Earnscleugh Flat, near Clyde, a fruit-growing area to be
served by a Government irrigation system. - Otago Witness,
21.2.1912.
A keen discussion was started in the Education Board
yesterday by a letter from the authorities of St Gerard's
Convent, Alexandra, asking that their school should be examined
regularly by one of the board's inspectors.
It was immediately proposed that the request be agreed to,
and the school be placed on the list. Mr J. Mitchell said he
had been on the board at the time when they agreed to inspect
these schools, and one of the chief arguments in favour of
undertaking this was that it would afford them opportunity of
ascertaining whether or not a proper measure of education was
being given in these schools. He suggested that the reports
upon them should be submitted to the members of the board
just as the reports upon their own schools were.
They ought to know whether these schools were fulfilling
their function or not.
Mr Israel asked if the board had any authority over private
schools, and referred to a case that had come under his
notice of a child from a private school going to the primary
department of a public school entirely unequipped.
The Hon T. Fergus said they were raising a very large
question indeed.
They would interfere with every denominational school in the
district. If they were to go and be arbiters as to whether
they were giving proper education in these schools or not
they were running themselves into a great big jamb. If they
were going to examine all the children in private and
denominational schools they would need more inspectors.
Mr Mitchell said that any child attending a private school
must get a certificate that he was being educated.
That was the law, and they wanted to know - they were
justified in demanding that they should know - whether the
certificate supplied was a truthful one or a false one. His
opinion was that every school for which exemption
certificates were claimed should be examined. The board
formally agreed to grant the request of the Alexandra
Convent, and passed on to the next business.
• The Chinese residents of the city and suburbs kept Monday
as a holiday, and consequently all business was brought to a
standstill. At the warehouse of Mr Hip Fong Tie the new
Republican flag was hoisted, and the Chinese were much
gratified by its appearance on not only that building, but on
numerous others in the city. During the day an interesting
address was given by Mr W.
King Yep, manager for Mr Hip Fong Tie. The address was
received with great demonstrations of pleasure, and occasion
was taken to express in truly Oriental fashion a hope that
the new order of things and the new Republic might live for
hundreds and thousands of years.
- ODT, 22.2.1912.
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