NEW SCHOOLS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 49, 30 November 1909, Page 5

NEW SCHOOLS.

At last week's meeting of,, the Education Board two applications for new schools _ in the Clutha district were dealt with.

POUNAWEA. Jnspector Don reported on the application for the establishment of a new school at J'ounawea. A new school I here, Ik- said, would be attended by from 20 to 25 children, but Poimawea was only three miles from Owalm by a good road, and as a school at J'ounawea woidd reduce the attendance at Owaka School by about II children, he recommended that provision be made for conveying the I'ounawea children to the' Owalui School. As several of the children were over 10 years of age, and vet resided within the four miles limit, the department might well be asked whether, seeing that three miles of a Catlins load were (juite equal to four miles elsewhere, children above 1() years of age might be paid for by the department, though they were conveyed only three miles,

Mr F niser said he was not- satisfied with the report, valuable as it was. lie thoii[)'ht a committee should be sot up to \isit the district, and inquiro thoroughly into the position. Mr .Mekerrow said he understood that though the new seiiool would be only three miles from Owaka, it number of children had considerably more than four miles to travel. Mr Fleming was of opinion that the claims )or a school here could not be ic.-.isted. Of, tin- '25 or 2(> children now in the district, two went to Ratanui, a distance of live miles, and 9to Owaka, one of whom had 2.1 miles to walk, and eight over 3 miles, lie did not tniiiiv the Owaka School would be effected, or that the committee there would object : indeed, the piobabilit.y was that the attendance at the Owaka would increase very considerably in the heir future. It was not a ease where driving the children to school would be satisfactory,

Ihe Chairman agreed that a committee of the Board should visit tho district and report, Mr I'rascr moved—''That a committee, consisting of Messrs Mitchell, Snow, ami Horning, and the Roy. P. B. Praser lie appointed to visit Pounauea and report."—Seconded by Mr Fleming, and carried. WHARKTOA. Inspector _ Richardson reported on the application for the establishment of a school at Wharetoa_ (.Central ' I)<h,'\alei. He was of opinion that Ihe district was permanently settled, and that in the near future it wouTd be more closely settled. Ho favoured the establishment of a school on a site favoured by the majority of the applicants, which was in a central position, and he recommended accordingly. lie thought tin! Hoard should secure the sight offered by Messrs Overton, and erect (Hereon a building to accommodate about 2D pupils. it was stated thai this school was about tfevon miles from Clydovnhs, and would not interfere with any existing The price asked for the land "as £5 10/ an acre, and tho opinion was expressed thai the site might- bo given iree.

Mr Fleming mo vod—*'Tl 1;1 (, a sc hool >o established ;i t Wharetoa ; that the I.'Hk] suggested ;,S a K { te j M |)oU}r[lt,. ami that application be made to'the department for the necessary funds tor the erection of the building." - Agreed to. b