The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 62, 15 May 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1878.

There is a little matter to which we desire to draw the attention of the Education Board of the District of Wanganui, and which we feel certainly requires ventilation. From a notification which appears m the Wanganui journals — to which the signature "of " A. . A. Browne, Secretary to the "Board " is attached — we learn that first meetings of householdersof the.several School Districts are to be holden on next Saturday, the 18th instaut, at six p.m. Prom the same source we further- learn that such meetings are supposed to be holden at Foxton, Palirierston, Karere, Stoney Creek, Taonui, Moutoa, A wahuri, and various other places m the Manawatu. We say supposed, for we would like to ask the Secretary to the Board what steps have been taken to have' the notification circulated ? Can it be i magined that because the advertisement has been inserted issue after issue m the Wanganui papers, electors ' who never see, or "perhaps have never heard of those journals, will become cognisant of the notice ? We do not for. a moment wish to question the ' utility of either of llw Wanganui

journals ; neither do we object to the insertion therein of any notice of interest to the people of that district. No doubt both papers are excellent media for the dissemination of information throughout the dis-trict-in which they circulate ; but we do most emphatically object to it being taken for granted that notices so published are- of the slightest use to the people of Manawatu, when m point of utility they might as well appear m . the " North China Herald," or the " Japan Journal." Perhapsthe Secretary may urge that there are other steps by which householders may be informed of the intended meetings, such as communication., with, the School Committee, and that m the present case such vmeasureshavefbeen taken. Without stating positively that such has npjbv been done, we are very much inclined to the contrary opinion. But even if they were, we ■ may point (out— first, their utter futility, inasmuch as Cpmmitteomen are not likely^to distress themselves iv order to disseminate the information amongst settlers ; and secondly, if such a means; were sufficient m regard to T th'e places named above, the repeated publication of the Board notices elsewhere, was nothing more nor less than a mere waste of money. In giving publicity to the intended meetings, We consider we are doing what it was the bounden duty of the Board to have done; still we hold the interests of pur readers paramount to every other ■ consideration, for were we not. to do so, the people of- Manawatu County would be placed at a decided disadvantage; 0e trust that at the next meeting of the Board the members representing thisportion of the District will" bring the question prominently forward," so that m future such publicity may be secured amongst settlers as the importance of any* matter at issue; may demand.[Since the above was m type we have :boen handed m an # advertisement, which ap pears ' elsewhere, ; by. Mr. Henry McNeil, chairman of the Tabnui I School Committee, drawing the atten- ' tibnof settlers to the proposed, meetring. He informed us that he did so . without any instruction from the Board, because had he not done so none of the electors would be aware of the • meeting. Such being the case with regard to Taonui, it not follow as. a matter of course that similar ignorance would exist'elsewhere, but ■•for .the publication; of this article ?]