OTAGO SOHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9042, 18 February 1891, Page 2

OTAGO SOHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

The regular monthly meeting of tho Otsgo School Commissioners was held at the Board's Office yesterday afternoon, when thero were present: Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), J. W, Bain, T. Denniston, J. Green, and the Hon. W. H. Reynolds.

Au application was received from the Otago Education Board for part of section 1, block 48,_ Tokomairiro district, as a school glebe. This matter was beforo the commissioners

previously, and it was thea deemed advisable to

consult the tonants to whom a portion of tho land was leased. One of the tenants waa in

favour of the transfer; the others wrote stating that they greatly objected to the suggested transfer, as they had laid out a great many pounds in planting fruit trees of all sorts, under the impression that the allotments would never be taken from thorn, or, if they were, that they should receive compensation for labour and expenses'of outlay.—The Commissioners decided

that they would not grant the application in its entirety, but would set aside as a school glebe tho balance of the reserve after deducting the allotments at present occupied and the existing roads.

A letter was received from Mr W. A. Beatb, lesseo of section 57, blook VIII, Harbour of Blueskin, asking for a definition of the clause in tho lease relating to bush clearing.—lt was decided to inform the writer that bush clearing is intended to refer to cutting timber, but uot taking out the stumps of trees. The Commissioners revised a draft form of lease. Considerable discussion took place on this subject. Mr Denniston, supported by tho Chairman, proposed—"Thafc leases be granted for seven years, with covenants for perpetual renewal afc rent to be fixed by arbitrationovery successive period of years." This was negatived, and a motion by tho Hon. W. H. Reynolds was carried, to the effect that the principle of the Dunedin Corporation leases should be adopted. Mr J. L. M'Donald reported thafc fche occupiers of sections iv block XIX, Invercargill hundred, had agreed to the conditions submitted by tho commissioners, and would nofc bid less than Is 3d per acre for tbeir holdings. An application was received from the Southland County Council fer a subsidy towards the ereotion of a bridge over the Waikaka stream afc section 9, block IX, Wendon. There was elso a petition from settlers on the same subject.—lfc was resolved thafc on the county council erecting a suitable traffio bridge, not costing less tbau £150, the commissioners will contribute £50. The application of P. Hill to cut firewood on run 254b, Wendon, was declined. The Commissioners agreed to the recommendation of Mr M'Donald that sections 21, 24, and 25, block IV, Wendon, be offered in one lot at 4d per acre; section 23 at 3d, and sections 4 aud 5, block XI, at Bd, for a term of 21 years. The Commissioners' Agent reported tbat he had inspected section 3 of 243, Hokonui, tho rent of which had been reduced from 2s 61 to

ls 61 per acre, for a term of three years.—The Commissioners resolved that tho three years having expired the rent should revert to tho original amount, and that the same notice should ba sent; to other lessees in a similar posi-

The transfer of lease in section 5, block VII, South Lumsden, from Mr A. Bench, was approved on the usual terms.

[ A report was received fco the effect thafc Mrs H. Stewart hsd taken np sections 14 and 15, block IV, Aparima, at the upset price of 8d per acre, and that J. Marshall bad leased section 1, block IV, Dipton, at the upset price of 10s. A communication was received from Mr M'Donald (the board's agent) stating that the provisions of clause 5, "Education Bescrves Leasing Act 1890," will cause a very great deal of trouble, and suggesting that the commissioners takn btops to have the clause amended so as to apply to large areas only,—The cbairman was requested to write to the Minister of Education pointing out the inconvenience referred to, aud asking him to have the aot amended so as to apply only to areas of over 500 acres. It was agreed to reserve four acres on tho south corner of section 53, block I, Waikaia.

The Bruce County Council asked tho commissioners to make a diversion of the road through section 11, block IX, Akatore district.

-Approved, subject to tenant's consent.

A memo, was received f.-oin the Southland County Couticil asking the commissioners to lease a small portion of section 35, Oreti, for the I purposes of a road—Consideration postponed. A letter was read from the Railway Commissioners, to tbe effect that the department has no responsibility iv tha matter of keeiiiug the drains at Clifton clear, ami tb»t tbe crossings asked for afc Oliffcouvalo, on the InvercargillBluff railway vr-ro already mwie, and that no more ni'iiiuy could b-.i upend iv giving access to thai; land.-- RatVried to Messrs Bain and Dt.unisjon.

Accouuts amouutiug to £30 113 were passed for payment. This concluded the bnsiness.