JUBILEE MEMORIAL HOME

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6902, 7 November 1887, Page 6

JUBILEE MEMORIAL HOME

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —When it became known on the 28th ult. that the Charitable Aid Board bad selected a site in the Woolston district _or the purpose of erecting the Home, there was.a generally-expressed opinion that a mistake had been made in the selection- : of the site ;.*■ further, that the Charitable Aid Board were not acquainted with the very damp nature of the site, and the close proximity of several fellmohgeries, tanneries, &c."'-., The general expression was that something should be done to bring these facts before the notice of the Charitable Aid Board. Several of the leading, men in the district suggested that a.deputation should wait upon the Board and point out the unsuitableness of the site, and requested mc," as Chairman of the Woolston Town Board, to arrange for the deputation, and. : also to circulate a petitiou for signatures to test the feelings of the residents. I then wrote on the 29th .ult. to the Secretary of the Charitable Aid Board, requesting to have a time fixed for the deputation to wnit upon the Board. On the Ist inst I received the following *.— . .; Memo, for the Chairman Woolston Town . Board. Siri-<-l*eplying to your favour of 29th nit, I atn directed to inform you that, as the" site for the' Memorial Homo' has been fixed upon by resolution of the Board, and arrangements entered into re purchase of the land, it is hardly probable that the views of the proposed deputation can alter the decision arrived at. * T. C. N orris, • Secretary. To this _ immediately replied— - Secretary C. A. Board. Sir —I am in receipt oLyours, dated 31st ulfc, re deputation to Board Having reference to site for the Memorial Home.. My memo, of the 28th ult. requested to have a time appointed at the next meeting of the Board to receive deputation. Surely-the Board will not refuso that request; A setition, infiuentially and generally siKced, is already waiting to be presented by tho deputation to the hoard, asking them to reconsid— *' the question of site Please state what time will be most convenient for the Board to receive deputation. J. H. Hopk IX3. Chairman W. T. B. To this I received reply that the Board would meet at 2.30 on the 2nd inst. I then telephoned that the deputation would wait upon the Board at 3.10. To ; this no reply was received. The deputa- j tion left Woolston by the 2.40 tram, and I arrived at Cathedral square at eight j minutes past three. We were going; straight to the Board office, when judge of our surprise at meeting the Board leaving the office, and one member informed us he knew nothing of the appointment. I consider it-is my duty to the gen-1 tleroen who formed the deputation, and the large number who signed the petition, to make the above public.—Yours, &c, J. H. Hopkjxs, Chairman Woolston Town Board.

BOARD OF EDUCATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS- . Sir, -An election is now under weign which is not likely to cause much s«rm the political atmosphere of p* n teTbury, but which may very seriously affect tne welfare of the children, and the S-hool Committees of North CanterThree very good men have been proposed to fill the vacancy caused on rne Board of Education by the absence of -Or Montgomery, so good that at first sight it may appear to be of little consequence which of them may be elected. But a careful consideration of the work lying immediately before the Board, and tne present constitution of that Board, will convince any one that it is a matter of very great consequence indeed. Mr Hulbert would sedajously apaT.ably, but somewhat specially, represent tne City of Christchurch. Professor Haslain would do the same, with the addition of looking very specially after the High School and the high salaries of ornamental supernumeraries that hang on the skirts of our education system. Mr Wright, on the other band, would do on the Board .of Education what he has done so ably arid zealously in the House of Representatives and on the Lyttelton Harbour Board—watch well over tbe interests of outlying and impoverished districts. He will, in short, try to put the strain of any forced economy upon the luxuries of the city schools, npt upon the bare necessities of our outlying districts. . Now let up* see how much depends in this work upon this single election. Ihe eight members now on the Board of Education are equally divided between the City of -Christchurch and all the rest of the Educational District, viz., Mr Chrystall, Mr Bowen, Mr Weston, and Mr Booth for the city, as against Mr Cunningham, Mr Saunders, Mr Peryman and Mr Anson for the country districts, with the Chairman's casting vote in favor of the city. So that if this election gives the city another member, the country districts are left in a hopeless minority, or entirely at the mercy of the city. But if the country gets another strong, zealous member it will be able to hold its own in the apportionment of the reduced means likely to be offered for education purposes. I do not mean to say that, considering their power, the city members have acted unfairly to the country districts, but I do say that our town schools need no more representation, and that we should take care of the barely-fed country districts, and not concern ourselves about the sleekcoated officials that adorn the flourishing city schools.—Yours, &c., Clodhopper.