DEPUTATIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 293, 11 September 1873, Page 5

DEPUTATIONS.

Advantage was taken of the visit to Lawrence of certain members of the Provincial Executive to obtain information on various points affecting the welfare of several of the institutions of the town. TUAPEKA ATHBN.SUM. On Friday morning Messrs. Squireß and Ferguson waited upon Dr. Webster and Mr. Bastings,' "at the Commercial Hotel, with reference to the endowment for the .Tuapeka Athenaeum which had been set apart for the benefit of that institution some eighteen months or two years ago. Mr. Ferguson stated that at present the endowment was no better than a dead letter to the institution, as the 500 acres were on the Bellamy run, which was still in the hands of the lessee ; and the Committee were desirous of having the endowment placed In such a position that they could obtain a revenue from it. If the 500 acres would not be included in the Bellamy Hundred, which the Government had decided upon having declared, the deputation wished to know if a similar area of land could be substituted for it in the hundred. Mr. Bastings said, as the endowment was granted by the vote of the Council, he was afraid the substitution of other land could only be made in a similar manner. He would, however, strongly advise the Athenaeum Committee, as they did not specially require it at present for revenue purposes, to retain the present endowment, as ifc would become daily of increasing value. The deputation, after returning thanks for the audience they had received, retired. RETAINING WALL AT BACK OP ROSS PLACE. Messrs Mears, Jeffery, Williams, and Hay next waited upon Mr. Bastings and Dr« Webster with reference to the building of a retaining wall in the Wetherstones Creek, and the reclamation of land thereby. Mr. Bastings said the Government had considered the matter, which had previously been submitted to them, and were quite agreeable to carry out the wishes of those concerned, Mr. Mears remarked that the residents in Ross Place had thought the present ' would be a very fitting time to point out to the Government what was really required. Dr. Webster Baid he quite understood what was required, and it seemed to him very reasonable, Mr. Bastings apprehended that what they wanted was the fee simple of the land. The Government would be quite willing to give the land, so long as the residents entered into a bond to perform the work. Mr. Mears said he might state that all the residents were at one in the matter. Mr. Bastings said the Government had no power to give away the land, excepting for public purposes ; but it could be sold to the residents, and the Government could recoup the amount. The deputation retired. MARKET RESERVE. Mr. Mears and Mr. L. C. Holmes, j Town Clerk, on behalf of the Town Council, waited upon Messrs. Bastings and Webster the same morning with reference to the Market Reserve. Mr. Mears submitted that the reserve set apart for a market was so far removed from the business portiou of the town as to be practically useless. The Council wished the Government to make an exchange of sections, and he thought- part of the land on the Beaumont Road would be very suitable for a market plaoe. The present market reserve, Mr. Mears thought, would be an excellent site for the school buildings, which he supposed would require to be removed when the i railway was constructed. Mr. Bastings said he thought the Government would have no objection to the exchange, although he imagined the land on the Beaumont Road referred te would be too valuable for the purpose of a market. Mr. Holmes reminded Mr. Bastings that the land on the Beaumont road had already been granted to the Corporation. The deputation, after thanking the members of the Government, withdrew. LAWRENCE GRAMMAR SCHOOL. The Rev. Mr. Menzies and Mr. Harrop waited upon Mr. Bastings and Dr. Webster with reference to increased school accommodation. Mr. Menaies said the School Committee had written to tho Government some time ago regarding the matter of increased school accommodation, but they had thought, as several members of the Executive were in Lawrence, it would be well to wait upon them, on the subject. He submitted that an additional class-room was absolutely necessary. Mr. Bastings said they had anticipated the wants, of the Committee. Dr. Webster and himself had been down seeing the school that morning. The Government, he said, were quite alive to the fact that increased accommodation was required* No doubt their case was had,

but he could assure them that it was not so bad as many others that had been brought under the attention of the Government. It is the intention of the Government to borrow £20,000 for the pnrpose of meeting the wants of the Education Department ; but, independent of that, £20,000 had been voted by the Provincial Council, and as soon as the Superintendent returned from Wellington some action would be taken. He thought it would be folly to lay out much money at present on the Lawrence, school building, as in a Bhort time, when the railway was formed, the building would require to be removed. A deputation from the 1 Council had referred to this matter, and suggested the present market reserve at the top of Peel-street as a very suitable site for the school. He (Mr. Bastings) thought the exchange would be a good one. Mr. Menzies said the Oommittse were quite agreeable to put up with a little inconvenience so long as they saw an early prospect of something being done ; but to show the case was one of importance, he might mention the Committee had been j endeavoring to rent the Athenaeum, the want of accommodation was so pressing. Mr. Bastings said the Government intended looking at least seven years before them, and not only erecting large but substantial school buildings wherever they were needed. Mr. Harrop believed the present school t ßite, if sold, would realise more than would recoup the Government for any outlay the School Committee required. Mr. Bastings repeated that the Government were fully alive to the interests of the institution, and said as soon as his Honor the Superintendent returned from Wellington some action would be taken. Dr. Webster said the reason they wished to wait for the Superintendent was owing to his having been a member of the Education Board for such a length of time. The deputation thanked the members, and retired.