PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 26 June 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Contributions, Letters, Inquiries and Answees thereto, are invited on Farming. Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea district. Names of writers need not be Printed.

In your report of the meeting of the Harbor Board, held on Saturday week, I see a report brought up by the Chairman, Mr Coutts, and when the vote was taken for its adoption, there were Messrs Cane, Newland, and Peacock for it, against Messrs Horner, Aitchison, and Adams, Then the Chairman voted against his own report! What.object could the Chairman have in voting against his own report, for he spoke very much in support of raising the tonnage ? I also observe in looking over your files of last December, that Mr Coutts did the very same thing twice. He said he voted the first time by mistake, the second not to make a fool of himself. I would like Mr Coutts to say was it a mistake or making a fool of himself the way he voted last Saturday.—l am, &c., Enquirer.

SCHOOL TROUBLES-A TIONI hear that the Manutahi School is closed, and likely to be for some time, teacher having resigned her office, and the present Committee evidently canhot be working for the benefit of their district if what I hear is correct, viz., that they have held two meetings since their election, and have not even applied to the Board for a teacher. The Board meets shortly, and as the Committee adjourned their meeting for four weeks, that is, to

about the 19th of next month, the' school most probably will be without a teacher for two months, if not more/ The Whakamara settlers seem also to be very much divided ; cannot decide on a site ; also similarly situated to the Manutahi according to a report of a meeting held on the 24th iust.

I with others would suggest to the Education Board that the Manutahi and Whakamara districts be amalgamated ; sell the school property at Manutahi, choose a central site for the district either on McCarthy’s flat, near Ingahapi bridge, or on Section 1, block XII, Whakamara ; expend the proceeds of the Manutahi property in purchasing and erecting a building and call nit Whakamara High School. Let the Board supply an experienced and competent male teacher, also two pupil teachers, and I have reasons to believe that most of Manutahi and Whakamara would approve of the change.—l am, &c., A Parent.