PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 445, 22 April 1880, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

,A public meeting was held last evening in Mr Russell's shop, Kuripuni, in order

to take steps to obtain a school for Kuri puni.

A-fair attendance of the public assembled.

On the motion of Mr 0 Wilton,.sen., seconded by Mr J. Ilusaell, the Rev; Mr Powell was voted to the chair.' : ; The Chairman read the advertisement" convening the' meeting, and said the Kuripuni people hod been denied the privilege, of having a school in their midst, and for this reason he would take part in the proceedings, . There were many children in the vicinity of Kuripuni who would attend a school if one was established. Ho hoped speakers'would confine themsdlves to the subject. He instanced the advice of an able editor in England to his correspondents: "Take time, and make your letters shorter," He believed if they took active action they would obtain the boon coveted, If they did not at once succeed, they should try until they did. Mr T. W. Shute said they were seeking the advancement and welfare of the children. They had applied to the proper j source to obtain a school for Kuripuni, but had been refused. He would move the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr E. ArnoldThat-for the purpose of carrying out fully, and giving I effect to, the proceedings of this meeting; it is deemed desirable that only the residents of Kuripuni and Manaia take any part in the sa,me, and that the- Chairman disallow any other persons from interfering in any way, .

Mr J. Russell would Bay a few words before the resolution was put. He did not approve of debarring anyone from taking part in the discussion. Tho speaker then ■defined the proposed boundaries of the Kuripuni school district. He did not think they would be beaten in their attempt • The Inspector of Schools in his report had pointed out the advisability, through the crowded state of tho Masterton otie, of having a school for. this end of the township. They had waited on the Masterton School Committee, and pointed out the need of having a school established. He attributed the reason they had not obtained their request from the Committee to the action of Messrs Caselberg and McOardle. They were keeping about 60 children away from school. The Chairman pointed out to Mr Russell that he was not confining himself to the subject.

Mr T. W. Shute then withdrew his resolution, and proposed the following, whicn was seconded by Mr W, Wilton That this meeting expresses its regret, and also its indignation, with regard to the action of the Masterton School Committee thtoughout, and especially at their last meeting, in not favorably recommending their claim, and acknowledging' the want of a school in this neighborhood (Kuripuni), and they are of opinion that two persons named by the meeting should represent this portion of the district us a deputation at the next meeting of the Education Board in Wellington, and again urge their wants on the attention of the Board, and if unsuccessful, that the same two persous while in Wellington should wait on the Minister of Education, and make their wantß known in this respect to him, praying him to consider the Bame.

Mr T, W-Shute said lie' had striven a : long while in this matter,' and he would not give up until he succeeded. He asked whether those persons present would allow the Committee to "take away the rights given them by Government?— (Cries of No, no, and applause). When they confronted the little king of Masterton (the Chairman of the School Committee he would ask were they favorably or rightly received?—(Keep to the resolution), He was speaking to the resolution. They had tried everything in their power, even to obtain the promise they should get the s'choolj but. when he saw the chairman of the committee cast his eye upon his fellow committeemen, he (the speaker), said to himself, " Good-bye Dick, we shall have, no school." He was pleased to see Messrs McOardla and Woodroofe present, as they could take this piece of news back to. Masterton, If they could not obtain the school from the Education Board, they would raise a £5 vote amongst ■ them, and have a a school somehow. He would advise them to send a deputation to the Education Board. He was astonished that the committee stood in the way of Kuripuni residents and their children, [A voice—They won't gain anything by it. J The Chairman hoped the next speaker would not be so long-winded as Mr Shute, [A laugh,] Mr W. Wilton, in seconding the resolution, pointed out the unfairness of the late action of the Committee. The speaker said the Taratahi settlers had a Mr Hansen keeping a school there for some time, and one of his (the speaker's) children had learned more in eighteen months under him than he would learn in ten years in the Masterton school. The settlers did not wish to have their children learn music, singing, &c,, as they were doing in the last mentioned school. Mr Russell said they had not received any answer from the Committee when the deputation waited upon them, and did not in fact, know the substance of the answer until next day, when they saw it in the newspaper. They simply wished to have a just olaim righted. Be would wish to speak in a language which would cut the members of the Committee present, but he hardly knew how to do it as he did not wish to insult them. -[A voice:" Give it them straight !"J— He did not like these constant interruptions. The persons present could speak in better language after him. In his opinion all persons present should sign a requisition showing the number of children able to attend -o school.

Mr Woodroofe, who was greeted with applause, said he- was entitled to speak even if the firat resolution had- been carried, as he qwned property at Manaia, In his opinion the public of Masterton in the matter of selecting a body of officebearers showed a very gross taste. They should place men at the head of affairs who would deal impartially. - The conduct of the Masterton Committee; had been diagraceful—(Hear, hear, and applause.) He would not bring any charge against the school there, but he would say that it was overcrowded. The Inspector had embodied a suggestion in his report favorable to the Kuripuni school. The speaker sat down amidst applause. Mr McCardle said he did .not come there to oppose any measures that- might come before the meeting. He would only make a short explanation, as the Chairman of the Committee had been maligned' The Chairman had used no influence in: order to bias the minds of his fellow-com-mitteeraen, but the reverse. Another way to meet the views of tne Kuripuni public was to have the Masterton Public School build on the ridge near Mr Lowes' which would be only about half a mile from the proposed site. He'had always been favorable.to Kuripuni and its advancement. / Mr Shute asked Mr McCardle whether, in so moving the school site they would not be giving the Masterton SchooliOommittee a great deal more power in its management], Mr McCardle said the Kueipuni people

could elect their own members, in the Committee and thus have acertain. amount .ofcontrol,' - -v. -:. v : i .' Mr Woodroofe said he would point out to Mr McCardle that the Education Board would not place a school on any landnot belonging to themselves.. Mr McOwdle said they could apply to the Town Trust for a grant of land forthe purpose, and he had no doubt they would see the necessity of having a more central site and grant the application. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. • i Mr Russell said they had a site now without cost to them, and the committee saw it was a question which was likely to turn against them; and now Mr McCardle had made the suggestion of having a central school near Lowes'.. [Mr McCardle— No, no.] The speaker said they should keep outsiders out of the matter. He would touch upon another matter while he was speaking, and that was the question of having the Borough divided into wards, They would never have justice done them until this was done. [Cries of—Stick to the subject; show us the way to get the school, and leave that alone.] The Chairman said they could not allow any other matter to crop up, but should confine themselves to the case in point. Mr Russell said no doubt'his friend Mr McCardle was earnest iii his views as regarded the central school, but this should have been done at first.

". Mr McCardle said he had been charged by Mr Russell with' putting the persons present on a false'scent. The Trust could grant a site for this purpose. Mr Woodroofe denied that the Trustees could do this, Mr McCardle said all they would have to do would be to get the House to pass a small bill enabling the Trust to grant a site for a college, and this would meet the purpose. Mr W. Wilton was of opinion that they should still persevere in trying to get the school for Kuripuni. Mr J. Eaves proposed, seconded by Mr W. Wilton—That the Rev Mr Powell and Mr James Russell be requested to act as a deputation to the Education Board,, and point out the necessity of having a school at Kuripuni.—Carried unanimously. A vote of. thanks to the Chairman dosed the meeting. >,