Correspondence.

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 14

Correspondence.

A COMPLAINT FROM BLUESKIN. TO THE EDITOR, Sir,— l bear that the authorities are about to Btiift the Blueskin School, the reason given for the proposed step being ita close proximity to the river. Now, Bir, although not personally interested, I have asked several parents as to whether there is any necessity for this shifting, and they have all remarked that there is no need for it whatever— that children will make for the water no matter where the school X They also think there is a move behind the scenes, and that move is to get some public money ppent in Blueskin, to h«lp to stave off these dull times. Kuowing the district, and also knowing a HtUe about; how things are worked, I catmot but think that our Education Board pay* too much attention to tha petitions of our childless Princo. Supposing tbe townabips of Bay view and Margate— aud they are tbe likelienti places— to be settled or built on, the removing of the school would cause tbe children from these townships to cross the river two or three times. But, frfr, as I think the Waitati as a township^ is dying, and will soon be dead, I am of opinion that the school may aid ought to be removed — not to any other part of the township, but rather to some place in the neighbourhood of Dowcea's or MifcbellV. In the event o£ the Government making the road rjght through, one school more at tua saddle or boundary of Bluoskin ard Maori Hill would bring education within the reach of all between Dunedin and Waitati. Sir, it has always been my opinion that State schools should not bo less than four miles apart along a good road. We have a school at O.ir«-y's, which is only two miles aud a quarter from the Blu^akin School, and thera are children up the Waitati of school age not within five miles of a soho'il, whose parents (very likely pioneers facing the difficulties attending sealing in the back country) have to pay their share toward* education— thus paying for the education of the children of others, while their own offspring are growing up ia ignorance. But, sir, I Bu^pose this ia one of > the m^ny boons bestowed on people who live in a country that do s everything for them. As I don't wiite often, 1 may mention auother great boon— the railways. They are a curpe to all agriculture within ten miles of town Yet the Stats— not satisfied with mortgaging our freeholds to the public creditor to make railways to remote district?, oo that they may undersell us in the market— are now about to tax us to keep thoue railways up, thus taxing us for that which to us is a positive injury. —I am, &«., Observer. Blueskin, May 20th.