THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3842, 22 April 1881, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1881.

Dubinq the last session of Parliament, at the time the vote for education was before the Hous"e, it was suggested that the Govorntnent should consolidate all the reserves set apart for educational purposes in the colony, and the revenue received from such should be used for the general purposes of education. This idea was anything but consoling to the Boards of Education. The desirability of steps being at once taken to realise upon such endowments was pointed out by some of the Commissioners, before the day arrived when Government would be compelled to adopt the suggestion. In Otago the number of school reserves is very large, and the revenue already derived from some of them is very considerable, enabling the Boards to build large establishments and to provide for all their requirements. It is to the foresight in former years of the Provincial Legislature that Qtago is indebted for their exceptional position. That the hints thrown out in Parliament have not been forgotten by the people of Otago would appear from the fact stated in a telegram from Dunedin, that at a late meeting of the Land Board it was mentioned that there was a scheme on foot by the Education Commissioners for the sale of their large education reserves, with the object of funding the proceeds for education purposes. It is plainly the opinion of the Otago Commissioners that the day is not far distant when the power to deal injsucli a manner with the reserves may be taken out of their hands, and so they intend making the best use of their oppportunity. Might not the hint be of advantage to the commissioners or trustees of education endowments in this part of the colony. The High School Governors should give the matter consideration, and instead of attempting to get exorbitant rentals for 'their land at Te Aroha, sell it on favorable terms, and secure the money while they have the power to so deal with the property. We are well aware that the proceeds of such sale would by the High -Schools Reserves Act have to be reinvested in other lands or in the stock, bonds, bills, or debentures of the Government of the Colony; yet in either of the modes mentioned money would be likely out of the power of the supreme legislature to lay forcible hands upon it. This advice may not savour of the highest morality, but in these days such passes muster, and bespeaks a little of that worldly wisdom that is considered so desirable. Otago has, before this, by the exercise of a little foresight, gained many advantages at the expense of the colony at large; as, for instance, the policy followed by the Provincial Legislature when abolition could be no longer averted, in entering into contracts for large public works and incurring debts, &c, all of which were taken over as " provincial liabilities" and paid for by the colony. Auckland was too honest; the then Superintendent would not lend himself to such a policy; yet to day Otago is reaping the advantages from the action«of her last Provincial Council, while Auckland is pooiyand has only a good name for innocence and honesty. However, the course about being adopted by the Commissioners of Education in Otago in offering large school reserves for sale is worthy the consideration of the trustees, governors, commissioners, or I by what other name these gentlemen are known, at present administering school reserves and endowments in the provincial district of Auckland.