WANTED A SCHOOL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 11

WANTED A SCHOOL.

ANXIOUS VOGELTOWN. DEPUTATION TO THE EDUCATION . BOARD. A deputation representative oj the Vogcltown - Ratepayers' Association, and introduced by .Mr. K. A. Wright, jM.I'., and Jlr. .T. I'. Luke, L'., waited upon the. Wellington. Education Hoard at its meeting yesterday, with reference to the educational needs of the district. Mr. ■ -Wright, who was tlio principal ppealce. l , explained that the deputation consisted not only of ratepayers, hut also of parents interested. 'Ihey understood that tho hoard was about to provide 11 .new school on a site on the Morningtoii Estate. It was respectfully urged that this site was a. most unsatisfactory one from tho point of view of the general conveuienco of the district. There were at least 1!>0 children in Vogcltown; some of them went to the Berlianipore School, some to the iiiddiford Street School, and others to tlio Brooklyn School. The schools at liiddiford Street and Berharapore were already'fully taxed as regarded accommodation. Tlio deputation submitted that if the new .Vogcltown School were erected on the old site, the district would be materially benefited. It would be within convenient distance of tils homes in wet weather. Tho speaker pointed out that on two occasions tho Brooklyn School had had to be closed at one p.m. during bad weather, as the parents would not expose their children to tho risk of a wetting. This was a distinct hardship to Vogeltown.- There was no doubt that the district was going ahead, and it was quite the-bounds of possibility that "with., the growth of the population in the comparatively near fdture that tho board would have to provide a school on tho Mornington Estate (which covered 130 acres), as well. Mr.- Wright concluded with a request for an investigation of the merits of his contentions. Mr. ,T. P. Luke supported the previous speaker. The available land for residential purposes was extensive enough to warrant the expectation of a large'population in the future, and tlio erection of a school on.the. old. site at Yogeltown would, not, he considered, prejudice the interests of a school', at Mornington, when tho time arrived for. that additional institution. Tho .latter school'would derive a large measure of support from the Presbyterian Orphanage -near, by. . fie prognosticated the .extension .of the Brooklyn car liile to Island Bay., : . • ,Mr. Hewitt pointed out . that there were 80 names on the west side of the district, and, of these, only three- went to Brooklyn. Mr./.Tackson said that he had raised his children in tho district,-and had often got into trouble over their absences from school, during spells of bad' weather. The chairman of the board, (Mr. R. Lee), replying, to the deputation, pointed out that the board's metier was to make .the best possible provision for education both from. the point' of view of present needs ; and future, requirements. To those who we're advocatirig l tho merits of the old site, he . pointed out that the distance from thpre. to the .Brooklyn School was under a. mile-—72 chains, in fact. ITo . did not-think'a moderate distance should bo an insurmountable bar to the children, tt did them good. "In fine weather," interpolated Mr. Wright; in qualification. . Continuing, Mr. Lee explained that there were now PfO children attending the Brooklyn School, which had now reached the maximum establishment approved by the board for the.'.size of' a' school. The Berhainpore (South Wellington) School was also fairly: full, ; and. it'. seenicd to him that 'the! site of a new school hi the Vogeltdwn district should bo tow.ni-i Island Bay. However, the board would fully consider the representations of the deputation. The. deputation, having thanked the board, then withdrew. Mr. J. G. W. Ait ken suggested that the city members of the bonrd/should form a committee of investigation, and go over the district. Mr. Hogg: Add the country members, too. They are more impartial. - (Laugh-' ter.<) The suggestion was agreed to, and will be .carried" out on the morning of the day of the next board, meeting.