RAHOTU REQUIREMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 7 June 1907, Page 2

RAHOTU REQUIREMENTS.

Tiie lownshiji of ltaiiotu is delurmiu-] < : . lto grow, and the residents Seem 1 determined to liave those conveniene-j' which the rising ,|i--triet warranty. Oudc rccenily they Uid , SUUI( , of vaucea before the lion. ,j imil . s Oirroll Minister for Native Affair*, and yesler<»i[ 1% were again making representations to one of Ule member. of «, Cabinet, lion. (.'. f.'owlds, Minion for Education, who was visiting X.-w J'nmoiith.

Mr Okey, A1.11.1t.. inirodu 1 (j„. ,1,. pulalion, ,-oiisisiiug of jM.-ssis 'J'. i'< llughson ami ,\. K, Chapman. schouj, TEAuiEtts uesii;i- .',cj.;.

;t'lie first matter brought under tin Ministers uoli.-e w;w tll , „ n -vaL ie--.1 '''"' lo-lhe 5e11..,, ,sur .., re',;.. deuce, winch was uilcrly inadequate i,-,- " " l '■"li'i'cncnis, and w.,s" fifteen years old. The Education Ji„,,-.l l lai favorably considered th, matter, but tHe iX-pai-tmeiit had refused to grant the necessary money. The add it ions would co-l about £l5O.

Mr Okey mentioned that the population in the district was not likelv to recede.

Kcplying, Mr Fowlds said that i.e was allowed only a certain amount funs Department, When evidence had hi'rn submitted to show that a school wn< actually required he had power lo iimke a grant in anticipation of lh« larliniucntary vote. As far as residences were concerned, his plan was to fin.! out- now much he had been committed to for new schools, and see what wale! t for residences. He presumed that the request in this ease had been le-fu-cd on the ground that the previous year's grants had been expended, and it was deferred pending review of the position. The house was not sullicient or satisfactory for the master of a school of that size. It was very difficult for a Minister of Education to make the money meet all applications, but I.e would look into this matter as soon ahe returned to Wellington, and accede to the request if possible. Messrs (!. Ti-ch, member of the Education Hoard, and Mr ,fas. Sanderson, the Hoard's architect, accompanied ',he deputation. THE POST OFFICE.

The same deputation mentioned the mutter of the need for more suitn.b.'e and commodious Government building--nt Itahotu. At present rent amounting to £62 per year was being paid for cottages for police and post" office business, whilst the Government owned a full acre section in the heart of the township and on the main road, now a detriment to progress on account of its dilapidated buildings. The lessee had only a month to month tenancy,so thve was no inducement to him to place substantial buildings upon it. Sir Joseph Ward, when at Pungnrclw, hud promised to favorably consider the position. The deputation pointed out that the ;Ui2 rent would pay interest on an ,s----penditurc of about £I4OO or £ISOO. Hon. Fowlds promised to lay the request before the two Ministers concerned. There was difficulty, of course, bocause they were endeavoring to camon with a limited amount of borrowing. The rapid growth of settlement brought great demand for roads, and the progress o£ townships entailed the need for expenditure On public buildings. There were other places in the same position as Rahotit, simply because the Government was trying to limit its lion-owing to a million a year. The matter would )>e considered when the. Estimates were framed.