A SCHOOL FOR OPOHO.

Evening Star, Issue 14689, 5 October 1911, Page 2

A SCHOOL FOR OPOHO.

A meeting of Opoho residents was he'd last night, Mr Mitchell presiding. A letter was read from Mr S. M. Park, secretary of the Otago Education Board, stating that the Education Department had informed tho board that it would not grant more than half the cost of the area considered suitable for a school site at Opoho, and tho board had replied that as ihey had no funds for rhc purpose they were unable to make anv contribution towards the purchase of the site. So far the department had net given any indication that even if the difficulties connected with the acquiring of the site were overcome it would be prepared to sanction a grant for the erection of a school in the near future. Mr fi. M. Thomson. 31.P.. had also written saying that he had interviewed Mr Hoijben, Inspector-General of Schools, and had been told that the department had nil alonj been willing, acording to rule, to grant halfcost of the site, and. as he had reported that the school was needed, that practically meant that the Government would also grant the necessary building funds as soon as the site was secured, so all the board had to do was secure a site and pay half-cost of same. This they could do out of their sites fund or from thuir geicr.il administration fund. Mr Thomson concluded bis letter by recommending the residents of Opoho to bring all the pressure they could to bear on tho hoard to provide tho sum required for the silo. A brisk dissussion ensued, and it was resolved, on tho motion of Mr Bills, seconded by Mr M'Arthur, that tho chairman be requested tc forward to the Ota-go Education Board a copy of Mr Thomson's letter, and to urge the immediate provision by tho board cf the half-cost of site, which, apparently, w.-is all that now stood in. the way of the residents' desire to have a school in tiie district. Ho was also asked to represent to the board the desirability of tho school being iu etideneo before next whiter. —Tramway Extension.— Asked if there was anything to report in regard to tho City Council's promised consideration of the residents' requisition for tramway extension to Opoho, the Chairman stated that apparently nothing had been done. Ho had heard, informally, that nothimr would be done until after the new Government regulations relative to passenger traffic had been published: and, further, that the Opoho extension would nob get serious consideration until the Pelichefc Bay branch hid been laid. The feeling of tho meeting was that tho council were not treating the district with the consideration it deserved; that more progressive centres of population in the Dominion would see the advantage of tapping such a district for tramway and other municipal sources of revenue, and would not have required to ho canvassed over the matter; and the opinion was expressed that, with regard to the new tramway regulations, icoro branch lines would have obriated the necessity of sueh being even considered. It was decided, however, that >iothing further could be done by the residents pending the ensuing elections. It was rcsolvcil that a hearty vote of thanks be passed to Mr G. M. Thomson for his actior on behalf of tho district.