REMOVAL OF ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL-ROOM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 256, 4 November 1897, Page 4

REMOVAL OF ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL-ROOM.

We think the application for permission to remove St. Paul's schoolroom from the present site to one in Abercrombie-street is worthy of more favourable consideration than the City Council have given it. The old brick church of St. Paul's was pulled down, in order to facilitate the carrying out of an important city improvement by giving direct access to the sea from Princes-street. This necessitated the erection of a building to act permanently as a schoolroom, but temporarily as a church. Again, when the parishioners of St. Paul's initiated measures for the re-erection of their church on the old site, public opinion arose in strong protest, and as a result of an agitation which ensued, the congregation agrewd to an exchange, which gave the city a valuable and beautiful reserve but removed the site which was obtained by St. Paul's to an incovenient distance from the schoolroom that had been erected at a cost of £1,500. It is now proposed to erect a brick vicarage near the church, which is outside the brick area, and the only suitable site for a schoolroom procurable in the neighbourhood being one in Abercrombie-street, now covered by old dilapidated wooden buildings, permission was asked to pull them down and move the • schoolroom there. Objection has been taken that this site is within the brick area, and although that fact did not prevent the Council from setting aside their by-law more than once in the same locality in favour of private persons the application on behalf of St. Paul's was refused, notwithstanding the strong claim which has been created by the circumstances we have briefly epitomised.

We hope the case will be reconsidered in a more equitable spirit. The request, unlike some which the Council have favourably entertained lately, is not for the erection of a new wooden building, but for the removal of a valuable building, already standing in one central part of the city, to another. Then the pulling down of the old buildings in Abercrombie street and replacing them with a good school will be a great public improvement in every way. It will materially lessen the danger from fire, and the work done in connection with the school wi 11 contribute to the moral and spiritual advancement of a crowded population. If the Council persist in their refusal, the present unsightly buildings will no doubt be patched up, and remain an eyesore to the locality for many years. A petition on the subject is coin ing "before the Council to-night and we hope the Councillors will see their way to grant its prayer.