EAST COAST NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2063, 25 April 1907, Page 1

EAST COAST NEWS.

WALl’IltO BAY. (From our own Correspondent. 3 The annual meeting of householder in collection with the formation o school committees, ns usual, tends ti survive complaints of indifference 01 neglect against the Education .Bonn • which are of long standing. It is now something like four year: since ho H.B. Education Board firs! took in hand the question of a residence for the Wnipiro school, am during that time the teacher anil committee have heen waiting in vain for any signs of real active movement in this direction. About IS months ago the then Board’s architect supplied plans and specifications of the proposed residence, and tenders for the erection of same were submitted. The Wnipiro Committee might he pardoned for believing that the Hoard were in a hurry on this particular occasion, as only one week was allowed for local builders to make up their estimates and furnish their tenders to the Board's ofliee at Napier. The trouble however was for nought. No .word was officially received in respect of the tenders and it was surmised that no tender was accepted. Information was later received through tile medium of the papers that an extra sum had been voted to bring the total amount somewhat nearer to the estimates, and about eight months ago fresh tenders were invited. This time one of the local builders was given to understand by the inspector that his tender had been accepted; hut no word of any kind being received from the Board’: office or from the architect, the orders for materials wore fortunately withheld. Again tenders were called about a month ago, but no plans or specifications were received locally: the lirst intimation of this was a memo, from the Board that tenders were all too high. It is worthy of note that the applieations for the position of headmaster of the school, which were forwarded to the committee only eight months ago. were those of two single men: one of whom had evidently applied for another school, hut his up plication was submitted to Waipiro. The other applicant was successful, and the local populace were satisfied in the possession of an unusually competent teacher.. This satislact. ion was however short-lived; the teacher resigning his position under the H.B. Board and went badk whence ho came. 1

It is mooted that had there been a teacher’s resdenee here, his valuableservices would have been retained tu this district. On this occasion the coinmittee have only one application submitted to them, and strange to relate —a single man. Putting two and two together as people do hnbituallv, there seems to he. a tendency on the part of the Board to stave off tinexpense of erecting a teacher's residence for an indefinite time. This impression gaining ground naturally tends to bias the householders in this

It is possible of course that this question is the real cause of the Board’s dilatoriness in the direction of building; and until the question is definitely settled, Waipiro at least might well expect to keep on chopping and changing teachers to the detriment of the children’s education. Meanwhile the committees take their turn at receiving the grumbling of the parents with stoical fortitude and hoping against, hope that the next invitation of tenders will have some practical result. Truly the “Tailioa” policy which has been so long a by-word in this district is catching.