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Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2347, 13 November 1908, Page 4

Captain Chrisp and Mr. John Somme rveil presided over a sitting or the Police Court yesterday and fined John Matson, who pleaded guilty to a charge of drunkenness, and admitted two previous convictions, £2 with costs 2s, in default seven days’ imprisonment. Louis Fredrickson, who admitted a previous conviction on a similar charge, was fined £T with jM costs, in deiault 4 days’ imprisons ~ meat. Two first offenders charged with drunkenness were fined 5s with 2s costs, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment.

Arrangements have been made for opening m a short time the “Special School,” which the Education Department has decided to establish on the Otekaike estate, near Oarnaru. The estate has been purchased by the Government, and the homestead, with 350 acres, has been set aside for tho “Special! School,” which will dee-f jwith backward children who are ixft“ sufficiently deficient to be kept under restraint. Mr Beustead, who has had wide experience in England, has been, appointed director. When alterations authorised are in hand, Mr Beustead will -risit the candidates whose parents wish them to be taken into the new institution. The classes vary from trifling weakness of mind to absolute imbecility, or tho display, by children of fourteen or so of habits and mental development. usually found in their more fortunate companions six years younger. Suchchildren, whose life would be able among the more robust scholars of a public elementary school, will find at Otekaike a good home, careful supervision and opportunities of systematic development of mind and body. The director will be by a practical farm manager, amt work on the land is expected to form an important part of* tlio system. Carpentering will also receive attention, and there is no reason why many of the pupils should not eventually go into everyday life as efficient carpenters’ assistants or gardeners, while the knowledge of fanning methods should make many of them reliable farm hands. The department is empowered to keep children in the school until they reach tho ago of sixteen.