MASTBRTON SCHOOL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2678, 19 August 1887, Page 2

MASTBRTON SCHOOL.

Tue ordinary monthly meeting of the Masterton Sobool. Committee was held

lastevening '(Thursday) at the Odd' fellow's Hall, Perry Street. Present Mesßrs Boddington (chairman) Lowes, Pay ton, AfoEwen, Hogg,. .and Orilleri.

The minutes of the last ordinary and speciul . meetings were reac and confirmed. The Treasurer repor ,ted a oredit balance of £ls 3s lOd.

•'Correspondencewas read fromJlie Education Board stating that DrillInstructor ikur bad been called upon for an explanation of his neglect of

the Masterton School.. That the sum That the Committee appointed to deal with the Second School site, had reported in favor pf the Simeon acre, That

the mode of filling vacancies on school committees was 'set forth in sections

Tand V of the Amonduient Act, ,885. .. , ■■■■:: TboChairaian, referring to the Aot,

declared Mr Leahy's seat on the Committee vacant through non-attendance. It was decided to fill the vacanoy at the next meeting, Mr G. Heron nominatod for the office,' ; "

The head master's report. showed there were 521 on the main school roll, average attendance 450, highest 496,' lowest 282. That, Mr Andrew, had arrived and taken charge of the third class, vice Mr-Willis, transferred to. Maurioeville. Bo prizes lie recommended that the money usually expended upon them be devoted to other purposes, ./• . '

Miss Heeling's report showed 118 on the roll at the side school, average 77, highest 91, lowest 31. The bad Weather of the past month had militated against the attendance. • .' .'

The prize question caused censidur•able discusslou, Mr Ldwes-being of opinion that tho system" of giving prizes to almost every child in the school was contrary to all rules of competition, he waß in faver of giving them to the chief scholars as that .would cause a spirit of emulation among them. Mr Payton, though in favor of giv-. ing. prizes thought that the recommmdatiori of the head master should be respected. Hoconßidoredtbescholars' valued strong passes more,than priids,i and- that.; the Inspectors Certificates! were the real prizes of the'sta'to schools, Mr Hogg spoke strongly-iu favor of liberal prizes' us an incentive to learning, ftiul considered (hat the scholars

who. attended regularly some recognition as well as those' lp gained honors by their learning. He moved ".that prizes be given as hereto* fore, on the mark system, and that the matter be left in the hands of the head master and Chairman to arrange." Mr McEwen secpojiejj'the motion. ■■ The Chairman spolftin favor of the resolution and said there were a large number ot children who -anticipated I prizes at the end of the year. He . 1 ;would. 'prSfef : W : m-tswPs%rs.i&; The motion was carried on .the cast:.. iqgvo.t? of the Chairman. "• MfLora called attention-tOrti?*' school gates'being left openVanT cattle" allowed to get into the grounds, and'' thought it was useless todo.-miythkyjt,-to the place.unleas they were kept ouW It was decided to attend to thus gates with a view to keeping'-them* closed after school hours. ' Mr Hogg apologised for not attending to his visitjng duties in July, stating that he understood that the winter vacation was on, und that he woujj not be required to attend. The Ctiw mitteo expressed tberosplves satisfied, with the explanation given, Tue Second School Bite.

