The Schoolmistress in the Bush.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 431, 25 December 1889, Page 5

The Schoolmistress in the Bush.

The sfcranse experiences that may sometimes fall to the lot of a colonial school teacher are thua explained by Miss Charlotte Brenning, who gave evidence recetlyn before a select committee of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. The young lady stated :— " On May 13, 1881, 1 received my appointment to the Tongarra school. During part of the time of my stay there I had to walk four miles every day over rough, bushy country, and live on bush diet. I worked up that school to be an eighth class public school, and remained there for twelve months. My health failed, and, finding that I was unable to continue the long walk, I removed to a distance of five miles from the school, and had to ride that distance daily through every kind of weather. Finding that I was unable to obtain a removal from there, I was compelled to resign. " I was afterwards appointed as teacher to the public school at Nangrar, a place situated between Oran ere and Forbes, about forty-nine miles inland from Orange. On my arriving at my destination, I had fco leave my luggage under a tree whilst I went in search of some human habitation. The schoolhous** was then closed, the master having left. I got the driver of the coach to point out the school-house, and 1 wasobliged to keep that in view whilst looking about. I was totally unacquainted with the bush, and if I had lo3t sight of the school-house probably I should not; have found it aeain. At last I found a building where some people were livingon the opposite side of the creek, and I had to stand at the creek and cooey and wave my handkerchief to attract the attention of some childien on the other side. 1 then grot the key of the school building and lofc my luggage there, and went to a place two miles distant for accommodation. This was at the end of November, 1882. I remained there till the next June, when I enme down to Sydney, and explained to the Department that I was unable to return to that place on account of its isolation affecting my health."