BLACKS SCHOOL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 308, 29 November 1873, Page 3

BLACKS SCHOOL.

{To the Editor.)

Str, — In your itsue of the 15th instant, appears a most insulting letter containing several false statements, and emanating from the pen of Henry Dixon, school teacher-, Ophir, which situation he occupies to the exclusion of a more competent person. You must not be surprised at the tone of the cpistlo-, becauee if you knew the man, you, would see the old adage fulfilled, namely, " Ignorance and impudence.go hand injiand." The former Government teacher, as you observe, had high intellectual abilitießj and was a gentle-

man of strict sobriety ; as for relinquishing hiß office, Mr. H. Dixon knows better. He talks largely of the number of scholars attending school. I know, for eight months previous to the last si# weeks, the average daily attendance was thirteen. Now the day his letter to you was written, the attendance was eighteen, out of a possible number of forty children of an age capable of attending. Motions in committee for his dismissal* have been made several times, but over-ruldfl. His " financial " statement of the school and committee, it amounts to a direct charge of dishonesty, when he states that the committee are spending, before raising, £150 for Bchool purposes. In his concluding paragraph, he, says he will leave it to the Education Board to decide. He may thank his good fortune that they have not been" informed of passing events ; and I would suggest to the Inspector of Schools, upon his next visit to Ophir, to examine the schoolmaster as well as the children, particularly in geography, reading, and arithmetic. In conclusion, I would remind Mr. Dixon that bluster and bounce belong to a weak cause, and do advise him to apply to himself the sentences said to be written on the wall at Belshazzar's feast — " Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin." — I am, &c., ! Captain Cluttebbfck. Blacks. November 22.