CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. AN INTERESTING MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1786, 15 December 1883, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. AN INTERESTING MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of the^ above committee was held at' Cambridge on Thursday, evening - last,- at> 8 o clock. Present : Messrs (J, U. Hosking (chairman), Houghtnn, Nixon, Wright, Hewitt, Sargent and the Rev. H. R. Dewsbury. Coki{e.spo.vi)KN*oe. — A letter _ was read from Mr M. R. Keeping, solicitor for Mr Arnold, late assistant "teacher,— demanding a public ap>logy from. -the chairman, Mr Ho-ikiug, for certain defamatory statements Alleged to have been, made jay. him against Mr Arnold at 'a meeting; <jif the committee held lately. The reply 'to 'this cotntriutncati<»i was also read.' This was to the eifect that so long as he (Mr Hosking) hold the position of chairman of the committee he would e<cercirie the duties of the office by criticising the work done in the school, "and tlu qualifications of the teachers therein employed. Also, that the* statements complained of had no reference whatever to Mr Arnold, nor to his qualifications or capacity as a teacher. Is either had he mentioned his namo on the occasion complained of, nor had he made any reference to him. En'uokmn'i; the action' of the Comj MIT TEE. — An anonymous letter was received from some puriou, approving of the action of the committee in regard to the re-mpdel-j ling of the teaching staff and the abolition of coipoial punishment in the school. — The R 'v. Mr De vsbury contended that as the letter was anonymous it should not be icad by the committee. ' 'It should be put bjhiud tiie lire. — The letter was accordingly put aside. — Phillip C )opir also wrote, endorsing the action of the committee in endeavouring to bouJ Mr Sfcjwart from th • ->cu.iol, ana in abolishing corporal punishment, which in one particular c ise, ha stated, had t)6en the mean* of keeping a child away fron.'school, and depriving her of the advantages of an education for which the State pay's. — The Rev. Mr Djsvsbury piopo^ed that the letter bi3 not read ; as this matter of corporal punishment had been put aside for the present he did not consider there was .any necessity to bring it forward again.— Mr Honking contended that the letter— and there wa* about 20 more of a like character — showed that tho writer approved of the action taken by the committee in these pai ticular matter ■.. They show ed the desiro ot the parents as to what should take place. — The Rev. Dewsbury then moved that the letters dealing with corporeal punishment, &c, be laid on the table. — Mr Wright .seconded. — Mr Hewitt did not think there would be any beuefit in reading the letters weie it not for tlio fact that the Bo.ud of Education weie inipiessed with the idea that the committee wore acting /against the wishes of the parents, and had not got their confidence. He thought the pondence thuiofoiu should be read in justice to the coui'uittee. —Mr Nivon considered that Mr Hewitt was wrongly impressed on Hie hiibject. T!i^ b|Mid only uuteitained the no-con fidoncu id^ so far as the patent* of the pupils at^Ldiug tho High School were concerned,. tpl^ having petitioned the boaid on the , matter. — Mr Husking did not think Mr Nixon could sepaiatj tho two school* -the primary school and the High School —in this way. — Mr Honghtou thought tho letters should be read, ns they indicated the confidence which tho parents had in the ' committee. This confidence had been questioned by the petition to tliu board, and he did not feel inclined to sit down with that impression still intact.— Mr Hewitt said ,it had been stated against the c mnnittee that in taking the stops they had they were actuated by malice against the teacher, but the letters would show that they wei c actuated by the willoftheparents. He would move an amendment to tho effect that the letters be read.