The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 123, 14 June 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1876.

;f T is a matter for sincere regret that, during the Parliamentary session about to commence, there is not the slightest t’hance of the educational question being taken up. or.any effort made to inaugurate a comprehensive system throughout 'he length and breadth of the Colony, in every part of New Zealand, the ■; •oat/*st interest is felt on this allimportant subject, and it is a great pity that Abolition, Local Government, or other things, should push it so unceremoniously aside. In no portion of the Colony is education more regarded than in the Putea district, as shown by the fact that, whilst wo hear of opposition to payment of education rates elsewhere—nf goods belonging to clergymen and others being annually seized and sold under distraint to satisfy those claims, as in Auckland, and indeed of the greatest difficulties being offered to the collection of such taxes—we find in Patea that it is cheerfully paid, and recourse to law for its enforcement is rarely or never necessary. As a proof of Shis, we may state that out of 251 persons on the roll for 1875-G, there are at present only throe who have not paid up, and it is probable that the indefatigable secretary will got these rates in without further invoking the aid of any .legal machinery. Where such a spirit is shown, whore people help themselves, and so promptly put their hands in their pockets to support a cause, they certainly have a special claim for consideration from the Government, when subsidies are. on the carpet; and it is to he hoped, in apportioning any aid for the coming year, this will be borne in mind. Without doubt, the cheerfulness in contributing has been at least partially brought about by the perfect confidence ihat is felt in those who constitute the Education Board of the district, for they have so far acted with remarkable prudence, ami have already effected great good with comparatively limited means at their command. More conclusive evidence of the interest felt here in connection with education could not lie adduced, and wo bring it thus prominently forward, in order that Mr (larrington, both in his capacity of Superintendent and representative of the Province, ai’ul also other members, may not forget it at the proper time, in allotting aid for the coming year, Patea has certainly an equitable claim to a large share under the circumstances, and what is more, one that, if energetically urged, is not likely to be readily ignored.