“WHERE IS THE MONEY?”

Marlborough Express, Volume V, Issue 265, 17 December 1870, Page 6

“WHERE IS THE MONEY?”

" The right restored where the right should be ; Is the root of all evil restored ? Answer me." To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —My labor has not been in vain, having obtained, through the instrumentality of the Government organ, an acknowledgment of one deficiency of £7 10s lOd paid to Mr. G. Dodson for his opposition school. I call it thus, because the school (if such it may be called) was within gunshot of the Government school-house. Had it been situated in a locality requiring such teaching, it would have worn a very different aspect. Why were not the accounts rendored without having to call in their own trumpeter ? Their duty as public servants requires them to render such accounts, when demanded in a legitimate way. Since they are discovered to be so very courteous, perhaps they will permit me to correct a few errors. For thefyear 1869-70, five of the residents in this district paid their rates in Blenheim ; and also a list of defaulters was handed to the Secretary, numbering twenty-two ! Have their rates been paid, or not ? The Police only admit of seven being collected, leaving fifteen uncollected ; so that the account should read

That mistakes may happeu is unquestionable ; as proof thereof, in the Secretary’s letter to me there are alterations in the amounts stated as conveyed ; likewise a holding back of the moneys due from June to the third day of November. In complying with the notice issued by the Government on the 4th day of July, 1868, we were told that unless we kept the school open the rates would still be collected, and handed over in proportion to other districts which kept their schools open. I noticed in the issue of the Marlborough Express of November 9th, a complaint of the settlers at Mahakipawa, with regard to thp Education Reserves, that it went to pay the Blenheim teachers. This cannot be the case, as it is self-supported by the inhabitants. Then let them also ask “ Where is the money ?” And where also those other reserves that were set a-side for Educational purposes in the other parts of the Provinces ? Where also are the rates that have been collected in the outer parts of the Province, 'some at a distance of twentyfive miles from any school, beginning with the Blind River, Awatere, Boulder Bank, Cloudy Bay, Mahakipawa, Kaituna, North Bank of the Wairau, Top House, and from thence South to the East ? None of this money, to my knowledge, has ever been distributed. Then “ where is the money ?” Echo says—Where ? The Government officials are only public servants, therefore the public have a right to demand a true and correct account of their dealings with the public property. —I am, &c., W. Soper. Willow Glen, Dec. 14, 1870.

thus— Cr. £ s. d. Arrears collected by Police 7 0 0 Paid in May to Secretary . 16 0 0 Paid in ’Blenheim by parties 5 0 0 Defaulters 15 0 0 Collected by Police . 7 0 0 Children’s rate due, delivered to Secretary . 2 0 0 £52 0 0 Dr. £ 8. d. Paid to G. Dodson’s opposition School ..... 7 10 10 Paid W. Soper for Government School ..... 27 14 5 £35 5 3