HAMILTON WEST ANNUAL SCHOOL COMMITEE ELECTION

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 577, 1 February 1876, Page 2

HAMILTON WEST ANNUAL SCHOOL COMMITEE ELECTION

A» soon- after 3 p,m. at ten ratepayers, the necessary nnffiher to form a quorum, could l>e rounded np, Mr Jones was votscf into the chair, arid the name 9 of the following gentlemen having been duly proposed and seconded, were put to the meet* ing and elected a committee for the current ye»i, viz : — Messrs Jones, (Chairman) Martin, H McPberaon, Qelling, and Young. Mr Heury McPherson as one of the parents trusted the school would be better conducted during the next 12* months, than it had been durjng the last twelve, He was of opinion the children - did not get sufficient education for the money paid by tha ratepayers, b amiog- the Central Board for theshortneesof the school hoars set apart. Capt Beere, one' of the late Commissioners was, he said, especially to blame,, bat for him they would hare had a school-house now but what could be expected of him when he declared that the children of the working olasses ought not to be educated at all. Mr Danvers rote to protest against the present meeting calling in question the action of the late Commissioners, and the general opinion being that their business was striotly confided to the election of a committee, the meeting peperated after * vote of thanks to the chairman. There wis just a baker's dozen in tha meeting, and as they turned out to liquor up or disperse each according to his fancy they were met by another baker's dozen, of disappointed ratepayers, who had arrived just iv time to find themselves too late and the school committee already | elected. Then there was a diversity of opinion aud a clash of words and compliments were exchanged, and language used which was more forcible than polite ; and the baker's dozen who were late upbraided the baker's, or, we should say in this case, tailor's dozen who had, as they said, stolen a march upon them, and the former said as the parson did to bis congregation from the Cornish pulpit when a wreck wa announced during church service and some were hurrying away, "one word brethren, come back and lets all star fair"! But the elected committee ani their backers didn't see it, like the Cousin Jacks aforesaid and \\ ere content to le . matters be- Then they all went back and some thirty being piebent, Mr Jones w.B pat into the chair. Mr Vialou wanted to know, before going any further, what position they stood in. Was this an adjourned meeting from that just held, or were they going to make a fresh start and pass a resolution to rescind the former meeting. (Here the voice of <i new.y eleot'jd rommittee man was heaid to observe " uot if he know'd it.") The Chairman explained that the eleorion wai legally made nud could not be set asii't. Mr Vialou — What are we here for? The proposition in the hall was that the meeting had not Ik*pii carried on exactly as it should have Wen aud that we bhould return and st.iit afresh. l\l r Gelling s«id he for oue hid been willing to return, but he thought tho meeting shonld be considered merely as an adjourned one fro'n th t just held. Mr Vialou said he h.ul been treated in a «hnmefal manner, as one of the retiring Commissioners. He had sent n message by Mr McPberaon, saying that he was detained a few minutes but had important information to commnricaie. Half-an-honr had not quite elapsed nnd the whole thing hsd beeu rushed through. He bad worked hard for the school and had received scant courtesy. He should decline giving any information to the meeting. Mr Gelling begged Mr Vialou would go on with whit he had been about to state if only for the good of the district Mr Vialon— Looking at it in that light he would comply. He should be sorry to do anything detrimental to the good of the district because two or three men wore determiued to get a certain set, he wouldn't say a clique, elected. Under the circumstances and taking into consideration that the d strict might suffer by his reticence ho would briefly say that for the past 3 years since he had worked hard and had corresponded both with th Central Board and privately so as t secure good terms for the district. Mr Vialou then read the correspondence published in Saturday's Times. Mr Kaox denied having come there to rash any particular parties through. He came tnere to see that the several Nreligious denominations wero fairly represented and to secure the return of two men as members of committee who were fathers of large families and interested in the welfare of the school. Mr Martin thought that Mr Vialott ought to apologise to the meeting for not being present at the proper time, instead of jacketting them. Mr Vialou explained that he had sent his apology, the reasons of his detention and a request to wait a few minutes. It was not his fault if the message had been imperfectly delivered. He then read a private letter he had received from Secretary of the Central Board intimatingthat if the inhabitants subscribed £75 the Board would give another £175 for the purpose of erecting a school Ac. This announcement had the effect of irradiating the countenances of those present as the sight of the stm would have done any time this last five weeks and brotherly love and an edifying spirit of Christian meekness fell upon all present. Mr Vialou declared that though not elected as he certainly should have liked to have been, he would do all he could to assist the new Commissioners and the district. Mr McPherson moved a vote of thanks to Mr Vialou and Mr Knox seconded it with the remark that Mr Vialou as the Treasurer and business man of their local institutions was always plain, and straitfbrward, and deserved the thanks of the public. The motion wrb carried by acclamation, and things having been made pleasant all round the meeting broke up.