THE HIGH SCHOOL ENDOWMENT.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3830, 7 April 1881, Page 2

THE HIGH SCHOOL ENDOWMENT.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.)

Siß.—Those liberal miuded fellowcitizens of ours, the Thames High School Governors, have at last told us their terms for the land that has been given them in trust for the benefit of the High School, and the terras are in keeping with the other doings of that body since they have been in existence. Just let intending settlers look at the shameless offer : Land valued at £5 per acre ; the rent will be 7s 6d per acre per annum, or £11 128 6d for the term of the proposed lease. Surely no sane man will try to persuade those who are anxious to make homes for themselves and families that they can do so on those terms. Why, the greatest land sharks in the colony would be ashamed to ask such terms for land," especially of such a quality. Compare the terms with those offered by the Government for the land "on the other side of the river, and some of which ig equally good with that on the endowment. Only £3 per acre, and the payments extending over/a period of ten years^and yet these terms were characterised as monstrous by some of the High i&jhool Governors. Now, they say they intend giving compensation for certain improvements. Will they give intending settlers a guarantee that they will be in a position to pay the compensation? Have they reckoned the cost of the improvements? Suppose 50 acres of orchard is planted, and that all the rest of the land is fenced and put into a crop of some sort; why, it will be worth from £8 to £10 per acre, and will take to pay for those improvements, in round numbers, £20,000 or £30,000. Of course that sum can be easily raised when none of us have it to pay. If the Governors of the High School have the good of the district at heart, they will at once alter their terms, and give fair inducements to the heads of families to settle in the district, which the present terms do not. It is well known that money at present can be had at 7 cent., and even less on good security, and first class land can be had for from £3 to £4 per acre in as favorable situations as the Upper Thames, so it would pay intending settlers to go elsewhere than settle on the High School reserve on the terms offered. But the terms are in keeping with the other liberal offers of this wise board : £50 per head for water, £10 for a license to cut timber, and £1 for every tree over one foot through. I hope that the gentlemen who hare made these liberal terms will not be forgotten when they ask us for our votes one of these days.—l am, &c.^ Snoom;