AN EVICTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 334, 4 February 1911, Page 5

AN EVICTION.

FIFTY CHILDREN AND TEACHER WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION. It will be remembered, that in the beginning of October last year a meeting of Pio Pio residents was held to discuss school matters, and that a deputation consisting of Messrs Bevege and W. D. Hattaway were authorised to wait on the Auckland Board, to urge thfi necessity of building a new school. The building then occupied for school purposes was an old native hall which had been given gratuitous by the Maoris and as the deputation pointed out to the board was not a fit or proper place for the safety of the health of children. They also pointed cut their insecurity of tenure, and instanced that on several occasions when the natives wanted the hsli the children had to have a hoiiday, and one time in particular the hall was wanted for a week and the teacher and children had to talis up their abode under a big tree in the vicinity. The fear of being turned out at any time was one of the chief points on which the deputation laid stress, and that fear has materialised, for, on Monday last, the newly elected committee (writes our corespondent), received notice that possession was required the following day. There was nothing for it, but to remove the furniture and store it. On the Wednesday, the day that school was to open, one of the natives, who is a part owner took possession and turned the hall to use for residential purposes. There were 50 children in readiness to attend. Parents are complaining that their children should have these enforced holidays more especially since the board'has had two years to think of the erection of a school. In October last the board promised to build and when the inspector paid a visit in November, he informed residents that the money was available and they state that since then nothing has been done.

This is but another case in point for the necessity of having educational matters controlled within the boundaries of the King Country. The rapid increase of settlement in these districts demands the centralisation of many of our controlling departments. It is impossible for the Auckland Education Board to control the vast area which they are now doing. Schools to accommodate about 250 will be required in the Mapara and Tangitu districts within the next three months, and it is safe to aver that this growth of population and demand for schools is not a momentarily one, but will be so for years to come, as the great area of yet unoccupied lands get settled. The chairman of the Pio Pio school committee communicated with the board last Monday and explained the extraordinary position and at the same time asked that a marquee he sent for temporary use, hut up to Thursday night no. reply had been received from the board. The different denominations which hold church in the hall will also have to make other arrangements.