SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 172, 11 July 1908, Page 4

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

The Taranaki School Conuuissione s met yesterday. There were present: .Messrs. ,1. Wade (chairman), F. Simpson (Commissioner of Crown Lands), and 11. Faull. Leave of absence was granted to .Messrs. Major and Jennings. M.'sP. AKHEAUS OK Kr.XT. Upon the reading of the minutes, containing reference to the auditors re. port, Mr. Simpson said lie did not Hunk that the arrears of rent were unduly large, though there were more last year than in the previous year. lie thought that, in view of tile very prosperous limes now being experienced, T was incumbent on the Hoard to keep the rents as close as possible. Mr Faull thought the secretary could hardly do more in this direction man

lie was doing. Mr. Simpson reiterated the necessiiv for keeping the rents paid up now. If they were allowed to sag behind wiu'ii things were prosperous I hey would have no end of trouble in duller day.-. The chairman asked if .Mr. Simpson could suggest any improvement. The Hoard had had some tenants with peculiarities (names mentioned), and it lind seemed just us well lo wait for rents ill tho-e cases as to sue and re-enter. If tlie Audit Department wanted the Hoard to sue immediately rents became 1 overdue, and thus render it obnoxious to the tenants, lie for one would oppose doing anything of the kind. Just now tiie Board had a splendid set of tenants, and most of the arrears shown on the. list were only a month or two overdue. The rents were payable in advance, of course, and the "arrears were sometimes only a day or Iwu late. The secretary said that Hie Hoard's rents amounted to something like £4OOO a year. At December 31st'hist the arrears were abcut -C3III' iimrt than nt the same time ill the previous year. During the iirst six weeks ol this yeai'dUOO of overdue money rami in. That might just as easily havt conic in during the previous six weeks and then there would have been ill complaint.

ROAD DEVIATIONS. Willi reference to the proposed deviation of the Kohuratahi road through sections 12, 13, and 14, block 15, Puu< atu, ill'. Simpson reported that the deviation would improve road access to the Hoard's reserve as well as the surrounding property. There would be a slight loss of area, but on the whole he would not object to the deviation.

The District Road Engineer wrote with reference to the proposed deviation of the Tangahoe Valley road through section 1, block 1, Opaku, which would increase the area of the education reserve by about I<4 acres. Access to the adjoining stock track would be closed, but the reserve would have still about 150 chains of frontage. The Board decided to give its coiitcai to the deviations, spbject to satisfactory arrangements being made with its tenants.

"THIRDS." 31 r. E. Mossman,-who had applied to take up a reserve, wrote that -he had noticed from a spceca by the Hon. Minister for Lands that there was some chance of the conditions of education leases being improved by being put on the same footing as Crown hy the allocating of ■•thirds"' of revenue for disbursement by the local bodies in reading, etc. lie asked that in draw'il'.g, the lease the Board should guarantee to him any advantage that might accrue to education reserve lessees under anv such amendment ot the law. The chairman said the Hoard hid no power to deal with the matter. If a law were passed compelling the selling aside of "thirds." this tenant would, of course, get the benefit. The secretary remarked that no sucn legislation would ever be passed. The applicant will be informed that the Board has no power to comply with his request.

PATEA. The secretary haying visited the section and cottage in Paten, formerly occupied by a tenant ami surrendered by him, reported that the building, once a pretty cottage, was in bad condition, but he thought it would pity to have it repaired so that it could be let. He suggested obtaining an estimate of the cost of putting it in order. This course was adopted, the chairman being given power to accept a reasonable price in the interim. AX UNSATISFACTORY REPORT. Mr. Marchanl reported very unfavorably upon the slate of the reserve on the Manganui town belt, in the Te Arai district. There was no one in charge of it, and gorse and blackberry were over-running the place,—lt was decided to take immediate steps .to have the conditions complied wilh. The matter of the leasehold of .1. A. Carr, at Egniont Milage, was referred to by the secretary. He said the lessee was recently made bankrupt, but the JJ.O.A. disclaimed this lease. There was a mortgage. The chairman suggested that the Board's solicitors he "written to. .Mr. Simpson: What will it cost-all this writing and so on I The secretary: J couldn't sl ty. Mr. Simpson thought that, after all these years, the secretary ought to b' able to advise the Board in such a matter, and the Board could deal with-the matter right away. The secretary taid there was no precedent. He knew of no sjmilar case having been before the Board. The matter was referred to the chairman, with; power to act. RANGER'S REPORT. Mr. G. A. Marj-hant, ranger, reported that the Manilla town reserves were in good order. He had taken 1 steps to hii re the lease known as Ryan's, Jvapuni, cleaned up, as promised hy S. Head, the sub-lessee. With regard to part section 22, block 15, Kaupokonui, now temporarily held by the executors in the estate of the late T. L. .foil, he made certain recommendations.—The ranger will be asked to report as to value. -.., APPLICATION F'OR RESERVE. The application of F. Mossman to take up section 4, block 7. Ohura, 1031) acres, at 8d an acre, for 30 years, was granted. Tit AN SEEKS. 11. Melveau was granted permission to transfer section 57, block 1. Ngaire. to J. R. Henderson. RENEWAL. W. .1. Lile, of Inglewood, wrote agreeing to Mr. (I. Ma reliant acting as sole arbitrator in connection tvilli Ule renewal of his lease. SUB-LEASE. The chairman's action was approved in granting sub-lease of part section IDS, block •>. Ngaire, t,o J. F. Bevins. AU.'O. ..i*. Account- amounting to £:il 10s (id were passed for payment, and the Hoard rose.