The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Issue 195, 8 November 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1879.

The troubles between the South Canterbury Board of Education and the School Committees and the teachers, instead of passing away, are, apparently, on ths increase. No sooner are they done with Temuka for a time than Pleasant Valley.; Ivakahu, Washdyke, P easant Point, r/d other places avs in a ferment. It not for us to say how far the Board is right cr wrong, but one tiling is made plain—it is not working smoothly. The Pleasant Point School grievance is the last on the list. From all that wo can learn on the subject, the committee and the teachers are not working well together. It seems for some cause, well or ill founded, the male pupil teacher has been summarily dismissed, and with a brand upon his character—at least, so say his friends, the parents of the children attending the school. The matter, it seems, is not to be allowed to rest here. A memorial lias been forwarded to the Board, signed by over 40 parents of children at the school, demanding an inquiry, and from a full report of the proceedings of the Board’s meeting which appears in the Lyttelton Times, nothing is said about the abovementioned memorial. Now, although the School Committee is unquestionably composed of gentlemen who would not knowingly do anything that is not right ; still, if wo are rigidly informed and if the prayer of this petition is rightly founded, there has been an injustice done to the boy who has b -en expelled. The case is a peculiar one. In ordinary cases the head master, if ho lias a pupil, or wo may say, a pupil teacher which lie finds lie cannot get on with, he comes to the Committee, lays the matter before it, and if the grievance is found to bo well founded, the party who has boCi me übno.tum, by dFebedionco, or from

} other causes is at once dismissed. In the cases referred to the boy happens to be a j son of the head master and, as the memoI rial states, he was never asked by the j Committee whether the complaint made by parents against the boy ii true or false If such is the facts of the ease then the master hag been unfairly dealt with. Even if the boy was his own son if he could nob be consulted in the matterho is, in our opinion unworthy of the charge lie holds. We do not know whether the : charge made against the pupil teacher is mie or false, and we do not wish to prejudice tl"- case. It is only fair, we think,m such a case, to let the father or the hoy have a chance of proving or disproving lire charge. Every Chairman or member o a Committee ought to-act with the extremest caution to satisfy Ida own mind that no milder measures will do, before | destroying tiro prospects of any young perI son. It is possible in this case, it may so j discourage the lad as to make him careless | how he acts ever after.

“ Better kill h deg than give him a bad n mo,” Ss a saying tl a* carries considerable weight with it. Possibly, as wo have more than once proved, a little, kind dealing with such a lad would Work a change, admitting that he was guilty of .such t nseemly conduct.. It is to be hoped the Committee will carefully re-considcr tho matter. A memorial with the names of over 40 heads of families, whose children attends school, the average of which i a only 125, is a matter for grave consideration. Wo shall be glad to hear that the matter ends well.

Slaughter-house Regulations We would draw the attention of those interested, to the Slaughter-house Act, 1877, published in another column ; also to a public notice from the Bench >f Alagistrates. Messrs Frank Guineas, R.M., W. Postleihwaite, J.P., and R. Fish, J.P, setting forth the time,place,and to whom applications must be made by all those who wish to come under this Act, and to poimt out that any one making use of any slaughter-house without such license will make himself liable to a penalty for such neglect. Public Holiday. —We beg to draw tho attention of our readers to an advertisement, which appaers in another column, notifying that the stores in Tcmuka will be closed on Alonday next, on account of the Prince of Wales’ Birthday falling on Sunday, so that those who have shopping to do had bettor transact their business to-night. Park Commissioners. The monthly meeting which was to be held on Thursday evening lapsed for want of a quorum, Mr Meyer beingjeonfined to bed.

Christchurch Races and Show.—We Would remind our readers, who wish to avail themselveo of the cheap trips by rail, that they commence to-day, and tickets are available up to the 19th inst.

Postal Notice.- —We would draw the attention of our readers to the fact that the closing of this mail at Temuka, via San Francisco, has been postponed till to-day at 2.30 p.m. Cricket. —The match between the Timaru and Temuka schools will come off to-day on the grounds of the latter, weather permitting. Presbyterian Church, Temuka. A congregational meeting will be held in the Church on Alonday 10th instant,at 7 p.m., for the purpose of taking into consideration the desirability of filling up the vacancy in the ministry. The Rev Air Ellis, the Moderator of the session, will be present.

Lecture at Pleasant Point. —We have received the report of a lecture delivered by Mr Bishop, at a meeting of the Pleasant Point Young Alen’s Christian Association. We regret that we cannot publish the article in this issue, but it will appear in Tuesday’s publication. It is a masterly lecture entitled “■ George Stephenson,” and well worth reading.

Pleasant'Point Cricket Club.—A wadiattended meeting of persons interested iu forming a cricket club, was held on Thursday last. Resolutions to the following effect were passed:—That Air Henri be Chairman ; that Mr Salek be Treasurer j that the Chairman also act as Treasurer; that a vote of thanks be tendered to Air Kirkpatrick for his k ndness in having obtained several subscriptions towards the funds of the club. Mr Kirkpatrick informed the meeting that twenty-four members had subscribed towards the funds and he had much pleasure in handing their several amounts. A resolution was then passed that Air Kirkpatrick bo empowered to obtain two-first class bats. The following members were elected a standing Committee e —Messrs Henri, Salek, Kirkpatrick, Smith, Morris, MeDonakl, Oliver, Biokerstaff, Glen, Thompson and Rodney, after which Air Kirkpatrick was elected captain. A Sub-Committee of the Chairman, and Messrs Salek and Smith were appointed to interview the storekeepers at the Point re closing their stores on Alonday, November 10th, so as|as to give an opportunity to their staff to be present at the scratch match, married v single, which will be played on that day. It was resolved that the admission foe be 2s fid for membership for the first quarter ; also that the Standing Committee draw byelaws for the good guidance of the club. The meeting then closed with tho usual vote of thank. l to the Chair.