BOARD OF WORKS.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 399, 20 August 1861, Page 2

BOARD OF WORKS.

In consequence of informalities at the lasfc uieetit'g to elect members, another was held yesterday at the market, and was rather numerously attended.

Mr. Wemyss having been voted to the chair, proceeded to read the advertisement whiob appeared in our last with regard to the decision come to by the Superintendent and Executive Council upon the objections raised against the first election in consequence of non-payment of rate by a person who took part in the proceedings in one case, and iv the other the withdrawal of of the name of Mr. T. C. Batchelor without sufficient authority from the list of candidates, he having beeu duly proposed and seconded. The Chairman said that it was upon the petition of the last named that the Executive had appointed another poll to be taken, and he hoped that iv order to avoid th<? error that had bieu committed on the last occasion that electors would be careful to be clear and distinct as to whom they proposed. The names in every oase.would have to go to the meeting, and could not be withdrawn without a personal or written request to that effect afterwards. Mr. W. L. Whey said before the business of the meeting proceeded any Further he would entei his protest against it, on the ground that the Board had. become utterly extinct in consequence of the occurrences referred to and dedared his determination to appeal to the proper authorities to set aside any proceedings that might take place. He had not intended to say more than this, but as he saw that Mr. Wemyss was again acting as chairman he would, ■with due respect, add, that he considered it exceed-ingly-improper to see a member of the Executive in that position, because in case of an appeal Laving to be made it was like the pleadings of a man to himself. Mr. Burn wished Mr. Wrey to show the olause in the Nelson Improvement Act which justified such a proceeding.

The Chairman said there was no necessity to enter upon that question then. Mr. Wrey's objection would be recorded, but in the meantime the meeting was legally called and he supposed the reasou why he occupied the chair was because he had been similarly placed on the last meeting. However that might be, he was sure in case of appeal, the cireumslanoe would be perfectly immaterial either to the meeting or the Executive (hear).

Mr. Webb thought that Mr. Wrey should be prepared to explain to the members the ground for the objection and course he had declared. Mr. Wrey would not then proceed upon a matter that would cause no end of useless discussion. He should do so at the proper time and place to try the legality of the question. The Chairman then received the following names of candidates, Messrs. Nattrass and Burn being appointed tellers. D. Burns (20), by G. Richardson. / E. Everett (20), by J. Percy. V J. Graham (19), by J. Tregea. / \ K. Aitken (15), by T. York. '; T. C. Batchelor (14), by I. M. Hill. N. Edwards (14), by E. Snow. , The Chairman having declared a show of hands to be in favor of the three first, ;.;•■

Messts. York, Snow, and Wiight demanded a poll on behalf of Mr. R. Aitken. The Chairman at the request of Mr. Webb read clause 3 of the ' Corrupt practices preventions Act' as follows: — •

Every candidate at any election who shall corruptly, by himself, or by or with any person, or by any other ways or means in his behalf, at any time, either liefore, during, or alter any election, directly, or indirectly, give or provide, or cause to be given br provided, or shall be accessory to the giving or providing or shall pay wholly or in parti any expenses incurred for any meat, drink, entertainment, or provision toor for any person in order to be elected, or for being elected, or for the pufpbse of corruptly influencing such person, or any other person to give or refrain from giving his vote at such election or on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting, or being about to-vote or refrain from voting' at such election shall be deemed guilty of the'ofFence of Treating and shall forfeit the sum of fifty pounds to any person who shall sue for the Fame, with full costs of suit: .and every elector who shall corruptly, acceptor take any such meat, drink, entertainment, or provision.shall be incapable of voting at such election, and his vote if given shall be utterly .void and of none effect. ■ ' , i The poll having been appointed for this d&y at noon, a vote of thanka was passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated.

lo the Editor of the Colonist,

Sir—Through a slight error in the report of my remarks at the inauguration of the Christian Young Men's Hall, I have been made necessarily to point to oue of two (irras in Nelson. Permit me to state that I had not the slightest reference to any one at all connected with either of those respected iiouses,"and that the phraseology adopted by me, which I believe was " one of the principal houses of business"— ia capable of a very much wider range of meaning than has been given. I am sorry that an event narrated in illustration of a principle should have had any other result than tbat intended. ...

I am, &c, HENRY DREW.

To the Editor of the Colonist.

Sir, —You will oblige me by inserting in your paper these few lines, to show to i'he publio the grievous taxes that are imposed upon mauy ef us in this province.

I have been summoned and pressed most severely by what they cull the Board of Education for what I consider aii unjust claim on me. The amount claimed is oue pound ten shillings; that I considered noL due, as I uever paid more than one pound; but the Sergeant-major of Police acted as collector or lawyer, pleaded and b»filed about the number of my childreu at this age or thut age, that be puzzled me so tbat I ci.u'.d not tell him or (he Magistrate. But the judgment wns to pay one pound ton and cos's ; and on :i y not b. i ,g übly to |ny j|, in a s.hoi't li.ne S"iu;; man utid hi-s jm;>a aie let louse 'o jhoal about my hnuse to try to get into my (,'ieaiises to take away what few bits of things 1 have; and at the time sickness is iv my house so bad that I told the man who was lurking about that I would thaok him to keep away at it kept

