SWITZERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2003, 1 June 1868, Page 5

SWITZERS.

(FROM A CORItESrONDKNT.)

A public meeting, numerously attended, was held at Jonning's Hotel, Switxers, on Saturday evening last, 23rd May, to take stepri t<> obtain Government, aid for educational purposes in the district. Mr Warden Stratford, who, in compliance with a requisition, had convened the meeting, made some observations on the action taken by him in the matter, both on this nnd on a previous occasion : and having been formally voted to tbo chair, rOMinied hir« remarks, stating that although a considerable population had been for years maintained upon this Gold field, no sustained effort had Wen made in tho cause of education. He | reminded them that, nonie months aL'o, an effort hod been made to get the inhabitants to roura thfnißt'lvrs, and take thn necessary steps to n«cnre tho ansistarw ouorcd to them by tho Government ; but I that attempt had, from some cause or \ other, proved aboitivo. He could only ! Hay, there was no Oceanian to be dis- i heartened. As tho first effort failed, they were trying again ; and should (bey not, succeed tin's time, they i should still try and try until they obtained the preciouis boon now sought. It was their ri^ht.: they sent down large contributions to tin* revenue, and it was the duty. of each individual to j see thatthatrevenue was fairly distributed through tho country. To a certain oxt»>nt (ho Governinc-nl did this : but it wnn always found tlrat<nmmiinitie3 that nsVcl for tnoro, obUii.cd moro ; while tluw which were carolens of th^irown interests wore usually passed over by tho Government. He instanced tho progress made l>v Tnnpekn, Clyde, and Quoonstown, which 1 c attributed in a great degree to Mut con-cant efforts mado by tho. people of those towns, to bring their requirements under tho notice of tho Government. Then? was little doubt that th« Education Board would accede to tho requcKt of tho inhabitant*, especially when barked by the resolutions of ko largo and influential a meeting as was assembled there that ni:rht. After somo further valuable suggestions, tho Chairman concluded hia address amid much chuorhig. Tho following resolutions were aftorwarda proposed, and unanimously cari iod. Moved by Mr James O rah am, and .seconded by Mr Lotto : " That it is desirable that steps should be takon tos'curo to tho youth of this district the advantage of a thoroughly substantial and sound education." Tho subjoined Memorial having been read, it was moved by Mr Bailey, and seconded by Mr M'lvor : " That the Memorial just read, be adopted by this meeting ; and, after being circulated for signature, that it f>e handed to the Chairman to forward to the Secretary to tho Education Board." The Memorial is as follows :— "To the Honorable tho Education Board for the Province of Otago, " The Memorial of the resident householders of Switzcrs GoldfieJd, respectfully gheweth : That this goldfield has, for nearly five yearn,, supported a considerable population of miners and their families, who have settled down in the district permanently v That their numbers have of late been considerably augmented, by the influx of frosli arrivals from other gold fields ; and as a-largti portion of tho present population are mon with families, it is moat desirable that every facility for tho education of the childieu should, bo afforded. That at present tho distri/jt is entirely without such' facilities, with tho cxi option of a small school, kept by :* lady, who confines hor tuition to infant and femalo scholars. That although this district has contributed largely to the revenue*, no aid ha3been hitherto received or solicited from tho Government for Educational pnrposcs.. Your memorialists, therefore, pray that your honorable Board may declare the district of SwitZL-rs to be an Educational District, and fciko the necofsury step a for the establishment of a District ScJ iool therein."