Taranaki Herald 31 January 1896

Tataraimaka

Some little excitement was recently caused here by the peculiar
behaviour of an individual who was working in the district for a
short time. Some little time ago one of our farmers being in want
of someone to assist in milking, and to drive the milk to the factory,
availed himself of the services of a man who was travelling through
the district in search of employment; this man was engaged for a
week on trial, at the end of which time he was told that his services
would be no longer required. The morning he was leaving he had his
breakfast and taking advantage of the fact of all the members of the
family being at breakfast, and his late employer being away at the
factory, he proceeded to the stable and helped himself to a saddle
and bridle, and then caught a horse that was in a paddock close by
and rode away. He, being a stranger in the district, proceeded up
one of the bush roads evidently thinking that it led away into the
interior or to some other road that would take him to some of the
townships along the coast. Travelling about a mile along this road
he saw that he could not get much further so he tied his horse to a
fence and he lay down by the side of the road, sat on a stump, or
occupied some other equally dignified position. After spending some
hours in this fashion, he came to the conclusion that he would go
to New Plymouth, and with that object in view he mounted his horse
and started, passing, on his way, close to the farm on which he had
lately been working. When he arrived at Oakura, he good naturedly
got the horse shod, a fact which would give one the impression that he
intended to travel some distance before being caught. In the meantime,
Constable HICKMAN, of Pungarehu, was communicated with and was soon
on the scene, and when he found that his man had gone towards New
Plymouth, he availed himself of the telephone, with the result that
shortly after our friend had put his horse in Mr JONES' stable he
was in the hands of the police, and is now vegetating for a short
season of three months in Mr RICKERBY's establishment.

Notice was recently given to School Committees to nominate members
for the Education Board. Why was our Committee not called together
in order to do this? If the Chairman did not consider it of sufficient
importance to call a meeting for the above purpose, perhaps some of
the other members of the Committee would have liked to express an
opinion on the matter; at any rate they should have been given an
opportunity, and then if they failed to attend they could not blame
the Chairman. Why should the Chairman monopolise the powers of the
Committee and do what he thinks proper, without consulting the other
members in any way? As long as School Committees are considered
necessary when there is any business to transact in connection with
the schools, every member of these bodies has a right to a voice in
the matter as well as the Chairman; and if he neglects to concede them
this privilege perhaps it would not be out of place to gently remind
him that he is not doing his duty.

Would it not be a good idea to form this into a separate school
district and have a committee of our own? I think the suggestion
would be popular both in this and the Okato districts; when members
from here have to journey to Okato in order to attend meetings in the
winter time, it is not all pleasure; and that fact, I think, keeps
many from attending the householders meetings, who, if the districts
were separate would put in an appearance, and serve on the committee.

Our picnic seems to hang fire, some time ago a meeting was called for
a certain date, but owing probably to insufficient publicity being
given to the matter, only two gentlemen attended, consequently no
action was taken, but why not call another meeting?