CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 168, 9 July 1875, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the 'Evening Mail.' Fir — Tn Wednesday evening's paper you published a letter from Mr. M. M. Webs'er relative to the Headmastership of Bridgestreet School : with your permission, I will make a few comments on it. 1 not'ce that several testimonials were appended to the letter, aU, with but one exception, from the Richmond Committee, and signed by ttie Secretary, Mr. Barnicoat. The first one wai dated March 9th, 1863 ; the second is from Mr. Barnicoat himself, and ha tells us that " time does not allow of his (Mr. Sunley 's) application being submittel io the Committee itself, but in his (Mr. Barnicoat's) individual capacity, he hns great pleasure in testifying to the universally acknowledged gre|£abilities," &c, &c. This is dated 7th ApflL v iBTO The third is Irom the Richmond Committee, who instruct their Secretary to reply to Me. SunleVs communication laid before the Committeemasking them to bear teatimony to the *• cbdfeetence and ability," &c, &c. Mr. Hcdgsoo/rccrtificate closes the list ; that is dated five years ago. No doubt the exig* ncies of the place warranted such certificate*, being given— hut '* Tempora mutantur. nos et mutamur in Mis." From the teior of Mr. Webster's letter, I think the Town Committee take tho credit of being more competent thau tbe Inspector to report on a man's capabilities of teaching, lf this is jo, I think the sooner Mr. Hodgson • resigns in their ta*or the better ! Now, Mr. Edit ir. I ask you. as a man of un blasted judgment, if there can possibly be anyone better a*!a*..ted for the purpose of judging a man's fimcss for teaching tban the Inspector, who is apprinted by the Board for that purpose ? And what better testimonials can a man have than the Innpector's Report of the tchool ? And can the Town Committee, after reading the reports of the Hampdenstreet School, honestly say they considered Mr Sunley the ablest men amongst the applicants? I don't dispute his being a clever man ; but clever men do not always make the best of teachers ;— they may be cleve^ very clever.and yet not have the knack of fmparting their knowledge t » others, especially the young, or of gaioing their Lye and esteem.— i am, &c, Spsro Mcl ora. Nelson, July 9, 1875.