THE RUAPUKE SCHOOLMASTER.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1558, 29 June 1882, Page 3

THE RUAPUKE SCHOOLMASTER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Feeling sure that an acGOimt of the meeting of the school committee held atTe Mata on Saturday lastwould interest many of your readers, I take the liberty of writing you a few lines on the subject, in order to show the many people who were not present (more especially the parents in the Ituapuke and Te Mata districts) how entirely false every accusation is against our worthy friend Mr Johnstone. The meeting commenced by a certain "gentleman" making various accusations against Mr Johnstone, which were in nearly every instance most unfounded, unjust and untrue. Can a schoolmaster do more than pass 100 per cent when the children are inspected ? I think not ; but such are the results at Mr Johnstone's school. However, lam glad to say Mr Johnstone, in a very smart speech, backed up by a most honourable and manly chairman, thotougly shamed his accuser, and proved him in one particular instance to be telling a direct falsehood— whereupon the accuser calmly replied that he had a bad memory. Is it just that such a man as tins should be allowed to represent the interests of the people in the district? No ! I am sine eveiyone will agree ■with me that it is not, and that such a man ought to be turned out of the board ; for in this free and happy country of ours a just man ought never to be wronged by an entiiely unprincipled one. Mr Johnstone's accuser finally came to the conclusion that the meeting was not legal, consequently he would not vote. This >s a very good way of trying to evade the business of the meeting, and is merely the invention of a spiteful man. When the general meeting comes off m a short time, we shall not see Mr Johnstone in the light of one being accused of bad teaching, but as a thoroughly competent schoolmaster, well able to educate and bring up in the fear of God those childieu entrusted to him ; and I do again earnestly entreat all Mr Johnstone's wellwishers, and enemies too, to attend the next meeting and see for themselves in what a noble and manly way he stands up to defend himself, and puts to shame all his dishonorable and malicious enemies. — I am, &c, An Honorable Man.