The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-09-24
Knotty Problems Discussed and
Disposed of Forthwith.
PETITION TO FREE FREITAS.
Appointments of Various Teachers-Report of
Deputy Inspector J. F. Scott on Chinese
Schools - Uniformly Dirty and Closely
Packed-An Attempt TO Bribe Useless.

At a meeting of the Board of Educa-
| ton yesterday afternoon there were
present President Cooper, Mrs. B. F.
Dillingham;, Mrs. E. W. Jordan, Prof
| Alexander, H. E. Townsend and j. F.
Scott.
President Cooper read petition from
number of residents of Kona, asking
little boy who was convicted in that
district for stealing a few paltry coffee
plants recently. He had been given two
years in the reform school, and it was
their impression that the penalty was
altogether too severe. The boy was
very good, had always done we'll in his
classes at school, both in point of his
studies and his behavior.
The petitioners represented that cof-
fee in Kona was common property,
that Manuel Freitas had tried to raise
little coffee on land Of his own work
ing, and that the plants taken were
worth at the most but very few cents.
President Cooper next read what he
called ''t'other side" from Geo. Clark,
the magistrate who had given the de-
cision which sent Manuel Freitas to the
reform school.
This communication, addressed to At
torney General Smith, stated that the
boy, Manuel Freitas, had plead guilty
to stealing the coffee plants. These
were very valuable to the owner and
were found in possession of the father.
Mr.. Clark stated further that he was
inclined to believe the father more
guilty than the boy, but if the latter
was by nature inclined to steal the
sooner he was safely put into such a
place as the reform school the better.
Again, if the boy had been made tool
of by his father, the sooner he was re-
moved from that influence the better.
A letter from William S. Weight, the
manager of the coffee plantation from
which the plants were stolen, asked
urgently that Manuel Freitas be not
liberated from the reform school
President Cooper favored giving Mr..
4NCCuHdHl ILSIi uCIIOno " WATCH LIE DOy,
and if he be found to be good boy, to
liberate him
The opinion of the ladies of the
Board was that two years was alto
gether too severe a penalty, taking into
consideration the degree of the offense.
Two years in the reform school was
enough time for any boy to become
bad.
The matter was laid aside for future
reference.
Inspector General Townsend stated
that he had received information to the
effect that there were 12O children en-
rolled in Holualoa school.
The question came up as to the dis
position of Messrs. King and Scribner.
Mr.. King was allowed to remain at
WaiahOle and Mr.. Scribner was ap-
pointed principal of Hanapepe school
A petition from twelve natives at
Hanapepe asked for the reinstatement
of c. D. Pringle. Nothing was done
with this petition
Deputy Inspector Scott made a report
on his examination into the schools
in the city in which the Chinese Ian
guage is taught. He found five, and all
were uniformly dirty and closely pack
ed. Mr.. Scott described in a graphic
manner the schOolmaster in the last of
the five schools visited. He had pipe