GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOARDING-HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 34, 9 February 1903, Page 6

GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOARDING-HOUSE.

■ • MATTER DEFERRED. The question of eonflrniimr the resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Grammar Sehpol Board deciding to acquire Mr Ilesketh's property at Newmarket for a boarding school came up at a pv-etltur of (lie !'oar;fl on Friday afternoon. Sir Maurice O'Rorke presided, and thete were also present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. Kidd). Dr. Roberton, Professor Thomas, and Messrs L. J. Bagnall aud S. Luke. The chairman pointed out that several members wore not: present—Messrs Tole. Farrell, Jennings, and Professor Brown. The business before the meeting was the formal confirmation of the resolution passed at the last meeting In answer to Mr Kidd, the chairman said au amendment could be proposed. They could vote against the resolution and dispose of It for ever. The only question would ho the consideration of the absent members. Mr Luke said the question was whether it was advisable to adjourn the matter. lie moved that tho mutter be deferred until the March meeting of the Board, so that they might endeavour to secure the attendance of the other members. Dr. Roberton said it was extremely unfortunate that the majority had been so narrow, and that an opportunity had not been given for carrying the matter further and not putting lt off. Six years ago the question of establishing n boardinghousc in Wynyard-street was proposed, and the matter was deferred until the return of members from Wellington, when it was negatived. On a subsequent oocasioti a proposal was again negatived, He thought that .if the Board made a -determined attempt to select a site, they lnijrht drop their differences and asrree to a site. It was a scandal to the Board that the matter had been deferred for so many years. They were so divided that it : showed that they had not laid down gener.al lines for the selection of a site, and he thought that if they set 'to work to lay | down general lines and to go loyally by j tliese-lines they would have no difficulty iii I coming to a selection. Some houses had I been rejected because it was said that the j Board intended building a boardinghouse, • and now they had a resolution adoptiug a j site with a house already upon it. He i would support the adjournment If it would I help them to adopt a site. Mr Kidd said he would not agree to an ; adjournment, because he did not think the : result would be a good one. Those who | were away fully aware of their re-' i sponsiblljty in the matter. Members had i come there time after time to discuss the i matter, and it was not fair either to them ;or to the property owners. Mr Luke said he proposed his motion to I secure the attendance of al! the members. j M.r Bagnall pointed out.that at the last meeting Mr Luke opposed an adjournment. The motion to adjourn was then put, the chairman, Mr Luke, and Dr. Roberton voting fo,- It. and Professor Thomas, the May- ; or. and Mr HagnalL opposing it. : The chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the resolution, which -was accordingly carried. In doing so he said the matter had been considered for a whole peuevation, and it would not. matter much if if were deferred for another month. Professor Thomas mentioned that lit- had stopped in Auckland a week longer than he had intended in order to it;tend the meeting. The Board adjourned until March 20.