The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1889 Education Board building Grants

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3334, 14 October 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1889 Education Board building Grants

A couple of years ago the Wellington Education Board agreed to expend a sum of 1500 in tho erection of a second school at the north end of Masterton, and arrangements for a site were all but concluded, when it was discovered that the Government grant-in-aid was to. be materially reduced, and we were given to understand that the performance of the pledge given to this town was an impossibility. Masterton accepted the position, and oa the plea of' poverty consented not to press the Board to redeem its promise It was felt that the excuse made for the suspension of tho grant was a reasonable ono, and wo were contented to remain out in the cold. To our surprise, howover, we find that although it is a financial impossibility for the Board to erect a £SOO school in Masterton, it is a financial possibility for it to construct a £5,000 school in

Wellington. It is truo thi

£5,000 structure is to be financed by special arrangement, but then it is equally easy to finance the Masterton £SOO school by special arrangement; far easier, indeed, we have reason to believe, Wg have not a word to say against tho £5,000 school of Design for Wellington; it is a desirable expenditure, but then our own second school is equally desirable, If the Board can see its way clear to construct ( the former, we offer no objection, but we certainly consider that Masterton has a prior claim for its £SOO vote. No doubt it will bo pointed out that the present School Committee as well as the public in this town have been apathetic and allowed tho claim to sleep, but wo trust that the £5,000 vote for Wellington will wake up the local body to a sense of its responsibilities. Masterton, too, is unfortunate in having no direct representative at the Board, We can depend upon the good offices of Messrs Duchanan and Bunny, but these members of the Board have their attention pretty well monopolised by the school retirements of Wairarapa South. We miss Mr 6, Beetlianij who in the past has worked so assiduously at the Board to promote our interests, and hope soon to see him back at his post. In Wairarapa North, settlers are at so great a distance from Wellington that even hadMrG. Beetham resigned hiofjejitit would have been difficult to have fopnd a suitable local resident who would jiavij been willing to attend the monthly meetings at Wellington, \\o are too fir from the spat of administration- and "it i? ' our late to havo our fegsts more or less neglected. However thj may be, we trust the Masterton School Committee will again remind tho Board, of its old pledge to expend £SOO in tho erection of a second school in this town. Perhaps that body may admit the ckirn and take steps to satisfy it. Should it not do so it would then bp well for the inhabitants of this town l# consider what steps should be taken to protect their interests,