OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 35

OTAGO SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

The Otago School Commissioners continued their sittings on the 20th; present — Messrs J. P. Maitland (chairman), J. Walker Bain, A. Baldey, William Dallas, and James Green. Mr James Morrison, lessee of section 25, block HI, Glenomaru, wrote asking to be allowed to surrender his lease. — The commistioners declined to accept surrender. Messrs Kenyon and Hosking wrote, on behalf of Mr A. B. Kitchener, asking that the leases of section 1, block XIII, section 1, block XIV, and section 4, block XI, Moeraki, be issued to Mr Malcolm M'Kellar. — The request was granted on condition that authority was received from Mr Kitchener's attorney. The following transfers were consented to: Section 4, block IX, Waikaia, from C. and M. F. M'Kenaie to A. T. M'Kenzie; section 7, block VII, Otautau, from R. Ford to J. Small; section 3 of 20, block XI, Invercargill Hundred, from J. C. Irwin to W. Scully ; section 14-, block XIV, Invercargill, W. Todd to R. Folley; sections 11 and 12, block V, iWendonside, from James Smith to J. Home, jun. ; section 11, block XIII, Hampden, from {William Dennison to C. M. Dennison. The following applications were granted: M. A. Noble, lessee of section 2, block 11, Wyndham, to have the reduction of rent previously granted extended to the end of lease on 12th March, 1902; Mrs A. Cowie, widow of the lessee of section 36,b10ek VII, Mataura, surrender of lease; W. Hutton, lessee of section 10, block 111, township of Herbert, surrender of lease. "~ An application^from Mr John Gibson, jun., to lease sections 7 and 8, block VI, South Lumsden, at the upset of 2s 6d per acre, but crbjecting to the valuation of £10 for improvements, was referred to Messrs Bain and Baldey to deal with. Mr M'Donald reported that Mr W. M'Lellan had acquired the lease of section 21, block I, Mataura Hundred, at 7s per acre, and had paid the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, the out-going tenants, valuation for improvements. He further reported that Mr James Ford had offered Is 6d per acre for section 48, block 11, Oteramika, but had neither signed conditions of nor paid a deposit. Noted. The Secretary reported that no definite reply had been received from the Minister for Education respecting the proposed reduction of rent of runs 1, 2, 3, and 4, Wairaki, but advice had been received from the Under-secre-tary of Education that the commissioners should proceed as if the proposal had not been given effect to. Mr P. Campbell, one of the lessees of section 15, blook IV, Menzies Ferry, wrote stating that his neighbour, Mr George Crosbie, had filled up the ditch at his (Mr Campbell's) ovitlet, and Mr Campbell asked for the assistance of the commissioners in the matter in ihe way of affording him redress. — Mr Hunter, co-lessee with Mr Campbell, wrote on the same subject. — After lengthy consideration, the commissioners declined to alter their previous decision, and, further, that unless action was taken thereunder within one month from date the offer would be absolutely withdrawn. The following is the previous decision referred to: — "That the commissioners iwill contribute one-third of the cost of settling the case in a court of law if Messrs Hunter and Campbell be prepared to bring an action to open up the old water-course ; or, alternatively, the commissioners would contribute one-third of the cost of continuing the present drain to the Mataura River." The Southland County Council forwarded the following resolution, passed at the last meeting of the council: — "That this council regrets that the commissioners cannot see their way to make any grants towards roads in their district, as from the small amount of money receivable from rates it must be many years before the County Council can do much for these roads." — The letter was received. The Engineer of the Wallace County Council forwarded an estimate of the cost of a drain to carry the surface water from the low portions of the land extending from section 17 to section 34, block I, Marakura township, into Lake Te Anau, the total cost being £27 8s. — It was decided to offer a grant to the County Council of £15 towards the cost of the work. Mr James M'Laren wrote complaining of the amount of solicitor's costs for preparing the lease of run 202. — The secretary was instructed to endeavour to obtain some reduction. Mr M'Donald reported that it was too late in the season to reoffer sections 4 and 8, block in, Wendonside, which Mr M. M'Kenzie asked to be allowed to surrender. — It was decided to inform Mr M'Kenzie that surrender could not be accepted at present. _ The eomYnissioners were engaged for a considerable time considering the cases of tenants in arrears with their rent. It was pointed out that it was highly desirable to reduce the arrear list as much as possible before the end of the year. It was resolved that the secretary and the Southland agent be instructed to issue summonses in every case where payment was not made within the time specified m a circular to be sent to each tenant in arrear. There were 40 tenants in Otago in arrears, the amount of arrears being £266 17s 7d; and 79 tenants in arrears in Southland, the amount of arrears being £2197 13s 6d.