GLENOMARU.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1033, 11 May 1894, Page 3

GLENOMARU.

«, [from our own correspondent. 1 Mr Beaton Marr, Lite of Glenomaru, has disposed of his property in the CM on to Mr Mason, of Green Island. Mr Mnrr is inspector of roads in the Southland district. His family had to remove to the Lake district owing to ill-health, and I am certain that, though it was partly owing to the health of hs family he disposed of his section, the main reason was due to the distance his children were away from school. Others will follow his example if the Education Board do not place the school in a more suitable place than at present. There are two or three settlers who took up sections about three years ago who have made considerable improvements on their sections, hut they will not come to live on them owinsr to want of educational facilities. It is over six years since the Glen people commenced agitating for common justice from the Education Board of Otasro. But time after time the replies have been " Inspector will report," and their reports have been " fn let things alone in the meantime." Year afriu- ye«r the children ar« getting older, till they are past school age. Parents of the humbler class need them to help to keep the pot boiling. .'lllOl very seldom any of these pass the IVth Standard, while some have hardly ever been in school. The compulsory clause is of no avail, ns the children are mostly outside the required distance. Over 12 months ago the inhabitants of the Glen showed they were in earnest in the matter, when out of the seven members of school committee elected six were from the Glen and only one from Ahuriri. To do justice to all parties the school should be placed on the school »lebc and the Reoamona School erected up the Korcro Creek ; or if there are sufficient children in Ahuriri end shift the school their way, and give the Glen people a school of their own in a central place. If the latter is done all the children in Glenomaru of school age — between 35 and 40, will bo within one mile of school with the exception of one family, and the compulsory olause could be put in force The Ahnriri people would also have a school of their own. I notice that Mr David Wright has removed to his new and comfortable dwelling-house on his perpetual lease section. Mr Wright has been for a long time a respected resident in the Glen, but it was only last year he took up land on his own account. All far and wide wish him every success. Mr John Abernethy has also built a pretty cottage on the banks of the Omaru on his acquired freehold, which he bought second-hand from an absentee owner. I notice a list of about 40 men posted at Messrs Dabinett and Young's and Mr Craig's stores telling the men that the Chief Surveyor will meet all those of them who want employment at Ratanui camp at 4 p.m on Monday the 14th inst. The work is to be on the State farm. I wonder how the Chief Surveyor expects the men to meet him at such an unreasonable hour in the heart of Catlins bush. The majority of the men hare not the means to buy a tent let alone provisions. Will the Chief Surveyor provide accommodation for them? If 60, he should inform them of it. Men will be hard up indeed before they ask for employment at the co-operative works at Catlins.