RAGLAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1391, 2 June 1881, Page 3

RAG LAN.

After more than a month's silence I return again to invade your columns. The hibtoiy for a week in Raglan, with few exceptions, would do for any and eveiy week in the year. The place leminds one of Longfellow's village of Grand Pro, "Still stands the forest primeval," and we have our Basil the blacksmith, if we have not the wealthy fanner, Benedict Bellofontaine. The latest news here is that the Clerk of our R.M. Court has received notice to quit at the end of June. The reason is that there is not sufficient work for him, and the Government; wish to retrench. Tt is proposed to combine the office of constable and clerk of the court. While sorry to hear of any one in these dull times losing a situation, this does seem to me a wise arrangement. I may be mistaken, but I cannot see what our Clerk finds to do to occupy h)& time. Poor man ! He must work hard to make the time past* pleabantly. Let us hope he will soon find another opening. How the proposed ariangement will work it, a matter tor discussion. On Court days it may be awkward to have one man as constable and R M. Clerk. Another item of news more closely connected with our welfare, is that the Board of Education purpose to reduce the schools at Waitetuna and Raglan to halftime. Mr Latrobe, who for a number of years has successfully conducted the Waitetuna school, is to divide his time between both places. Week about is to be the order. This is fair neither to the teacheis nor the scholars. What the latter leain in one week they somehow contrive to forget the next, and the teacher has to lepeat old lessons when he ought to give new ones. The settlers at Waitetuna have had a meeting to protest against the proposed alteration. What their resolutions are I have not heard. I hope it m ill not come to pass, but as retrenchment is the cry, I suppose we shall have to be thankful for what we can get. When our teacher left I was afraid the Boaid would either send a lady to take charge of the school, or reduce it to halftime. — (Own Correspondent, May 31st.)