A SOUTHLAND TEACHERS’ TROUBLES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1561, 25 September 1886, Page 4

A SOUTHLAND TEACHERS’ TROUBLES.

The following communicated article, dealing with the condition of the residence of the schoolmaster at Oardiona, in the education disi riot of Southland appears in the ~ -Cromwell A?gu» If the following wore said to have happened in some distant locality we would deem-.it-inoredible, but it is somewhat more startling when such a.barbaroni and most inhuman state of things takes place in our very imidst, and the country voting thousands of pounds annually for eduoafional purpose*. On Wednesday night Mr'McLaughlin, the ■ teacher of the Oardrona school, was startled from his sleep by one of hi* children acream- ' fug but that (omething had bitten his ear. Hr ’McLaughlin struck a match, and *aw four or five rata running off the bed, He ex- . amined the child’* ear and found it torn in two or three placer, and the child’* -face and neck covered with blood. The child ha* been lying in amoit precarious stale between life j>; and death for the lait six days from rheumatic! fever caught by sleeping on the floor of the house. Mr McLaughlin left a candle burn- ;. ?ing and went to sleep again. In: about an hour a younger child was attacked and bit in several place* in the palm* of bi* hand and fingers, which were extended over the bedclothes. The child was attacked on the face a!»o, and the pillow was perfectly saturated ■ . with blood. Toward* morning Mr MoLaugh- , lin flung himself on the bed and had scarcely *gone off to sleep when he found a very aocute pain und*r his left eye, and putting up bii hand he put iton a rat. MrMcLaigblin called in several of the residents to .attest the cut* and mark* on the children and the blood. This is a mo*t »hooking state of things, Three cf Mr McLaughlin’s children came over here to attend a concert, and through the severity of the weather were not able to get ever to’Queenstown again. They have been compelled. to deep on the floor, and caught severe colds and rheumatism. One of the children is not expected to recover. Some time. ago the Board’s carpenter visited the reiidenoel and pronounced it one of the 'worst ihopi ever his ioot was in ; that it was not fit fore man to live in.” Mr McLaughlin is regarded fas an excellent teacher, and has given the greatest satisfaction since he came over here. I understand he has notified the Committee that he cannot remain any longer, seeing that nothing hss been done to erect a suitable residence, During the winter the back part of the house fell in, and the compartment where Mr McLaughlin sleep* is =, .wholly unprotected. I should say such a - things is wholly unendurable.: In the worst convict stations wo don’t read of i such a state of things.”