The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 874, 14 October 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times. AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1871.

A meeting ot the ratepayers of the Educational District of Westport is called for Sat unlay next, for the purpose of electing a local Educational Committee. This course has been rendered necessary by reason of the joint resignalion of the Committee prior to the expiration ot the year terminating the ! r tenure of office. The grounds upon which the Committee: felt it necessary to resign are very; explicitly stated in a letter, dated j September 18th, addressed by their Secretary to the Central Board of Education in Nelson. The immediate cause of dissension between the Local Committee and the Central Board arose out of the refusal of the latter to place the Committee in possession of section No. I, Palmerston street, and to furnish a sum of £SO or £6O for the purpose of clearing and draining the section prior to building school premises. Early in July last the Committee strongly represented the necessity of making early provision for a contingency that at any moment was likely to occur from the encroachment of the sea. To this Mr Hodgson replied, stating that the Board declined to accede to the Committee's proposals, and showed that the finances of the Board would not admit of any grant for the purpose required during the current financial year. Out of an income of £7,200, being the amount of the Provincial grant, and £2BB received from rents, the liabilities were : —Salaries, £6,400 ; fuel, repairs, &c, £325; rent of schools, £153; books and maps. £2OO, leaving £4lO available for additions and new buildings. The Board authorised the Committee to rent new premises, if required, but urged the uncertainty as to how far the sea encroachment would extend as an additional reason that it would be premature to fix on a site for a new school. Previous to this correspondence the Central Board had been apprised of the fact that the Committee were unable to rent premises suitable for a school, so that in the event of the existing school building being swept away, it would be impossible to have erected new premises quickly for the reception of the scholars. The grounds on which the local Committee based their claim for the consideration of the Board, and the refusal of which induced their resignation, are as follows •

1. " That in point of number of scholars in attendance, the Westport school ranks sixth on the list of Provincial schools." 2. M That the West Coast portion of the Province contributes no less than two-thirds of a total revenue of £87,700." •3. «That of £7,200 granted the Board by the Council for educational purposes throughout the Province, a sum of about £9OG only has been expended on the Co.ist." 4. " That Westport, the chief town of the West. Coast portion of the Provimce notwithstanding repeated applications, and constant representations of the urgent necessity of erecting school buildings, is at this moment without any suitable school-room, that can be called Government property, while the town ot Nelson is provided with four schools, and a wellfound college." 5. '• That the destruction by sea of the school buildings erected in 1868, was to a great extent due to the supineness or irresolution of the Central Board of Education, in not having taken steps to prevent them by removal, when so small a sum as £2O would have effected that object. Although repeatedly communicated with and warned of the certainty of destruction in case of delay, the Board took no action." 6. " That on the destruction of the buildings, the expedient of

renting premises was resorted to on the understanding that the Central Board would erect suitable accommodation during the ensuing year," 7. "That in the year 1870, the Committee applied to bo provided with proper school premises, when the application was refused on the ground that the Board had not sufficient funds for the work." 8. " That while a hope was entertained of the Board making some provision for school buildings at Westport in 1871, such hope has not been fulfilled, although the Local Committee acting under the pressure of the most urgent curcumstauees impressed upon the Board the necessity of complying with their request."

It will be thus seen that the Local Committee tendered their resignation upon no light grounds. Their resignation whs accepted by the Central Board without comment, but on the 6th instant, the Secretary of the Board intimated to the late Committee that the Board regretted the difficulty which had arisen. The opinion was also expressed that it was inexpedient to rent school-rooms from the masters and a promise was conveyed that at the earliest opportunity steps should be taken to removo the Westport school from the master's house, the Board providing without delay a suitable schoolroom for Westport by building or otherwise. The spirited action of the late Committee in refusing longer to submit to the degradation of tbeir repeatedly urged and moderate requests being from vear to year rejected, has resulted in the implied admission that the Board had failed in its duties in regard to the Westport Educational District. In freely expressing regretforpast deficiencies, and promising early reparation, the Board evidently desire to conciliate any feeling of dissatisfaction for previous neglect. Whether'their present promises like those made in the past are only given to be broken, can only be ascertained by their future action ; but, in any case the action of the late Committee will have been the means of securing for those following them the respect and consideration that are due to their office.