Otago School Commissioners' Loans. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2244, 4 March 1897, Page 9

Otago School Commissioners ' Loans. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — Can you inform me the reason why the Otago School Commissioners do not lend money on their own leasehold property P They take our rents and lend it out to others on freeholds instead of to their owu tenants to improve their own property. Again, the Advances to Settlers Office do not lend on the School Commissioner' leases, or only on certain of them. Now, Sir, I daresay yon know that private money-lenders will not look at Government leases ; so there is more need for the several money-lending departments of the Government to assist their own tenants. If you can enlighten myself and others on what seems to be a very strange, unfair matter, I shall deem it a favour. — I am, &s., February 23. Government Leaseholder. [The commissioners have no statutory power to lend money on other than freehold security. The commissioners are bound to hand over the whole of their rents to the Education Boards of Otago and Southland for the support of primary fichools.— Ed.]

Daring 1896 there were 60 oases of accidental death registered in the colony, and 17 by Buipide.. Of the accidents 17 were drownings. - In the Supreme Court »t Wellington on Wednesday, the 24tb, a case came up con*, nected with the Horowhenua Block. The heirs of Kawana Hania have a dispute about ihe money paid by the Government for the State farm at Levin. Two of them (Warena und Wirihana) have received £2000 out of the £6000, but claim a sixth share each in the remainder. The court decided that the disposition of the £2000 could not be interfered with, and that the Native Land Court must *11qw their claim to flJww ia ?*« £49QQ.