THE KIHIKIHI SCHOOL. Public Meeting.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1399, 21 June 1881, Page 3

THE KIHIKIHI SCHOOL. Public Meeting.

CuagPAirr to advertisement in the WaiKATp^TiKES, the adjourned public meeting regaling, tho management, of the Kihikihi sehqol took place, in the , schoolroom on Saturday night last, and notwithatanding the very inclement state of tho weather was admirably well attended by parents and householders, who took a warm and commendable interest in the proceedings. Mr Forbes Gordon was elected ,to the chair, and on opening the proceedings read a letter of apology from Mr Bndgman, and received statements from others sympathising- with the object for which the meeting was called, He then went on to state that unfortunately he was the ohairman elect of the refractory School Committee,' and ho was so, under difficulties the most painful, inasmuch as ho was continually bullied at the meetings and sat upon, principally by tho man Thomas, who has, it is well-known, made biroself so odious that five of the members elected at the annual meeting had to resign, but care was taken to fill up four of the vacancies so caused by this obnoxious individual and his accomplice with men who had no interest whatever in educational matters, they having no children to attend the school, and who besides were not much troubled with education themselves. They were filled with malice against tho teacher and a determination to gain notoriety and prominence by disturbing the school. As the matter now stood with himself he was threatened by them that he would be legally proceeded against for felony, but it he would lesign the chair in tavour of the individual, Thomas, they might, they said, withdraw the charge. The teacher lud again, since the inspector left, been threatened with dismissal ; the meetings — and they are very frequent— are never ended without tin eats. Further revelations by Mr Gordon of the conduct of the committee, which was mean and discreditable, and the attempt of Thomas and another in piesenting a cheque for 5s at tho Bank Te Aw.imutu, to obtain some school funds were amusing, but disclosed a disgraceful state of affairs. Mr Andicw Kay next addicsscd the meeting. He said lie was about to pio2>ose a resolution, but before doing so he wished to explain that his self-imposed mission to In ing about harmony amongst the committee and the public was a failure. He had been for a number of year* connected 'with school matters in Kihikihi ; he was one of the fiist to get the present building up some tlmtecn years ago, and he had never omitted since to interest himself in the educational mattcis of tho district, He therefore thought his presenco amongst them would quieten matteia, and he ventured to think, qi\e assurance to parents ; but in this lie was mistaken. It was true the Committee's minutes had been lead over to him, amongst which, although theie had been a large number or ordinary and special meetings ; there was not a single resolution passed that would in tho least promote the cnuso of education ! There were he continued, no loss than five or .six iesolutions lolating to tho hiring of the school-room for any Eimnscinent's, and regulating the t.uiff of charges for b<ime. The lemainder of tho minutps principally iclated to accepting the resignations of no loss than five mciubeis of the Committee, and appointing their successor., besides boveral resolutions to oust Mr Goidon fiom the chair, and the appointing of Mr Thomas jn his 6tead. Another ie*olufion which boomed to thorn of equal importance, was duly recordcd,vi/.: "that the deliberations of tl.c Committee should be held in *pcret, the press being excluded." He would now piopose, Ist. " That we have j no confidence in the Kikikihi School Com- i mifctee ns a whole, and that they be requested to lesjgn and allow the Central Board to appoint commissioners for the rcniriinrler of emient year." 2nd. "'That the mode of filling vacancies by nomination is open to abusp, and that it .should be changed to election," Seconded by Mr Cowan, and canied unanimously." Mr Fanell next addressed the meeting, sboft'injr how impolitic it was to bo always nagging at the teacher without cause He condemned, in seveie term's, the snivelling menaces of the committee. The resolution he had to propose was as follows: "That in the Opinion of this meeting the numerous and frequent threats of the School Committee to report and demand the dismissal of the teacher, on pietexts the most frivolous, tend to impair his efficiency by lessening that interest in the advancement of his pupils whHi a knowledge of his peimanency and a sense of fair play would go far to seciue ;" and further, "That the patents and househohleis composing this meeting are highly batifitied with Mr Mathesons manner and evcellent method of teaching." .Seconded by Mr Eoss and canied unanimously. ' The next resolution was proposed by Mr All.iv Hendeison and seconded by Mr Tanner, and ran as follows :—" That the school building is now much too small and inadequate for the accommodation of the large number of clnldien attending it, and that the committee bo requested to press on the Board the necessity of providing a new school on a more suitable site." Mr Kay now proposed a cordial vote of thanks to the chairman for presiding, coupled with a vote of thanks to Mr Gordon as Chairman of Committee. Seconded by Mr Ashby and carried by acclamation.

Trx million tons of debris are annually •washed from the hills by the 1000 miners engaged in hydraulic mining- in California, to the ruin of the agricultural lands and valley streams, the owners of which are uiitting- to stop hydraulic mining altogether. The new pure cash system now being initiated by (i. and C. will ccrtainlv prove a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in .Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customi r j who bajs at an establishment where the goods arc marked low to ensure a rapid sale must qc a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery millinary, and clothing .it such prices for ca,sh as gives the buyer the advantages of a shareholder of a co-operative society, without the risk of being' called upon to bear a portion of the loss should tho year's business prove unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell will aim to retain the conhdence which the public have hitherto shown them, and are determined togi,vcth<?pure cash system a fair trials whether they gain or lose the first year. Cpuijtry buyers on remitting; 'cash with order will be supplied with goods, at co-operative prires ; jifst l th6 s^meus though they made a personal selection. Furnishing goods, such as carpets, flflMwJotlw* .bedsteads, bedding^ and general house furniture, the largest portion of which is turned out»t out own factory, Swill be marked at the lowestTomuncrativc price 1 ;, and a discount of five per cent, will be allowed (o thos.e who pay at thetimobfpMrchase. G. jt C. having realised the entire value ,of their stock during thoir late cash sale, the present stock is new and cheaply hovoHT. ASHsj4pection.j?ijivited.-J-GARE!CK and Cranwkix, City Hall burnishing Arcade Queenitreet, Auckland