OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9381, 22 March 1892, Page 2

OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the School Commissioners of Otago, held yesterday, was attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (in the chair), J. W. Bain, Thomas Denniston, J. Green, and the Hon. W. H. Reynolds. ;

Messrs Bain and Denniston reported that they " had held a long conference with a special com" mittee appointed by the Southland County Council in respect of the Commissioners' application to that body for the introduction of water to run 194. The council, on J;he recommendation of the committee, absolutely declined to entertain any proposal to take part in carrying out the irrigation scheme proposed by Mr Dobson, civil engineer.—The Commissioners expressed their regret that the council refused to co-operate with them in what they considered to be a very necessary, desirable, and profitable work, .in the interests of settlement. A copy of the newspaper reports of the discussion at the county council, when the subject came up for consideration, and an official notification of the decision arrived at, waßreceiyed. ■

A letter was received from the. Town Clerk of. '. Invercargill to the effect that the council was willing to lease to the School Commissioners a portion of the foreshore at Clifton ata'rental of lilper annum, in connection with some protective works erected by them.—lt was decided to thank the Town Council for its very liberal offer, and to state that on further consideration the commissioners found that they did not need the ground. The commissioners' agent at Invercargill (Mr J: L. M'Donald) forwarded a letter frqm the New Zealand Agricultural Company (in liquidation) agreeing to surrender a lease of sections 144,145, 444, and part of 220, Hokonui. The Inspector suggested that the sections be offered for lease at the same time as the lease on run 194, in separate lots, about May Ist next.—The suggestion was agreed to. The inspector forwarded a memo, from the Southland County Council, stating that the cost of giving access to sections Land 2, block XIX, Dipton, would be about LlO, of which the council asked the commissioners to contribute half.—lt was agreed that the sum of L5 be paid on the engineer's certificate being givenl that ihe.work had been carried out. :.;.'.".• .-;i. ■.';-.■"••;'."■

The Inspector, suggested that arrangements be made as soon as possible for the sale of leases on run 194, Wendonside.—lt was decided that the leases be offered at auction at Riversdale on or . about April 3rd, the leases to be for 21.years. Conditions of sale in. respect of a number of leases to be offered on the 26th inst. at Inver- • cargill were forwarded. Mr Thomas M'Kennell forwarded an application for a reduction of rent on Section 42, block VIII, Waikaia.—lt was decided that no reduction could be made, but that surrender of lease would ! be accepted on condition that the expense of offering the section again for sale was borne bythe lessee. . . . ~ .

Consideration of several applications for the right to mine for lignite on run 327 a, Waikaia, was deferred until the commissioners'agent had reported on the matter. •."■'.: Some six tenants of Henley applied for a re-, duction of rent on account of loss sustained through the recent, flood.—lt was decided.to obtain a report on the amount of damage sustained by each applicant, the secretary and the agent to make the necessary inquiries. " :•■■■ The Secretary intimated that he had received a number of notices under "The Land and Income Act 1891," giving the amount the -Various reserves were assessed at, also giving an opportunity of an objection being lodged if the amounts were considered excessive.—lt was resolved that the secretary issue circulars to. each of the commissioners' tenants giving the amount of the valuation fixed on their holdings, and informing, them that'this will be the basis of their rates to be paid tothe local bodies. •'■ . • • ■-'..- „ An application was received from Mr W.-Bell to lease the coal pit on section 10, block 111, Waikaia, and the inspector recommended that the section be advertised to be leased with the right to raise The Inspector also recommended that the coal pit on section 20, block IX, Wendon, be offered for seven years'lease at auction. Mr Joseph Wallis, of Waikaia, wrote, asking the commissioners'to reconsider their decision not to grant the coal lease on run 3£7 a was resolved to inform Mr Wallis that the commissioners had not decided how they would deal with the area. ■ ■ .