MAURICEVILLE EAST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3798, 30 April 1891, Page 2

MAURICEVILLE EAST.

(From a Correspondent.)

We have had a few da)S delightfully fine weather, but a re-action has apparently set in. Several new buildings a>'e in course of erectioo. Mr M'Kic has just completed his new residence, which is certainly a credit to both the place and the architect. The annual meeting of householders to elect a new school committee and settle the vexed question of a school site was held on Monday evening. The meeting was unanimous in its decision as to a site, and there is eyery prospect of a good school being erected at once. The old school is utterly unfit for school purposes, pools of water at times lying in the centre of the floor. A number of householders waxed jocular on the subject on Monday evening. Some were in favor of applying to tli9 Acclimatization Society for a few thousand trout for liberation in the school, but the master intimated that fishing would not be allowed in school hours. An outsider witnessing the meeting of thirty eight householders would conclude that we were fast degenerating to a cannibalistic state of heathenism. For it is a fact one householder threatened to "chew off the ear" of another. The balance alioet, read, by the Chairman

of the old Committee, showed the I school to be out of del t, and the new Committee left with six shillings to start with. The meeting, having elected a chairman, proceeded to ballot for a new committe. The Chairman failing to get a hearing, and becoming impatient, brought his fist resolutely into ccrllision with the table and unburdened himself with an expression far more forcible than polite. After a little delay a sec retary was moulded out of a butcher boy, who, in the absence of the Chairman, planked himself in the chair. Of course the Chairman of the old Committee should have presided; but ho was not permitted, the Act being openly disregarded throughout. However, things proceeded apace. One householder, who, it appears, had intended becoming a candidate for school honors, but whose nomination paper was declared informal, give vent in strong terms to his feelingj of disappointment and dismay. Roars of laughter were occasioned by reading his nomination paper, which ran as follows:—"To the Chairman of Mr Vile, School Committee." Mr Vile, evidently not considering himself a school committee, had declared the nomination informal. The meeting, however, lent a sympathetic ear to the want of the rejected householder, and decided to give him what is vulgarly called "a show." He was permitted to contest the election, but—horror! —was placed at the very bottom of the poll. Such is fate ! Another householder, considering his chances for election were exceedingly small, endeavored to magnify them by Hhreatening that if he was not returned he would upset the whole concern. But it was of no avail! He was quietly consigned to the obscurity from whence he had emerged. But he vows he will upset somebody's " ajiplecart." Anamus~ ing feature of the meeting was a gamH of football, played with the covering of the cranium of a house holder. After an exciting " scrum " the tile was collared and transferred to the arms of its owner—minus stuffing. At 10.30 the meeting, which may be briefly summed up as " a farce," was brought to a close.