One possible theory for the unusual number of canings on the 22nd of the month could be that it was payday for the teachers, and they went to the pub for a quick celebration ( I know that happened in a few places I have worked ), and fuelled by alcohol they were much less reluctant to dish out a few canings.
As for the name Cane, I remember looking at Who’s Who in the school library to see if any famous headmasters were called Cane, and in fact there was one, though I think it was spelled Caine. There is also a current Australian Rugby International called James Slipper, though I don’t know if he has ever trained as a teacher.
