributed to a deficiency over which", .you'- have little control, I 'will' merely reason with you m a manner suited : to your understanding. Supposing I say that somebody's head is empty, it implies that tho head is not furnished with what it was intended to contain—brains ! In like manner if I say that " tho'college is etupfcy," I submit, it implies that the college is not furnished with what it was intended to contain — scholars I "The schoolmaster is abroad," and " Vindex" is bilious and incomprehensible ; so I turn ■with pleasure. 'to. your. more intelligent and jocular correspondent., " A Poor Workingman," a.nd thank him for the rather formidable list of Interesting subjects on which he ia anxious I should write. All m good time my " Poor Working-man," but I must dispose of one matter before I begin another; and you already have the desire of your heart— q£ being able to say, " See what •Our Own!, has done for us I" for my exertions have not been without good results. The Wangahui Education Board, backed by the Hon. W. Fox, M.H.K, is attempting to acquire the mission college or school, with a small piece of fend for a play-ground, for the neglected European m this Riding ; and 1* stay the downfall of the Otaki Library vaa it not the "Own" who advocated the adoption of the new rules,' which the com-, mitteee has since, carried, and which all subscribers. toU haU with satisfaction, except those who are fond of really liaughty books ? The " Own," too (ably assisted by Mr John Anthony Knocks)' was ho not instrumental m getting this district separated from the Manawatu Highway District, so that the good people of Otaki should have the levying and apenduig of their ojvni, rates,' or keeping their money m tlieir pockets if tney thought proper' All thiß and more have I ISone ; but being of, a 'modest and retiring 4p»<ure (as the . gentle reader will see this nhre determined) I- desist recording deeds until the Editor agrees to issue au . "pxtra" for the occasion! . ., '