CARLYLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 391, 15 January 1879, Page 2

CARLYLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE

A mkrtixg of the above School Committee was held on Monday evening', at the Hon. Secretary’s office, Carlyle. Present —Messrs Aitchison (Chairman), Lett, North, Williams, Paterson, and Harris. Minutes of previous meeting read and confirmed, and correspond on cc read. Mr Dyer to be informed that he is at liberty to introduce any new books be may approve which are included in Government list, but to be careful not to put parents'to unnecessary expense. Mr W. Cowern to be asked to act as Auditor. Special meeting to be held at 7.30 p.m on Friday next, to prepare the High School .Report, and to consider other school business. Proposed by Mr Williams, seconded by Mr. James Lett, “ That the Committee cannot understand how Mr Inspector Foulis could report unfavourably on the Carlyle School, as inferred by the letter from the Secretary of the Education Board, of the 17th Sept., as he had not examined the school at that date, and that the Committee in preparing the High School Report call attention to the above.” Carried.

Proposed by Mr Aitchison, seconded by Mr Lett, “ Mr Foulis having stated at the last meeting of the Education Board, that the children in the Carlyle School were listless and as to the results of examination, owing to the way the prizes had been awarded in the past, this Committee wish to record its protest against such a statement, firmly believing, from what the members know of the children in the past and present, that listlessness from cause stated, did not exist in the school, and consider the Inspector blamable for the remarks ho then made, and that the Secretary forward a copy of this resolution to the Board.” Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr North, seconded by Mr Paterson, and carried, “ That Mr Wray be written to and requested to be good enough to explain the reason why the books awarded to his children at the late examination were returned to the Committee, and to state his wishes relative to the disposal of the same.” A number of small accounts were passed, and the meeting adjourned.

BISHOP HAD FIELD. The Wellington Church News for January, contains report of a meeting called to consider the question of establishing a General Church Fund for the Diocese. The following is an extract from the opening address by Bishop Hadfield “ With regard to the matter of Church Extension he ought to say that he felt some little difficulty in addressing them, because he felt, he might almost say remorse, that he had not in previous years done more for the purpose of establishing some scheme

which would enable the Chnrch in tliigf diocese properly to discharge its duty. He felt that the present effort had not come to soon, but too late. There were difficulties in reference to the extension of the work of the Church in the country districts which were hardly felt or understood by town residents. What he meant was this—that it was quite possible Chnrch members in the country were tolerably well off so far as worldly means go; but at the same time, in order to establish a system that would work in the country it was necessary there ishould be co-operation, and it was difficult to get country settlers together for such a purpose. Then again there was this difficulty : On his visits to the country he was well received, and settlers appeared willing to do anything in their power, but his demands seemed to frighten them out of the spirit of action. Take as an instance the case of Hawera—a place twenty miles away from any clergyman, and in which there was a large population growing up, many of whom were pretty well off. He had last year met a number of gentlemen there. They expressed themselves as willing to do everything possible to establish a church there,but they enquired, “What do you want us to do?” He replied, “ I want you to obtain a stipend for a clergyman, I want funds for a church, and funds for a parsonage.” Then they wanted to know if there wasW any chance of getting help from a fund, and of course lie could hold small hope. They were very anxious to have a chnrch and a clergyman, and were willing to do what they could, but they felt that the attempt to do what he wished them to do was utterly beyond their power, and they intimated that they must defer the matter. That was an ordinary case. But it was not so much that the country districts were unable to do what was required of them, rather it was the case that when the demands were made upon them they became frightened of ibe responsibility, and believed themselves unable to grapple with the difficulties.”

WHY THE TIGHTNESS? The Otago Daily Times in an article on the money market, says: —“ A.t the present moment there is somewhat of a lull in the operations of the money market. When fuller news of the late disastrous failures at Home was received here, high authorities deprecated the idea of any unfavorable effects being produced beyond a momentary depression, but daily experience teaches us that the vibrations of so sensitive a machine as the money mart, cannot be wholly controlled by the most careful forethought. It may seem stramre that the value of an acre in New Zealand should be affected by a commercial failure in Glasgow, but such is proved to be the case.”-

The value of the land hero lately has been almost entirely regulated by the amounts of the advance tiiat could be secured on it, and the effect of the tightening” of tlio pursc-si rings is u> lower the price of the commodity. A few months ago the few inland speculators were fostered by the liberal advances granted to purchasers, and now when, s ecu ri ties are being m ore ca refit 11y we igj i ed the reaction has set in, and it is no exaggeration to say that the marketable value of land is depreciated to the extent of ono li.ilf. the present moment money is both tight and dear, ami for advances on first-class freehold security for moderate amounts and short dates, 9 and 10 per cent, are freely offered, while for large sums, at long terms, 8 per cent, is the minimum accepted from lending companies whose advantages arc regulated by the reciprocal advantages derived from the change of wool and produce. Money is not so difficult to obtain, but from those whose business is confined to advancing loans on freehold security, pure and simple, the needful is doled out with a wide margin. Money is at the same time plentiful enough for mercantile operations, but the system of over-im-portation which prevailed for the last year or two hasslmt 'out any chance of a. fair profit to the importer. In many instances it has barely loft sufficient margin to pay interest on the capital employed.