WAITOTARA.

Patea Mail, 3 August 1880, Page 3

WAITOTARA.

[from our correspondent.] Monday Evening. By some means the intended removal of the school-room hero to a now site has been abandoned. This is perhaps rather fortunate than otherwise. Had the contractor who tendered for it commenced the removal, the chances are that the Education Board would have had to relieve him of the work or pay something towards his loss on it. The amount tendered, some £2G, would bo little more than enough to find the plant, and level the fences, etc., that are in the way. If the work of reremoval should ever be carried out in a proper manner, it wiil be found to cost little short of fifty r pounds. Just before tenders were called, the settlers and others had made arrangements for gravelling a path from the main road to theschoolroam door. The present site is very indifferently drained, and in wet weather the children going to school can scarcely avoid getting their boots damp, and having to sit with damp feet during school hours, it being impossible for all of them to get near the one fire. The intended gravelling was held over till the result of the tenders should be known, and now it is very unlikely that the gravelling will be done at all. This school seems to be rather overlooked by the Wanganui Education Board, There are no swings or gymnastic apparatus as at the other schools, while the teachers have to shift as they best can for a residence. Wo believe a sufficient sum was voted some time ago, but has never been utilised. Some year and a half ago tenders were asked for the present building and site. A good offer was made, but the Board dilly-dallied about accepting it till the offer was withdrawn in despair. Perhaps during the coming summer this school will be placed on the same footing as others along this coast.

The heavy earthquake last week did no damage here.

Some one seems to have taken exception to your correspondent’s last communication, and lias rushed into print in the Wanganui Herald concerning it. I am accused of writing to the Mail, “vilifying the township and its inhabitants.” Nothing could be farther from your correspondent’s intention. I can unhesitatingly say that if the population were confined to that of the township proper, and the surrounding settlers, there would be no occasion whatever for a police station here ; and further the workmen employed on the railway contracts here appear to be a very superior and intelligent body of men, with very few-excep-tions. When however those exceptions have nothing better to do on a rainy day, when they cannot work, than come into the township for amusement, it would be well that they were looked after till ready to go home, so that they might be prevented from damaging each other, and annoying the neighbourhood. I am also accused of “ romancing. ” Several square inches of sticking plaster on the countenance of one of the combatants next morning looked anything but romantic. As for the personal attack on telegraphist and postmaster, it is, to say the least, unjust and uncalled for, seeing that to oblige the public his hours of attendance are from 7 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. every day of the week, which is more than the “ public have a right to expect.” Most likely the writer’s conscience troubled him ; hence his effusion. The duty of correspondent was unwillingly undertaken by me ; but once undertaken, it is being carried out without fear or favour.

[Note. —The Waitotara Correspondence of the Mail, during the past three months, has been marked by intelligence, smartness, fairness, a proper independence, and an admirable freedom from party prejudice. The Waitotara Correspondence has become a feature in the Mail, and we are pleased to have an opportunity of recording the fact. If our Correspondent were less independent we should regret it. It is also a fact that our Correspondent has neither asked nor received payment from the Mail. It is his whenever he chooses to accept it. The former row at Waitotara was reported in this journal, but not one word of that report was written by our regular Correspondent, so far as we are aware. Any responsibility in that matter rests with Mr E. Houghton, and complainants are invited to communicate with him.— Ed. Mail.]