PUBLIC OPINION.

Patea Mail, 11 February 1882, Page 3

PUBLIC OPINION.

Contributions, Letters, Inquiries and Answers thereto, arc invited on Farming, Commerce, Politics, and matters of interest to the Patea district. Names of writers need not be Printed.

NEW HEDGE PLANT.

You will oblige me by allowing space in your columns for the following. As the whole of the public look to your paper for valuable information, I think it will be received with pleasure. As regards hedge plants for forming boundary fences to sheep or cattle runs, agricultural fences to farms, garden fences to orchards, and even ornamental fences to pleasure grounds (Patea Public Domain) the African box-thorn may be pronounced to be the most suitable of all hedge plants that ever came under my notice, as I have tried every kind during ny 30 years’ experience in New Zealand. A friend gave me a small packet of the seed some five or six months ago, which I planted in my garden, and now at that age (say six months) they are nearly three tost high. I have seen some gorse hedges two years old and not that hoigth. The African box thorn will grow on any kind of soil, poor or rich, light or strong. The plant grows very vigorously, and produces immense quantities of strong “ horrid ” spines ; and when the hedge is well and fully grown, that is in about two years, neither sheep nor bullocks would attempt to penetrate through the barrier. It is evergreen, and bears clipping well, and is not liable to be browsed upon by any kind of cattle. It also stands transplanting very well ; in fact every plant is sure to grow. I shall be most happy to show any settler the young plants that I have grown from the seed, and give all particulars I can. By inserting this you will oblige, yours &c., James Lett. Patea, Feby. 10.

IN WHAT EDUCATION DISTRICT IS lIAW ERA ?

The Wanganui Education District is defined as including the Counties of Patea, Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawatu. In section 12 of the Education Act 1877 it is provided that “ where the boundaries of any County comprised in any Education District shall be altered, such alteration shall operate with respect to any district constituted under this Act.”

This language admits of only one interpretation. It means that if the counties that make up the Education District have additions made to them, then the district is to increase ; but if a piece is cut off a county it is to be regarded as cut off the Education District.

Now a piece has been cut off from the County of Patea. It does not matter for our present purpose whether it was added to Taranaki County or not. It has by law ceased to be part of the Wanganui Education District.

No money can be spent there by the Wanganui Board, any more than in tbe Counties of Taranaki, or Hath If any money is so spent, the members of the Board will be jointly and severally responsible. It will be urged, that the Governor can by proclamation cure the defect. Unfortunately the limit of his powers in this way is defined in the abovementioned section 12, and extends only to the counties mentioned in the second schedule of the Counties Act, 1876—0f which Hawera is not one.

Observer,

Note. —The Governor has power, under clause 100 of the Education Act to “ make such other regulations as may be necessary to secure the due administration of this Act.” It cannot be a “ due administration” to have part of the Patoa County created a new county, and then be left outside the boundary of any education district.— Ed. Mail.