SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 138, 10 July 1909, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS

The Taranaki School Commissioners Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. James Wade (chairman), 11. Fault, C. E. .Major, W. T. Jennings, M.P., aud F. Simpson (Commissioner .of Crown Lands). SALE OF LEASEHOLDS. • The secretary, Mr. F. P. Corkill, laid on the table a schedule showing the result of the sale of the Board's leases by Messrs. L. A. Nolan and Co.

The members expressed their lively satisfaction of the prices obtained, which, as before reported, exceeded the upset rentals by over til) per cent. The chairman said the result of the sale proved two things firstly, that there was still" a good demand for land in Taranaki, and secondly, that the lands now being vested in the Board as education endowments were of a far better class than had formerly been reserved. It was a better class of land than had ever been set aside for this purpose, as far as he knew.

Mr. Simpson said that undoubtedly some of the land about Tatu was of excellent quality. Mr. Jennings, M.P., considered much of the success of the sale was due to the general development of the back country which was now being opened up for settlement. Then there was the fact, also, that the railway from Stratford inland was being pushed on, making the land more desirable. It should be noted, too, that some of the purchasers were men who held adjoining lauds, "back" sections, for which these education reserves gave main road exits and access. It would have paid them to have given even another sixpence an acre rental, for they would -have been put to the expense of fencing had the Board's reserves fallen into the hands of another party.

Mr. Major was inclined to believe that there was an economic force at the back of it all. People were learning at this time of depression that the best place was "on the hjnd," and that they had very little chance of making a competency so long as they clung to the cities.

The secretary reported that a few town allotments aud one or two rural sections remained unleased, and it was decided to await a report upon these from the secretary at next meeting. RENEWALS.

The Board's solicitor reported awards ;n three arbitrations on renewal of leases, each new rental showing very considerable improvement on the previous figures.

TRANSFERS. Transfers were approved as follow: J. Connell to John Morrisscy, section 3, block 14, Pa tea tonvn; J. Zurcher to G. Davidson, section 18, block 15, Huiroa; H. Dennis to Jose and William Hodges', section 1, block 7, Egmont; W. B. Blizzard to Elizabeth ami James Pierce, section 40, hlock (i, Ngaire; W. B. Ireland to Wiliam D. Colson and Charles JI. Colson, section 113, Manganui. The applications of J. W. Burke, M de Lamiay, and W. Milne for permission to sublease were approved FINANCE.

The treasurer reported a credit balance of £935 12s 9d.