TE AROHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Te Aroha News, Volume 1, Issue 18, 6 October 1883, Page 2

TE AROHA SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

The usual monthly meeting of the school committee was held in the school-room on Monday evening hist. There were present Messrs J. Lavery (chairman), J. Ilott, R Mackie, D. J". Frazer and T. Lawless, The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. .., . /\ The next question brought forward was the Rev. Mr- Marshall's :applie-ition for tho use of Te Aroha school-house, that Biblical instruction might be imparted after school fibura to those children who might wish to remain, or whose parents desired that they should be present. > Mr R;Mndkie moved,." £hat the resolution passed on Ansriwt 6th, refusing tlja liev. U. T. Mikhail's application, be rescinded.". This was seconded by Mr Ilott. • ■' .:. ' 'rf Some discussion took place on ihs question, in , which all; took part. On being put; the following voted in favor of the- resolution :— Messrs J. Lavery, J. Ilott, ft. Mackie ; against D. J. Frazer. T. Lawless. ' : • The resolution having been carried, Mr Ilott moved " That Mr Marshall's application for use 'of the school-house as' in terms of his letter of July 9th, be granted." This was seconded by Mr Mackie. Mr Lawless strongly opposed the motion, a^d in the course of his remarks said it was not the Rev. Mr Marshall personally he opposed, but on the broad ground that any school was not the proper place for Biblical orotherrelifirio;« instruction by any minister, undor the preeant system of education. He would d jcidedly object to the application being* granted. Mr Frazer also spoke against it, and did not consider the school -house the proper place for the purpose mentioned. He upheld Mr Lawless' line of argument. Mr Lawless complained of remarks made by the Press (specially t{ie "Observer") with-- regard to those who hid refused the application on a previous occasion, and considered -they, were most improper and uncalled' for.' ' \ Mr Uott spoke jp favour of the resolution, and considered Mr Marshall's request ,a • most ' .rea^pnafrle • .and; just, , ofte* ■- He remarked that in asking them to pajjs [this resolution he did not in. any, way seek to force Bible training on, any, biit^he considered that to refuse those children who might -voluntarily ' wish 140 remain, or whose parents mierht desire that they shoujdj-emain, this, ;opppijtMtV'^-learn-ing something 0f ,% Bible and the gVand truths contained' therein, would be moßt unjust and wrung, and he would also remind those, who opposed the motion -that frbni-variou« T ' ' oinAmfcttttieta and rttirroimdinj^.aoiijfofjth? children might have very little 6ther l instruction of this kind. , Mr. \facki« and the ch.M'rmun r fll}o. spoke in favour fcf- tile re.saluti6 ; n, Hvhfch, on •being., put, Messrs -Ilo^jyi^ck'io voted in ife favour, rfnd Messrs Lawless and Frazer against it. The Htoii6ii<> was carried- .__ A letter was read from Mr Q-eorge O'Hallor.in, aUjCtioaeer, requesting the u«?e of Waiorongdmaf on Saturday afternoons for auction purposes, on "Buch terms as might be agreacr tf).^ Air Jlott moved that the application refused, and remarked it would be. moat improper and inconsiHtent to permit the school-room to be ut-ed for any such purpose. It would be vain to expect those attending «, public auction to be careful or particular in t{ie treatment of school furniture or belongings. The Chairman oppose<l the application, and remarked it would be .altogether against the interest of tho school to 'give the permission sought for. Mr Frazer having seconded the resolution, it was carried unanimously. A letter was read from Rev. G. T. I Marshall, asking that permission be given him for the- use of Waiorongomai schoolhouse every alternate Tuesday in the afternoon, for the purpose of imparting Biblical instruction to .the children after school hours, in the evening of same dayß for the purpose of holding a BiWe-class for those of more mature years. Mr Ilott moved that the application be granted. Tin's was seconded by Mr Lavery and carried. Messrs Lavery, Ilott, and Mackie v>ted in favour, and Messrs Liwless and Frazer against \t Sundry accounts having been passed for payment, and other business" trans-, acted, the meeting adjourned.