EDUCATION RESERVES

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 13 October 1931, Page 8

EDUCATION RESERVES

i Taranaki Scholarships THE OPAKU LAND Koine miles from Patea there is an urea set aside for education reserves for Taranaki. This has been a matter or great interest to the people of the province for ft- has provided the endowment for the Taranaki scholarships. Its history is associated with the Maori War, period when set lenient was very difficult. In 1868 areas of about 10,000 acres ■ were set apart by Act of Parliament in different provinces of New Zealand for a colonial university.. In 1870 a further Act set aside, the Opaku Reserve, consisting of 9550 acres, for the" purposes of higher learning in Taranaki. For many years the land lay idle, but later was leased by the Commissioner of Crown Lands and finally was held in trust by the Public Trustee. The New Zealand University Senate did not use the income until 1905 when the Taranaki. Scholarships.. Act was passed, directing scholarships of £6O ,per annum to be granted U scholars residing in and educated in Taranaki. These scholarships were directed to be awarded to Taranaki scholars who gained a place on the credit list of the University Entrance Junior Scholarship or such ‘other as the senate prescribed. In 1923 the senate added a. qualification that scholars must also be “deemed worthy” and. on this restriction, many candidates on the credit list were refused scholarships. As a result of .a recent Appeal Court test case, scholarships have been this year awarded to four scholars who had previously been denied the honour. So long as the senate uses the University Scholarship Examination. then ’scholarships must be available to all candidates from Taranaki who attain the “credit” position in that examination. This decision has a significant bearing on the claim of Victoria College which has for some years sought to have the income diverted from Taranaki to the use of Victoria College. It is of interest to know that the, annual rents at- present total CBB6 per annum and that the accumulated income lias reached over £28.000.