PUKEKOHE WEST SCHOOL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 159, 7 July 1899, Page 2

PUKEKOHE WEST SCHOOL.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln the pnWlshed report of a recent meeting of the Education Board, there appears a paragraph under the title "Pukekohe West," which apparently casts a grave reflection on the local committee. The architects report states that the school porch is untidy, and the closets and urinal are in a dirty state, and that the lack of interest taken by the committee Is disheartening. ■ The report has caused some surprise in Pukekohe and no little indignation. The fact is the wall, floors, and benches inside the closets are perfectly clean, and the ttrinal is also kept clean and inoffensive. The buildings are*certainly old and somewhat dilapidated, but, as I shall explain, the committee can take no blame for that. The offenslveness of the closets is caused by the faulty construction of the buildings. With regard to the state of the porch, there is no doubt it is a most dingy and depressing place. The walls are brown with age, and many of the hat-pegs are within a couple of feet of the floor; but that its untidiness is in any way caused by neglect on the part of the committee or teachers I am In a position to emphatically deny. Further, the architects report that the water is quite good. Certainly at the present time it* is not bad, although even now it has a noticeable flavour. At the time the committee complained of the bad water it was really not fit for human consumption, and it should not be reported as pure because now, after thousands of gallons of the fresh winter rains have passed through the tanks, the impurities have been temporarily washed out.

To remedy the existing defects, to replace the rotten shingle roof, to relieve the dinginess of the class-rooms, to spread a sufficient quantity of scoria around the buildings, and to do other necessary work would cost about £100. The committee receives an annual grant of about £22, out of which they have to pay sweeper's wages (£ls), and to supply stationery and fuel for the school, as well as to pay for many occasional pieces of work which must be done. How, then, can they be expected to take in hand such expensive undertakings as the architects agree should be done? They have more than once made application to the Board to have the matter attended to, but in vain. When at last the Board have sent their architect to report, and the work is seen to be really necessary, the blame is very unfairly cast upon the committee. I cannot allow such injustice to pass without a protest—l am, etc./

W. A. MANN, Member and ex-Chairman of the Pukekone .West School Committee.