— Mr Houghton seconded. —Mr -Honking btated that if the present .committee were re-elected nevt year, no matter who the head teacher should then' be, it was hi-s opinion that the 1 evolution they had passed le corporal punishment would be bi ought into foice with tho name penalty as embodied in the proposition. — The Rev MrUowsbmy withdrew hi-- original proposition, as lie doubted their ability to witlmld the letteis. — L-jttuis u ere J then road from E. J. Hedgecook, (4uo. Jones, Wm. Moon, John Hutchms, S. Lodder, Jas. Webber, T. Webber, T. (Jemmill, R. Moise, M. Baitlett, W. Moisloy, S. Blight, W. Collins, Jno. R )binson and (4eo. Ansen. The lettei* all supported the action of the committee in the matter of remodcllingthcteachingstaff and the abolition of cm poral punishment.— Mr Wiight proposed that as the letteis had been read, they be now deferred for the consideration of tho new committee. He .suggested this course ou account of the allegations imputing animus to the committee which wcio going about. — Mr Nivon .stated that iAostT or the parents who had written these letters had never made any formal complaints to, the committee.— Mr Hoskingdid not know how some people defined the word " complaint." —Mr Wright conteuded that the veryfact of these parents sitting down and, writing these letters showed conclusively that they had substantial grievances.— Mr Hoskiug uaid complaints had been made on many preunw occasions.— Mr Hewitt did not see what the next committee had got to do wi.th these letters. They were purely apertiining to the present committee.— Mr Wiight thought Mr Stewart should have the pii\iluge of defending himself in this matter, and the letters should therefore be referred to him. — Mr Wrights motion, having no seconder, lapsed. —The Rev. Mr l)e\v>bmy then proposed that the coriespondence lie on tlie table.— Mr Houghtou seconded. — Carried unanimously. Tendkks ion Pr,A\(JKOLXi).— The following ten dois weie received for the work of foiming the new ghLs' playground :—(»eo,: — (»eo, Henson, £17 5s (accejited); ]J. Stewart, £1!) ; Jas. Meredith, £21 ; E. Hutching*, £20 15s. Axnu u. Mkefincj. — The annual meeting of householder was fived for 8 o'clock on the evening of the 28fch January, in the Public Hall. Vacvn'cv i.v Board ov Education.—M r Oarr w.is unanimously accoided the vote of the committee for the ensuing election for the Boaid of Education. The meeting, after considering some other matters, adjourned until Tuesday evening.

Mr H. Chitty, of Kent House, offers 10s reward for <i horse lost. About 200 head of rattle now running at Waikamau arc advertised for sale. The coaching plant belonging to Messrs Bradley and Co , may be bought privately from MrJ. H. Auckland. Mr J. S. Master, h.is an important notice in this paper. Advertisements about to-morrow's Sunday services in another column. A notice, bearing upon the election of commissioners, for the Kiliikilii Town District may be noticed in another part of this journal. •Mr J. S. Buckland, sells 1 some < American botse-rakes at Ohaupo on the 21st inst. A advertisement of Mr A. BucK*nd's>£' reference to the alteration of the' Jgsjn" the Rcumcra Stock Market may be see'aßfcnothcr flolumn. ' r*^^” You will tio well to furnish yonr house from Garlick and Cranwcll's. They have now the most complete Furnish ing Warehouse in Auckland, furniture to suit, all classes, good Btrc/i^, and cheap. They have Tapestry Qarpcts .rom 2s 3d pei yard, Brussels from 3s lid per yard. Linoleum from 3s Od to ss, Oil Cloths from Is Od to 4s 6d per yard, good 12 feet wide Oil Cloths at 3s Od per yard. Immense assortment of Iron Bedsteads from Infants' Cots to 5 feet wide half-tester Bedsteads., Double iron Bedsteads from 255. 480 Bedsteads in stock to select from. Beddings of all kinds and sizes kept in readiness. Dining, Sitting, Drawing-room Furniture, and and a large assortment of Manchester and Furnishing Goods, including 'a. lot of Cretonnes. Book Catalogues sent free to intending purchasers.' Garlick * and Cran well, City Hall Arcade. Queen-street Auckland: A distressed mother who called upon a"docto,r to learn if 'there' wasn't some mediciue tliatwould curebe> daughter of ; the' habit of -.indiscrjiniuatpjfli^tigp, was advised to give^the gjfl,_fplenty of salt. He aaid all that ailed ' her was she was toofrealu,. , , .., , -«r ji > For, ,the /pa;st ( seventy -five, .ye^rs the name Beecher has been much in use in vqligi9us/ ,circles ,in < Ameriaj. Lyman Beecher, the father, filled a large space in follow hiB, t acxen, sons— all clergymen— .William, ■ 'Edwara^^George, Chaflea.