WAIOTAHI SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1816, 28 October 1874, Page 2

WAIOTAHI SCHOOL COMMITTEE

A meeting of the Committee was held last night in Mr. Power's office. Present —Messrs. Porter, Sims, and O'Haire. As this number formed a quorum, it was decided t© go on with the business before the Committee. .

Mr. O'Haire, being voted to the chair, proceeded to work in the usual manner. A letter was read from Mr. Goodwin, head teacher of the Thames School, requesting that some necessary repairs be done to the school. It was resolved that immediate steps be taken to do this.

An application from Mr. Poulgrain, of Shellback, was also before the committee, requesting the use of the Shellback school for. religious purposes, and also for a tea meeting to be hold therein about Christmas time-

On the motion of Mr. Porter, seconded •by Mr. Sims, it was resolve,d that the request be granted on condition that the usual business of the school would not be interfered with.

A letter from Mr. Campbell of the Punga Flat School was also read, being a reply to a copy of complaint sent to him, which complaint was made to the Committee against his conduct by Mr. Forsman of Punga Mat. The letter contained a complete denial of the charge made against him, and in support of this denial a declaration was attached bearing the signatures of a large number of the children of the school, stating that they never heard the teacher make use of the words attributed to him, namely, that he looked upon "Louisa Forsman (daughter of complainant) as a tkief."

Mr. Porter suggested that a copy of the denial should bo sent to Mr.. Forsnian and that it would be ample satisfaction for him.

The Chairman remarked that ifc might be the better course to let the matter stand over until thWe weuld be a full meeting of Committee, as the matter itself, though trifling in the eyes of some persons, was nevertheless important to those concerned, and therefore it was the more necessary to give the subject the benefit of the consideration of the whole Committee, which course was finally resolved Upon as being perhaps the most advisable one to pursue.

SHOETLAND CEMETERY,

A conference consisting of a Committee of Borough Councillors and members of the Highway Boards in tho district took place at tho- Council Chambers at noon . yesterday. There were present—His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Butt, Eenshawand W. Kowe; Messrs Spencer and D. G. Macdonell of the Parawai Board ; Mr. A. Porter, Waiotahi Board; Messrs Bagnall and Thomas, Kauaeranga Board.,

His Worship the Mayor presided, and in opening the proceedings said the meeting had been convened in pursuance of a resolution arrived at by the Council at last meeting to take into consideration the Shortland Cemetery, the state of the road thereto; the propriety of purchasing more land for increasing the area, and also who should have the spending of the £500 voted by the Government. Mr. Fleming, secretary to'the conference, read the resolution referred to and various correspondence ielating to the matter in question between the Council and the Parawai Board, and the Government, and certain questions agreed to by the Parawai Board.

Mr. Spencer, Chairman of the Parawai Highway Board, thought they had better take the series of questions put by his Board and decide upon them as they proceeded. Mr. Eenshaw said that the piece of land required from Mr. Banks, he understood Irom Mr. Tookey, would be sold at £50 per acre for cemetery purposes, but for no other. It was then, at the time he was in communication with Mr. Tookey, understood that about ten acres would be required. Mr. Benshaw then explained the circumstances attending the first grant of the land from Messrs. Mackay and Taipari, which, he, said, was to certain trustees. The grant had now been altered, and tho deeds were all prepared for conveying the property to the Borough Council. Mr. Eenshaw also referred to the rule 3of the cemetery, and stated that it had not.been found advisable to enforce them, however desirable, because cf the non-completion of the trust. He thought any land purchased should also be vested in the Council.

The Mayor thought the Superintendent's letter should be considered [first, as it comprehended the principal poiuts involved, namely, in whom should the cemetery be vested, and by whom should the road be made and maintained.

Mr. Porter thought it desirable to decide "whether the cemetery area should be enlarged by purchase of more land. He would move " That the cemetery be extended by the purchase of five acres or thereabouts, to be paid for out of the vote of £500 from the Government."

Mr. Bagnall seconded, and l; the motion was carried without dissent.

Mr. D. G. Macdonnell would be happy to propose that the cemetery be vested in tho Borough Council, provided a cemetery committee be appointed, to consist of the Mayor and the chairmen of the Highway Boards.

Mr. Eenshaw would support it if it be made a condition that the fees and dues be spent within the boundaries for the improvement of the cemetery, not on the road leading to the cemetery. The highest fee accruing was half-a-crown. The Mayor said it would be necessary to vest the road to the cemetery as well as the cemetery, to ensure its being kept in repair.

Mr. Macdonnell then proposed " That the present cetnetery and any land to be acquired for its extension be vested in the Borough Council, and that a Committee of management, to consist of the Mayor and the Chairmen of the Highway Boards, be appointed." Mr. Bagnall seconded.

Mr. Eowe didn't think the Council would be fairly represented on such Committee.

The proposition was amended, after some conversation, in that part of it referring to the Committee of Management, which it was decided should consist of the Mayor and two <ither members of the Council, and one member from each of the Highway Boards, and carried.

With regard to the expenditure of the money for making the road, some discussion ensued. It was decided to request that the expenditure of the money be undertaken by the Provincial Government, and that the money be spent on that part, of the road between the Hape Hotel and the entrance to the cemetery—on the motion of Mr. Spencer, seconded by Mr. Eenshaw. The motion was carried.

As to who should maintain the road when made was left an open question, further than that the maintenance would be undertaken by the whole of the district on a basis to be hereafter agreed upon, aided by sudsidies which may from time to time be granted by the Provincial Government. This was proposed by Mr. Bagnall, seconded by Mr. Kenshaw, and carried.

The meeting then terminated.