PIOPIO SCHOOL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 180, 9 August 1909, Page 2

PIOPIO SCHOOL.

To the Editor. Sir, — In reply to Mr Savill I think it would have been only fair had he told all that happened at the meeting he refers to. The meeting was caikd by posting notices to a'.i interse:ed persons, and one to Mr Patea asking him to inform the Natives, hut none of the latter attendee:. Mr Sav|;; v.-as in the chair, and v.-as cuite satisfied with things, and went as far as to say that it was better that the Natives were not there as they would cut vote us if they had a vote, hut when he found that he v.-as net going tc be nominated for Commissioner, he began to talk about the way that the meeting was called. I then proposed that -* the meeting stand adjourned for two weeks, and that it be advertised in the "Chronicle." This vas seconded. but Mr Savill did not put :t. as he said he did not want that, and wcu'.d iet it go as it was. Nov.-. I cuite believe him that it was not what he wanted: it was the Commissioners".;- he wanted. I can tell him that he car. have it, and a bottle of lotion tc heal h's wounded feelings. He is quite right when, he says that I promised to call a meeting to form school boundaries My reason for not calling the meeting is that I was notified by the Education Board that the matter re school boundaries, had been placed in the hands of the insnjctor. and I have been waiting tc hear from that gentleman before calling meeting, so Mr Savin --•;;; see that the boundaries are not defined yet. lam very glad to hear that I have got a good lieutenant to help- me, and I think it would be a good thing for hint if he had a good captain. "Per the school was first talked cf he said he did not care where it was so long as it was centra], and that he thought Pio Pio was the best place, as it suited the most children. low he is trying to upset things, ant get the school at the 13 mile peg. New. lam not surprised at his insane remarks atcur children going to school as the crow hies. I _ wonder he does net go to Te Kuiti as the crow f.ies, and save about 5 miles, and escape the mud. If he ccmoares the two sites ; the Pio Pit one is at the junction of four reads: there are II children of .school age and coming on that way: there are the people on the road to the Wairere bridge, and it is the principal outlet to the till acres that is coming cut. At the IS mile peg there is Mr Savill's family—l do not know the number: then there is one of Mr Rawscror's: then you have to go to the 10 mile pc-g te find one, a lad between 15 and PI years. Ail the rest of the land is taken up by single men, and the outlet of the PltO acres is close to the 5 mile peg: so there is no comparison. These facts say plainly enough that Pio Pio is the place for the schcel. If the school was at the US mile- peg P would not suit the Maircr. Pea::, people as the Mairoa school is enly - r miles away, while to the 13 mike sit-- it would be 5J miles. I think that the surveyor made a big mistake -deer he cut out j the school site: lee ought to- have put 'itin Mr Savill's back yard. As regards my getting the 2 acres for a school site it was known, from the first that Mr Harry Plemara lead promised me two acres, ana with the assistance of the late Mr Jet. Ormsby. got it put through the Native Panel Court free of charge. As for the fee acres not being largo enough I might oPI Mr Savill that the Mairoa school was built on one acre. I can assure bine that the two acres will be wanted long before the site at the 13 mile peg. I can tell Mr Savill that the Pio Pio school is bery to stay, and that I will do all in me power to push it along.— l am. etc.,