my family very uneasy. But the answer was, he wanted his eight shillings per day. On Thursday last I paid one pound into court, but the man Baid that wouldn't do ; he wanted ten shillings more for the rate and more for a warrant that has not been served, and more still for liis man for prowling about my premises for five or six days. lam told to go and see the Board of Education, but where to find it I don't know; I bear they sit once a month ; but if I don't mind and keep that man and his imps out of my house, all ray bits of traps will be seized and sold to pay what they want. During the tuna of the sitting of the Board, you will oblige me by informing me through your paper where they sit. I have been unfortunate in business, and reduced to have to go to day labor to maintain my family, and at times I only got one or two days' work per week, and still I am striving to alter my position, to try to pay my just debts; for this I think is unjust, as I don't trouble their Sahoola with ray children. My position is such t!iat I cannot pay what is unjust, and wbat to do I don't know; for that man showed mo the warrant on Saturday evening last what is against my goods, although I paid one pound last Wednesday into the Court. It keeps my family iv dread and fear until the Board is kind enough to withdiaw so uisjust a claim, unjust to me, for I have been many years in the, colony and never shirked from paying any just debt or tax I was able to do. But in this -, case I think it very hard, as I have a very large family, and my eldest daughters teach the younger ones, and I think can teach some of your 'teachers. But that won't do for the man—he wants the pound of flesh, or my chattels must be seized. I state my case to my fellow citizens to see if there is any way of this most disagreeable tax being remodelled to suit all classes and sects, and a great deal of our public money could be saved for a better service. Not that I find fault with education : every parent ought to give his children the best education tbat his means will allow ; but when my first two or three girls were young I was in a* better position and gave them a good education, they are now capable ofteaching all the younger branches; But the man says that won't do, and I must pay the full amount without I bring him a certificate to say that they have beeu to another school. A school at home won't do for him, although they keep teaching them every day more than they would learn at what they call the public school, with its £400 a year for the master. • I am &c, BLUE SHIRT. [Our correspondent should bear in mind that the Law, and not the subordinates, is to blame in this matter.] To the Editor of the Colonist. Sir, —Haviug been requested by h;s Excellency General.Public to report upon the state of public education in the province of Trafalgar, and thinking that it might possibly possess interest to your readers, I have the honor herewith to forward it for publication. Yours, &c, " PUNCH. Report on the state of Education in the Province of Trafalgar, addressed to the Colonial Governor his Excellency General Public. In accordance with your Excellency's instructions I reached Trafalgar on the 13th instant, and without delay proceeded upon the object of my mission. 1 regret in the first instance to have to state that the head of the educational staff is a medical practitioner instead of an experienced and trained schoolmaster; and that your Excellency may not unnaturally conclude that the hospital is under the care and control, of a schoolmaster, 1 hasten to assure you that, on the contrary, it is in the hands of an eminently qualified surgeon. . My first step was to find out the residence of the aforesaid medical Inspectov of Schools; I was directed to the office of the Trafalgar Crammer, a party political newspaper, devoted principally to the interests of a class of settlers remarkable for their sheepish ness! Having rapped, the door was opened by the devil—l beg your Excellency's pardon, I mean the boy • printer's devil' —who informed me that the Inspector could not be disturbed, as be was particularly engaged on an article against the Superintendent, to confute -nn'absurd theory of his Honor, that' twice two made four. ;By his subordinates however—the ' Teachers of Eighty Pounds a-Year'—l was favored with: every information of the fullest! and most satisfactory nature (to whom I take this opportunity of expressing my grateful acknowledgments), I am happy to be enabled to state fthat the reports which have reached your Excellency's ears from time-to time, in depreciation lof the present educational scheme, have been greatly aggerated ; it is based upon right principles, and, with certain amendments, may be made productive of much benefit to the province. The present.'machinery' consists of— 1. A Central Board, composed of a representative from each Local Committee, 2. A well-paid Inspector. 3. A Secretary (which office is held by the above well-paid Inspector). 4. Local Committee. 5. Schoolmasters. The Central Board is an utterly worthless —not to say mischievous-;-part of the machinery. The present office of Inspector is a very expensive and quite unnecessary one, productive of no practical results whatever. The abolition of both is most essential. In the event of the adoption of this part of my report, some consideration, by way" of compensation, iB due to the present Inspector. The appointment of that gentleman as Chief Commissioner of that portion, of the gold-fields having an area of four square miles would amply provide for that con,tirlgency.: The number of members of the Local Committees, now consisting of no less than nine able-bodied men, should be reduced. My reasons will recur to your Excellency by reminding you of a conversation on another subject, upon which I ventured to hint that, in all probability 'too many cooks had spoiled the gravy.' • . 'i'he remuneration to the country schoolmasters ought most unquestionably to be increased; welltrained teachers are unattainable at the present low salaries, upon the efficiency of whom the success of any educational scheme must mainly depend; a higher rate of remuneration is therefore most imperatively necessary for the country schoolmasters. I should have very inefficiently performed my task without bringing to your Excellency's notice the necessity of providing for some Central Board of Appeal. The Executive. Government of the Province is incomparably superior to the crude and incongruous elements of the present worthless Central Board. The Superintendent, whose election is made by the votes of the whole province, and his subordinate officers in every department cannot fail at all times to be composed of men of undoubted integrity and ability ; for the general direction of education the Executive Government should therefore be made responsible. Appointed by and under the Executive shou'd'be— 'The Superintendent of Schools— an office.of. great importance. He should be Head Master of Trafalgar Training and Normal Schools, which, in the charge of an intelligent and able ohief, would become the nursery of educated pupils and teachers. To vevmit of his absence in an annual inspection of the district schools, as well as at other time's as occasion might. demand, under him should be other well qualified teachers.

Before closing my report I would take occasion to advise that the present educational rate be abolished, special rates for special purposes invariably engender disgust towards the objects for which they are levied ; the necessary funds ought to be voted from ordinary revenue, any <U ficiency existing in which of course would bo the duty of Government to provide. It is most osscii'ial that the educational scheme should be" divested of the odium of the special tax. 1 hivve the honoi to remain Your Excellency's faithful servant, PUNCH,