Mr Payton said he had given, notice of his intention of moving a resolution on tbo second school question. The committee had been to groat trouble in securing a second school site'forthe town, and their efforts were-so farcrowned with success that tho coto» mittee appointed by the Board 46 inspeot the sites were prepared ;to make .'their report in May last. That ••bow-'• mittoe, however, on the recomruenda l • tion of one of thoir number, Mr A, W. . Brown, witheld the report, ■ and whole thing was shelved. It was no wj! uncertain whether the second:.sokool would be erected, as the.money promised depended upon tho next Parliamentary vote. It had transpired that Mr Brown's action was owing to a communication from one of the Masterton committeo, Mr .A. W.Hogg, whose action, he contended, had been injurious to- the tow n. This member, who had been trying -ft • .shelve the question, had tried to throw the blame on the shoulders of othojp and he felt that it was his duty .undw the circumstances to move ''That this' Committfle censures Mr Hogg for the - aotion he had takon in obstructing the progress of the second soliool in : . Mafterton." •> t Mr Lowos thought befqro the resolution was seconded, it would mfo matters-clear to find out for certain whether it was Mr Hogg who. commum'oated with Mr Brown onJthe : s'ubjeot.' •;/!.'• ] Mr Payton said he would consent to motion if Mf llogg would say he did not communicate' with Mr Brown. He made tbejrV position on the assumption that.it Mr Hogg whom Mr Brown referred to.- ;'■'■■■• ■,•;■-.. ." ; ;:-: : Mr Lowes said it was placing Ms.. Hoggin a position of convicting- hinr-; self, by asking him to answer qijes* tions on the subject. i^ •Mr Hogg said he had not thjl slightest objection to answer any question, but could not understand the object of the motion or the nature of the questions. . v.y>,.. '■■% Payton asked Mr Hogg,if lie., did not, prior to the May. meeting.-pf ; , ■■ the Education Board, have a .com- ' munication with Mr Brown, which led'; to the school site roport being witiieldi '% Hogg said if the motion:w#r carried he would not be afraid, audhe considered Mr Payton's action/ was ohjl&sh and disloyal, K Mr Payton wished to know his private business he would not toll him, bat he could assure them that' bo had written' nothing but the truth on the matter.. Ho accused Mr Payton of throwing dust in tho eyes of the Masterton people, and his conduct was anything but the conduct of a man who-iad the cause of Education at heart'. He ' asserted that he had never suggested anything that would cause the roport to be. held back, and said he could be responsible for anything Mr JJrowsj: had done, or what interpretation he had put upon any communication he might have received. ,'.-'",.■'• The Chairman pointed out that the report would have been presented in Maylapt.butMr Brown stated that owiiig to a communication he received from Masterton, the report should be held back. :

Mr Hogg said he was quite agreeable that any letter that he had written to Mr Brown on the subject should be published. The Chairman eaid it was a verbal communication to.Mr Brown after the visit of the site committee to Masterton . that led to the; report being withheld. Mr Hogg said it was the most extraordinary thing he ever heard of, for tt* man's private communications to be brought into question. He eiv peoted the next thing would be, that they would be putting their ears :.to • keyholes to listen for any communion tions.tbat were made by him. ,v Mr Lowes said that owing to : influenoe that was brought to bearl from someone in Masterton, .the; .second school was practically shelved. •Hadthat not been the case it would nowbave been in course of ereotion. • Mr Hogg said that the only thing of importance that ho communicated was, .that seeing thtyhero were two school eites, and it waTa question of money, he advised the committee that before they came. to any conclusion they should take steps,to ascertain the feeling o'f the people of Masterton on the question. ■ The Chairman; Was that after the resolution was passed by the committee approving of the Simcox site ? Mr Hogg said it might have been - after that. He had always held'strong opinions that the sohool should be ereoted in a position suitable for both ia day and night school. '- Mrßayton said that as Mr Hogg had taken the position he had in the matter he would withdraw his first motion and move, "That, this com* ■ mittee censures the persoti in Masterton who instigated Mri Brown to bus- •;< pendthe report in May. last ifi the Edncaiiou Board on % 'Masterton second sohool site, v V':'-- ■ -Mr Cullen in seconding the motion said an injustice had been done to Masterton through : thei.c|p of someone, and the "committer had been •. grossly iueuM If Unn mmJM

feir committee who did it because as in a minority, it was not a „ creditable action, and he did not approve of such backstair influence. fie considered that the minority Bhould not consider they were right, and that the majority was wrong. - -Mr Hogg contended that the Committee would be placed in a peculiar \ '■ . position, by passing the resolution. It ■jrsally meant passing a vote of censure •' 'On Mrßrqwn, "a-gentleman lie bad the . highest'rfigard'for.;:; He would like to . know'lio.w the Committee, got their ' information,'' ' ',', ... ;:: ~ The; Chairman, • paid: the. report's- in •• *;the papers clear .on. the subject. y; Mr Hogg kid to Brown was only '■'"' one on the Board. ' . ' ._ XThe .Resolution was then put andferried' by 5 to I, Me Hogg alone ' Toting against it. Mr Hogg, moved"-That a public meeting of North and West ward residents be held iu the Theatre Royal, to fully go into tho question of the fd school Bito. o Chairman ruled the proposition i order, as : tlie. question had beonfinally settled by the Board, and that both the late and the present .'School Committee had approved of the site, Mr McEwe'u-was appointed visiting member, arid tho meeting adjourned.