THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

Kumara Times, Issue 652, 30 October 1878, Page 2

THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

PUBLIC MEETING. • A crowded meeting was held at the Town Hall last evening, for the purpose of considering the present aspect of affairs re lifting the Education Reserve. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and in opening the proceedings said that the meeting, had' been called to do away with the grievance of the Educational Reserve here. As they were well aware, a petition had been forwarded to the Government on this matter, who had referred it to. the Goldfields Committee, and great credit was due to Mr Barff, M.H.R., for manner in which he had looked after, their - interests in this matter. The House requiring more information had referred the matter to the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands in Hokitika, for his report and recommendation thereon ; and as that gentleman was nominated by the Governlnent, and was" a resident in our midst, the meeting was called to use* its influence with him in getting the Reserve abolished. Every day it became more apparent that this Reserve was doing this place a material injury, and at the same time it was no benefit to the Board of Education, aB the cost of education was defrayed by the country, and all the Board drew from the Reserve had to be forwarded to Wellington. The miners suffered by it also, as besides their Customs dues of £l, they had£l for a miner's, right to. pay, and then an additional £1 for mining on the Reserve. Business people had to take either a 5, 10, or 15 years' lease for occupying their sections,. and then they must not move their buildings, consequently they were of not so much value- as the premises on the other side of the street. . He thought nothing settled a country like each man having a small freehold of his own, and lie thought it but reasonable that "if a freehold be made on one side of the road, the argument sho'uld hold good on the other A The. speakers would no doubt afford the meeting every information- and give, ample- reasons why they Should all unite in doing away with the Reserve. He would call on the mover of first resolution. •: ; . :-,- Mr Dungan had been asked to propose a resolution at the meeting, and. he. willingly did'so ; and, in common with others who lived on the Reserve, he felt not the least -reluctance in Coming forward to" give; his support towards- the object in view... He could do so for many reasons as the reserve had been an eyesore, a burr den, an anomaly in the heart of one of the goldfields of New Zealand, and prejudicial to the mercantile interests of the town. When trouble or difficulties arose, there was nothing like public means and public argument, as the celebrated Edmund Burke said, "Where there was abuse, there should be clamours." In all countries public spirit and public action was required td get a grievance redressed, and he trusted in this instance they would'' Bhow united action. [The speaker here referred to the meeting held in June last re this matter and the subsequent action taken by the Reserve Committee, which has already been published in our columns.] They had no doubt seen by the reports in the public press that Mr .Barff looked on the matter hopefully, but he (the speaker) should like to have seen the report of the Goldfields Committee on the subject, as reports of this nature were always laid on the table of the House* and all that they new was the Goldfields Committee had referred the matterto the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands in Hokitika.' He watf afraid they would not see t|ie .report until the session was concluded, and then what the substance of that report was, would be4cnown. With the advice of the Secretary of the Reserve Committee, he (MrDungan) had that afternoon forwarded the following telegram to Mr Barff on the matter : "To E. Barff, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. ' " ' ; •'•• "Public meeting to : night re cancellation Reserve. Public wish to 'know what Goldfields Committee recommended. "P. DUNGAN. " Kumara, 29th Oct., 1878." And he would read the reply : "To P. Dungan, Kumara. "Telegraphed what you require to Kumara Times several days ago. "E. Barff. " Government Buildings, " Wellington, 29th Oct., 1878." Speaking on the question on a' broad principle, as one of the - mining community of- the district, he thought propertyholders had lived under restrictions of the greatest tyranny, as he held that a man who earned the property he now held by the sweat of his brow before he came here, should be entitled to dispose of it if he pleased. Under the present regulation it required a 7, 14, or 21 years' lease to be taken out before this could be done, and he considered this regulation one of the most arbitrary character. He thought that every practical and vigorous step should be taken to obtain redress in this matter. There was no doubt that when this Reserve was laid off, it was never thought that a goldfield existed'in the vicinity, and it now remained with the meeting to. consider the proposal of having two gentlemen appointed as a deputation to wait on the Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands, and explain matters generally. He had great pleasure in moving—- " That one other person with the Mayor be appointed by this meeting as a deputation to wait on the Chief Commissioner of Lands, and Commissioners of Education Reserves, Hokitika, for the purpose of bringing under their notice more prominently the loss and inconvenience that the business people and miners suffer in consequence of the existence of the Education Reserve in the midst of this auriferous district." Mr D. Hannah said that after the ela-

borate manner in which the mover of "the v resolution had explained the whole matter, "''• he had but little left to say in seconding '.' it. When it became known in Hokitika, * a few days ago, that this subject had been' 1 referred to the Chief Commissioner dt Crown Lands for his report, the Secretary of the Education Board at once issued notices calling,on all occupiers of sections to pay 12 months' rent in advance, by a certain day, or proceedings would be taken against them. This was " taking the bull by the horns" with a vengeance, and he need not tell the meeting that if once the Board got the money, it would never be refunded—-(Laughter). He siipported the motion to send a deputation to Hokitika. The money collected from this Reserve went to keeping np an establishment of officials in Hokitika, and he thought the Borough Council should asssist in this matter. He heartily supported the resolution. The resolution was then put by the. Chairman, and carried unanimously. Mr Diingan was then unanimously elected to attend with the Mayor as the deputation. >'". Mr HanKA, in moving "That the Borough Council should take active and immediate steps in carrying out the foregoing resolution," said it was a matter of £. s. d., and he thought the least the Borough Council could do was to take the initiative by paying the expenses, as - any benefit that would accrue from the Reserve being lifted would be gained by .that body. Mr Maloney. seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously^ The Chairman 1 , in thanking, those • present on behalf of Mr .Dungan and; himself for electing them as their representatives in this matter, said he had ;seht the following telegram to Hokitika im- . mediately he heard that notices had been served on persons in this town to pay rents forthwith : '■'. . . " To Dr. Giles, Esq./XJhiefcCommissioner Educational Reserves/Westland. "Public meeting ofratepayers;-re Ku-,; mara Reserve to-morrow night: Requisitionists ask meito advise proceedings to be stayed for recovery of rents until f the I matter has been, in accordance with reso-_ ' lution of the House, reported on by your-"| self. - ■ • » •, ; s_; "R. J. Sbdbon, JMayor. • "Kumara, October 28, 1878." / , _;.." .;; He (the chairman) ;had .received- the f6l* . lowing reply :—_ "„._ , .'.,/„■ "To R. J. Seddon, Esq., Mayor;. r. Kumara: "I will put your telegram before School v Commissioners at next meeting, but I caii" : take no steps to get proceedings stayed ia i the" meantime, iior da I see ; any prospect of the Commissioners being able to do 50..---. ;:..■.." ," J. Gmaa, C.0.L,. ; "Hokitika,.Oct. ,29,, 1875.",;. : . ; ' A vote of .thanks to the Chairman ter-^'. minated the proceedings. .-. .-. . V