Wanganui Education Board.

Manawatu Herald, 30 September 1893, Page 3

Wanganui Education Board.

At the last meeting of the ahove Board the following discussion on new schools took place i —Mr Sanson asked leave to substitute an altered motion for the one standing in his name, and moved " Thafc the archi teot be instructed to (prepare plans and specifications for two schools, to accommodate 30 scholars each, lining to be left oufc. In no case is the building (including oufc offices) to cost fche Board above £120. The one to be erected at Nikau, and the other afc Taikorea ; provided thafc fche settlers in those districts undertake to erec. the neeessary fences afc their own cost. Tenders to be invifced and laid before fche Board afc ifcs Novem ■ ber meeting." The Board accopted the alteration. — In speaking to the motion Mr Sanson said Mr Fry was more conversant with the urgent needs of Nikau than himself. He (Mr Sanson) had been iuformed that there was a number of children in the district who could not obtain education. They had applied before, bufc had been pufc off from time to time. The Taikorea case was one of the hardest in the district, as children were growing up in that district not knowing one letter of the alphabet from another. They could show 35 ehildren of school age within reach of the school. Of course it was marely a question of ways and means, but he believed it could ba arranged, and he thought they would be quite justified in doing the work. Furniture for the schools could be obtained from other schools. — Mr Fry endorsed the remarks of Mr Sanson, and read a letter from the settlers of the Harbonr Board Block, asking for a school, and pointing out urgent wants of the district in that respect. He had pleasure in seconding tbe motion, Mr Ross was in touch wifch fche wants of the districts, but they would bave to adopt a less expensive method of building than heretofore.— Mr Beckett also supported the motion, bufc did not ajree thit the Board was responsible for the children of the Taikorea district growing up uneducated. He thought the fault lav with the people themselves.— Mr Carson supported the motion, but he strongly disagreed with the erection of mere shanties, aod would rather expend the money as far as they could get it in the erection of decent buildings. It was not the fault of the Board that they had not money enough to meet all requirements. Mr Baker felfc inclined to support the motion, but did nob think they could erect another school in the district. They should consider the reduction of the over draft.— Mr Bridge supported the motion, bufc agreed fchat fchey should look well fco their funds. He quite agreed that tho overdraft should be reduced, and if the Government would nofc willingly provide them with sufficient funds, then the people should force them to do it. He would like to know whether Mr Sanson had mad* any inquiries of the architect as to the building he had proposed. — Mr Sanson said he had not consulted Mr Atkins, bufc had estimated the amount because he was as anxious as all other members to reduce the overdraft.— After a little further discussion the motion was altered by striking out the. amount, and carried unanimously. Mr Fry handed in a report on the Foxton Small Farm Block, pointing out the best available school site. Tha settlers were willing to erect a anifcable building. There were 80 children of school age, 12 of whom had to cross the Pohangina river. He suggested that the Board apply to have five acres of educational reserve transferred to the Board in exchange for one of the Board's Bchool reserves, and that the name of fche district be Awahna.— He had expected to have received a communication from the settlers by that morning's traiu. He had not received one, and he would suggest that his report be adopted. Mr Sanson seconded the report, which was adopted.