Bees disrupt Goodwood schooling

A rather remarkable request came before the Education Board yesterday, when two letters were received from Goodwood residents asking that the board should take steps to shift a hive of bees from the school house. Mr J.H. Cunningham, secretary of the school committee, stated that the bees had been in the school for some years and were a considerable source of annoyance to teacher and children alike.

In the committee’s opinion they would have to be smoked out, and as that process carried with it the danger of fire, the committee had decided to take no responsibility at all. Mr W.G. Hitchcock, a resident of Goodwood, also wrote on the subject.

He said that the bees were “hived” in the roof of the school, and that on a warm day the school grounds were simply full of bees. He considered it very dangerous for the children to be playing about amongst them. Several children had lately been stung. Mr Hitchcock hoped that the bees would be shifted at the earliest moment. Mr Horn said that similar trouble had occurred from bees “hiving” in the Matakanui and Hawea Flat schools.

The board did not appear very decided on the plan of action to adopt to shift the bees from their stronghold, but at last the chairman (Mr Wallace) solved the difficulty by moving, amidst laughter, that the architect be instructed to act, the motion being carried unanimously. No suggestion was made to Mr

Rodger (the architect) as to the method he was to adopt, and Mr Rodger did not enlighten the board as to his proposed plan of attack.