SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 40

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Messrs Blair (chairman), John Duthie and A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., were the only School Commissioners present at the meeting held on Monday. Accounts amounting to <£6B 15s were passed for payment. It was decided to distribute <£6oo amongst the Wanganui and Wellington Education Boards for primary education and .£BO for secondary education. The dates were fixed for the next sales of leases. In respect to the application of John Johnston for access to his section, the opinion was expressed that the Government should provide the access. It was decided to allow S. Lawson lease direct of a piece of land leased to J. C. Nicholls. Andrew Knox was allowed to transfer to Andrew Merriman. No action was taken in regard to the application of F. Montgomery to be allowed to sub-let a portion of a section for a vineyard. It was decided to give Richard Webber, a sufferer by the fires at Pahiatua, an extension of time to pay his rent. It was decided to reduce Mr Joseph Hislop’s rent *for a section at Mangaone from £33 12s per annum to £23 per annum. The annual report showed that sales of leases for periods of 21 years were held during the year, at which 9635 acres of land were taken up at an annual rental of £499 143 2d. A further area of 2606 acres at an annual rental of £95 17s has since been disposed of, making a total of 12,242 acres leased to 72 tenants at an annual rental of £595 123, or an average of over lid per acre. This is considered satisfactory when it is remembered that no compensation is paid at the end of the term for either bushfelling or grassing, and the lands for the most part comprise bush country in new and unroaded districts. The arrears of rents only amount to £B3 3s lOd. The smallness of the amount, it is claimed, proves that the Commissioners have not acted unwisely in allowing their tenants a little latitude during the recent depression. The balance-sheet of the year’s operations showed receipts on behalf of primaiy schools, £3699 53 sd; on behalf of secondary schools, £202 12s 4d. The principal items of expenditure were, payments to Wellington Education Board, £1426 17s 3d; payments to the Wanganui Education Board, £973 2s 9d ; payments to the Wellington College, Girls’ High School, and Wanganui Girls’ High School, £100; salaries of officers, £263 lls. The bank balance, cash in hand, &c., amounted to £413 143 Bd.