The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1880

Temuka Leader, Issue 279, 7 August 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1880

During the last twelve months the xtldncatipn question in South Canterbury has had a lull. No sooner had Mr Kirby been temporarily installed as secretary, and Mr Hammond relieved of the necessity of filling two offices, than peace prevailed. Jt lopjg ago became patent to all tha£ Mr Hammond was incapable of doing the work efficiently, as proof of which the confusion that the work connected with the various Committees had fallen into can be pointed to. Much surprise must be felt at the Board again joining so incongruous material together, Tbe Board have actually appointed Mr Hammond again Inspector and Secretary (with an assistant to ghare the blame), in the face of the universal protest of the School Committees in Sptith Canterbury. How long the South Canterbury Board of Education will cause itself to be made a moke and a bye word, we do not know. One thing yve do know, and lhat is the Board is laughed at by the settlers in other parts of New Zealand. The necessity of a Board for South Caiyterbtjry cculd uever yet be seen, and has not been shown by the Board. ' A few partizans of a certain class took it into their head that it would be a pipe thing to have a Debating Society in Timaru, and, as the Timara Herald would get a nibble, in the way of advertisements, it of couise

said amen to tlio \<r<r\*isi*i; ffijjSlhus '.come put of it ? biiffftifpiii&{_ poitnda halve In on squandered si>P advertisements, hundreds mi re i'op pimted matter, thousands mora for unnecessary buildings and rents,- and thousands more for salaries, to bungle what went on smoothly before. How Jong fs this 'to go on ? Is the, whole of Sotjfch Canterbury to be led by the nose by two or three men, who may be more glib with their to;"gue than their fellows? It looks very like it. Retrenchment is the order of the day ; the best form of retrenchment would be to have swept away the South Canterbury Board altogether, and let us go again under the rule of gentlemen of weightier calibre than our Southern guides have proved themselves to be possessed of. What with., renewal of the bungling, confusion, and delay, the cramped funds at the disposal of the Committees, and the •utter want of control in the smallest matter, Committees will not bo very ready to waste their time with the work. It is to be regretted, thaugh, that men have not brains enough, and manliness enough, to do what is right, regardless of tear or favour ; but, as we said sometime ago, the whole business is ruled from the Horalcl Office, and the materials, that are worked upon are with few exceptions your humble, obedient, and miicj obliged servants. We wish it to be understood that in making these strictures, we have not tae slightest ill-feel-ing against Mr Hammond as an Inspector ;he may be good, But we give it as our opinion that ha is totally unfit lor Secretary. It is for this reason, and lor this reason alone, that we condemn his appointment.