MASTERTON TOWN LAND TRUST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1705, 7 June 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON TOWN LAND TRUST.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Trust was held last evening, Present—Messrs Hare (Chairman), Muir McCanlle, and .Gapper. The mjnutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Also the -minutes of a special meeting of-the committee re. conditions for building leases. | ' The secretary reported that lie had paid a visit to Greytown and found that / the- Trust there were under a misnpprehension us the balance claimed by the Masterton Trust, and .that it was admitted, that their state-; ment of accounts was accurate.

The Chairman, speaking to the question of in vesting the., money to be received froiii the Greytown Trust, expressed an ; opinion that if; they bought men land at the present time they could not let it, and that it would be better, to put it out at interest, Mr : Gapper recommended inviting tenders for a mortgage , for seven years. They had now a lot of land in i hand which they, could do nothing with." Mr McOardle inquired whether they could legally: invest the money on iM'tgujre Hoquestionecl.tpo whether, it was desirable to invite tenders- for the money, ■ The Clerk "said the Act empowered them to invest the money in esti'e. j r: Mr Muir did not t'link they had any ; alternative but to invest the money in real estate. He thought ,a pledge to that effect had been given to the public. Tho Chiiinirm said this had been suggested but"never submitted to the public. Mr Gapper said a guarantee had been given that the principal should be reinvested. As long as the principal remained intact, he considered the act would be complied with.

Mi' McCardle remembered that Mr Senull strongly advocated that this money should, be reinvested in land, He would not be a party to lending it out on mortgage without the opinion 01 a solicitor.

The Chairman said they could pass a resolution lo invest the money subject to the opinion of their solicitor.

Mr McGWlle moved that the further consideration of the matter be leftover till next meeting to give those members I who were absent an opportunity of expressing their opinion. He believed that Mr [lonall consented to die bill being patsed on the understanding that the money should be invested in'the purchase of land. [t was resolved that the question stand over ti'l next meoting, and in the hterini a legal opinion should be obtained, Tho Chairman suggested that they should put the money out at interest in the. meanwhile. Mr ilicJanllii asked if they could get interest for a month. They had not yet received the money. ■

SCHOOL DEPUTATION, Messrs Boddington and Lowes then waited upon the Trustees to ask for a grant in aid of the school funds, ; Mr Doddington stated that' before taking steps lo apply to the Trust the question had been relegated to a subcommittee, which had fully considered it. He pointed out to the Trust that within the last year ur two the school had come to the front, and that at the present ti'-ne it held « premier place in the provincial district They had lately established high classes in connection with it, and some of their pupils had ; recently competed for•scholarships and succeeded in carrying off one, In their candidature, their pupils found themselves at a disadvantage with Wellington pupils on science papers, as they had not in Masterton the scientific apparati which was was available iu the. Wellington schools. Last year the Trust gave them £SO, which had been a valuable help to the school. They desired a similar grant this year to enable them to procure scientific apparati, to increase their small school library, and to provide a proper book case for it, Their playground, too, required attention, and tliey proposed providing tho children with gymnastic appliances in it, They also wished to promote the sewing classes. Last year the sewing o£ the children, owing to the assistance they h id received from the Trust, had obtained very high commendation, Mr Lowes, in supporting tiis application, said that undoubtedly the Masterton school should be furnished with everything necessary to enable their pupils to compete with other schools. Without being in this position their school had acquitted'itself well in recent competitions, and with it they might expect it to take a still higher place, lie felt sure that the application would be aa<e in the hands of the Trustees. The Chairman: Is the whole sum. of £SO immediately required] \ Mr Boddington replied that half of the . grant could stand ovel' for six months, He pointed out also that the higher classes which had been established had been now working for Bix months and shewed good results, without impairing in.any way the primary classes.

Mr Gapper said he noticed in the Daily that it was proposed to divide the grant into three sums, and that one portion was to be spent in clothing the cadets, ; Mr Eoddington replied that they were making the application on general grounds, The jaost important matter they considered, to be the scientific apparati and the school library. The Chairman said they would give the applicßtion their best consideration, , ■

, The deputation thanked the Committee and withdrew,..

Cr McCardle said he need hardly mention that the intention o£ the founders of the Trust: was to promote education, Circumstances had, however, altered the position of the Trust in this respect, as the State had taken charge of primary schools, It must be a source of . satisfaction to them ' that they possessed one of the best-appointed schools in the North Island, He had' looked forward to the time , when the i Masterton:School would''assist to make the; town, In tho Old. Country.. instances could .ba cited of-, towns .which had been made by their educational

a there. but these idea^B^JMHHHHP^^ 1 ? selves to his miad before/fwßHff he was a candidate for a seat mr the .Trust, ho had enunciated them., Their primary education was provided for by the 5 State, but. they required this to be supplemented by higher classes. He felt that they would be carrying out the intention of, the founders] of the Trust by taking steps in this-direction, and he moved that the request be granted.; j Mr Muir: Has the Trust always given £501; -'\[y] The Chairman: We generally give it them when they ask for it ! i Mr Gapper seconded the motion pro forma, but .thought the grant was mainly. for .the upper, classes. Probably £45 would be spent on the upper classes and £5 on the primary school, That "was. liis idea for putting .the question .$o the Chairman re clothing the cadets.'-He thought the cost of education would sopn -fall;uptm the people. again! He, considered, their children were being too highly educated to go between the : handles of a plough or subdue a wilderness. He .himself-had not had the advantages of being educated, and had felt the want r of it, but he would; rather his fellow ; . colonists wero more of his own:rough and ready style than be educated above their work.. He thought tliey should, have some further data before voting a sum of £SO away, ! Mr Muir thought with Mr Gapper 9 that the sum should not be devoted i. almost exclusively to the higher classes, . He understood that even, the library . would be confined to those classes. He ; ■ approved of a grant for the playground. He moved as an amendment that the ■ matter staud over for further infoima--3 tion.

Mr Gapper seconded the motion. He supported ; a vote for books pro' vided that school library was available for all the classes in the school. • Mr Mct'ardle iu speaking to the amendment pointed put .that the younger children were supplied by the State with all their requirements'. He did hot consider it was thnir duty to do the work of the Sate, but to give them I aid where the State stopped short. He | held that education did not unfit men

for manual work. A laboring man should be valued for his knowledge. Young men crowded after clerkships through hot boing. educated to a sufficiently high pitch. In Masterton

one of their most promising children who gained a scholarship was unable to take it up because there was no high school in the town. A poor man's child gaining a scholarship was unable to lipid it without a local high ijchool. He believed the people valued their present education system, aud would not allow it to be materially sliced. Their duty was to uie tho funds of the Trust to enable their children to obtain higher education. It was Masterton they must assist, not the colony. ■ The amendment was carried on tho voices.

It was resolved—That ten per cent, of the gross income of the Trust be set apart as ut sinking fund, to meet any claims arising under the compensation clauses, The meeting then adjourned,