SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10599, 20 February 1896, Page 2

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

The. monthly meeting of the Otago Bohool Commissioners, held on Tuesday, was attended by Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), J. Walker Bain, W. Dallas, J. Green, and A. Baldey. Mr J. Thornton wrote asking the commissioners to grant him a small grazing area on run 254b, and a letter was also received frpm Mr James Gall on the same subject.—lt was decided to allow the matter to stand over for further information.

A memo, was received from the Surveyorgeneral asking if the commissioners could see their way to cut up some small sections on Hr Ibbotson'a runß for tho use of miners, as it had been represented to the Minister for Lands that there was a demand for such areas.—The Chaikman reported that he had replied to the effect that the commissioners were not aware of the demand referred to, but would be willing to consid«r.auy proposal from the Government on the subject.—Ths reply was approved. Mr J. Blaikie, surveyor/forwarded a rough tracing pf the sub-division of a block of land on run 193.—The plan was referred to. Messrs Bain and Baldey to confer with Mr Blaikie and Mr M'Donald and report to next meeting. The manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) wrote thanking the commissioners for agreeing to alloiv Mr Gillanders to retain possession of runs 327 and 327b until date qf sale, and stating that Mr Gillanders intended waiting upon the commissioners at their meeting on the 18th inst., with regard to the leases of the runs in question.—Mr Gillanders attended the meeting, and asked the.commissioners to offer the rnns with adjoining sections for 11 years;— Referred to Messrs Bain and Baldey to confer with Mr M'Donald and report to next meeting. Mr J. L. M'Donald sent in his usual monthly report. He forwarded a letter from Mr John France, of Waikaia, asking the commissioners when granting coal leases to make some provision whereby gold miners might be enabled to enter on such' leaseholds for the purpose of

mining without the risk of incurring claims for Mr Aitken, the inspector, in his report, says : damages.—The metier was allowed to stand I I have the honour to submit the annual report over pending the receipt of further information, j of the work done for the 12 months ending itle forwarded an application from Messrs j December 31, 1895. The following statement will Vial Bros, for a renewal of their right to mine i show tha nature of the various offences, the procoal from the Wendonside pit.— The right asked rhnSs>ken, *nA the-results:- _ - for was renewed for a year. " ,? ne A hlmd^ d ,lnd .t^y-81* cases ° ....™™»i» a,n», alleged cruelty to animals were reported He returned a letter from Mr T. Hunter and investigated as under :-21 cases were applying to lease a coalpit at present occupied i not prosecuted for the want of sufficient by Mr T. Maslin, on run 193 ; and also reported evidence, 3-4 prosecutions were instituted on the matter.—Consideration of the applica- j against 20 persons, 29 convictions were obtained tion was deferred -.■-,-• j against 15 persons, 5 cases were dismissed, 2 were He recommended that the commissioners j waiting their trial on 31st December 1895. « »,.«„T„™ M t i » „f j>i ic. .i.„a ir °. . ■' horseß (suffering in consequence of being cornsupplement a sum-of £3 15s, raised by some of ; pletelv . wotn o £ t) were de | trored at my auast> the settlers at Waiparn for the purpose of a cattle were also destroyed, forming a road, by the grant of a similar j Ninety-four persons were cautioned for various amount—the work to be carried out by the i offences as uuder:—For working horses when Southland County Council.—lt was decided ' suffering from wounds under the harness, 41; that on the money subscribed beim* forwarded for working horses when suffering from lameto the commissioners-they would supplement , H^A,Ta^tSS n 7S a "l\M the sum by an equal sum, the who c amount to ing horse3 _ 7 . for overloading and overdriving he then forwarded to the Southland County | horses, 4;. for keeping horses and cattle without Council. I sufficient food, 7; for keeping an overstacked cow

He forwarded an application from Mr F. D. Morrah, on behalf of the lessee of runs 166 a, 166 d, aud 166 c, Wairabi, either for some relieS in respect of rent, or to be allowed to surrender the lease. He also recommended that the commissioners should offer to accept surrender. —The commissioners did not see their way to comply with the request. He reported that he inspected section 19, block 111, Wendon.ide, and section 4- of 406 a, Hokonui, and that he did not Bee that anything could be done in the way of catting a channel a 8 proposed by Mr M'Keown.—Received. The secretary was instructed to communicate with the Otago and Sonthland Boards of Education calling attention to the fact that the term bf office of tbeir representatives expired on Biarch 31 next; and also to send a similar notification to the Minister for Education, Accounts amounting to £20 6s Id were passed for payment