The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1903. THE OPAKU RESERVE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 80, 2 April 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1903. THE OPAKU RESERVE.

At the last meeting of the Education Board, on the initiation of Mr Joseph Mackay, M.A, of Midhirst, a committee was sot up to once again gat the various local bodies to move in the matter of this resei ve. The havd drafted ft circular, a c lpy of which we have to acknowledge fiom the Secretary cf the Education Board, which is being n-:nt round to all the local bodies in Taranaki, aeking them to pass a resolution, and forward the same to i he Secretary of the Taranaki Education Board. On receipt of the replies is is the intention of the Board to bring the whole matter again under the notice of the Hon. the Minister of Education, through the Parliamentary tepreseutntives of the district, asking him to redeem the premise ho made to a deputation to the eft* ct that if h we-e fully certified i hat the request of the depu'ation, regarding the disposal of the funds from the re-erve was the wish of the settlers of Taranak', he would tike legislative action to give effsct to them. It will be remembered* that this reserve, consisting of 10,000 acres of land, is set apart for promo'ing higher education in Taranaki. Several attempts were made to get the r«venues arising from the land made available for the benefit; of Taranaki children without success. When the Victoria University wasestablished, the council of that institution made efforts to secure these fnnds for tha benefit of the whole central district, embracing Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wanganui,' Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson and Westland. This was strongly opposed by Taranaki as an act of spoliation bs the reserve was specially set apart fothe benefit of Taranaki. Quite a number of conferences were held, attended by members of local bodies, and several deputations waited upon the Minister of Education on the subject. Atone specially important conference held in Wanganui, attended by representatives of the Taranaki and Wnrganui Education Beards, the New Plymouth High School Board, and the Victoria College Council, resolutions were passed cog gesting a scheme of scholarships open only to children attending schools in Tarauaki, out of the funds from the reserve. It was further decided that the funds be divided according to population for the becefit of Taranaki echools u&der the Wanganui and Taranaki Boards, the scholarships to be tenable for three years at such secondary school as the Education Bo\rd of the district in which the athol irehip may direct, and for two yo rs at the Victoria College. In reply thereto the Minister, as we have said, promised if s&tieQ'd that this propcsal was wish of ihe people of Taranaki to give legislative effects thereto. Tbe Tara naki >md Wanganui Boards are again nctirg in concert in this matter and are endeavouring to get an expression of opinion through the local representatives of the people. The accrued revenue from the reserve is now tho handsome sum of .£3693 4s 10d and the atnual revenue £441 7z sd, H f s not necessary for us to dilate on the enormous value to the children of

Taranaki of the scholarships which could be established out of this fund, , and the loss to the district the d»lay j means. The circular in question sets out the whole position very concisely and fully, and it is to be hoped that no time will be lost by the local bodies concerned in considering it and returning their replies, so that; legislation \ cau ba introduced this stssion dealing with this very important question.