THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

Kumara Times, Issue 740, 12 February 1879, Page 2

THE EDUCATION RESERVE.

Public meeting. A public meeting was held at the Town Hall last evening, “to consider matters connected with the Education Reserve.” There was a large attendance of the residents of the Reserve present. As the speakers chiefly reiterated the opinions they had already expressed on this question, and which have previously appeared in these columns, we give in this instance only a brief resume of the proceedings. His Worship the Mayor, as Chairman, after explaining the object the conveners of the meeting had in view, called on the mover of the first resolution.

Mr Barff, M.H.R., hftd nd resolution to move, but it appeared to him a hard case. On one side of the road the sec-tion-holders were paying more than the land was worth. If the revenue so derived went towards the education of their children, it would be some excusej hut as the Government had to pay £3 10s per annum for every child out of the Consolidated revenue for this purpose) why should the people be called on to pay £lO, £2O, and £25 a year towards education ? He believed the money already paid could be demanded back, an the Education Board had no legal right to receive it) and he also thought they could be relieved from this obnoxious tax. The land on the west side of the street had been opened for purchase, and would be now free from any tax, aitd the Reserve ought to he in a similar position, tf the Reserve Committee had hut two or three days to state a Ca->e to the Government before the transfer of the Reserve Was accomplished, he had but little doubt whatthe result would be. Mr Bengali, as one of the Reset' -e Committee) had been requested by his colleagues to moVe— That the Ministers for Land and Education be earnestly requested to stay all action in connection with the Kumara Education Reserve until such time as a full statement of particulars has come to hand from this Committee. He had on several occasions spoken on the same, subject) and reviewed it in evei'y possible light. It had been openly stated that the l-'esai-ve bail been secured in a most unfair manner; it bad been done by official manipulation ; it has borne the character of a .swindle more than anything else in coming into the hands of the Boatd of Education the way it did, (Hear, hear). Referring to the action of himself and his Colleague .Mr Beddoil, when in Hokitika, after laying a final statement of the. tac : s before the Commissioners, they cordially admitted thatthe Reserve holders w6ie unfairly dealt', with, and that relief should - lie given to those applying. The Conimissioivrs hai) done nothing in the matter) and things were exactly in-the same state as when the depntatibh j Visited . them, It. was most unbecoming ■oh the part Of the Commissioners to try atid legalise a posii ion which they knew was illegal, and also when In all probability the Reserve would be cancelled at tile next sitting of Parliament. He would now redd the Report of the Chairman of the Goldfields Committee on the Petition of the Burgesses of Kumara and Miners on Kumara goldfield to the Government—

I am directed to report that the Committee recommend that tho Government should inquire into the grievances alleged in this petition; and if, in its opinion, the statements of the petitioners are borne out in fact, should forthwith take such steps as may be necessary to cancel the Reserve upon equitable terms. 23th September, 1878. And also a question relative thereto asked by Mi Barff, in his place in the House, on Thursday, October 24th ;—. What action does the Government im tend to take upon the report of the GolcU fields Committee dpOii tint Petition of Burgesses and Miners of Kumara, praying that the Kumara Education Reserve be lifted'? To which the Ministry made the following reply The matter has been referred to the Commissioner of Crown Lands at Hokitika for Ins report and recommendation of the best means of carrying out What is required. ■ ■ • • They had l orn all kept in the dark in the matter of Dr. Giles’s report • blit a brief paragraph had appeared in the Wrsb Coast I’iniOs winch had slightly enlightened them, although he thottght it would have been ’far better if the whole report referred to ha I been published. He trusted there would be no mincing matters on this quesiion. Mr Chiming had great pleasure in seconding the resolution, and also in oilserving the interest taken on the •ob ject by the public. They had been c >mpolled to pay from £5 to’.£2s ttvear, and. also £2 2s for their ie,,sc • a a I

now when the west aide of the street was to be Sold, he could not see why the opposite side, should be doubly tU&ed to pay rack rent. The Rel- - fras Stolen in the first instance from the people here, as in the first of the rush they were too busy to look after their own interests in regard to the ground. When -a statement was forwarded to Messrs Bailance and Stout they would see the great grievance, the people labored under here. If people were unanimous in their actions on this Question the Reserve woVdd be lifted at the nekt Sittingof the General Assembly; In a few days a statement would be sent Up Showing.the Government how the money had beeli extracted from the hai'd-working and business people of tire town. Had the title been good, the Board would have sued people long aga. They hold their, star chamber meetings in HokitikU-, from which the Piess were excluded; They did not blush when taking .£SO for drawing a line acrOss U map, Or when making a Reserve for secondary education; tie (the speaker) knew Government officers had bnt little Conscience as long as they drew good salaries—as they had done off the goldfields for the last fourteen years, lie strorigly urged that they should fight for the abolishment of tile Reserve.

Mr Seddon said (hat the paragraph that appeared in the West Coast Times was not much in itself, as when the Education Reserve was (bade, all reserves were trt he vested in Commissioners 5 but the Act provided nO machinery for so doing. The Board would endeavor? to got it transferred under the Tax Act He thought the report of the G nmnissiouer w<»uld be against tbe lifting rtf the Reservej and he very milch questioned if he had i'6comni<iided if. The Government should not have i'efafl'ed it to Dr (lilesj as he was one rtf the metuhers of the Ediirtatirtn Board, and he would re l port in acJcoi'd with the Wish of his colleagues. He thought that to meet Dr Giles rtn a fair footing, before the next Sittirtg of Parliament, the Pleserve Com l mirtee hel’C Should lie supplied , with a copy of his report. SiroUld the Board press foi* lent} he should recommend the Bectiott-llohli*i‘s trt have a test base tried, and they would find where the flaws Ufere in tlie title, - ’ Ilirt lesolll'iiiU \tfas then jlufc by the C Kiinnan, and curied unanimonslv. Mr Hanna ill >ved, and Mr BarlT, M.11.K;, seertn le l the f »lli)wing resolution, which U v iS put art! canied : That the d'liinilail be requested td telegraph the following resolutions to Sir* George Grey, and the Minister of Justice aild Education to-morrow. A. Vote bf thhilks to the Chairman terminated the protteelbUgs.