NAPIER NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4488, 16 October 1901, Page 3

NAPIER NEWS.

(Special to the “Times.” NAPIER, October 15. The question of establishing a district high school for .the bush districts of Hawke’s Bay was raised by a country member at the Education Board meeting to-day. This is the outcome of recent legislation affording facilities for the e» tablishment of such schools. It was pointed out that the small formers were not in a position to send their boys eith.-r to the Napier High School or to the Wanganui Collegiate School, and therefore -many of them were barred from. giving * their children the advantages of a seconr dary course. A district high school at either Dannevirke or Woodyille would, it was argued, prove of incalculable bene fit to the families of bush settlers. The Rev Dr Sidey, the chairman, while sympathising with the objeetja view, emphasised the fact that few district schools could carry on wiihoiit special eh dowments from the Government. The Gisborne District High School, the most successful school of its kind in this ed.u cation district, had special- endowments granted to it, and so had Waiinate and Temuka. Such schools being frea. they could not be maintained solely out Of the capitation grant, and if the bush districts wanted a high school they would have to ■get assistance from the Government in the way of endowments. It was held that the Government would not be unwilling to favourably consider such a proposal, and full inquiries are to be made with a view to seeing how such a school in the hush districts could be financially worked. Mr G. H. Swan, ex-Mavor of Napier, was this afternoon the recipient of a pursecontaining 501 sovereigns, subscribed by the citizens in appreciation of his many public services, and on the occasion of hie departure from this province for Hawera. The Mayor made the presentation in the presence of a large gathering in the Council Chambers, and in a speech re viewed Mr Swan’s services, extending over a - period of 37 years’ residence in Napier. Mr Swan, in a very feeling response, said he had hoped to spend the rest of his days in the dear old town, but the dictates of duty willed it otherwise. In enumerating the many public works accomplished during the fifteen years b( his Mayoralty, ho urged the people to finish the Napier breakwater. It was true, he g«id, that about £400,000 had already been spent on it, hut according to Mr J. P. Maxwell, C.E.. another £150,000 would complete a splendid harbour, and he thought another loan for this purpose should be floated. Mr Swan was also the recipient of a handsomely illuminated ad dress from the Mayor and Councillors. The cry of “Town versus Country” was raised at the Harbour Board meeting today, when a country member moved in the direction of having the constitution of the Board changed. It was maintained that Napier, which now supplied the bulk of-the representation on the Board only had a ratable value of £1.200,000, against over seven millions’ ratable value of the country districts, and that the sya tern of representation in vogue for 'li years wa" quite n’nsuited to the present time. ; The motion was lost, it being shown that the majority of the Board now more or less represented the country interests; - ... Acting upon a telegram from the Pre mier asking for the; onipion of Chambe’-s of Commerce on the Federal tariff the chairman has convened a meeting of the Napier Chamber, for Friday next.