WAIKIWI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

Southland Times, Issue 1556, 26 March 1872, Page 2

WAIKIWI SCHOOL COMMITTEE.

(to the editob of the TiMßn.) Sir, — In reply to Mr Wood's letter in the News, I will simply state the facts. Mr Wood's original offer was the presentation for a school site of an acre of land, without any conditions. Subsequently, the school committee deemed it advisable to purchase from Mr Wood ten acres, and obtaiued from him terms in writing. To the offer of sale Mr Wood appended certain conditions, and then renewed his offer of presentation of one acre, including ifc in the conditions on which he had offered to sell the piece often acres. The school comm i ttee afterwards found it impossible to complete the purchase of the ten acres, and appointed a deputation to confer with Mr Wood, and ascertain from him whether he would renew his original offer to present an acre. This deputation waited on Mr Wood, and, referring to their want of means to make the purchase of ten acres, asked if he would still be willing to give one, as originally promised, on the understanding that the committee would use all possible endeavors to close the tracks through his land. Mr Wood's reply was undeniably to the effect that he would do so, and was willing to sign an undertaking that in the event of the committee building on the acre, and being unable to obtain the closing of the tracks, they should b 6 at liberty either to remove the building, or to enter into arrangement with himself. The committee, having no doubt of the ultimate closing of the tracks, after ascertaining the opinions of the settlers thereon, decided to build, and their decision was mentioned in a " local " in your journal, which brought out a letter from Mr Wood, warning them against doing so. The committee was thus placed in a dilemma, from which they were, however, speedily relieved by the kind offer of Mr Jacob Ott of an acre of land, without any fuss about it. Hence the resolution of the committee. I write this — not as a member of the Waikiwi school committee, and without any iatotiuon of compromising them — but from [ my own knowledge, to give what I honestly believe to be a literal statement of i the facts, in which I believe I shall be to the letter supported. With the fullest determination to carry out the principle — '* Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice," — I am, &c, Thomas Pebkhts.