SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1909, Page 8

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

♦ ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Wellington School Commissioners states that the total area at present included in the educational reserve estate in this provincial district is 106,342 acres 0 roods, 13 perches, of which 9126 acres 3 roods 15 perches (consisting largely of rough and inferior country) were unlet at the end oi the year. Nine reserves %veie leased during the year, their annual rental being £1531 0s sd. The total number of leases now on the books comprise an area of 67,215 acres 0 roods 6Q perches, on which is payable an annual rentil of £9617 2s Id, as against £8104 16s 9d last year, this marked advance on the aggregate rental payable for 1907 being practically accounted for by the fact that in the case of all the leases which expired during the. year, whether renewed at rentals fixed by arbitration, or submitted to puDhc auction, much higher rents have been fixed for the new terms. Paekakariki and vicinity have been scoured during the last two days by Prisons Department representatives, in search of the escaped convict M'Neil, but no trace of him has been discovered. Passing references to systematic "bad payers" were made at a meeting of creditors in a bankrupt estate that was held this morning. The Official Assignee (Mr. Simpson) said that the collection of debts in bankrupt estates was a heartbreaking process in Wellington; there was a class of people that systematically incurred debts, and which was continually on the move. One month at Brooklyn, the next at Island Bay, and so on until they had worked out all quarters of the city. Then some of them went to Pelone and the Lower Hutt to pursue their practices. Suing them was very little use, for the magistrate would not make orders on judgment summonses in many of the cases. Mr. Cecil V. Gonlter, solicitor, of Marlborough, intends practising his profession in Wellington. In our advertising columns will be found the preliminary programme of the carnival promoted by the Port Nicholson Amateur Athletic Club. Entries close on Saturday, 13th February. When a horse is "done," and its days of usefulness are over, the majority of owners either turn it adr'ft on the world or sell it. But one of the minority lives at the Upper Ilult, and having a horse passing into cecrepitude, he requested 1 the S.P C.A. inspector to come and destroy his c.'d friend. This was the first occas' m, paid Mr. Seed, that he had been' refjiu-sJtd to do such a thing by an owmir. The fixing of metallic filament lamps in Tory-slrcefc has been completed by the electrical experts of the City Council, and the result has been so satisfactory that extensions of the new installation are contemplated. The new lamp givesa much improved light at a greatly reduced cost. A report is being prepared by the electrical staff for submission to the Lighting Committee of the Council, on the question of lighting the by streets of the city with these lamps. A shipment of Osram lamps, numbering 500, came to hand last Monday, and a further consignment of 500 will arrive in a few days' time. The Marlborough Chamber of Commerce wants a daily steamer service between Wellington and Picton. At present there is on an average a boat on five days of the week, both to and from Picton. The experiment of a daily service was tried some time ago by the Union Company, but the results were by no means encouraging to them. Since then their has been very little increase in the trade — not sufficient, from the company's point of view, to warrant any increase in the number of vessels. On the 24th February, Leo the Lonely — as the Newtown lion has come to be known — will reach his fourth year, and it is possible that on that date he will terminate his loneliness. A lioness is being placed afc the disposal of the "zoo" committee by a well-wisher, and it is likely that she will be made an inhabitant of the new cage which is appioaching completion at the park. In regard to the meeting called for this evening to consider "zoo" matters, the executive wishes to have it understood that all friends and supporters are welcome to attend. Mr. P. R. Purser, Returning Officer to tho Hutt Valley Tramway Board, aiinoi nces in this issue the official result of yesterday's election of tho first board under the Act of last year. Messrs. J. W. M'Ewan. \l. Findlay, Robt. Stevens, 11. J Soutlujate, J. Austin, and J T. Hawthprii. nix oi tho auiucdnfiu candidate^ thank the ulectoru in this issue for their support.